Below the fold please find my raw from-the-front-row LiveBlogged notes fresh from hearing former White House press secretary Scott Mclellan speaking today at the Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill a Commonwealth Club event in San Francisco.
My first impression: nothing earthshaking, but helpful to get a little more perspective from an escapee from the belly of the beast, as it were.
I grew up in Democratic family. I was taught at an early age the importance of public service, the importance of speaking up. Doing what's right to make a difference. [...] It's about problem-solving, compromising to get things done.
I believe the American people deserve better than what we are getting from some of the people in Washington
Should government be a process of constant campaigning to manipulate public opinion...or rational debate, compromise...
we need to move beyond the poisonous atmosphere in DC
I'll be editing these notes into full sentences as I revise, but during my cable car and subway ride that followed the talk, I figured my priority here should be to get the raw out there for comments and analysis. I tried to be as verbatim as possible, capturing most of our beloved author Scotty's words, as he said them; I did capture audio so I can go back and confirm and fill in.
Here's some of the highlights/key quotes of note (filling out with your guidance):
After my past Friday's Congressional testimony, Lamar Smith called it the "book of the month club." After a little more thought, I've come to the conclusion that I endorse that idea.
Some think the next book we will see before the committee should be about Karl Rove. Maybe [it would be titled] "The lies I told to whom and why".
Or a Cheney book, "No More Secrets." or "I earned Haliburton's income, or Up Yours."
Scooter Libby could do one, [in the style of] Steve Martin: "What Part of Me."
I believe we should not be going to war unless absolutely necessary.The war in Iraq was not absolutely necessary. There are other ways we could have confronted Saddam Hussein.
The shadier side of national politics today led to so much dismay about how Washington is governing today
Few critics tried to refute the larger themes, perspectives in my book or engage in any reasoned, rational discussion of what I believe are important issues
The event filled the Grand ballroom on the lower level of the Fairmont hotel, with perhaps 10% of the seats empty and seats not set out to the very edges; I know it did not sell out.
About half a dozen news crews captured the talk, and several pro photographers, so I'm sure you'll be seeing it all over the intertubes™ soon, in abbreviated highlights if not full form.
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The words of Scotty in San Francisco (rough draft raw notes, awaiting your comments and guidance as to what's worth expanding):
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actually a few Republican members were very curious
most of comments by some republicans in judiciary
simply replaying rehashing initial reaction from the white house, including from some former colleagues
motivation behind writing it: a prescription
The shadier side of national politics today led to so much dismay about how Washington is governing today
Few critics tried to refute the larger themes, perspectives in my book or engage in any reasoned, rational discussion of what I believe are important issues. Mostly they are misreprenting [what I wrote and what I did], waging inaccurate personal attacks on me.
[Republicans/conservatives have called me some things I find]
amusing. They have said I must be having an 'out of body experience', or that I've been beaten into submission by liberal New York book publishing world.
I believe the American people deserve better than what we are getting from some of the people in Washington.
Governing inevitably has an adversarial element to it. People always argue.
'should government be a process of constant campaigning to manipulate public opinion, or rational debate, compromise
The larger message in the book is about restoring civility and
transcending partisanship.
candor
political discourse
we need to move beyond the poisonous atmosphere in DC
...
focus on improving the way Washington... governs
I'm someone who tends to look for the good in people
unfortunately too many of us get caught up
on the whole permanent campaign culture
in wash
put our national interest
above partisan goals
how all of us
especially elected leaders
do more to make that happen
by engaging in open reasoned rational discourse
opposite now
over which side can manipulate to advantage
govt becomes offshoot of campaining
rather than other way around
last 30-40 yrs
because how troubling it can become
when that kidn of mentality
transferred to governing proc
<hr>
my upbringing: a lot of good people... choose to get involved into politics. I was born into politics. I was four yrs old when my mother was elected to the Austin school board. When I was in third grade she was elected mayor. She served three terms.
I grew up in Democratic family. I was taught at an early age the importance of public service, the importance of speaking up. Doing what's right to make a difference. I switched parties, but always had a more centrist perspective. It's about problem-solving, compromising to get things done.
grandfather patriarch UT law dean keating
used to say to us
"its not he $ you make, its the difference you make"
my career path pub svc politics
Q 2 students "well what do you think makes a good lawyer"
good/evil: make a good batman
oversimplified in context fo winners losers
how affect next election
focus whos up down
vs wrong right
how affects am ppl
spin becoming accepted
w/in wash culture
ppl resp 4 it are elected ldrs
they are the ones who nd 2 take action
to move us beyond it
lionizing it
then see how deeply troubling it becomes
take the country into war
I believe
we should not be going to war unless absolutely necessary.
the war in Iraq was not absolutely necessary.
[big applause]
there are other ways we could have confronted Saddam Hussein
there was no inbetween
principal deputy press sec
alike a lot of americans
concerned abt how quickly
like a lot of am
willing to trust the admin
give benefit of doubt
foreign policy team
highly regarded
for what done w/afghan
had access to intel
aft left WH
that I realized how badly mispaced
my trust was
in this admin
in that regard
it was not easy to do
given the lenght of time
that i had worked 4 the prez
I had become close 2 personally
hard 2 separate
thats what I was able to do
in TX
the pres was a v. pop bipartisan gov
70%+ approval rating
worked across aisle
w/dem hse, spkr
thats why I was attracted 2 go 2 wrk 4 him in teh 1st place
talked about changing tone
uniter not divider
moving us beyond permanent campaign
when the president came 2 wash
made a little bit of an effort
it is clear today
that he is more determined to play the game today
under existing rules
rather than transforming it
lessons from what had happened to his father
turning points - in book
1988 campaign
father believes in civility
advisors
whole strategy about tearing Dukakis down
left of center
paint him far out of mainstream
Q his patriotism
that campaign became so bitter so negative
I think it carried over to governance
more unsavory side of politics
set aside governing
W looked at that, viewed it as reason he lost election
determined "I'm not going to let that happen to me"
embraced... tactics his father ...shunned
decsn to go to war
by embracing poltiical mktg campaign
to sell it to American people
administration shunned candor, openness with the American people
thats why trust so low for so long
I get asked often
was it deliberate campaign
to mislead American people?
I do not think sitting in arm
I cant vouch for every individual, motives intent
Qs remain
suspicion remains
b/c of lack of transparency
focus on pres, top advisors
how do we make case 4 taking 2 war
the goal was to market it to people
much like education reforms, tax cuts
not embracing any hi level of openness, candor
talking about quals
talking with american people
about consequence, cost, risk of going 2 war
in very open manner
andy: 'dont begin campaign in august'
wolfowitz then said publicly
1 issue everybody agrees on:
WMD
terrorism made more urgent serious threat
WH iraq rm
the mktg arm
strat comm
incl top advisors to prez
incl foreign policy, top communicators
filled in for predecessor
in this effort to sell war to the American people
meeting - not sinister 'lets figure out how we can deceive the am ppl'
how to make the strongest case
forgot abt
give am ppl the truth
as best you know it
report b4
bk
much intel could be subst. some degree
in making case
made sound more serious more rurgent more grave
not a case of out and out deception
but shading as it were
emphaisizing lesser motivation
could be dealt with in other ways
make wmd threat
a little less certain
to encourage americans 2 believe
some things false
active nuclear weapons pgm
'amassing'... to use against allies, US
truth: S.H. is a survivalist
wants to hold on to his regime
last thing would be 2 attack US
the goal became abt winning debate
by shaping the narrative
as we pursue the goal
by embracing honesty candor w/am ppl
full truth, risk became distant 2d in that proc.
rather than governing on the basis of the truths of the situation
certainly the responsibility lies with the president
then see how dangerous it becomes
must also be able to sustain it
the prez after the fact
when it turned out intel was wrong
could not admit mistakes
could not ....
iraq stdy grp
hamilton comm.
I sent msg - maybe embrace that. maybe bipartisan way
hilites major problem w/way washington governs tdoay
I got caught up in this destructive culture
does not remove resp fm prez
if we are not to repeat mistakes
probably plame leak
opened my eyes
more than anything else
final 10 mo
was a process of disillusionment
was not press sec
but had 2 defend WH
had given assurances
ppl had talked 2 reporters
then learned scooter libby involved
it was a very painful experience for me
I did think abt resigning at that time
sr colleagues mislead me
it wasnt the prez
I believe the prez mislead by those individuals as well
VP involvement
a lot we dont know abt
a series of smaller events
over the next several months
led 2 further disillusionments
WH counsel "ongoing investigation" can't comment frm podium
couldn't set record straight on prev. comments
some WH reporters... some of toughest nemeses
stepped fwd
"he's in tough spot"
he is a straight shooter with us
other incidents:
never wld have expected
2d VP involved in shooting incident
found out a litle bit late
aseveral hrs into it
sun AM
I began saying
otp w dan bartlett
get it out right away
we both agreed
outside corpus christi
well assemble a phone call
w a grp of reporters
a pool
so it doesnt look like theres anything to hide
the VP took our advice
8 hrs later
18 hrs after incident
gave to corpus christi times
for 2 days I was out there
VP wouldnt say anything
would share info w me either
nd 2 get it out there, answer his Q's
emblematic of one of ways prez showed too much deference to VP
not until that wed
standing outside oval ofc
w VP
looked at me
"I picked fox news to do this"
b/c when the rest of the media reports this
they're going to have to cite fox news when they do so
early april 06
most disillusioning
patrick fitzgerald legal proceeding
prez had secretly auth VP
nboody esle knew abt this
to anonymously get out parts of NIE Iraq WMD
(not incl Valerie Plame)
I had been out there
the prez had bn out there
decrying the selective leaking of classified info
the prez had full authority
10 days later formally declassified that document
nobody eslse knew
except prez, VP, scooter libby
VP had asked to get out there
to discredit joseph wilson
certainly encouraged anon.
NIE: how I foudn out
traveling to NC
prez getting back on AF1
reporter yelled out
prez went into ofc at front of plane
said to me "yeah, I did"
that was when I made up my mind
could no longer stand up there
if keep getting undermined
from within
new WH chf of staff, lking 2 make changes
my time to leave the WH was sped up a bit
writing this bk was not easy 4 me 2 do
some of the conclusions that I came to
I wrote it b/c I reallyw ant to see wash change the way it governs
no monopoly on truth
the truth
as best I know it
from my experience
v. pleased by
how well taken off
hopefully in some small way
make a pos. diff.
loyalty
there was a lot of personal loyalty
only form in democratic govt
to candor, constitutional system itself
truth, am ppl
too often am ppl think loyalty to ind officehold ser should override
can exert corrupt influence on govt itself
-
Im an optimistic guy
I know a lot of ppl think
wash will never change
get the right pres in there
willing 2 embrace
a hi level of opennese w am ppl
a hi level of candor
willingess 2 make it happen
WaPo: ppl who shld rd this bk - have least time - campaigns
I have no illusions
how bitter ugly
it is problem
xfers to governance
if u dont have plan
probably wont be able 2 change things
sen. mccain talked abt 'ending the perm. campaign'
can minimize
gotta have a counterweight to minimize that influence
obama - from beginning
similar to what this pres ran on
so Im encouraged by that talk
we nd 2 be asking teh cnadidates specific Qs'
Q&A
Q moment of epiphany. republican, WH rxn? attacks?
A: a # of frmr colleagues, WH, other parts of admin, v. supportive. dont necessarily agree. but know who i am, sending words of supt.
on street - ppl are understanding. even republicans come up to me. SoCal woman voted republican all her life "not this time".
both sides of the aisle are ready 2 move beyond
better part of 2 decades
this bk was a process
thinking thru these issues
ppl dont see anything bitter abt it
change 4 better
I wld hope this will encourage morem ppl in the inside to share their exepriences.
Q: Iraq. why so anxious? princ. arch. think privately mistake?
A: A # of individuals. disdain 4 tyrants. pres. is an instinctive ldr. you gotta know yr principles, philosophy. in some ways admirable but part of problem as well
once decsn made
Q how impl but not policy
in lockstep
in aftermath of 9/11
wolfowitz, others: in stead of challenging tehse instincts, encouraged them
condi: at times too encouraging vs. bring in ppl who question
Q they regret
A: if iraq didnt have vast oil reserves it wouldnt be a natl security concern
prez faith "everybody has the right to live in freedom
its a Q how you go abt doing that
the driving motivation 4 this prez
belief. coercivelyi. lynchpin 4 xforming rest of middle east
war - time 4 grt transfromation
an oppty to acheive greatness
we dont know what history
some ind. around the prez
i dont think theyv egiven it a 2d thought
if had #'s, I dont think he would have made decsn?
Q: Niger, uranium-seeking, Plame disclosures: supposed Libby had told you?
A: he told he didnt do anyhting. that was part of the problem. same resp fm rove.
I blame myself lking back on this for putting myself in that posn.
I was directed by WH chf of staff to publicly exonerate him
I dont think the prez new when I was directed to do that.
if I had learned, I would have been under obligation
2 share w/investigators
that was one of the problems too
I dont think any prez has truly learned the lessons of watergate
mentality - instead of embracing openness, controversy head on
there might be some rights ppl have
dealing w/it yrslef
b4 it becomes a full-fledged scandal
b4 it goes 2 investigators
keep him away from guilty knowledge
q. depressing
its the reason why so much suspicion abt this admin.
Q press secty job. what changes recommend 4 role?
A: I struggled w/whether to go thru with being press secty
quickly accepted
didnt announce 4 a while
pushed off
not sure go fwd w it
not sure I have flex
to do the job
"most imp thing 4 u to do
make sure u get assurances fm prez
access 2 any mtg, at any time
at any place
this wh so secret, compartmentalized
I would be participating in mtgs
some of more consequential decsns
made in small grp w prez
so i was relying on wrd of others
have access to
-
Q: what resp media have 4 buying into bush WH disastrous lies? how intensive bush cenersohip of media? pushed 2 ask soft q's. shaping narrative.
A dont single out WH reporters. they do great job.
they have a thick wall, tall wall built by this WH
in terms of sharing info
a v. tough job
to try to crack
I was outside that wall myself
my concern not bias
I welcome a liberal media
as long as they are fair
govt tends to be more conservative to moderate
they do become complicit in destruct cult
focusing too much on whos up whos down
some reporters will quietly ack
some steps natl media taken
public editors NYT etc
focus more on underlying truth of things
all of us can help push the media in that direction too
Q - censroship
A: if i had prob w/reporter, go to reporter, then editor, let them know
i didnt feel like punishing reporters
in terms omf access 2 prez
certain ppl never get sitdown interview w prez
Q 'perm campaign' 16 yrs. what, why bad, what other options?
polling
nixon: institutionalize politicaztion of WH. new ofcs: pub comm, liaison
build a bigger political operation inside WH
I think focus ought to be more so on deliberation and compromise
stagecraft
we talk 2 newer level than reagon did
this whole 'politics as war philosophy'
all focused on next election
how manip narrative 2 yr side's advantage
'ofc of strategic iniatives' - also a very political operation.
ppl lk carl rove didnt cre the perm campaign. it created carl rove
last chap - depty chf of staff of govt. statesemanlike figure.
Q: bush strengths, weaknesses?
A: became closer.
decisive. I think hes gone too far w/it.
this prez, every prez nds 2 be able 2 reflect
v. disciplined.
delegates I think too much
sen obama v. disciplined. big picture.
visit wounded soldiers
he does this often
visits the familes of the fallen as well
the only time a little bit of self doubt in his eyes
that quicklky evaporated
'you make sure you finish the job... make sure my son or daughte didnt die in vain". reinforced 'stay the course'
there was genuine care and conern there
Q admin, cheney seek more power 2 presz. repubs reduce pwr of gov?
A: that has been one of the VP's pet projects. may continue. now dem. congress, exercising oversight role as they should be. not getting much cooperation fm the WH.
I held ont o this belief in exec privilege
now believe just a stonewall attempt
investigations
pos impact on this country for the better
Q the book subtitle - who wrote it? You or your editor?
A [it is largely about] how did this presidency veer so badly off course?
Q what shld we bee lking 4 in this election?
A: i want to hear specifics fm the candidates. how they are going to go abt dealing w iraq. forge consensus way fwd to make that happen
you say change... how? once you get in there, certainly a lot of ideas. nobody has bigger bully pulpit
if wililng to 1st foremost embrace openness, candor
Q: your future. how bad do you feel about helping facilitate what went on? do you feel guilty?
A: Courage. I did not want to wait to publish "memoirs," as some do, before I retire from my whole career. I spent some sleepless nights working on this. hopefully it will open new opportunities. Perhaps I will continue working on books, in an academic or some other capacity.
Q: how will your book help young people understand if politics remains a 'noble pursuit'?
A: It is dedicated to those who serve, most importantly to those who are going to serve. hopefully never lose sight of whats most important: their loyalty to truth, to the American people.
I look forward to continuing to talk to young people.