Thursday, July 10, 2008
The scrubs are in charge
One has the feeling that there is nobody left in the White House who knows how to play this game:
Mr Bush also faced criticism at the summit after Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, was described in the White House press pack given to journalists as one of the "most controversial leaders in the history of a country known for government corruption and vice".
The White House apologised for what it called "sloppy work" and said an official had simply lifted the characterisation from the internet without reading it. (emphasis added)
Without reading it? I understand quoting some part of an article without reading the rest of it -- I and other bloggers take that perilous shortcut more often than we like to admit -- but even I, an obvious hack, read the text that I actually cut and paste. In fact, how do you not do that?
7 Comments:
By 
, at
Thu Jul 10, 10:59:00 PM:
Mis-speaking has been an inherent part of Bush and his administration since he became President. This is yet more egg on the face of America.
By , at
Thu Jul 10, 11:15:00 PM:
"Without reading it?"
Beyond the common definition of dumb.
By 
Larry Sheldon, at
Thu Jul 10, 11:30:00 PM:
Maybe not dumb. Consider the word "mole".
By Purple Avenger, at
Fri Jul 11, 12:02:00 AM:
Well, its true the Italian governments have been rife with corruption and scandal. They routinely have porn stars running for office, public services are ineptly managed, money wasted in the most egregious manner, etc.
By Chris, at
Fri Jul 11, 01:40:00 AM:
There's a bunch of staff phoning in their last 200 or so days, obviously. Too bad for us.
By TigerHawk, at
Fri Jul 11, 06:00:00 AM:
I think, Purple Avenger, that truth is not really a defense in this situation. In fact, truth is the problem. But that is really beside the point, isn't it?
By , at
Fri Jul 11, 07:42:00 AM:
Not only is truth not a defense, in the world of diplomacy truth is the most egregious offense.
