I’m quoted in this Yahoo! News story – “Ex-aides hope Bush memoir makes strong case for his legacy” – by media writer Michael Calderone, who is formerly of POLITICO. Here are my comments:
Former Deputy Press Secretary Scott Stanzel said he expects the book to offer a “compelling look inside the Oval Office by revealing how he dealt with complex issues and made decisions he believed were in the best interests of our country.” Stanzel has been in touch with Bush recently, but said he didn’t discuss the book.
However, during exit interviews conducted just before leaving the White House, Stanzel said it became clear that Bush “was beginning to think about how he could share insights about some of the most difficult decisions he faced as our nation’s leader.”
It’s already known — and should come as no surprise — that Bush will tackle the 9/11 attacks. So what else should he address? Stanzel said he’d like to see Bush revisit his unsuccessful push for immigration reform in 2007 — and explain why he didn’t respond to “unfair attacks” during the 2008 campaign from Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain.
Just prior to my comments in the story are quotes from Matt Latimer, who served as a speechwriter at the White House. It makes sense that Latimer, who tried to make a few bucks by taking shots at former coworkers and President Bush, would suggest the president criticize his former aides. That view represents the worst of Washington. Here is a refresher on my views of his approach – The One Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken.
