Suskind: "My Office Is Now the Government in Exile" for Disaffected Repubs

[BurtWorm]

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/20/ron_suskind/print.html

So they thought there was a connection with Bush. They thought there would be a follow-through, that he meant what he said during the 2000 campaign?

They thought a whole variety of things, and then they saw what "is" is. And some of them were troubled by it, and some of them have been, frankly, frightened by it. These are Republicans who in significant numbers have been coming to my office. One of the jokes is that my office is now the government in exile for Republicans. They come because they're concerned -- not as members of a political party but as American citizens. That's what they say over and over. And they take not insubstantial risks to come.

I recently talked to Roger Porter, who's someone I talk to not infrequently. He was the domestic policy chief for Bush 41, and he's now a Harvard professor in American government. He is part of the tribe of old rock-ribbed Republicans, many of whom have served presidents over the past 30, 40 years. And Porter says a key distinction is that in other administrations, key officials and members of the Cabinet -- people of consequences and expertise -- were brought into the conversation.

Every president, he says, wants his administration to stay on message. The difference here is that other presidents have allowed top officials, experts, men who run parts of the government to be involved in writing the song sheet. This president decided very early on that this was not going to happen. the president does not hear a wide array of alternatives, that can create significant dangers and bad outcomes.

I don't just talk to Democrats; I know what they're going to say. I'm talking to Republicans who have personal experience with the president or with his innermost circle. Those are my sources. And the fact is, many of them have been calling over the last few days to say thank you for writing this story.

[Cha]

1. Cool! I'll read this story later when

I get back from getting some more printer paper!

[murielm99]

2. He thinks * will win.

:(

[BurtWorm]

3. That's because he knows what the Republicans are capable of

to hold onto power.

[kaitykaity]

4. So they don't all drink the Kool Aid.

Who knew?

[jonnyblitz]

5. he predicts bush will win. ( mentioned at the end of the interview)

:(