Milbank: 'Full confidence' just another White House euphemism

[Robbien]

By Dana Milbank
The Washington Post
December 19, 2004


WASHINGTON -- "We have full confidence in his integrity," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said of would-be Homeland Security Secretary Bernard Kerik -- mere hours before the nomination was doomed by reports of unpaid taxes to an undocumented nanny, unreported gifts from an unsavory company and an unpleasant lawsuit linked to an unseemly lovers' tryst.

The White House's rapid distancing from and disparaging of Kerik suggest that McClellan and his colleagues had something less than "full confidence" in Kerik from the start. But that logic implies that when White House officials say "full confidence," they mean "full confidence." In fact, the phrase has become a Bush euphemism, a warning to the person in question that this might be a good time to circulate the resume.

Iraq administrator Paul Bremer had President Bush's "full confidence" -- but his incautious admission that more U.S. troops were needed in Iraq later cost him a top job in the second term. Attorney General John Ashcroft enjoyed the "full confidence" of the president before a series of tussles with the White House made many Bush aides eager for him to depart. George Tenet, too, had the "full confidence" of Bush just before he quit as the embattled director of central intelligence.

Clearly, "full confidence" does not inspire confidence.

http://www.indystar.com/articles/2/203355-6482-010.html

[latteromden]

1. But they really do have "full confidence" in Rumsfeld! Really, they do!

AND they think he's doing "great work."

On second thought, I'm thinkin' it might be curtains for Rummy soon.

[mcscajun]

2. "Full confidence" is what they have in you Just Before They Pull The Rug

When they step up to 100% to 1000% confidence...look for the guys HOLDING the Rug. :)