I hereby sincerely apologize to Paul O'Neill, whom I sorely misjudged

[Enraged_Ape]

I remember LAUGHING at him while he testified before a Senate committee on the budget, because Senator Byrd was grilling him about the budget and the tax cuts and O'Neill was crying--yes, actually CRYING real tears--over this administration's heinous fiscal policy.

I now know why he cried. Yes, it's absolutely possible that O'Neill is one Republican who actually has a conscience, and if so, I have never misjudged a man so horribly. I now believe he was weeping because he was being forced to stand up for an administration that is worse than worthless, that is in fact a gang of merciless thieves and criminals. For the same reason that Condi Rice shakes like a goddammed epileptic whenever she has to lie for this administration, this man was weeping.

I have already put my request in for his book. I sincerely hope that this man's book, and his documentation, become our generation's Pentagon Papers.

[CatWoman]

1. This is a good post, Enraged Ape

:hi:

[Fleshdancer]

2. May O'Neill sleep better at night now that his conscience is clear n/t

[Nevernose]

3. I'm STILL pissed that I missed 60mins tonight

Would anyone be so kind as to direct me towards a transcript?

(my 7 year-old daughter had never seen Star Wars, the first one; I still have the bootleg copy I received for Christmas in 1978, complete with an accidental thirty seconds of Jimmy "JJ" Walker saying "dyn-o-mite!" -- it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Besides, Han shoots first in that version.)

[CatWoman]

5. Our own wonderful Wonk posted MP3 and Quicktimeof the segment

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=109&topic_id=4200

[Nevernose]

13. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Holy shit. Holy motherfucking SHIT. HOLY FUCKING SHIT!

(I'm listening to the "The Throne Room/End Title" while I'm listening to this -- the part from Star Wars wherein Luke, etc. are given medals)

I'm, speechless. Stunned.

The part of the video I'm on noe accuses Cheney of being part of a "paetorian guard' that encircled the president."

THANK YOU, CatWOMAN, FOR THIS LINK!!!

[45th Med]

4. Now you know why he was crying.

Bush's Fiscal policy would make anyone who could understand it cry. There are many good conservatives.....it is the Neo-Con's who need to be eradicated.

[pasadenaboy]

6. He also toured Africa with Bono

to learn about African issues, particularly AIDS.

He is at least willing to listen.

[hellhathnofury]

9. That's when I came to have some respect for him.

[economic justice]

12. That was great

When I saw him interviewed after that I knew he was different than most of the others around Bush. He was clearly moved and wanted to do some big things.

[Beearewhyain]

7. "I sincerely hope that this man's book, and his documentation, become our

generation's Pentagon Papers."

I was thinking the same thing. What I really can't wait for is our generations version of All the President's Men. :evilgrin:

[jmusgrat]

8. Paul O'Neill... a good man

For a Reublican he's is as close as a Republican can be to being good. The fact that he has a conscience makes him better than anyone working in the Bush Corporation... I mean administration.

[economic justice]

10. Welcome!

Welcome to DU, jmusgrat!

[Zomby Woof]

11. Welcome to DU

:toast:

[hellhathnofury]

14. Welcome!

Hear at DU you can leave out the "I mean administration." It's great stuff.

[Kanary]

17. Hi jmusgrat!

Welcome to DU!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

:toast:

Kanary

[punpirate]

15. It's good that O'Neill showed some very dirty laundry...

... but let's not forget that he is still another globalization fat cat, whose answers for solving all the country's ills were a little past Draconian:

http://www.commondreams.org/news2001/0613-18.htm

Remember that the remarks cited in the above were early in the reign of this administration, when O'Neill had lots of leeway to direct policy.

Ask yourselves what your lives would be like if this man's dreams came true.

It's great that he's disgruntled, and piqued about getting thrown out--it will shine a little sunlight into what has been a dark cave of secrecy to date. But, he's not a hero of the people.

Cheers.

[intheozone]

16. I also sincerely apologize!

I made fun of him all the time, I thought he was another one of *'s yes-men just saying whatever the administration wanted him to say. I said and thought horrible things about him. Now I have no choice but to realize that I was wrong.

Please accept my apology Mr. O'Neill. I hope Ron Suskind does not waste the opportunity you have given him. This country needs a Daniel Ellsberg as never before.

[Indiana_Dem]

18. I think it was good he came on the record, too

Because it will be less likely nothing sinister will happen to him I would hope. I would feel really afraid of the ones who haven't come forward or have spoken off the record.

[WindRavenX]

19. Agreed

He may still have his flaws (no one is perfect!) but he has demonstrated something that few people, Republican or Democrat, has shown: the ability to learn from past mistakes. He has seen his errors, and he deserves mad props for doing something about the evil he has witnessed and, sadly, taken a part in.
Good job Mr.O'Neill, may many follow your steps.