October 16, 2003

Shenanigans!

Posted by Ted

Via Atrios, this is not a joke.

Concerned about the appearance of disarray and feuding within his administration as well as growing resistance to his policies in Iraq, President Bush - living up to his recent declaration that he is in charge - told his top officials to “stop the leaks” to the media, or else.

News of Bush’s order leaked almost immediately.

Bush told his senior aides Tuesday that he “didn’t want to see any stories” quoting unnamed administration officials in the media anymore, and that if he did, there would be consequences, said a senior administration official who asked that his name not be used.

UPDATE: This is not a joke, either.

Posted on October 16, 2003 04:20 PM UTC
Comments

Sounds like a reasonable policy to me?

Posted by James Joyner · October 16, 2003 05:01 PM

Sure, and it has been the Bush administration’s stated policy to date, regardless of the reported restatement. What is funny (if you find such things humorous) is Bush’s complete lack of control over his staff, as evidenced by the immediacy of the leak. — If that needs spelling out…

Posted by Jeremy Osner` · October 16, 2003 07:49 PM

It’s most likely a pre-emptive strike against parody.

Posted by Sven · October 16, 2003 07:56 PM

If Bush doesn’t read newspapers anyway, how is he going to see such stories?

Posted by Patterico · October 17, 2003 12:16 AM

Well, hey, seems Irony is de-
gets busted by cliche police

Posted by Matthew · October 17, 2003 11:57 AM

But isn’t this the sort of statement that the administration would want to be made public?

Posted by Tom T. · October 17, 2003 12:56 PM

UPDATE: This is not a joke, either.

Ha ha ha…still it’s pretty funny.

Posted by Cheryl · October 17, 2003 10:34 PM

Linked to this, with some comments.

Posted by Gary Farber · October 18, 2003 08:00 PM

What would be interesting to see from something like a Nexis search is whether the frequency of the use of the term “senior administration official” or similar terms has been trending upward over the course of the Bush Admninistration and whether it is any higher or lower now than in previous administrations.

Posted by Randall Parker · October 18, 2003 11:02 PM
Followups

→ LEAKY LEAKS.
Excerpt: The Joseph L. Galloway and James Kuhnhenn report, Concerned about the appearance of disarray and feuding within his administration as well as growing resistance to...Read more at OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY

This discussion has been closed. Thanks to everyone who contributed.