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| What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception | 
 enlarge | Author: Scott Mcclellan
Publisher: PublicAffairs
Category: Book
List Price: $27.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  194 reviews
Sales Rank: 1341
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st. EDITION
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.3
ISBN: 1586485563
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.931
EAN: 9781586485566
ASIN: 1586485563
Publication Date: May 28, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: new and unread, may have small publisher's remainder mark on bottom book edge
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Product Description
Scott McClellan was one of a few Bush loyalists from Texas who became part of his inner circle of trusted advisers, and remained so during one of the most challenging and contentious periods of recent history. Drawn to Bush by his commitment to compassionate conservatism and strong bipartisan leadership, McClellan served the president for more than seven years, and witnessed day-to-day exactly how the presidency veered off course. In this refreshingly clear-eyed book, written with no agenda other than to record his experiences and insights for the benefit of history, McClellan provides unique perspective on what happened and why it happened the way it did, including the Iraq war, Hurricane Katrina, Washington's bitter partisanship, and two hotly contested presidential campaigns. He gives readers a candid look into who George W. Bush is and what he believes, and into the personalities, strengths, and liabilities of his top aides. Finally, McClellan looks to the future, exploring the lessons this presidency offers the American people as we prepare to elect a new leader.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 189 more reviews...
73% Disapprove For Good Reason May 29, 2008
466 out of 585 found this review helpful
Scott McClellan was given information to relay to the press about the Valerie Plame incident. Two years later he became convinced he'd been set up to spread lies - maybe not directly by Bush, but certainly by Rove and Libby, and encouraged by Cheney. That was his apparent tipping point. McClellan rethought the whole tenure of his association with the Bush Administration in Washington, began to have epiphanies, and formed new opinions. He doesn't tell us much we didn't already know or suspect, but boy does he tell it. This time around it's coming from a trusted insider who followed Bush to Washington from Texas. Here are a few of his observations:
*Bush believes his own spin (better known as [...]) and demonstrates a remarkable lack of inquisitiveness.
*Bush favored propaganda over honesty in selling the war. Cheney steered war policy behind the scenes, leaving no fingerprints.
*Bush and his team repeatedly shaded the truth, manipulated public opinion, and sold the Iraq situation in such a way that the use of force appeared to be the only feasible option.
*Contradictory evidence was ignored or discarded, caveats or qualifications to arguments were downplayed or dropped, and a dubious al-Qaida connection to Iraq was played up.
*The Bush administration didn't check their political maneuverings in at the door after the win - instead, they maintained a permanent campaign mode, run largely by Rove.
*Presidential initiatives from health care programs to foreign invasions were regularly devised, named, timed and launched with one eye (or both eyes) on the electoral calendar.
*Operating in the campaign mode means never explaining, never apologizing, never retreating. Unfortunately, that strategy also means never reflecting, never reconsidering, never compromising.
*Bush is out of touch, operates in a political bubble, and stubbornly refuses to admit mistakes.
*The press is partially responsible for giving Bush soft questions and enabling the president.
*Despite the expose, McClellan describes Bush as a man easily intelligent enough to be President, possessing personal charm, wit, and enormous political skills, who did not consciously set out to engage in these destructive practices.
*McClellan asserts, "What I do know is that war should only be waged when necessary and the Iraq war was not necessary."
Let's analyze this a little. All administrations - all humans - try to present themselves in the best possible light, usually to the point of self-deception. Bush insisted from the beginning on certain points of discipline in his administration and under his guidance they did it better - in my opinion, beyond better, extending to abuse of executive power. I don't dislike all the items on Bush's agenda, but it's hard to tolerate a presentation so one-sided it borders on dishonesty. I think McClellan is right in that Bush successfully sold us a bill of goods on Iraq. Even Wolfowitz conceded, "Iraq's supposed cache of WMD's had never been the most compelling casus belli. It was simply one of several. For bureaucratic reasons we settled on one issue, WMD's, because it was the one reason everyone could agree on."
So it wasn't WMD's. Bush was influenced by his war cabinet and others to invade Iraq to seize a valuable piece of real estate. This power grab was going to change the balance of power in the Middle East, change history, and create a legacy for Bush - but he forgot to read the history books. They demonstrate how many times we have attempted to democratize a country and failed - starting with the Philipines in 1898. After the Cold War ended, many democratized of their own accord - when they were ready. War is not a thing to initiate on a hunch.
"Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth or easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tide and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events."
- Winston Churchill
From Someone Who Actually Read the Book... May 30, 2008
182 out of 233 found this review helpful
NOTE: This is a final edited version of the "diary" review I began last week. My local mall bookstore had the book on their shelves less than one week before the official release, so I purchased it and began reviewing it here. In lieu of the drawn out, repetitive "diary," that was previously here; having completed the book I am re-working the review so that it is more cohesive.
Originally I was compelled to join this discussion for a number of reasons. First and foremost is that most of the other reviews at the time (and still) are/were very partisan and from folks who obviously have not read the book. Secondly, over the years my political leanings have changed towards the center. This is a key part of McClellan's book which is obvious to anyone who has read it. The author is a Republican, and has many good things to say about W. Bush and others, and, as you might typically expect from a Republican, negatives about the Clinton Admin. Yet (as we all know) he also criticizes aspects of the current Administration; yet rather than a best-selling "gotcha" work by a Coulter or Franken, he offers up an honest look at the good, the bad, and everywhere in between of all sides of our current political situation.
The book is well structured. It does not begin, as so many of these recent books do, by with 9/11, but instead begins with a look at McClellan's work in the White House, then shifts to the author's beginnings in the political world as the son of one of the nation's first female Mayor's (of Austin, Texas), and relationships with family members such as his Grandfather who was the highly respected Dean of a Law School. This helps the reader become grounded in the moral and ethical upbringing of the author.
The reader sees early on that the author is qualified for the White House job as he served in a like capacity for then Governor George W. Bush in Texas. During this portion of the book, as well as others, the reader is also availed of many of the positives of George W. Bush that helped him to be elected both as a governor and president. He had a record in Texas of reaching across the aisle and working with others for the good of the state. From the author's detailed, yet readable (meaning not boring) accounts of his upbringing the reader can understand right away how he likes the idea of working together for the good of the country. He admits that bare knuckle campaign tactics are used when people run for office, but remembers a time that once the dust had settled, our country used to come together and move forward.
What makes this book even more interesting and enlightening is to be reading it while listening to the all the support/attacks on it from those who have not read it. For instance as McClellan talks in depth about his experience on the campaign trail with W and his (McCl's) part in the Florida recount, the reader sees a loyal Republican team player.
It is around Chapter 5 where the core political analysis from McClellan comes in. He introduces from different books about the concept of "the permanent campaign" - which that chapter's title. Here the book goes from bio to an in depth look at the modern political culture by paring down the various traits i.e. "gotcha politics" and spin machines and more. He ties this into the overall reach of the book by beginning to point out where the new W. administration began to be flawed. He writes on page 72 "Unfortunately, the incoming Bush administration learned some of the wrong lessons by watching the Clinton White House. As they planned for the new regime in Washington, they did nothing to change the status quo." He goes onto explain the "everyman, reach-across the aisle" politician that W was as Governor; they same theme that W campaigned on as president was not appropriately carried over as the people surrounding the new leader of our country decided to play the game by the same Washing rules used by the Clinton's folks (adding that the current administration took that brand of politics a step farther).
The biggest shift in policy of course begins appropriately with 9/11 where we get his interesting insight and perspective to that day and period. Again the author continues with a (in my humble opinion) non-partisan balancing act as he criticizes Carl Rove as the first to make 9/11 a partisan issue, but at the same time has no kind words for one Sen. Clinton who, although not the first, made a big partisan move from the other side of the aisle. It is around this period that shatters the image of hope that McClellan had for the W. Bush admin - one that could break the partisan stuff and work together. He sees 9/11 as a time where we could have built on that, but people went back to their play books.
The book continues with the thesis of what Bush wanted the administration to be but what it became instead, due in no small part to running of the "permanent campaign" which relies too much on propaganda and less on an open sharing and questioning of the issues. Added to this (as we have heard) is the press' blind following of the former, and not earlier on strongly questioning the reasons for going to war with Iraq.
What Happened continues on this vein trough the rest of McClellan's tenure in the administration. I found this to be an open and honest read by a credible person and one that is good for all who have an open mind to pick up and read. The current political game being played out in our time is being played by both parties and the author gives food for thought looking not only at who is to blame (and remember he goes to B0TH sides of the aisle for this), but also what all of our future leaders, including new Presidential Administrations can do to alter this negative course of "gotcha" politics which our country is currently engaged.
 stop brainwashing May 29, 2008
131 out of 203 found this review helpful
since words of this book came out, the "red guards" of bush are questioning scott mcclellan why didn't you say so back then?(so we could fire you years ago?) you supported bush before, now you are criticizing bush government. if you didn't support bush, you shouldn't work for him. etc.
this further proves what this book says is very close to the truth and the bush people are totally pissed. they can't deny facts so they have to find something to attack so they don't look like a bunch of donkeys which they are.
even all those attacks were true, mcclellan indeed worked in bush cabinet againsted his political opinions, even he's writing the book just to make some bucks, so what? bush cannot deny he dragged this country into a stupid war for nothing. he says there were WMDs, oops wrong. he says they were linked to al-qaeda, oops wrong. he says mission accomplished, oops wrong. he says we need to bring democracy to iraq, oops not happening. he says we need to continue to spend BIG money and stay there, oops you are out of office. one thing he accomplished well, 1,000,000 iraqi civilian killed, 4000+ us soldiers killed. and counting.
Messy May 29, 2008
108 out of 168 found this review helpful
Well here we are again, another insider book, and a stream of "no it did not happen that way." Well many of us who had an ounce of scense knew there were no weapons of mass destruction, and we knew this was a war started for politicial gain. Without this war, and the constant massaging of 9/11, to keep America on edge, and the most stupid president in recent history tricked himself into a second term. No the book does not accuse this "NUTT" of trickery in the election campaign, but again clear thinking individuals know there was trickery in both New Mexico, and Ohio. If you did not you were asleep.
As the book reveals it was a slide from the the truth in the very begining. Bush as his gang of non caring "Neo-Cons," went on to murder hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens, not to mention the thousands of American who were murdered, and the tens of thousands who have been crippled. In a war for politicial gain. Yet we are hearing those "Neo-Cons" are screaming at the tops of their lungs "stay the course." Because to quit now would dishonor those who have given their lives, on behalf of America. So how many more young men, and women need to be slaughtered, or crippled so that those who have already died, or been crippled will not have been crippled or murdered in vain?
Mr. McClelland makes it clear this President LIED to America, at every turn. He lied to our allies, and most never took the bait. Then we America pitched a bi*ch at France for not going along. For not wanting to feed it's citizens into the "Buzz Saw" that is Iraq. So a former State Department employee decieded to check things out for himself, went to Niger and found no evidence to support Bush's claims. So those Neo-Cons outed a CIA agent. The wife of the so called nosey former State Department employee. Then claimed she was not a covert agent. But the understanding is you never under any circumstances ID an agent of the CIA. Then came finger pointing and cover up and denial. Like everything else in this Administration there was no wrong doing, and if that is not enough, we will feed them a patsy.
This gang of crooks and clowns, then claimed "Executive Privilege." To cover lies, to cover crooks, to hide what ever. Defy the law, and defy the Constitution, and ignore our Governmental structure. All with the backing and support, and interference from the Neo-Cons in congress, and the Senate. You know those guys who decieded to try to "Impeach" a President who tried to keep a secret of a personal nature, so the push was on he lied, Bush, I mean Clinton lied, yes but no one died. Yet a lack of a backbone amoung the Neo-Cons, and those Liberals, and Bush escapes. Because some put ideals in front of our freedoms, and the Constitution.
Rumsfeld, Powell, Rice, Bush's brain Rove, his White House legal counselor, and yes his press Secretary all played followed the leader, aided Bush in framing, and reenforcing the lies told to the citizens of this nation, and to the world. Drop a lie, and another to cover up the first lie, and so on. And we have this God forsaken war all for politicial gain. Frightenly Bush's twin John McCain is playing the same scare tatics game. We have already been fooled twice, will we be again?
Lies, lies and more lies. Read the book get a look at the secret society that is the "Dunce" Administration. See why we as citizens need to be informed as to what goes on in Washington. See why our complacency is very dangerous for those of us who love our freedoms. Understand why we need a true free press, and why the "Freedom of Information Act" needs to be renewed, and all so called "Executive Privilege" loop holes need to be closed. Why "Executive Privilege" needs to be spelled out in concrete terms, so that no President can hide behind this shield for personal gain. Why the law is for everyone, from the President on down, or should be.
Read the book, though some of this is exactly his point of view, but with the little that has come before the public you will know a great deal of this is truth.
BEING A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA, I GIVE IT AN A+ May 29, 2008
102 out of 152 found this review helpful
Unlike these Bush lovers who call Scott a traiter and evil without even reading the book, this book really shows the true colors of the administration. Scott has held this guilt for years and has finally let it out.
Bush and his secret police will do anything and everything to discredit him. As they have done for every other aide who has written scathing memoirs on Bush.
Before you bash him, read the book!! (I have) Just because you miserable people say its all lies doesnt mean they really are.
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