Get News & Views Updates
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
The Shrinking Bush Bubble
The president is a lonely man. Once, he was surrounded by admirers and acolytes. There was Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld and Colin Powell and Alberto Gonzales and Condi Rice and Karl Rove -- many of them better known inside the White House by the affectionate but often unprintable nicknames assigned by their playful president. (Rove, you'll recall, was "Turd Blossom.") Yale University forgave Bush's mediocre student record and gave him an honorary degree in 2001, and bright young Yale law graduates at the Justice Department struggled to acquire Texas drawls and develop legal rationales for White House criminality.
Those were the days.
It's all so different now. Cheney is still there, but most of the rest of the rats are off the sinking ship. Rumsfeld and Gonzales walked the plank, but Powell marched off in disgust, as did a host of others. Rove left last week on a mission to find and destroy some other planet, and even the still-steadfast Rice hasn't referred to Bush as her "husband" in several years.
The bright young Yale lawyers haven't been very enthusiastic lately either. One of them, Jack Goldsmith, has a book coming this month with some choice things to say about the personalities and legal theories that once gave the Bush administration its Titanic-like illusion of unsinkability.
Goldsmith ran the Justice Department's office of legal counsel for nine months in 2003-04 (and was briefly a colleague of mine at the University of Virginia School of Law). He and his book, "The Terror Presidency," are quoted extensively in a Sept. 9 New York Times Magazine article.
Key takeaways: Bush and Gonzales had little appetite for substance; Cheney's staff ruled the roost and insisted that the law was supposed to bend to their wishes; and top Cheney aides such as David Addington were every bit as contemptuous of their GOP colleagues in the executive branch as they were of Congress, the courts and their Democratic critics.
For instance: When Goldsmith tried to explain to Addington that terrorists and insurgents might be covered under the Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to civilians (rather than under the Third Geneva Convention, which covers prisoners of war), Addington reacted with fury: "The president has already decided that terrorists do not receive Geneva Convention protections. You cannot question his decision." That's the rule of law, as understood by Cheney's office.
Later, Goldsmith got an even stronger rebuke: "If you rule that way," Addington informed him, "the blood of the 100,000 people who die in the next attack will be on your hands."
A few months after the Abu Ghraib scandal broke, Goldsmith had had enough. Defying Cheney's office, he withdrew the infamous 2002 "torture memo." Drafted by John Yoo before Goldsmith joined the Justice Department, the memo had been widely condemned for seeking to develop a legal rationale for interrogation techniques that arguably constituted torture and war crimes -- at least under the federal laws in force at the time. Goldsmith issued a statement informing federal agencies that the Yoo memo could no longer be relied on -- and submitted his resignation the same day.
Like so many other recent accounts of life inside the bubble, Goldsmith's raises the question of how the Bush administration juggernaut lasted so long. From the outside, the administration looked powerful and dangerous, a finely tuned machine capable of rolling over any opposition. But it was hollow and illusory -- and on the inside, many knew it.
In the end, Goldsmith concludes that the administration insiders most determined to increase executive power actually undermined it. By relying on tactics involving "minimal deliberation, unilateral action and legalistic defense," this White House has weakened the presidency as an institution. Future presidents from either party will face a suspicious Congress and skeptical courts, and will find it more difficult to advance their agendas.
Goldsmith may be right -- but critics of excessive executive power shouldn't be too quick to start cheering. Bush may be the butt of jokes on late-night TV, but don't expect Congress or the next administration to take serious action to reverse the damage his administration did to our constitutional fabric. On military commissions and secret surveillance, Congress has already handed the president pretty much everything he asked for. On Iraq, too, Congress seems cowed. And it goes without saying that nothing can reverse the death and destruction the administration unleashed in Iraq.
Admittedly, the president's not all that happy about the way things have worked out either. As he confides to journalist Robert Draper in Draper's new book, "Dead Certain," "I cry a lot."
Don't we all?
© 2007 The Los Angeles Times
Comments
Note: Disqus 2012 is best viewed on an up to date browser. Click here for information. Instructions for how to sign up to comment can be viewed here. Our Comment Policy can be viewed here. Please follow the guidelines. Note to Readers: Spam Filter May Capture Legitimate Comments...
28 Comments so far
Show AllHell, even Laura's got a "pinched nerve" and has decided to turn her attention to the burning issue facing American today - you know, Burma. The kids never stop by anymore (announce your engagement not from the White House with Mom and Dad by your side?) Does Karen Hughes even bother calling anymore?
Poor little wimpy war criminal traitor lying thief has got as many friends now as he ever had: none. The rats aren't jumping ship - they simply have no more use for their puppet.
In keeping with Bush's tenure, instead of praying in his Final Days to the portraits of Lincoln or Washington, Junior will be weeping on his knees before pictures of Richard Nixon and William McKinley, which is only appropriate. Nixon was the master of American political corruption and McKinley started a bogus war overseas based on a mythical incident (an explosion on the USS Maine, falsely blamed on the Spanish), and a Rove-like power broker named Mark Hanna put Bumbling Bill in office.
McKinney's imperial acquistions, The Philippines and Cuba, both have caused succeeding US presidents problems, with Cuba kicking out the US altogether, a portent of what's to happen to us in Iraq and Afghanistan.
THE RISE OF THE FOURTH REICH
THE BUSH FAMILY OLIGARCHY
http://watch.pair.com/reich.html
He's spent his life outrunning his pain. He's running out of road. If he hadn't come from such a wealthy family, he never could have left such a swath of destruction in his wake.
Hitler didn't come from wealth, but Hitler was willing to work hard.
Isn't it strange that Addington knows how many people he plans to murder with his,
"We are just one bomb away .........", statement? Sounds like a preplanned terroristic act.
Oh my god! Addington is planning another attack!
"If you rule that way," Addington informed him, "the blood of the 100,000 people who die in the next attack will be on your hands."
Is the 100,000 figure the minimum number of people they are planning on crucifying on the next attack? Which cities? Air Force plane flying from North Dakota with the nukes just the other day? Is the Air Force moving the nukes into position for the attack next Tuesday, 9-11? Our gov would never attack its own citizens with nukes, right? Guv would be able to then blame Iraq, oops missed by one country, substitute an N for the Q. Satire mode off.
That Addington remark made me uneasy, too. My thought was, on whose hands will be the blood of the 100,000 people if Goldsmith didn't rule that way? And why 100,000?
Then I thought about what they let happen to the people of New Orleans. I wonder who's next.
Probably the underlying question here is why the US is such a big target in the first place. Envious of our way of life? I shouldn't think so. Aggresive, one-sided foreign policy in the mideast, imperialistic, rogue-like, pre-emptive, violent.
I don't hear the terrorists all aiming for New Zealand, Greenland, Manitoba, etc. Maybe there's something to be said for tending to business at home, leaving other people alone, recognizing that Empire has no place in the modern world, and not getting tangled up in some other country's security problems?
"Yale University forgave Bush's mediocre student record and gave him an honorary degree in 2001"
I wonder if the Skull & Bones boys will ever withdraw it. Maybe when the door on the gallows drops to admit him to the Stygian darkness.
Bush needn't worry. The Democratic leadership will be there to keep him from harm.
That quote from Addington scared me as well. How would he even think to guess how many might be killed in another attack? Why would he even include a number? Why not just say "the blood of the victims of the next attack will be on your hands"? They are going to do it again, the question is where? Let's see, where would there be 100,000 people gathered in one place? We can narrow it from there. The anti war march in Washington next week maybe?
Except for the next to the last paragraph, the author sounded like she must have forgotten all those horrible policies especially wiretapping and more war funding the Democrats keep caving in too as well as the rest of the Bush/Limbaughian GOP policies. With "friends" like these in the Democratic Party, Bush can sit back and relax while the rest of us voters continue to get BACKSTABBED by both political parties ! Evil transgresses in unexpected ways whereas good deeds go PUNISHED ! Oh well, even Zeus had plenty of affairs and war-creating tricks going on !
I wouldn't be as concerned if he wasn't Cheneys' chief of staff. Either he's blowing smoke or his mouth is too big.
Meanwhile, Congress has to find out from the Wall Street Journal that Homeland Security has turned our spy satellites inward on the US for a variety of purposes, including watching protesters. They got a no response when they asked why they weren't told. Considering the respect this administration shows for Congress, why should they be told?
And the New York Times reports that we may be headed into another recession, the second for the current occupant. Would that be a record? Has any other president managed to preside over two recessions?
How can such a bunch who play political gamesmanship so well be a failure in everything else. Why is it so few care?
Hey Bush, forget the crying, how about caring? Or didn't God mention anything about compassion when you spoke with him? So your biography ( trying to write your ideological view of history? ) is titled "Dead Certain" Sorry, pal ( that's a mild nickname comepared to what you deserve ) it's the other way around...you have really been "Certain Death" for hundreds of thousands, if not millions before this disaster you instigated on humanity is over.
He doesn't cry for us or them, he cries for himself.
SEIG HEIL! SEIG HEIL! SEIG HEIL!
That would make the 2nd 'Reichstag Fire' incident of this administration.
Coincedence? Practice makes perfect?
You tell me.
"Powell marched off in disgust"
It must have been disgust at himself rather than bush. How else can you explain his famous pre-war U.N. appearance ?
Laura probably has a "pinched nerve" from constant headaches over what her George has managed to accomplish. Just imagine being married to such a joke of a man and be forced to watch while everything goes down in flames due to his inability to think about consequences and refusal to listen to informed counsel. What a legacy to have to live with!!
"In the end, Goldsmith concludes that the administration insiders most determined to increase executive power actually undermined it."
Not quite yet. I think we are dealing with the politics of empire which future administrations and Congress are likely to support. Change will come when the idea of "empire" is abandoned as a goal and policy.
"At what point then is the danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all time ___ or die by suicide."
Abraham Lincoln
September 6, 2002, CIA Director George Tenet, briefed President Bush in the Oval Office, on a top secret intelligence report, that Saddam Hussein had absolutly, __ 'NO WMDs'.
President Bush disregarded the report and in anger, told Tenent to destroy the report and to forget it. Tenent did just that. Years later, two CIA operatives told it, ___ the national media buried it.
In October of 2002, Congress was briefed on the National Intelligence Estimates. The top secret report about NO WMDs in Iraq was not in that NIE report. NONE of the members of Congress ever knew of the inteligence report that Tenent had briefed Bush on. A week after the false NIE had been submitted to Congress, which DID state Saddam DID have WMDs, they voted to allow Bush to invade Iraq, ___ if all other options had first been fully expended.
Shortly after that vote, Bush made the weapons inspectors leave Iraq and Halliburton and company, built a brand new bank vault. ___ A great big one. The rest is sad history. ___ Sad enough to make Bush cry.
And impeachment ___ IS OFF THE TABLE!
I like the off the table thing. It's not merely a let-down to America, it's a promise to Bush. Another example of the Dimocrats pissant propensity for Bush enabling. No politician has ever served with carte blanche, a guarantee from his "opposition" that they will not impeach.
So, much worse than a let-down to America, it's a green light to Bush:
Pelosi: Bush, we secretly adore everything about you, we worship the hallowed ground upon which you walk.
Bush: I demand tribute, obedience.
Pelosi: We promise to keep all opposition at bay for another year and a half. You will be able to continue to do your great work.
Pelosi to America: Impeachment is off the table. It would distract Bush...I mean America...from important work facing the Democrats like IRV/Range, single-payer, pulling out of Iraq, clamping down on the money industries, honestly addressing renewable energy, etc.
Yeah.....Right.....
For those of you who missed it, Goldsmith was a guest on Friday's Bill Moyers Journal--which is available online.
Remember the Jester in Chief still has his finger on the nuclear button and has 500 days left in office.
So although his circle of friends is diminishing rapidly, his ability to cause great destruction and another world war is a very real possibility.
Do not neuter this maniac prematurely. He still wields all the might of the American Empire and will cause a lot more death and annihilation before he leaves office.
Sequoiabison: Democrat fearmongering doesn't work here either.
Ezeflyer
I think sequoiabison just means don't turn your back on an adversary until you are sure he cannot hurt you. It doesn't mean be afraid, it means be vigilant.