O'Neill Says War Statements Distorted

[fjc]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/13/oneill.bush/index.html

[maggrwaggr]

1. well there you have it -- the 180 degree turnaround. Just like Kean

He got the call from Rove and even though he said "I'm rich, I'm old, there's nothing they can do to me" .... apparently there IS something they can do to him, or at least someone who's younger and vulnerable.

Unbelievable

[Ivote]

2. TWEETY JUST SAID

O'neil had been gotten to.
watch it on the replay and tape it

[lancdem]

3. This is the kind of thing that makes me think

we have no chance to win in 2004, because these people will stop at nothing to achieve/keep power. It's scary as hell.

[fearnobush]

24. Fear and giving in will assure defeat. O'neill knew his life would

endangered if he totally spoke out and smeared with truth. He did know this. He also knows that the first reaction people will remember is his claim to speak the truth. Many will remember that statement first and before all others when Dean or Clark or who ever is nominated points to that lost virtue of this administration. He knows the end game here and it involves a little back peddle to quiet the media dogs just enough to get others to speak out. Remember, Ross Perot also rejoined the Race after he was threatened. Of all the RW spin, he still got 20% of the public vote... not a bad pull against Bush 41 and Clinton. Have no Fear, there is yet lots of good things to come from O'Neill confessions. Like Rovian philosophy, timing is everything.

[PaDUer]

5. Someone got

to him quickly and did a royal number on him. All of a sudden he does an about face?
Has anyone picked up the book today? One of my sons called Borders and has a copy on hold and picking it up tomorrow am.

[JusticeForAll]

14. Did anyone really read the posted article?

I don't see O'Neill backtracking on any statements that he made or denying any of the conclusions that are made based on the evidence.

In fact, I don't see ANY direct quotes where "Former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said Tuesday his account of the Bush administration's early discussions about a possible invasion of Iraq has been distorted."

I see this as total CNN re-puke spin. The only quotes that are relevant to the sub-headline are those made by Shelton and Rumsfeld.

Reading his statement closely he says... "People are trying to make a case that I said the president was planning war in Iraq early in the administration," O'Neill told NBC's "Today" show. "Actually, there was a continuation of work that had been going on in the Clinton administration with the notion that there needed to be regime change in Iraq."

He doesn't say that this 'case' is false or untrue...in fact he gives MORE credibility that Bush was intent on waging war, havoc, and disturbing global peace.

O'Neill is playing the media perfectly, even if he has to lie about his own personal feelings toward BuShithead and is cronies. My favorite indirect quote from him so far (from Yahoo): "O'Neill said he probably would vote for Bush in the November election, but he said the American people needed to demand more of their leaders."

Believe that one? I got a bridge for you to buy...

[demgrrrll]

15. You may be right but how many people read between the lines that

finely. As someone wrote this administration plays to the part of the population who view politics as television with the sound turned off, only images count. And sound bites. If they can play this as a 180 with any degree of credibility they will. I am not certain how this will turn out. I hope that eventually the weight of all of this administrations misdeeds will bury them.

[JusticeForAll]

21. Thanks for the response

I totally agree with you.

[scarface2004]

20. he s afraid...

they won t be able to identify his wife with dental records!!

[cthrumatrix]

29. it's all cover --- read the book -- it spills the beans --- bush is toast

it's not like he run's the show anyway...according to the book...these are not his ideas...they are neocons....so to suggest bush had no preconceived ideas...thats true...he had none -- others did.

Everyhting is "selective journalism"...CNN should read the damn book and start asking a zillion questions.

[0007]

4. Photo sez it all!

[TeeYiYi]

17. Good Lord 0007 . . .

That is exactly how he looked on the Today Show. You could smell the fear right through the television. I felt sorry for him. You could see that he was scared. This is so fuckin' obvious what's going on. We've go Tony Soprano behind the scenes running the White House. Anyone who can't see that we've got goons running our country is a blind person in a country full of deaf people.

TYY

[LibDemAlways]

27. Remember Godfather II? O'Neill looks to be in the same spot as

Frank Pantangelli, the insider who is prepared to testify against the Corleones then has an abrupt change of heart when his brother suddenly materializes at the side of the family.

I am sure Rove has been quite vocal and very specific in spelling out for O'Neill what happens to those who foolishly betray the BFEE, and I'm equally confident O'Neill knows this is one instance where the administration isn't lying.

[grok]

31. eek!

You are GOOD at photoshop.

grok

[FredScuttle]

6. "I didn't mean what I said! Honest!"

"Now can you release my grandson?"

[doc03]

7. I thought this would take Bush* out

Now in 24 hours O'neil has made a total 180, he even said he will probably vote for him again. The only thing that could take these people down now is if Colon Powell would turn on them.

[demgrrrll]

8. Wow. Wouldn't you have loved to been privy to whatever conversations

caused this turnaround. Too late though. Cat's out of the bag.
I think rather than making them look invincible this episode
highlights the regime's vulnerabilities.

[doc03]

9. Won't go anywhere O'Neil has been totally discredited all by himself!

[Nancy Waterman]

11. But his book is out there as of today

This NYT article quotes some of it, and it is very damging to Bush. He sounds even stupider than we all always thought him to be.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-bush-oneill-portrait.html

At Cabinet meetings, it was clear Bush had not read the memos O'Neill had sent him, which he kept intentionally brief. In a one-on-one discussion about Social Security, O'Neill said the President just ``checked out.''

Cabinet discussions were usually pre-scripted with the outcome determined in advance. On one occasion when there was real discussion on tax policy, Bush quickly became ``befuddled,'' according to O'Neill.

``If the president didn't connect in the first minute or two, it was a lost cause,'' he said.

[doc03]

12. Yes but O'Neil himself did a 180, what will people believe?

[Danieljay]

26. they will believe

19000 pages of documents and the other birds that are beginning to sing, providing the media has the kahoona's to report it. ABC has reported another insider is saying the same thing. Keep it rolling.

[doc03]

13. Ross Perot

This reminds me of when Ross Perot was on fire. Then all of a sudden
he drops out of the race and starts telling crazy stories about people breaking in to his estate and dirty tricks at his daughter's wedding etc.

[TeeYiYi]

18. Why do you say his stories were crazy? ....n/t

TYY

[Danieljay]

25. I'm beginning to believe him...

I don't put anything past these criminals we have in office.

[Occulus]

32. It's not just O'neill in the book.

He wasn't even the author; he also presented 19,000 pages of documents.

[Just Me]

10. *LOL* IT'S ALL CLINTON'S FAULT,...as usual,...hawkpoops!!!!

"Paul, do you realize that what you said could be construed in such a way as to destroy our power in this country,...and,...let's just set aside that bullshit about being the truth and whatnot,...why don't we talk about your grandchildren and their futures."

"Oh,...geez,...well, then,...I'll clarify for you and your son, George. I am terribly sorry. I was just telling the truth and I certainly did not intend for your power base to be terribly disturbed."

[grok]

16. O'Neill says he will vote for Bush in 2004

I listened to the Couric interview. He admitted it there. He is a lost cause.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/Default.aspx?id=3948923&p1=0 (Video Link)

Part of the confusion arises when you have a liberal journalist approach a conservative, but frustrated, ex-cabinet member. You sweet talk him and he gives you what you want. The inside scoop. But you both interpret things and events with different nuances and wordings.

O'Neill just wasn't prepared for the onslaught. RW radio and TV are having a field day and laugh about it. Trust me, you DON'T want to hear it.

That's what happened. Suskind told us what we wanted to hear. So we thought we had the smoking gun. We wished for it. We wanted it.

Hey, the interviews and book have value. It tells us alot about the inside workings. But it comes frome somebody who did not fit in, wasn't listened to seriously, wasn't appreciated,and therefore has a minor beef. That's how you should approach it. Suskind milked him good and put his own spin on things.

Grok

[maggrwaggr]

19. I think you're listening to too much of that RW radio and TV

The fact of the matter is that there are 19,000 pages of documents. The fact of the matter is that he said one thing one day, and had an 180 degree turnaround two days later.

A minor beef, you say?

Keep watching that Fox news, buddy.

[JusticeForAll]

22. right on maggr

One guy's 'opinion' doesn't stack up against 19000 pages of evidence.

[fearnobush]

23. "All you've got are kids rolling around on the law" Pg 44.

O'Neill said to Chaney reffering to Larry Lindsey and Bush's other economic advisors. O'neil was concerned that Lindsey was masquerading as the honest broker and was anything but. pg 44. < I have the book, so far the first 50 pgs. talk a lot about O'Neills long time friendship with Greenspan. Also talks about there, O'Neill and Greenspans view against Bush's tax cuts.

[grok]

30. I listen and watch every side

Frankly, I spend more time listening to KPFA, Democracy now, and NPR than anything else. I just wanted to hear the RW spin, So I checked it out and they ARE loving it. The ones that I checked out and were having fun were Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck and Ingram.

What I said about Suskind and O'Neall relationship is MY view, not theirs. Strictly comes from watching both of them on the air.

As for 19k of docs, heck I can produce that much that say little about me. If I heard O'Neall right, he asked his department for the docs he could legally use, They sent him almost the 19k, on a couple of cdroms. Which he promptly gave to Suskind with out reading the vast majority of. Probably PDF files. They are not STUPID enough to send him 19k of damning evidence. Only Anecdotal records. That might be enough to raise eyebrows and confirm our personal views. but not much else. How politicized this administration is disturbing, but we already knew that.

Obviously, I don't think anything will come from that "secret" document investigation. It was ok'ed by the admin. They are just screwing with him.

All I am saying is that Suskind and O'Niell think and interpret differently and it shows.

Grok

[Printer70]

28. I TOLD YOU SO!!!

I said since this came out NOT to crown O'Neill a savior because he was and is an untrustworthy Republican. Some of you flamed me and others tried to get my posts pulled. Now I'm vindicated.