BUSH WHITE HOUSE

McClellan, S. (2008) What Happened, New York: Public Affairs Publishers

Scott McClellan was with the Bush administrative team both in Texas and in the White House. He was the premiere spokesman for Bush from 2003-2006. Briefly, George Bush as Governor of Texas was a ‘uniter not divider.” Texas has a weak governor system and Bush had to reach out to conservative Democratic senators. By the time, he got to Washington, the Bush-Dukakis or the Bork hearings for Supreme Court had been so vile and one sided that neither party spoke to each other. So Bush fell into the subculture of national politics.

He wanted to be the un-Clinton. He was/ is loyal to his wife and family. He went to the Right and got tax cuts for the wealthy and a new educational mandate. After 9/11, he decidedly became a divider of “them and us.” Afghanistan appeared to be a short lived successful war for the States by fighting with the indigenous population He then moved on to Iraq because Saddam had WMD'S that could kill Israelis and could reach into the United States. Contrary evidence arose that Saddam was not a threat and that the war would be one of choice than necessity. Bush plowed ahead and within a few months appeared to have won the war.

Then it all came undone. The military in Iraq was dismissed and so was the public civilian bureaucracy. Soon there was chaos in the streets and little water or electricity. The MISSION ACCOMPLISHED success rally on an American military ship became hollow. The war won became an asymmetrical guerilla war. The war has lasted from 2003 to date and may continue a very long time. Bush’s ratings went into the toilet after he appeared not to be aware of the severity of a storm called Katrina hitting the south eastern coast in general and the city of New Orleans in particular.  Other legislative misadventures suggested that Bush was reorganizing the country and revising the American constitution. .

In the mean time, opposition was outed by what appears to the author to be Karl Rove and Libby Scooter to demean and destroy those who questioned the Bush strategy. McClellalan then without knowing lied and lied and lied. By 2006, he was no longer necessary, and was dumped and thrown under the bus. He left his job with guilt and remorse. The George Bush he liked in Texas had gone native in D.C.

Who is George Bush? McClellallan says you know him. We do? The author takes little time explain Bush so as the reviewer, I went to the internet. It is filled with everything. Thus, I tried to pick the most neutral explanation of Bush. St. Benedict School used the Million Inventory Diagnostic Criteria of 12 personality dimensions. The authors indicate that he has charisma, self confidence, gregariousness and is adventuresome. On the other hand, he has a superficial knowledge of complex issues, impulsive, not informed, and puts loyalty among competence.(www.csbsju.edu/USPP/ Executive/ Summaries/ Bush/ html )

As McClellan misinformed the public, Cheney the vice president prevailed everywhere as did Donald Rumsfeld. Condi Rice was the chief enabler to Bush. She waited for his opinion and then refined it. Everyone else fell in line to justify Bush’s decision. The White House is highly regimented and orderly.

As this is being written, the Bush legacy is just about done and how history will rate him in 50 years obliviously remains not with us now. McClellan writes clearly and crisply and defended his book quite well in front of both partisan interviewers and others. It is worth the read.