O’NEILL’S BACKHANDED ENDORSEMENT
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James Joyner | Tuesday, January 13, 2004 |
The Corner has an extended transcript of former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill’s appearance on the Today show. I find this rather telling:
COURIC: Very quickly, will you vote for President Bush in November?O’NEILL: Probably. I don’t see anybody that strikes me as better prepared and more capable.
On the one hand, it’s not surprising that a guy Bush appointed to a major cabinet office would tend to vote Republican even if he disagrees with many Administration policies. But given that he has written a book saying that the Bush team is woefully inept, saying that the Democratic contenders are even less qualified to hold the office is a harsh judgment indeed.
(Hat tip: Dodd Harris)
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
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But hey, Bush is "out of it" and "disengaged" in the Cabinet meetings. Would I vote for him? Sure!
That makes lots of sense!
As I say, it either means that O'Neill was being hyperbolic about Bush or he really thinks Dean and Co. are dolts!
I don't know about that. For a lifelong Republican politico and former cabinet officer to say only "probably" is actually pretty damning....
Kevin: True enough. On the other hand, he's saying that of a president about whom he obviously feels some personal bitterness--he was fired, after all. One would think he'd be endorsing Clark, Lieberman, or somebody as being a saner choice. That he can't bring himself to do that says something. I'm not sure what--but something.
What did Katy Couric's face look like after he said this? I didn't see it. I could only imagine how distorted it was.
O'Neill has not written a book.
This signals the end of Paul O'Neill's integrity. Who will trust him after this? He signed on to an administration and then began acting like HE was president. What a clueless buffoon.
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