Chapter 8

“If I have erred, I err in company with Abraham Lincoln.” Attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.

“My administration will continue to act on the lesson’s we’ve learned so far …” President Bush Signs 9-11 Commission Bill, November 27, 2002.

“Like certain distinctive wines, President George W. Bush does not travel well.…” Ben Macintyre, “Until You Laugh at Plastic Fish, Bush Will Be a Mystery,” The [London] Times May 25, 2002, p. 26.

“has a lousy legal system,” “Bush would be sitting in prison today,” “The Americans have enough oil,” and “Bush wants to distract attention from his domestic problems.…” Peter Finn, “German Official Compares Bush on Iraq to Hitler,” Washington Post, September 20, 2002, A19.

“If there is dissent within the administration, we never hear about it.” Confidential interview with the author, November 12, 2002.

“He is very focused on what is and is not ‘presidential level.’ …” and “He sniffs ill-conceived stuff by staff with almost unfailing intuition.” Confidential interview with the author, October 7, 2002.

“Reaching out and embracing different perspectives…” Confidential interview with the author, November 6, 2002.

“All the incomprehensible maneuvering and circumvention does more than waste time…” Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., “The Budget-Busting Habit Must End,” Washington Post, June 5, 2001, A21.

“throwing the U.S. taxpayers’ money,” “doesn’t seem brilliant to me,” “He doesn’t inspire much confidence,” “He seems to put his foot in his mouth and stumble…,” and “There are a lot of people who would like to see him gone in the next half hour.” Jonathan Weisman, “Taking Stock of Paul O’Neill,” Washington Post, July 18, 2002, E1.

“political pi ata,” Stephen Labaton, “Praise to Scorn: Mercurial Ride of S.E.C. Chief,” New York Times, November 10, 2002, A1.

“The auditing of the auditors has been as reliable as the auditors themselves.” “Three Regulators Gone,” Washington Post, editorial, November 13, 2002, A26.

“a key advocate of my administration’s agenda for growth, new jobs, and wider and more international trade.” Bush statement on naming John Snow as Secretary of the Treasury, December 9, 2002.

“When I take action, I’m not going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt.” Dana Milbank, “At Crisis Time, A Motherlode of Bush Traits,” Washington Post, September 6, 2002, A1.

“The government can offer no legal or practical excuse for excessive delay.” Ellen Nakashima, “Bush View of Secrecy Is Stirring Frustration,” Washington Post, March 3, 2002, A4.

“They seek to compel the vice president to give up documents…” Neely Tucker, “Cheney-GAO Showdown Goes to Court,” Washington Post, September 28, 2002, A5.