Posted on 01/09/2004 8:52:46 PM PST by John Jorsett
President George W. Bush's performance at cabinet meetings resembled that of "a blind man in a room full of deaf people", according to Paul O'Neill (pictured), who was fired as Treasury secretary in 2002.
The remarkable personal attack is made by Mr O'Neill in a forthcoming book, according to excerpts from a television interview to be broadcast on Sunday.
In the CBS Sixty Minutes interview Mr O'Neill, the former chief executive of the aluminium company Alcoa, says there was little constructive dialogue between officials and the president.
Speaking about his first meeting with Mr Bush, which lasted about an hour, Mr O'Neill says: "I went in with a long list of things to talk about and, I thought, to engage [him] on.
"I was surprised it turned out me talking and the president just listening . . . It was mostly a monologue."
The interview, one of the first with Mr O'Neill about his time in the administration, prefigures the publication on Tuesday of The Price of Loyalty, a book about the Bu sh White House by the journalist Ron Suskind.
The book is based on interviews with Mr O'Neill and other White House officials as well as documents provided by Mr O'Neill.
Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, on Friday declined to comment on the book or the interview, telling reporters "I don't do book reviews".
Mr O'Neill was forced to resign as Treasury secretary in December 2002 after he declined to give full-hearted support for a new round of tax cuts, in a clear-out that also saw the dismissal of Larry Lindsey, the president's chief economic adviser.
Unlike Mr Lindsey, who took his dismissal with public good grace, Mr O'Neill immediately stormed out of the Treasury to return to his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
During his tenure as Treasury secretary, Mr O'Neill became well-known for speaking out frequently and frankly on a range of subjects including the dollar, the limited value of International Monetary Fund crisis lending and the problems with development aid.
His comments frequently had an impact on financial markets, with one remark about the low likelihood of an IMF rescue package for Brazil causing a rapid fall in the Brazilian currency.
The IMF subsequently announced a $30bn bail-out that succeeded in stabilising the Brazilian economy.
In the television interview, Mr O'Neill also reportedly sheds light on key policy discussions within the Bush administration, including the scale of tax cuts and what action to take against the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein.
And then what happened? The market exploded! I think Bush canned him because he seemed to be more concered with what Bono was doing then what our economy was doing. Now since Bono wont return his calls, O'Neill decided to whine like the little b!tch that he is! Face it Paul, you were sacked because you sucked and didn't know what you were doing! Maybe U2 will rewrite "Still haven't found what I'm looking for" to "Still need to whine just a little more"
| Rank | Location | Receipts | Donors/Avg | Freepers/Avg | Monthlies | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Iowa | 210.00 |
6 |
35.00 |
134 |
1.57 |
35.00 |
2 |
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The exact words Gray Davis used when we started a recall on him. Ah, how they bring back fond memories.
What a surprise!
Hey O'Neill, You can kiss my royal Irish ass! Piss off, moronic Lefty!
He played right field for the Jankees - no?
That's why Dems were sad to see him go.
Washington - US Rep. David Price (D), who serves on the House Budget Committee and the House Appropriations Treasury-Postal Operations Subcommittee, made the following statement today in response to the resignations of US Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill and White House Economic Adviser Lawrence Lindsey.
“As a member of the subcommittee that oversees appropriations for the US Treasury, I have appreciated the opportunity to work with Secretary O’Neill and his staff as our country faces continued economic challenges. I salute him and Mr. Lindsey for their service to our country.
“But their resignations, like that of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Harvey Pitt last month, are effectively an admission by the Bush Administration that its economic program has fallen short and is failing the working families of our country.
The President of the United States listens attentively to everything O'Neill says and that upsets O'Neill? Gotta wonder how this princess made it as far as he did.
Kate Hughes and Ari Fleischer come to mind.
I believe you would be referring to Karen Huges.
The handicapped lobby should jump on him with both wheels.
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