January 10, 2004
Paul O'Neill, Alternate Universe Visitor
I got a link from the Dean blog to a report on an interview with Paul O'Neill, former Bush Treasury Secretary. In it he says... (drumroll, please)
"I can't imagine that I am going to be attacked for telling the truth."
My mind is hereby blown. Has he even *met* Karl Rove? Did he sleep through the 2002 midterm election? Was he not watching the news in a fit of pique during the Iraq war debate? There's also this little gem, which confirms absolutely my suspicions on the utter sock-puppethood of our chief executive.
...Suskind also writes about a White House meeting in which he says the president seems to be wavering about going forward with his second round of tax cuts. "Haven't we already given money to rich people ... Shouldn't we be giving money to the middle," Suskind says the president uttered, according to a nearly verbatim transcript of an Economic Team meeting he says he obtained from someone at the meeting. ...
I almost feel sorry for the guy. The way I do when he's speaking without a teleprompter and I'm pulling for him to just... make it... to... the, uh,... end... of his sentences. But trust me, it's a very fleeting moment.
Posted by natasha at January 10, 2004 09:01 PM | TrackBackThe tone here suggests something less than complete thankfulness toward Mr. O'Neill.
I don't know whether it's criticism or sympathy (it seems to be a mix of both, maybe I'm wrong), but it's less than "Glory, glory, hallelujah!"
We should all be thanking and praising and loving and supporting O'Neill for statements and actions of extraordinary courage and truthfulness.
If there's a better, more damning case against Bush, it hasn't been made. THIS is the account of the Administration that we must circulate to all we know in our respective states and cities and regions and neighborhoods who are/will be undecided come October.
THANK YOU, PAUL O'NEILL!!!!!!!!!!
Democrats must not let his words fade away!
Posted by: Matt Zemek on January 12, 2004 11:39 AMMatt,
You share much of my attitute, that "joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance" (Luke 15:7); nevertheless, O'Neill remains a staunch defender of the Washington Consensus. The BBC has this rather good report on his remarks--and his pretensions as a dissenter from White House orthodoxy.
Lacking urgent projects to keep him busy (the US economy was still in pretty swell shape in 2001), he demonstrated a habit of shooting his mouth off to the nearest available microphone.How O'Neill was viewed in crisis-stricken Argentina is related in greater detail here (WaPo article).He ...fretted publicly that Brazilians would embezzle international aid, ...castigated Argentina for "continuing to consume the money of plumbers and carpenters in the US", and insisted that the safety record of the nuclear industry was impeccable - "except for Three Mile Island and Chernobyl".
"My mind is hereby blown is a juste mot of singular felicity.
Oh, believe me, I am deeply grateful to Paul O'Neill. Moreso after watching the 60 Minutes segment. But... it is a little funny that he would say he'll be surprised if he's attacked for telling the truth. No, make that very funny.
But he did a great service to the whole country coming forward, he seems like the genuine article, a real patriot.
Posted by: natasha on January 12, 2004 03:05 PM