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Book: Laura Bush vs. Hillary Clinton
NewsMax ^ | April 4, 2006 | Jim Meyers

Posted on 04/03/2006 2:23:38 PM PDT by Tut

Book: Laura Bush vs. Hillary Clinton

A new book by best-selling author Ronald Kessler – "Laura Bush: An Intimate Portrait" – has Hillary Clinton supporters hopping mad as it strips off the veneer of Sen. Clinton's image as first lady.

Kessler's book hadn't even hit bookstores – it's released Tuesday – when the pro-Clinton magazine Vanity Fair did a pre-emptive strike on the book – attacking it as a "valentine" to Mrs. Bush with what VF claimed were "fluffball quotes" and "dubious factoids."

Clinton allies have reason to be angry with Kessler. His White House tell-all paints an extremely unflattering portrait of the Clintons.

Having spoken to dozens of White House employees who worked under both administrations, Kessler reports that when George and Laura Bush moved into the White House in 2001, staffers were relieved.

The book reveals that the Clintons had treated Secret Service agents and household help with disdain and made few attempts to engage them in friendly conversation.

"Bush and his wife treated you normally, decently," said one former agent. "They had conversations with us."

George Bush was "the complete opposite of Clinton."

And Laura was apparently the opposite of Hillary – at least that's how the White House staff saw it.

White House elevator operator Harold W. Hancock once told a visitor about the Bushes: "I love these people. They're so courteous. The previous inhabitants never knew my name."

When Hancock passed away in 2002, the Bushes attended his funeral.

Hillary Clinton was quoted in The New York Times, "[Hancock] always cheered me up, because he was always so upbeat and positive and nice." But other White House staff members were shocked by Hillary's statement, knowing that Hancock said Hillary would barely recognize him though she met him almost every day she was in the White House.

The Bushes and the Clintons also differed in how they treated the White House itself.

The Clintons had used the White House to court fund-raisers, putting up political supporters in the Lincoln Bedroom. The Bushes, on the other hand, have given overnight privileges only to dignitaries, family members and longtime friends.

When Hillary gave Laura a tour of the Executive Mansion, Laura – who had previously stayed at the White House when her father-in-law was president – was "quietly dismayed" at the condition of the residence, author Kessler revealed.

The residence décorations appeared gaudy. Carpets and furniture had been allowed to fray and there were exposed electrical conduits in several areas. But the Clintons' real irreverence for the White House came to light after Bill left office, when stories broke that the Clinton staff had "trashed" the mansion before leaving.

Clinton supporters called the report an "urban legend." In response, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer detailed some of the damage in the White House and the adjacent Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

The Washington Post quoted Fleischer as saying that the damage included the removal of the letter "W" from 100 computer keyboards, 75 telephones with cover plates missing or plugged into the wrong wall outlets, 10 cut phone lines, two historic doorknobs missing, obscene graffiti in six offices, overturned desks, usable office supplies in the trash, and a White House photocopy machine with pictures of naked people in the paper tray.

Clinton supporters said they didn't believe the report, although some staffers confirmed that they had removed the "W" from several keyboards.

The final, official report from the Government Accounting Office, released on June 11, 2002, did not confirm all of Fleischer's allegations, but did state that the damage included the loss of 62 computer keyboards, 26 cell phones, two cameras, 10 antique doorknobs and several presidential medallions.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bookreview; clintonoids; clintoonpresidency; doubletrailerlibrary; firstlady; godblesslaura; hitlery; intimateportrait; laurabush; lauraisthebest; ronaldkessler; trailerparktrash; x42
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1 posted on 04/03/2006 2:23:39 PM PDT by Tut
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To: Tut

So, what kind of people would trash the White House before leaving?


2 posted on 04/03/2006 2:26:09 PM PDT by Tut
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To: Tut

The Toons are the epitome of white trash. Always were, always will be.


3 posted on 04/03/2006 2:28:28 PM PDT by libs_kma (USA: The land of the Free....Because of the Brave!)
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To: Tut

Immature, potty mouthed. infantile, beligerant, little baby junior son-of-a-bitch. In other words your typical DU'er.


4 posted on 04/03/2006 2:28:36 PM PDT by massgopguy (massgopguy)
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To: Tut
So, what kind of people would trash the White House before leaving?

The trailer-trash type.


5 posted on 04/03/2006 2:30:58 PM PDT by Ladysmith ((NRA, SAS))
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To: Tut

I wonder if Ronald Kessler will be appearing on the morning talk shows, and Larry King.


6 posted on 04/03/2006 2:31:14 PM PDT by sarasotarepublican (Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reason.)
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To: Ladysmith

I have to laugh every time I see that. Someone put it over on Billy Jeff big time.


7 posted on 04/03/2006 2:32:22 PM PDT by Bahbah
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To: Tut


Ahhhh...I miss the days of MTV's celebrity death match.


8 posted on 04/03/2006 2:32:33 PM PDT by in hoc signo vinces ("Houston, TX...a waiting quagmire for jihadis. American gals are worth fighting for!")
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To: Tut

White trash hillbillies, a/k/a the Klintoon Gang?


9 posted on 04/03/2006 2:32:59 PM PDT by Cecily
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To: Tut

I got notification from Amazon yesterday, that my copy of this book has been shipped...can't wait!


10 posted on 04/03/2006 2:34:17 PM PDT by Txsleuth (~~~~~~FREEPATHON TIME~~~~~~)
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To: Tut
So many books, so little time...


11 posted on 04/03/2006 2:37:58 PM PDT by CedarDave (Islam: The pit bull of religions)
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To: Txsleuth

So's mine, I can't wait to hear how they cover-up the GAO report. "it's a conservative lie" YUCK YUCK YUCK!!!!!!!!


12 posted on 04/03/2006 2:44:17 PM PDT by snowman1
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To: Tut
So, what kind of people would trash the White House before leaving?

Those who have no respect for it and only use it for their own selfish purposes.

13 posted on 04/03/2006 2:48:27 PM PDT by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done, needs to be done by the government.)
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To: Txsleuth

Just ordered mine!


14 posted on 04/03/2006 2:50:20 PM PDT by Graybeard58 (Remember and pray for Sgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
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To: Mind-numbed Robot
So, what kind of people would trash the White House before leaving?

Bums........like the people who voted for them!

15 posted on 04/03/2006 2:50:36 PM PDT by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (Toon Town, Iran...........where reality is the real fantasy.)
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To: Tut

Class vs. Crass


16 posted on 04/03/2006 2:54:17 PM PDT by ops33 (Retired USAF Senior Master Sergeant)
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To: Graybeard58

Great...I wish this book would outsell that book of lies that Hillary put out, but I doubt it!


17 posted on 04/03/2006 2:55:48 PM PDT by Txsleuth (~~~~~~FREEPATHON TIME~~~~~~)
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To: Temple Owl

ping


18 posted on 04/03/2006 2:59:09 PM PDT by Tribune7
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To: Ladysmith
Then, there's this classic..............


19 posted on 04/03/2006 3:00:23 PM PDT by MamaLucci (Mutually assured destruction STILL keeps the Clinton administration criminals out of jail.)
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To: Ladysmith

The architect of that museum was a genius with a great sense of humor who will probably never work again in New York or L.A.


20 posted on 04/03/2006 3:00:37 PM PDT by Tribune7
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