Matt Latimer on Speech-Less: Tales of a White House Survivor
I had a conversation with Matt Latimer earlier this week. Matt was a speechwriter for former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and President George W. Bush. He also worked briefly for Senators John Kyl and Mitch McConnell.
Speech-Less is a detailed account of his experiences in the Senate, the Pentagon and White House. The book has ruffled the feathers of several members of the Bush administration, notably Dana Perino, Ed Gillespie, and Bill McgGurn.
Most of their criticism can be attributed to their unwavering loyalty (never mind facts to the contrary) to Bush–no matter the circumstances. What’s interesting, however, is that quite a bit of their criticism has had to be retracted or can be easily refuted. In fact, in the case of Ed Gillespie, he almost validates Latimer’s assertion that Bush was not a conservative.
I’ve read that Latimer was frustrated by the president’s speech to CPAC in 2008, and thought that the president didn’t fully understand the conservative movement.
There is some truth to the latter point. President Bush did not come up through the conservative ranks the way I did, but that doesn’t make him a man of “ideological incoherence,” as Latimer describes his administration.
NRO readers can judge for themselves whether or not George W. Bush was a staunch defender of conservative principles.
Ed’s right: I can judge whether or not W. was a “staunch” defender of conservative principles. He wasn’t.
Why wouldn’t Gillespie defend Bush? Bush helped him become chairman of the Republican Party and then hired him as White House communications director. Of course he’s going to defend him!
Same with Perino. As White House Press Secretary Perino might have been slightly better than Scott McClellan, but that’s not saying much. Perino criticized Latimer’s book simply based on an excerpt. Once the book was released Perino had to re-calibrate her criticisms.
Speech-Less confirmed most of my thoughts about several members of the Bush administration, including Karl Rove, Dan Bartlett, Josh Bolten, Hank Paulson, and Robert Gates.
It also confirmed my suspicion that Defense Secretary Robert Gates was behind the decision not to re-nominate Pete Pace for chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
Latimer describes some of the bigger problems that the GOP faces like what he terms “consultant-itis”–political consultants who play both sides of the aisle, or are more concerned with their status and power in Washington than with principles or ideologies.
He’s right.
I would highly recommend this book to every conservative out there. It’s a must-read for conservatives who seek to retake the Republican Party.
Go buy it.
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Comments
Thanks Matt. The GOP better hope for its sake that you’re right. Contrary to what Rush is saying there is a groundswell of conservative momentum against the GOP that hasn’t been experienced until now. The American People are fed up with both political parties.
I would submit that this is why Glenn Beck has enjoying tremendous success on TV. As he reiterates constantly: this isn’t about Left or Right. The Democrats and Republicans care only about their power and status within their respective parties.
If the GOP believes that the old political assumption that conservatives need the Republican Party more than it needs conservatives still holds they’re in for a surprise post-2010. The GOP will go in one of two directions. It will either move further to the Left, or it will fade into irrelevancy.
Good one Josh. I think that the GOP is about to start learning that ideology just isn’t one thing…it’s the only thing!