Tuesday 10 January 2006

Garlic Exclusive!
White House Calls In Scandal Leaders Of Past For Strategy Session

Watergate, Abscam, Whitewater Figures To Offer Expertise' "All Options Are On The Table"

For the second time in a week, President Bush and the White House have called in and hosted a group of high-powered former government officials - this morning, participants in former Capital Hill scandals - for a detailed briefing and strategy session, concentrating on the myriad of problems circling around the administration.

One of the goals of the session, according to sources close to the administration, was to seek advice and counsel on spinning blame for the growing problems, scandals and indictments facing the Bush Administration, and Republican Party, on to the Democrats and Media.

This follows the surprising, and unusual move by the President last week, of bringing in a number of former Secretaries of State and Defense, as a means of getting feedback on his Iraq War and policies.

Among those attending the meeting this morning included Watergate figures, G. Gordon Liddy, an operative, and former Nixon White House legal counsel John Dean, former Congressman Michael "Ozzie" Myers (D-PA) and Frank Thompson (D-NJ), convicted in Abscam, former Senator Larry Pressler (R-SD), who was approached for a bribe in Abscam and but refused to accept it, and Clinton friends James McDougal and Susan McDougal, as well as Clinton White House counsel Webster Hubbel, who were all involved in the Whitewater scandal.

Former chairman, Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski (D-IL) was invited, but could not attend. Presently, there are no scandals or charges pending against anyone for stealing stamps.

As with last week's meeting of former Secretaries of State and Defense, huddling with the participants of past crimes and misdemeanors is another element in the aggressive public relations push by the Bush and the White House, and is another tool in the "Bushapalooza: Strategy For A Scandal" announced last week.

White House Press Secretary said in a briefing that "the President was very pleased with the meeting this morning."

"As with last weeks' group, these are good solid Americans who understand that we've got to succeed now that we're in these scandals. The President is most grateful for the suggestions they've given and takes to heart the advice.''

White House and Bush stenographer Bob Woodward, author and Washington Post reporter, was in attendance, at the special invitation of President Bush

"I think,: offered Hugh P. Varicator, a consultant with the conservative think tank, 'Cry Wolf', "the White House staff talked the President into inviting Bob. Chances are he'll write a book on this and there'll be a positive spin for the President … They're looking to write, or burnish, his history … If the can rewrite it on-the-fly, all the better …"

Varicator could not confirm if Woodward was writing or reporting on the meeting, or if he intended to sit on the story for two-years.

Woodward could not be reached for comment, and is said to be in continued talks with moving to The New York Times, who have already stated that they would allow him to sit on stories.

The group overwhelmingly approved blaming the media as much as possible. They are said to support the jailing of journalists who hold to protecting sources, mainly because "it ties up the case in court for months, even possibly, years".

An agenda page leaked to The Garlic, scheduled was a 15-minute discussion on indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The President was seeking input on how to shift this from a Republican scandal, over to the Democrats.

According to a source that was familiar with the meeting notes, the President already had statements from Congressman Tom DeLay, denouncing Abramoff, citing his innocence and "pointing the finger at Democrats and overzealous prosecutors".

There was one tense and terse moment in the meeting, coming when John Dean, jailed for his role in the Watergate scandal, suggested resignation to President Bush.

Bush is said to have been upset with the suggestion, and had Vice President Dick Cheney swear at and berate Dean.

"Dean argued," according to the source, "that, to be fair, all options have to be on the table"

At one point, the meeting was interrupted, when Alexander Haig, former Secretary of State during the Reagan Administration, and who attended last week's special meeting, popped in to see if he was needed to "be in charge".

Members of the Lincoln Group were also at the meeting, and served as facilitators at one point, according to the agenda, when the members of the meeting broke into smaller groups, to brainstorm specific scenarios on placing the blame for the scandals away from the Bush Administration.

The Lincoln Group staffers recorded the ideas from the groups and will later provide the White House with press releases and copy they could plant in the media.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich closed the meeting, with a motivational speech and his own suggestion, of having the White House and Republican Leaders craft a "Contract For America II".

Gingerich led a Republican takeover of Congress in 1994 with his "Contract For America", as its' platform, Gingrich was eventually hit with ethics charges of his own and was subsequently forced from his leadership position.

Gingerich allegedly told the meeting members that "Contract For America II" should allow for "extramarital affairs", citing that "in the post-Clinton world of politics, sex scandals don't last more then a few news cycles".

















Reports that the Bush Administration, and the NSA have "lost track" of who they are wiretapping, have President Bush retreating to Air Force One each evening, to make his telephone calls from a secure line