It's leaking all over my democracy

October 16, 2003 2:16 PM

Bush orders officials to stop the leaks. News of Bush's order leaked almost immediately. And speaking of leaks, two U.S. officials are the primary sources of information about Israel's Harpoon cruise missiles which may or may not be used to attack Iran.
posted by dejah420 (25 comments total)

Concerned about the appearance of disarray and feuding within his administration as well as growing resistance to his policies in Iraq, President Bush - living up to his recent declaration that he is in charge - told his top officials to "stop the leaks" to the media, or else.

News of Bush's order leaked almost immediately.

Bush told his senior aides Tuesday that he "didn't want to see any stories" quoting unnamed administration officials in the media anymore, and that if he did, there would be consequences, said a senior administration official who asked that his name not be used.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 2:18 PM on October 16, 2003

MetaTalk
posted by insomnyuk at 2:22 PM on October 16, 2003

"This isn't as bad as (George) Shultz vs. (Caspar) Weinberger, is it?" he asked, referring to a legendary Reagan administration rivalry between the heads, respectively, of the State and Defense departments. One top official nodded in reply and said it was "way worse."

As many of us realized three-plus years ago, this is what will happen when you have a president who isn't bright, doesn't read anything his minions don't bring him, and lacks a record of successfully managing large organizations.
posted by stonerose at 2:24 PM on October 16, 2003

And who is, like, totally gay.
posted by xmutex at 2:27 PM on October 16, 2003

Is Knight-Ridder now owned by The Onion?
posted by kozad at 2:29 PM on October 16, 2003

Why do you all hate America so much? ~Snarf~

I say we pants every yelping little baboon who had the temerity to question our patriotism when we called this kettle black a year ago.
posted by Perigee at 2:40 PM on October 16, 2003

i laughed out loud when i saw that story...thanks dejah

you really have to wonder about this administration and its internal cohesion when even his order not to leak is immediately leaked.
posted by amberglow at 3:09 PM on October 16, 2003

As Kozad alluded to, real life seems to become more like The Onion every day... ever since Bush was inaugurated with the promise that "our long national nightmare of peace and prosperity is finally over", I'd say.
posted by SenshiNeko at 3:26 PM on October 16, 2003

Ironic -- the one time I'm actually on the same side as Bush (grants vs. loans) I'm laughing hysterically at his ineptitude.
posted by Tlogmer at 3:28 PM on October 16, 2003

That failure was in sharp contrast to the President's lobbying of House members last week. Zach Wamp, a Tennessee Republican who had pushed a loan plan, backed away after meeting with Bush. "If his eyes had been lasers, mine would have burned out," Wamp said then.
posted by Espoo2 at 3:32 PM on October 16, 2003

...the President told one regional broadcaster: "The person who's in charge is me."

My head is swimming with possible snarky responses to this quote...

You know, I would be frustrated if I were in GWB's position. Trying to prevent leaks in your organization is very much like herding cats. The best you can hope to do is offer incentives not to leak information but, even then, some folks are going to be pissed off and blab.

Of course, it is also possible that the leaks are orchestrated and that even this leak saying "stop leaking" is part of some larger scheme to control the public. I'm all about the conspiracy theories today.
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:38 PM on October 16, 2003

Of course, it is also possible that the leaks are orchestrated and that even this leak saying "stop leaking" is part of some larger scheme to control the public. I'm all about the conspiracy theories today.

Seems rather obvious to me. And desperate.
posted by Espoo2 at 3:40 PM on October 16, 2003

Of course, it is also possible that the leaks are orchestrated and that even this leak saying "stop leaking" is part of some larger scheme to control the public. I'm all about the conspiracy theories today.

Considering that Karl Rove might go to prison because he couldn't keep his mouth shut, um, hell yes.
posted by solistrato at 4:23 PM on October 16, 2003

Commander George's Traveling Road Show [Flash.]
posted by homunculus at 4:59 PM on October 16, 2003

I heard this story on the radio today. I laughed hard and long when I heard that third paragraph. : )

Pure comedy.
posted by SisterHavana at 5:01 PM on October 16, 2003

Ironic -- the one time I'm actually on the same side as Bush (grants vs. loans) I'm laughing hysterically at his ineptitude.

Not just ironic, but possible endemic, and his central problem. Much of Bush and his administrations direction has been a platform of unabashedly showing/using strength. What it doesn't look like they've been able to do is use finesse. If the White House looked completely adept with regards to their efforts -- if they had not pissed off the UN, if the intelligence claims they'd made had turned out to be dead on, if things had gone as they'd initially announced in Iraq, if the chain of consequences looked certainly in line with their announced intents, then I dare say fewer people would be questioning the president.

I'm also on the side of loans, not grants, and it's interesting that Bush is having trouble getting this support from congress. This would, I suppose, be one demonstration of good faith about the principles we announced we were going into Iraq under. If we don't make it, America stands a higher risk of being branded imperialist....
posted by weston at 5:40 PM on October 16, 2003

"I'm also on the side of loans, not grants"

I'm for not pouring the money down a rat hole. Who cares who gets this bill if Iraq ends up just like Afghanistan? If we leave the place more unstable than we found it this bill will be a drop in the bucket.

[/derail]
posted by y6y6y6 at 5:55 PM on October 16, 2003

Worth noting, y6. I guess the question at this point is if you write off US reputation in that regard as a lost cause, or if efforts to not look like total rapacious scoundrels are worth taking.

I think another interesting question worth looking at, tho'... these grants are funding work by US contractors, correct? So essentially, if we do loans, we're giving money to US companies and then asking Iraq to foot the bill? That looks *highly* weasely. If we do loans, however, and engage Iraqi contractors/companies, and ask an Iraqi government to foot the bill, that looks a little bit like industrial and economic stimulus. So maybe the best thing (at this point): grants for expenses by US contractors. Loans for those by Iraqi industry....
posted by namespan at 6:53 PM on October 16, 2003

Bush said he doesn't read the newspapers, so his senior admin officials probably figured Bush would never see the article.
posted by jbou at 6:58 PM on October 16, 2003

just another laser checkout lane in a long line of subliminable governing.
posted by quonsar at 7:37 PM on October 16, 2003

just another laser checkout lane in a long line of subliminable governing.
now thats Leonardesque
posted by clavdivs at 7:45 PM on October 16, 2003

On the contrary; he's demonstrating genuine leadership.
posted by trondant at 7:53 PM on October 16, 2003

>>If we don't make it, America stands a higher risk of being branded imperialist...<<


Ummmm...a little late on that call. I think we were branded that by the international community when we invaded a helpless Iraq, basically, because we could. Don't need to close the barn door when the horse has already fled the county.
posted by GiantRobot at 9:13 PM on October 16, 2003

If Bush doesnt read the papers, how does he know whats going on in the world!?
posted by Satapher at 9:17 PM on October 16, 2003

Why, faith of course.
posted by homunculus at 9:35 PM on October 16, 2003