October 8, 2011
THANKS, W
Recalling best of Bush presidency: a review of THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE: AN INSIDE ACCOUNT OF FAITH AND POLITICS IN THE GEORGE W. BUSH ERA By Timothy S. Goeglein (Ryan L. Cole, 10/07/11, Washington Times)That semi-anonymity ended abruptly in early 2008 when a blogger discovered that Mr. Goeglein had, for some years, used plagiarized material to fill a weekly column in his hometown newspaper. He tendered his resignation shortly after the revelation made national news.
Now, nearly four years later, comes "The Man in the Middle," an account of this fall from grace and everything that led up to it. As such, it provided a perfect opportunity for the author to explain away and make excuses for his mistakes or even wallow in his misfortune. Mr. Goeglein, much to his credit, does not exercise these options.
This is not a book about self-pity or blame-shifting. "I did it knowingly and repeatedly," Mr. Goeglein writes of his indiscretion. "There were no extenuating circumstances or justifications for what I did. It was not a mistake or an oversight. It was not due to sloppiness. I was deceptive, and it was all rooted in vanity and pride." [...]
[T]he most convincing defense of his former boss here is not policy-based. Shortly after his resignation and before his departure, Mr. Bush summoned Mr. Goeglein - at this point, like any fallen figure in Washington, toxic and disposable - to the Oval Office. Apprehensive and expecting to be hauled over the coals, he was stunned by the president's send-off. "I have known mercy and grace in my own life," said Mr. Bush. "I am offering it to you now. You are forgiven." This anecdote is not exactly a vindication of his presidency, but it is welcome affirmation of Mr. Bush's too-little-appreciated decency and bigheartedness.
Posted by oj at October 8, 2011 8:35 AM
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