(Woodward's) book is net-positive for Obama...

[babylonsister]

PLAYBOOK FACTS OF LIFE: The book is net-positive for Obama, portraying him as thoughtful, decisive, seeking advice, and knowing what he knows and what he doesn't. The White House knew from its predecessors' experiences that it had to manage the process with Woodward or get burned, and the cooperation paid off. The headlines from the book are being driven by administration divisions over last year's Afghanistan-Pakistan review that the White House TOUTED at the time (in an intended contrast with Bush, and effort to build support for the eventual policy across the political spectrum) as a sign that the president was considering alternatives and welcomed debate.

more...

http://www.politico.com/playbook/0910/playbook1181.html

[vaberella]

1. The New York Times didn't play it out that way. But thanks for this. n/t

[Enrique]

2. duh, that's why Woodward gets access

a lot of shit gets thrown around about Politico and Woodward and the press corps in general, and the shit that is most important is that they puff up presidents to get access. Who represents this more perfectly than Bob Woodward and Mike Allen?

[otohara]

3. Why Would They Let Woodward

in the door?

I don't get it?

[babylonsister]

6. From the link in the OP...

“The White House doors swung wide for the world’s most successful non-fiction writer. … ‘Obama’s Wars,’ Bob Woodward’s 16th book—the previous 15 have all been best-sellers and often dominated the news upon release—comes out Monday . … Woodward surprised top defense and intelligence officials by coming in for interviews armed with classified maps, in some cases labeled with code names for clandestine operations. … Part of Woodward’s magic comes from his long relationships after more than 30 years as Washington’s most famous reporter. Woodward has known Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the war in Afghanistan, since he was a major. He has known the White House national security adviser, Gen. James Jones, since he was a colonel.

“In addition to White House insiders, there are the less obvious sources: diplomats posted to Washington from other countries (the Pakistani embassy seems to be a big source), and less-heralded officials in the military (including retired general and senior Defense Department civilians), State Department and intelligence bureaucracies. … Woodward ‘takes that information and reads it back to the White House, and they decide to play ball with him,’ an aide said. Another administration official explained: ‘He sequences his interviews in a way that he can impress the higher-ups with what he knows already. Then it’s harder not to talk.’ … Instead of thinking, ‘I’m talking to Bob Woodward: I’d better be careful,’ sources tend to think, ‘I’m talking to Bob Woodward. I’d better tell him something good.’ This effect is said to be especially vivid when he invites sources into his Georgetown dining room.”

[global1]

4. How Does Woodward Get Actual Quotes From People At Meetings That Pertain To War?.......

I've read quotes from Petraeus and Biden this a.m. that came from intensive meetings about the war effort in Afghanistan. How does he get these quotes and minutes to the meetings? Does he have security clearance? Are people smuggling the minutes out of the WH and to him? I just don't get it.

Here we have Cheney declaring top secret executive privilege for the meetings he had with the oil and energy people - and with this situation - where they are talking war strategy - it's all out in the open.

What's going on?

[Enrique]

5. he got similar access with Bush

the "slam dunk" quote came from Woodward. That was the CIA director talking to the president about pretty sensitive stuff.

[babylonsister]

7. He was given access; from the link in the OP...

but keep in mind this 'is' politico...


“The White House doors swung wide for the world’s most successful non-fiction writer. … ‘Obama’s Wars,’ Bob Woodward’s 16th book—the previous 15 have all been best-sellers and often dominated the news upon release—comes out Monday {with sneak peaks, excerpted below, in NYT and WP today]} … Woodward surprised top defense and intelligence officials by coming in for interviews armed with classified maps, in some cases labeled with code names for clandestine operations. … Part of Woodward’s magic comes from his long relationships after more than 30 years as Washington’s most famous reporter. Woodward has known Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the war in Afghanistan, since he was a major. He has known the White House national security adviser, Gen. James Jones, since he was a colonel.

“In addition to White House insiders, there are the less obvious sources: diplomats posted to Washington from other countries (the Pakistani embassy seems to be a big source), and less-heralded officials in the military (including retired general and senior Defense Department civilians), State Department and intelligence bureaucracies. … Woodward ‘takes that information and reads it back to the White House, and they decide to play ball with him,’ an aide said. Another administration official explained: ‘He sequences his interviews in a way that he can impress the higher-ups with what he knows already. Then it’s harder not to talk.’ … Instead of thinking, ‘I’m talking to Bob Woodward: I’d better be careful,’ sources tend to think, ‘I’m talking to Bob Woodward. I’d better tell him something good.’ This effect is said to be especially vivid when he invites sources into his Georgetown dining room.”