Clinton Veterans Return After Eight Years: Old Offices "Unrecognizable"

For the first time since they threw their old, boxy pagers over the White House fence on Jan. 20, 2001 -- the BlackBerry as we know it wasn't on the market yet -- the alumni of the Clinton Administration have returned to their old haunts.

None of these newly arrived archaeologists would allow their names to be used when discussing their findings; to preserve cooperation with the Bush White House in a handover-of-power that still has 49 days to go, President-elect Barack Obama's top aides have imposed a gag rule. But few can contain their amazement, chiefly at the sheer increase in the size of the defense and national-security apparatus.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Joeblue]

I pictured the inside of the WH to look like something from the Alien movies after Bush living in it.

[Felicty]

How would one get flung Bush monkey sh it off the White House walls?

[BlackTom]

Obama - please double check alll your whitehouse network security, beacuse the bushes won't leave those lines untapped - there is too much money to be made with the inside information.

Bush has publicly and repeatedly abdicated his responsibiliy for the conduct of his illegal wars by deferring to the "commanders on the ground" as in " I'm a commander guy". That is backwards, wrong, stupid, cowardly, and lazy.

[StillAmused]

They were especially stunned by the motion sensors, closed-circuit cameras, listening devices, framed GOP loyalty oath on each wall... and the big Jeebus paintings bearing the legend, "I approve. Kill 'em all. The more, the merrier."

[darthdarcy]

"Gentlemen you can't fight in here, this is the War Room..!"

[sloreader]

One of my favorite movie lines ever. Thanks for reminding me.

[darthdarcy]

Mine too..!

[hardybear]

ditto.

[BSERIUS]

Of course they don't recognize.. 8 years ago the outgoing libs trashed the place...It is already seen that the Bush' administration has head and shoulders more class and character than the Clintons and so far the Obama invasion hasn't shown much better

[vfippinger]

Head and Shoulders Shampoo (you know the itch that will not go away) would be the only thing Bushco has over either Clinton or Obama.
Try reading the article before dumoing your rightwing water.

[Hawka]

Wow, and here I thought the statistics were wrong, but there really are people who still think the Bush Administration was a great thing after all!

[StillAmused]

BSILENT.

[sloreader]

To each their own but I will take outgoing libs over sanctimonious fear mongers any day of the week.

[Joeblue]

Go back to freeperville with your B.S.

[Excitedforfuture]

Are they saying that the government grew under a republican administration? They would never allow that to happen, would they?

[jena132]

Just like it didn't grow under Reagan.

[houstonobserver]

Actually, it displays (pun intended!) the mindset of Bush, which is middle management, and not top management. He seems to want up-to-the-minute info to make snap decisions on what to do next.

You could see Obama consciously take a step backwards and comment that he would have to focus on the big picture during the briefings in Iraq. It was the same with my CEO, and he would chew me out if I gave too many details in the presentations, instead of just enough of the relevant points to let him know what policy decision to make. It's not that he did not like gadgets, and you couldn't pry him away from his iPhone.

I believe Obama would be using the technology responsibly to have high-level meetings and debates with the team, and not with commanders on the ground.

[dm10003]

i've always thought that the new bush sissyhawks were freely using war billions on conservative projects so none went to democrats' social projects. will obama ever learn where all the secret republican bunkers and loot have been hidden?

[createpeace]

I wonder which one of Booshes friends got rich off of that deal.

[getoffthecross]

Imagine going into a coma in the fall of 2000 and waking up today. What a shock to the system it would be to see the state of the union after 8 long years.

I do not envy President Obama or anyone in his administration. They should dedicate an entire season of Dirty Jobs to the clean up effort.

[BioLiberty]

The Veterans Green Job Alliance (http://www.veteransgreenjobs.org) wants the White House to support funding for Veterans Green Job Training in the 2007 energy bill. Appropriations committee funding authorization is waiting. We would like this to be included in his inaugural address as a key point to his economic recovery plan.

He says alternative energy solutions are required to reduce the need for foreign resources. Why not invest in our veterans so that active duty personnel are not required to defend oil shipments in the Middle East?

Members of the VGA staff and Executive Director will be traveling to Washington D.C. to be part of several events related to veterans employment issues including a movie premier of "Leave No Soldier" (www.leavenosoldier.com), Good Jobs Green jobs conferences (www.greenjobsconference.org), and visits with government agency representatives. (www.change.gov).

What our veterans need is a clear presidential and congressional statement that shows America supports the returning troops to plan a key part of America"s new green economy that they sacrificed so much for.

VGA Training Camps in Louisiana, Colorado, and Washington are building a national training program that combines green construction, alternative energy production, and disaster preparedness and response with colleges and community rebuilding projects. Placing the veterans in leadership roles in these training programs will give them careers in the industry of rebuilding America with sustainable solutions.

Thank you,
Gordon Soderberg
Director, Camp New Orleans
Veterans Green Jobs Alliance
http://www.veteransgreenjobs.org

[WFV]

Eight years is a LOOOOOOONG time. Really long.

[DFutureIsNow]

The president should not be running the war, just laying out the strategy. Looks like Bush spent all his day playing war.

[jena132]

What do you wanna bet there's a Playstation or XBox in the Oval Office..........he's had to do something to pass the time over the last eight years - certainly wasn't doing anything meaningful.

[bwilder]

As a technology lover I'd jump at the chance to see this stuff! But I can see where it could be a
mixed blessing and needs to be used wisely by a wise administration. Focusing on the big picture rather than trying to micro manage each individual battle on the ground. I get the feeling that Bush and Cheney were like little boys playing war with a cool video game. Racking up 'points' and giggling each time they scored....we all know Bush's love of video games!

My hopes remain high that Obama and the people he is bringing in will use all of the technology available in an intelligent and mature way. Our new prez has a gift for bringing brilliant minds together and I believe he will manage his people in a responsible and productive way. Obama has the best interest of the country in mind rather than a 'win' at any cost mentality.

It's going to be a long and difficult road, but we are in much better hands now.

[TheIndependenceParty]

Actually it is simply accumulated detritus from this gaggle of goons, ... you know, ... empty Lone Stars, ... Old Granddad's and beef jerky wrappers. The military and defense stuff are just cardboard figures Cheney brought back from a shooting range. Looks different but nothing ServiceMasters couldn't put in order in a week or so. They can clean up almost anything!

[burmajoe1]

Quick call 911 I think I just busted a rib laughing so hard. This is FUNNY!Great comment!