"A Blind Man in a Room Full of Deaf People"

[CaptnKirk]

That's how O'Neill describes his take on Dubya

One of the most knowledgable insiders on the Bush Cabinet - who was dismissed as not conforming to agenda.

{CLIP from Reuters} -

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill likened President Bush at Cabinet meetings to "a blind man in a room full of deaf people," according to excerpts on Friday from a CBS interview.

O'Neill, who was fired by Bush in December 2002, also said the president did not ask him a single question during their first one-on-one meeting, which lasted an hour.

"As I recall it was just a monologue," he told CBS' "60 Minutes," which will broadcast the entire interview on Sunday.

In making the blind man analogy, O'Neill told CBS his ex-boss did not encourage a free flow of ideas or open debate.

"There is no discernible connection," CBS quoted O'Neill as saying. The president's lack of engagement left his advisers with "little more than hunches about what the president might think," O'Neill said, according to the program.

 

[Strk]

I wonder how much is true and how much is out of spite. (I'm not trying to defend anyone, I'm just not a fan of one-sided arguements)

 

[Moonbeam]

Hehe, Captn, The George Bush phenomenon, his provocation of such utter contempt by so many people and his blithe acceptance by so many others is deeply and profoundly intriguing.

In a long life accompanied by an ineffable, yet increasingly obvious knack for a dead on reckoning and reading of people, just like they were an open book, and a gift I can attribute to nothing whatsoever more than merciless self-analysis, nothing has become more obvious than that people fall into types, and that among them are those with a similar capacity to discern the qualities of others based on what I would call an inner integrity that allows them to introspect. But for others who lack this sight the fact that it exists and its good quality as a tool for the appraisal of character is completely invisible. This leaves other types the task of assessment of their fellow humans by other means, and their efforts, where they exist, to impress others of their good quality in the realm of superficial markers. Unseeing they think they are unseen and act according to those external manifestations that impress them, completely unaware that they are obvious to so many as actors.

So there you have my take on why someone like O'Neill might liken Bush to the blind. In the manner of inner insight he does not exist just like Ronald Reagan. And if you possess this sight you know instantly and intuitively what a horror it would be to be lead by someone who lacks it. This is why Bush is a walking disaster. Where there should be vision he's running a program.

Of course in you are among the blind, this will go right over your head.

 

[Witling]

Moony, although I think your second paragraph could have been shorter, I agree with you. But I'm writing because I can't imagine what the "opposition" is going to say to your post -- if they say anything.

 

[UltraQuiet]

One of the most knowledgable insiders on the Bush Cabinet - who was dismissed as not conforming to agenda.

My father in law is a retired VP from Alcoa who knows Paul O'neil. He told me when O'Neil took the job that he was one of the most brutally honest, smartest and non-political person he'd ever known and doubted very seriously whether O'Neil would last very long in that job. He pretty much nailed it.

 

[Zebo]

The one guy that told the truth in this administration was fired (others have resigned Like Ms. Whitman). He was dead on with his Iraq budget predictions...yet another psuedo lie The President tried to hide on run-up/selling of the war if you think about it.

 

[LunarRay]

Some folks say what they know or feel to be true and care less about where the chips may fall. These folks will advise or function from the very nature of their being. If they say or do less than the honorable thing they often become so stressed out that they cannot function. Being factually honest is one of these traits. Often without being asked one may opine as the urge surfaces. One sees what one sees and says what is inside bursting to come forth and address the issue. These type folks are admired for their intellect but not for their willingness to follow blindly or against the core of their beliefs.. O'Neil is this sorta fellow... better suited for academia than government service unless the government service meets his agenda.... Good man O'Neil..

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: Zebo
The one guy that told the truth in this administration was fired (others have resigned Like Ms. Whitman).

That was a very spineless resignation/resignation letter.

I heard about oneils comments this morning and have been waiting for a link to show up. It should be an interesting interview on sunday.

 

[UltraQuiet]

Originally posted by: LunarRay
Some folks say what they know or feel to be true and care less about where the chips may fall. These folks will advise or function from the very nature of their being. If they say or do less than the honorable thing they often become so stressed out that they cannot function. Being factually honest is one of these traits. Often without being asked one may opine as the urge surfaces. One sees what one sees and says what is inside bursting to come forth and address the issue. These type folks are admired for their intellect but not for their willingness to follow blindly or against the core of their beliefs.. O'Neil is this sorta fellow... better suited for academia than government service unless the government service meets his agenda.... Good man O'Neil..

Exactly as my father-in-law described him. A man who fired hundreds of people at Alcoa for falsifying reports, lying, unethical practices, basic dishonesty. If he is as my father-in-law describes him (I have no reason to believe he isn't) then the the comments he made were not made out of spite nor are they dishonest. O'Neil went to DC thinking he could do some good and would be given the autonomy to do so. When policies were put forth that he didn't agree with, he simply lacked the political power base or infighting skills to overcome the opposition. He continued to fight the good fight until he was fired.

 

[kylebisme]

O'Neil in 2004?

 

[Jadow]

Paul O'Neil shouldn't talk. He was utterly inept as Treasury Sec.

 

[sMiLeYz]

Originally posted by: Jadow
Paul O'Neil shouldn't talk. He was utterly inept as Treasury Sec.

Treasury Secretary isn't quite on the same level of position as President of the United States, now is it?

If you're going to attack his credibility by attacking his character and job how about at least google up some dirt on him?

 

[Jadow]

no, but O'neill lost all credibilty after the Bono fiasco. What a tool.

 

[Zephyr106]

I have a vague inkling of this "Bono Fiasco", but pray tell the details. Was it a "fiasco" simply because he "journeyed the world" with a liberal?

Zephyr

 

[Pepsei]

Originally posted by: Jadow
no, but O'neill lost all credibilty after the Bono fiasco. What a tool.

So, what does that mean if Bush choose him as the Sec. of Treasury?

 

[digitalsm]

No O'neil loses all credibility by leaking classified documents. What a moron.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: digitalsm
No O'neil loses all credibility by leaking classified documents. What a moron.

Not suprising that Republicans are smearing O'Neill as soon as this came out.

 

[chess9]

Moonie:

Yah coulda' just said he's a MORON.

Saved a lotta' pixels that way. Ya' know, less is more, that concise thing...no fog...?

-Robert

 

[Miramonti]

To call bush a blind man is misleading, because it overlooks the fact that bush also is deaf and can't speak to save his life.

 

[chess9]

Is it just me or is the rest of America starting to get it?

I think the Boob Wah Zee are rousing, albeit slowly....

-Robert

 

[smashp]

Originally posted by: digitalsm
No O'neil loses all credibility by leaking classified documents. What a moron.

Since When Do you Bush Apologists Care About Classified Leaks?

 

[arsbanned]

Since When Do you Bush Apologists Care About Classified Leaks?

Since it's a document that makes Bush look bad?

Endangering a CIA OP?, pfffft, big deal....

 

[Ldir]

Originally posted by: digitalsm
No O'neil loses all credibility by leaking classified documents. What a moron.

Can you prove this or are you talking out your ass?


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Bush Apologists of America (BAA): pulling the wool over America's eyes since 1980

 

[Ldir]

Originally posted by: Jadow
Paul O'Neil shouldn't talk. He was utterly inept as Treasury Sec.

Because he would not rubber stamp Dubya's second tax cut? You have no clue. I bet you didn't know who O'Neil was a week ago.


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Bush Apologists of America (BAA): pulling the wool over America's eyes since 1980

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: Ldir

Originally posted by: Jadow
Paul O'Neil shouldn't talk. He was utterly inept as Treasury Sec.

Because he would not rubber stamp Dubya's second tax cut? You have no clue. I bet you didn't know who O'Neil was a week ago.


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Bush Apologists of America (BAA): pulling the wool over America's eyes since 1980

The only thing he was inept at was lying. But the guy who replaced him is very good at it. Just ask him about our strong dollar policy