Secret Bush Tapes Given to White House (turned over to GWB's private attorney)

AP via Yahoo News ^ | 3/1/05

[Wolfstar]

WASHINGTON - Tapes of President Bush that were secretly recorded by an old friend and released to the media now are in the possession of the president's private attorney, the White House said Tuesday. "It's a matter that we consider closed at this point," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

Doug Wead allowed journalists to hear and broadcast the tapes as he promoted his new book on presidential parents. But he said last week he had regrets about that and was turning the tapes over to Bush and giving the proceeds from his book to charity.

On the tapes, recorded over the course of the two years before Bush became the Republican presidential nominee in 2000, Bush discusses strategy for his first presidential run and appears to acknowledge past drug use. He says he would refuse to answer questions about using LSD, cocaine and marijuana because "I don't want any kid doing what I tried to do 30 years ago."

"They are in private hands," McClellan said of the tapes. He declined any further comment.

[Wolfstar]

From the Agence France Press version of the story"

"They are in private hands now," McClellan told reporters, saying they had been given to Bush's personal lawyer.

However, the White House spokesman refused to say whether or not the tapes would be destroyed.

McClellan signalled that the White House now considers the matter closed.

"If there's any more to add, I'll let you know. But it's a matter that we consider closed at this point," he said.

[cripplecreek]

This should send the DUmmies into raging fits.

[NCC-1701]

They were turned over only after copies were made to be used for some yet-to-be-determined hack job on W.

[RockinRight]

What's wrong with what he said?

[twigs]

They will certainly think this is the long arm of Pr. Bush's secret police. It shows that as bad a mistake as Wead made, he was able to admit it and do what was right. He can't change what he did, but he did what he could after he blundered. We see far too little of that these days.

[Wolfstar]

This should send the DUmmies into raging fits.

No doubt. In fact, Howard Dean is busy righ this minute trying to think up a fresh way to say how evil we Republicans are -- to which I say, put some ice on it, Howie.

[cripplecreek]

I tend to agree. Wead made a dumb move but I don't believe there was any real malice intended. In the end the tapes only prove the president to be a man of true honor.

[youngtory]

is Bush going to sue?

[Wolfstar]

They were turned over only after copies were made to be used for some yet-to-be-determined hack job on W.

I wouldn't be surprised at all.

[cake_crumb]

"Doug Wead allowed journalists to hear and broadcast the tapes as he promoted his new book on presidential parents. But he said last week he had regrets about that and was turning the tapes over to Bush and giving the proceeds from his book to charity."

Translation: "There were no bombshells in there to pull in the $$$$ from powerful leftists like Soros and Gates, my book isn't going to sell because the market base I hoped to pull in is disgusted with me, I'm persona non grata with the family of the man who's trust I betrayed, so I'm going to suck up and see if I can get back into their good graces"

[Wolfstar]

What's wrong with what he said?

???

[RockinRight]

What Bush reportedly said in the tapes...

[AD from SpringBay]

"They are in private hands now,"

Just like the remaining Clinton/Monica answering machine tapes that none of the dinosaur media are interested in.

[Wolfstar]

They will certainly think this is the long arm of Pr. Bush's secret police.

But of course the Dims will think this. So will some of the more far-out conspiracy loving members of the far-right fringe. But the rest of us can hope that Wead simply tried to right a wrong he did.

[Wolfstar]

Is Bush going to sue?

I don't know, but doubt it. If the matter is really dead, he's better off letting it stay that way.

[Wolfstar]

In my opinion, there's a great deal of truth in your translation.

[Wolfstar]

Oh. Nothing that I could determine.

[A CA Guy]

I'm glad they got to the lawyer before they were burgled away. I hope the lawyer moves them to a secure place away from burglers as well.

[Wolfstar]

The dinosaur media are SOOOO disappointed there wasn't anything truly dishy on GWB in the Wead tapes.

[Wolfstar]

I'm glad they got to the lawyer before they were burgled away.

I hadn't thought of that possibility. Notice the author of the Agence France Presse piece I excerpted was wringing his hands over the possibility the tapes could be destroyed. I'm sure the President and his legal advisors will listen to all of them, then decide how to dispose of them. If there's nothing particularly damaging in them, they could wind up in the GWB presidential archives someday.