Former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill’s new book, “The Price of Loyalty,” has been getting huge amounts of press even though it won’t be released until January 13. A Google search reveals hundreds of news articles about the book and it remains in the NY Times' Most E-mailed Articles and CNN’s Most Poular listings.
The media has seized upon two quotes from the still unreleased book. First was this gem, used by the New York Times:
President Bush was so disengaged during Cabinet meetings that he was like a "blind man in a roomful of deaf people."The second, is this highlighted by CNN:
The Bush administration began planning to use U.S. troops to invade Iraq within days after the former Texas governor entered the White House three years ago, former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill told CBS News' 60 Minutes.Steven Green, of VodkaPundit, isn’t surprised or impressed with O’Neill’s revelations. The VodkaPundit says it isn’t surprising to see tell all books authored by former administration officials in a presidential election year. However, it is surprising that this is the worst O’Neill has to offer.
The other Steven, I have been known to confuse these two Stevens, PoliBlog’s, Steven L. Taylor, has posted about O’Neill’s book twice. First, Taylor notes the “blind man” quip. Second, he points out the double edged sword presented by the O’Neill’s assertion that the Iraq war was planned before 9-11. Taylor notes it refutes the claim "they didn't have a plan" and Clark’s “thesis that Cheney talked him into it.”
According to Newsweek, the administration has this to say about O’Neill’s allegations:
An administration official told NEWSWEEK, "We didn't pay attention to the crazy things he said while he was here, so why would we start now after he's gone?" (O'Neill has told friends he regrets his comment but will have to "live with it.")
Advantage Bush.
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