Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Bush Feels Betrayed, Goes Into Isolation

Update: The way Insight Magazine tells it, Bush Jr. is pissed at Daddy Bush for the barrage of criticism coming from Daddy Bush's intimate circle of friends. Where is Maureen Dowd when you need her? She needs to come back from her book tour and write this one up.

Here's a snippet:

For the president, what triggered the break with his father was the interview given to the New Yorker magazine in October by Brent Scowcroft, who served as national security advisor in the first Bush presidency. In the interview, Mr. Scowcroft criticized the administration's handling of Iraq. The sources said the president is convinced that Mr. Scowcroft consulted with Mr. Bush's father prior to delivering the devastating critique of the president's Iraq policy.

The interview sparked a series of high-level criticism that Mr. Bush believes was coordinated by circles close to his father. Mr. Scowcroft and Mr. Bush's father have been regarded as being best friends.

According to a report up at Drudge, Bush is feeling so betrayed and freaked out that he maintains daily contact with only four people, and they are all women, presumably they are nuturing women.

Bush rarely speaks to father, ‘family is split’

President Bush feels betrayed by several of his most senior aides and advisors and has severely restricted access to the Oval Office, INSIGHT magazine claims in a new report.

The president’s reclusiveness in the face of relentless public scrutiny of the U.S.-led war in Iraq and White House leaks regarding CIA operative Valerie Plame has become so extreme that Mr. Bush has also reduced contact with his father, former President George H.W. Bush, administration sources said on the condition of anonymity.

“The atmosphere in the Oval Office has become unbearable,” a source said. “Even the family is split.”

The sources said Mr. Bush maintains daily contact with only four people: first lady Laura Bush, his mother, Barbara Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes. The sources also say that Mr. Bush has stopped talking with his father, except on family occasions.

Hat tip to Wonkette