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Martha Raddatz On New Bush Book: Lame Ducks & Lipstick
September 05, 2008 1:45 PM
ABC's Martha Raddatz from Washington:
President Bush has long said that he will let history be the judge of his presidency. Well, a big page of history will be hitting the bookshelves next week with the release of Bob Woodward's "The War Within."
The Washington Post released some excerpts from the famed Watergate reporter's fourth book on the administration which portrays President Bush as "tentative and slow to react to the escalating violence in Iraq" but standing up to his military advisers when some on his national security team began advocating for a surge. There were tantalizing quotes about a senior commander questioning the president’s "understanding" of the nature of the war, as well as allegations that the administration has been doing extensive spying on the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Malaki. "We know everything he (Malaki) says," Woodward reports he was told.
So with those excerpts in hand I headed into White House Press Secretary Dana Perino’s briefing this morning ready for fireworks. Okay, so questions about the number of troops in Iraq came first, then the economy, and more questions about the economy. I asked the first question about the book, zeroing in on the spying charges, which Perino had clearly come prepared to answer.
"I would just point to the fact that we would not comment on any of the assertions in the book regarding the allegation that you brought up," Perino said confidently. "What I can tell you is we have extensive cooperation with Prime Minister Maliki." She threw in a few lines defending the president, and then answered a brief follow-up, bracing for more. It didn't happen. Perino seemed as surprised as I was. Reporters quickly moved onto Secretary Rice's trip to Libya and the Pakistani elections.
Perhaps it is because Woodward's book was preceded by former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan's blockbuster, "What Happened" which asserted that the president and his chief advisers did not hesitate to "spin, hide, shade and exaggerate the truth" when it came to the war in Iraq.
Or perhaps it is because it is not such a huge surprise that the US may be spying on the Iraq government. I figure we're likely spying on everyone in Iraq.
But the most likely reason is that President Bush is a lame duck. Take it from me. The press is paying so little attention to him that he actually looks excited to see us when he ventures out. The briefings are so sparsely attended that practically everyone there could get a front row seat. I spent my first two and a half years covering the Bush presidency filing stories for World News almost every day. But with a riveting election, and a withering economy, the White House just isn't garnering the attention it used to. I can only imagine what the remaining few months will be like.
But here is the problem for me: In terms of television coverage, the only difference between being a lame duck president and covering a lame duck president? Lipstick.
September 5, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (46)
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WORST...PRESIDENT....EVER.
Posted by: BushISaMORON | Sep 5, 2008 4:31:35 PM
woodward is a great journalist with amazing sources
Posted by: ryan | Sep 5, 2008 4:31:44 PM
Having traveled to 89 countries since 1965, I have seen great admiration for the US. We knew we were loved and respected by all walks of life in every country. We were so proud to be an American and of course I still am, but the respect from them is gone. What can we expect since we try to force our beliefs on them and get hostile when they try and do it to us. I spent 7 years in Saudi Arabia, and of course I am a Christian, but they never tried to convert me to their ways. They would not allow us to have church or possess bibles, but that didn`t stop me from my religion. My body is my temple and I carry it with me! I pray, with Barrack Obama as our President, that our trust and goodwill, will flourish once again with our allies abroad once again. We can`t wait twenty years. China will need the oil more than us, so Saudi Arabia won`t even need us and our currentleverage will be gone. SOMEONE PLEASE WAKE WASHINGTON DC UP....
Posted by: A Smart Blond | Sep 5, 2008 5:00:58 PM
cj78415 - Love you right wing Bushies say every problem with this looser President is caused by the media. Bush/Cheney and McCain cause all their own problems without any help from the media.
The disrespect is for Bush and the rest of you Neo-Con nutjobs, and rightfully so. The office is still respected.
Posted by: dan | Sep 5, 2008 5:11:08 PM
Well the Bush adminstration was spying on Americans, listening to phone call,s reading emails...why should it be a suprise they were spying on our allies.
Posted by: scott jeffries | Sep 5, 2008 5:48:10 PM
There will be two judgements:one the history of mankind, in which good & evil depends on the circumstances & writers when it is written. The other judgement is by the Almighty (The omipotent of any religion). In the latter judgement there is no dependency, no bias, because HE knows exactly what you think, what you did, evil or good, HE know it all. AND the guilty shall be punished with eternal fire and torture (water boarding? nobody come back from death yet to reveal).
Posted by: Sutter197 | Sep 5, 2008 5:50:35 PM
everybody is crazy, my head is spinning
Posted by: mary | Sep 5, 2008 6:28:30 PM
Bitter liberals are the enemy of this country.
Posted by: yearight | Sep 5, 2008 6:59:10 PM
I was always taught that (lying was the same as stealing); in that case Bush & Cheney are in a lot of trouble come judgment they are going to be very supprised
WE reached the top, peace & prosperity before bush & cheney, during the last 8 yrs we have been going downhill fast. If McBush & Pain oops I meant Palin were going to pick up speed heading downhill Worst president i history!!! No JOKE!!!!
Posted by: thetruth | Sep 5, 2008 7:20:58 PM
Pardon my grammer Bush and McBush, make me sick!!! I am a Vietnan veteran and McBush has been against every thing for vets,voted against them!!
Posted by: thetruth | Sep 5, 2008 7:26:18 PM
Yes, history will judge George Bush, and he has done a fine job. The U.S. has not been attacked again, and we are seeing success in the middle east. The U.S. 'spying on Iraqis', who cares?
Posted by: Light group | Sep 6, 2008 1:26:24 AM
Hey, Tony. Why wouldn't we be spying on everyone in Iraq? We're already spying on everyone in the United States!! Wake up, brother. It's later than you think.
Posted by: Huh?? | Sep 6, 2008 1:57:14 AM
"Bitter liberals are the enemy of this country."
And complicit, easily influenced and manipulated conservatives are the enemy of truth.
Posted by: Huh??? | Sep 6, 2008 1:59:33 AM
Is there anyone in America at this point finds this to be a shocking revelation about the Bush administration? Some will criticize it, some will defend it, but none are shocked or disbelieving of it.
Posted by: Rick_VT | Sep 6, 2008 10:11:23 AM
justrighttoo
The problem with the Bush administration was Rumsfeld? You're kidding, right? My God, you people are hopeless. None so blind as those who WILL NOT see.
Posted by: Pongo | Sep 6, 2008 11:08:34 AM
You are correct Bush will go down in history...But as the biggest "BUTT HEAD" in 232 years of this countries history.
Posted by: P-51 jock | Sep 6, 2008 2:08:06 PM
t5z3g7 posted: "O.K. So everyone wants to throw stones, but how quickly we forget. We were attacked and President Bush "TOOK" the required action(s) to prevent it from happening again..". Reply: (1) WHY ARE WE "ATTACKED"? (2) WHO ARE THE ATTACERS? It appears that Iraq is a bystander that was shot by an "intended stray" bullet in the head that leads to the amputation of Saddam Hussein's head by hanging.
Posted by: Sutter197 | Sep 6, 2008 3:36:37 PM
In GOD we trust. In COUNTRY we love, In PEOPLE we serve, In Bush we hate, In McCain we fear, In Palin we doubt, In Obama we hope, in Biden we support, In me I vote.
Posted by: Sutter197 | Sep 6, 2008 3:42:04 PM
Is it really God's war as Sarah Palin said? Maybe that explain why that those people responsible for the genocide and killing of hundreds of thousand of innocent middle east innocent people including children and women, are not persecuted as criminals.
Posted by: Sutter197 | Sep 6, 2008 4:01:24 PM
"I spent my first two and a half years covering the Bush presidency filing stories for World News almost every day." Gee, Martha, and not in a single one of those stories did you reveal that most of the Presidential Press Conferences were a sham, with the questions handed out by the White House, the order of question taking predetermined, with the Press still waving hands and pretending to be trying to get a question in! And for anyone who thinks this is so outrageous a claim I must be nuts, please watch Dan Rather and the head of CNN News both admit that's what happened on the Bill Moyers' PBS Special, "The Selling of the War". On the presses duty to the American people, Rather said, "We dropped the ball." And Martha, you were one of those holding it, weren't you?
Posted by: Mickey | Sep 6, 2008 4:39:39 PM
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