WASHINGTON (CNN) – A former aide to George W. Bush and Sarah Palin is dismissing a claim by onetime Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer that the former president was clueless about Palin when she was tapped as John McCain's running mate last August.
Latimer writes in a new book - scheduled for release in October - that Bush wasn't even aware of Palin when she was picked.
"'What is she, the governor of Guam?'" Bush reportedly asked. Latimer also writes that Bush told aides that the then-Alaska governor was "not even remotely prepared" for the national stage.
But Jason Recher, who served as special assistant to President Bush and as a traveling aide to Palin during the campaign, said the former President was well aware of Palin - especially since the two met in person in Alaska just three weeks before Palin was added to the Republican ticket.
During a stopover in Fairbanks on the way to the Beijing Olympics last August, Recher said Bush met with Palin and even made a knowing reference to her rising reputation in the Republican Party.
"The president was fully aware of who Sarah Palin was," Recher told CNN. "Even so much that when he greeted the governor and Todd in Fairbanks during a re-fueling stop on the way to the Beijing Olympics, he threw open his arms and said "Madam Vice President!'"
"He was very aware of her rising-star status and who she was and everything about her, even down to the fact that she recently had given birth to Trig," Recher said.
After Palin became the vice presidential nominee, Recher said the White House loaned out both he and Laura Bush's photographer Shealah Craighead to the McCain campaign to help staff Palin and her family.
Recher said Bush and Palin had a warm relationship and talked multiple times throughout the campaign, including after a large campaign rally near Orlando in September and after the Vice Presidential debate in October.
"There is no air, no space between them," Recher said. "Sarah Palin is a big fan of George Bush, and she has said publicly she was proud he was Commander-in-Chief when her son Track was in Iraq."
Recher, who traveled with President Bush nearly every day for the final three years of his presidency, questioned just how plugged-in Latimer was at the White House.
"I think that most people that used to work at the White House would be hard pressed to pick him out of a lineup," Recher said. "Nobody knows who he is. When people heard he was writing a book the most common reaction has been, 'Who?'"
From CNN Politics
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Who cares, I only wish we could forget about all of them until it's time to slap the handcuff's on them.
Ah, here it is, lefties..... another Palin/Bush dessert dished up by CNN just for you to satisfy your appetite for Hate.
Pals around with Bush? That's a good thing to Palin? Just another reason to be grateful she didn't make it to the white house and is only taken seriously by fringe idiots on the right.
Bush and Palin. Now theres a pair. Can you imagine that conversation? Palin: I can see Russia, Bush: Me too!!!! Palin: I'm a hockey mom. Bush: Me too!!!!!
Many of us hope that Sarah Palin will be President or Vice President one of these days. She is one of the few politicians who is truly bi-partisan. She will be a public servant for years to come. She is the most underestimated ladies on the planet.
"A former aide to George W. Bush and Sarah Palin is dismissing a claim by onetime Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer that the former president was clueless about Palin she was tapped as John McCain's running mate last August."
That is one lousy sentence. You write for a living?
"....especially since the two met in person in Alaska just three weeks before Palin was added to the Republican ticket....
...he threw open his arms and said "Madam Vice President!'"
When you LIE, get your story right!!!
Yeah RRRRRRRight! Talk about damage control.
Recher who?
Latimer is just another hack trying to make a buck with lies.
This is not a surprise considering that very few in the U.S. had even heard of her-many in her own party had no idea who she was or what she stood for.
Is anyone surprised? I'm not. he was clueless about EVERYTHING EXCEPT STARTING UNNESSECCARY WARS!
Once again, the village idiot from Texas was clueless, since Palin obviously isn't "Madame Vice-President" now, is she? She's the "quitter from Alaska"... or maybe we should call it North Texas...??
I bet she's a fan of W. She seems to enjoy lying and so does he. Both are clueless.
And hey, come to think of it, they both have about the same grammar and English language skills!
please keep palin out of the news.....and report on topics more newsworthy like healthcare reform
I don't doubt it if Bush say's so.
I see its "Palin's stupid day" again today. OK, whereas you're so much smarter than Palin, you must already know Obama intends to pay for your health care "reform" by appointing a committee (the “Independent Medicare Advisory Council”) to pull the plug on grandma. Just how does that not make you a hypocrite?
In the end, the joke will be on you anyway, because, the only “reform” in store for you is a requirement that you pay all you can “afford” to fat, greedy insurance execs for a policy with a deductable so high you won’t be able to afford actual health care.
Obahahahahaha.
Was Bush supposed to know every Republican???? This is no news to me.
"Latimer writes in a new book — scheduled for release in October " This is all you need to know about why he would say something sensationalistic..........he trying to get people to buy his book. Well I for one won't be buying it.
This you can report....But nothing on ACORN?
The best political team brings us this great story of dueling biographers, other items about Joe Wilson's possible censure and a hard-hitting tome about the piss-conserving (it's all about the environment, you know) Congressman from California. I sure am glad they aren't highlighting my shortcomings or that pesky ACORN story. Keep up the good work guys!
yeah right
Bush and Palin have one thing in common = they are both clueless pathological liars! Hey George, have you found those WMD's yet??
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it! Hmmm.... they should have stayed with Latimer's version. It actually makes Bush look vaguely intelligent on this matter. Disputing it makes Bush look as stupid as we all thought he was.
i think i speak for a lot of people when i say, i just don't care anymore.
sarah palin, george bush, dick cheney. they're done.
game over. go home.
What a totally stupid article this is. One has to wonder what CNN's point of it is.
CNN, waiting to hear more about ACORN and their latest dirty dealings with TAX payer money. How about some coverage of the Tea baggers.
We can only think CNN is trying to distract us from the real news in the world by obsessing over Palin. who cares??
Palin admires Bush????? That says everything doesn't it??? The man destroyed this country, lied to us and bankrupted it.
So how canthis POSSIBY be worthy of mention????????
This is tabloid news – I won't even consider callig it news.
Latimer did have it wrong. G. Bush wasn't clueless about Palin. He was clueless....period.
SOOOO WHAT!!!!! I'm becoming sick of CNN you have become a tabloid......I'm also sick off Fox News and MSNBC with there partisan reporting....I'm overseas and need a "news worthy" source to tap into
Bush was aware of something! Wow!
President Bush and I can finally agree on something! LOL
Republicans are CLUELESS!
You lie!!!!
OBAMA-BIDEN 2012 Yes We Can.
One clueless person to another....
The only opinion George W,. got right... lol lolol lol lol
"Even so much that when he greeted the governor and Todd in Fairbanks during a re-fueling stop on the way to the Beijing Olympics..."
Alaska's former Governor was a gas station attendant for President Bush? She was qualified for the office of Vice President then, man can I go back and change my vote?
The three stooges:
Obummer (Moe)
Pelosi (Larry)
Barney Frank (Curly or Shrimp, take your pick)
From one dumb Republican to another. They stick together.
What a mess the Republican Party has become. Sad.
Proving once again just how screwed up the GOP really is.
More lies against Palin, so sad as the Left will eat this up. Oh well, she'll easily defeat Obama in 2012!
I'll bet they are disputing it.
Well, if he met her three weeks before she was chosen, he certainly knew her well (he says sarcastically).
Who wasn't aware of the biggest supporter of the "Bridge to No-where"? But yea, Bush didn't know alot of things, wouldn't surprise me if this was just another on the long list of things Bush didn't know.
ps: He was also introduced to the idea of Planes attacking America, Clinton introduced him to the idea. Bush was ignorant on that one too! Par for the course, republicans never know anything even when they have been told about them. Makes you wonder though, Clinton's intelliigence warned of a likely terrorist attack using planes flown into buildings. Bush's intelligence tells us WMD's in Iraq. So, given the outcomes of each claim, I would say Bush utterly destroyed our intelligence sector.
Its not a wonder Bush did'nt know Palin, this is a party which shoots from the hip and think later!
How could Dubya would have known anything about Sarah? Nobody knew her before her name was picked out from the lottery hat by McCain. LOL. Dubya probably does not even know where Alaska is. har har har.
Clearly, Bush's comment was a joke/exaggeration which was misunderstood by the author. The comment about her not being prepared for the national stage was accurate.
denial – yeah right....
Let's see. He met her three weeks before she was nominated for VP?
At at time Mccain had no idea who he was going to pick, and he
called her "Madam Vice President??
Something sure fishy here.
It may or may not be true that Former President George W. Bush was clueless about Sarah Palin, but one thing is obviously true: George W. was clueless about ethics, the nation's welfare and economy. Furthermore, Sarah Palin was just plain clueless about being vice president and clueless about many things in general. John McCain was clueless about the economy and clueless about how to properly vet and select a vice president.
Does someone actually care about this NOT news ... ???
OMG, who cares! Stop it already! WE DON'T CARE!!!!
Who do you believe when two republicans are contradicting each other? Guess it's the one making the original accusation. The defenders are there only to spin the truth.
Not knowing a whole lot about Latimer's book, it would still appear that he is being factual that Bush was not aware of Palin "before" she was tapped to run for vice president. Recher's comments seem to cover a time "after" Palin was picked to run, and of course, Bush would have been aware of her at that point, as most of the country was.
Latimer's quoting Bush as he did sounds like something Bush would say. That would not preclude him throwing his support behind her though. A common occurrence in politics.
Bush and Palin both are the biggest "IDIOTS" now..and ever...
This doesn't even make sense. Bush "threw open his arms" to Palin 3 WEEKS before she was added to the Republican ticket and called her "Madam Vice President". At this point in the game, McCain was still interviewing potential running mates, but Bush already knew???
The dumb disputing the ignorant.
Given that he was once (and probably hopes to one day again) a aide to Sarah Palin, I'm not too surprised that he wants to make it so that his potential future employer is cast in the best possible light.
Whatever people may think of George W Bush, by his seventh year in office, he would know by then well enough who is ready to be put on a national ticket and who is not. Palin was clearly not (and still isn't).
Like Bush was ready for the national stage! Bush wasn't ready for the national stage all through his presidency. It is so great to have a president who can articulate clearly and actually speak sentences that are above a second grade level.
Most people probably wish she WAS the governor of Guam.
Can she see Bush's head from her front window?
Clearly, someone is lying here.
This time around, I would have to believe Bush! I really do believe that he had NO IDEA of who Palin was.
She certainly was not well known to ANYONE at that time. Why would the president know who she was? Bush was WAY to busy to acknowlege her!
Come on people. Just like Bush said, SHE IS NOT READY TO LEAD this country!!!!
Who cares?
So according to Recher, Bush knew Palin was to be picked before McCain knew he was going to pick her, I had no idea that the Shrub was clairvoyant.
That doesn't make sense. She wasn't tapped yet for McCain's running mate during Bush's stop over. Odd.
Guess what, John McCain didn't know Palin either and that became his misfortune and I find it interesting that Bush has never mentioned Palin. Can't wait to purchase Latimere's book.
"What is she, the governor of Guam?'"
No , Hong Kong !
Neither Bush nor Palin had a clue who each other was meeting.
So....according to this guy, three weeks BEFORE Palin was announced by McCain as his running mate Bush greeted her as "Madam Vice-President?"
1. Bush not McCain picked her for the ticket.
2. Cheney not McCain picked her for the ticket.
or
3. The guy making these claims is a flat out liar.
hmmmm...let's see.....I go for "Liar."
If Bushes comment are proven to be true, he will be right on item during his eight year presidency. Palin was tapped to run with the big dogs, but her bark only proved louder than her bite.
I got from the GQ article that contained parts of Latimer's book that GWB was joking with the Guam comment.
Who cares?
I'd be interested in finding out just when Latimer worked for former President Bush, how much access he actually had – as in did Bush know who Latimer was and what he did?
Bush and Clueless.
A perfect match.
Bush likes to keep the other village idiots off his radar.
HAHAHA...no one knew this woman...what a joke she was for McCain campaign and what a joke she is for the Republicans...
Palin will become President. Her book will surpass Obambi's book sales and propel her to the White House. The whole world will fall in love with Palin and adopt Palinist Conservatism as their political ideology over their current leftist ideologies. Left is always wrong and Right is always right and correct.
"Bush told aides that the then-Alaska governor was "not even remotely prepared" for the national stage."
Funny, neither was he. If his last name had been Smith, he would never have been selected president.
And just look at the damage old GW Albatross did to this country. He has some nerver criticizing anyone.
Was Jason Recher with Bush 24/7? I am sure Bush would have said those remarks, after all he likes fart jokes.... enough said.
Clueless 1 clueless about Clueless 2. What a political party, eh?
The bigger point is that Palin is now...NOTHING. Not governor, not mayor, not credible. And Bush really was correct...she IS unprepared for any national political stage. Can't wait for the book to come out to confirm all of this!
Is Sarah Palin still paling around with her new commies, that's what should be in the headlines. It's not a secret anymore, ...shhhhh...Missy is palin around with commies........come you kiss of death panels.....Hahahaha....what a joke this woman is.
Matt Latimer wants to sell books to the progressively naive .., go figure.
Much ado about nobody.
Those who disrespect Gov. Palin are only disrespecting themselves. If there were a compilation (and there may be somewhere) of all the unprecedented vitriolic slander directed at this absolutely charming intelligent and RESPECTFUL woman, it would deserve a place of honor in a Hall Of Shame.
I have come to the conclusion that certain types of people need scapegoats and sacrificial victims to satisfy some kind of atavistic sadism that compels them to attack what is beautiful and good. Any NORMAL human being, would be able to see that Sarah Palin is a down to earth good person and agree or disagree with her policies and positions, afford the high respect that is her DUE, that she DESERVES, for her honest work on behalf of the American People and her lifelong efforts to live in a loving, intelligent and moral life.
And uh - let's see - Bush did such a GREAT JOB running the country we should listen to him about Palin and Obama? I'd say, if he liked Palin and HATED Obama - that's good news. That means we're on the right track.
Whatever G.W. doesn't want...I want. Period.
Again - I haven't seen ANY evidence that the GOP is concerned with ANYTHING except re-election. Sure - that's what all poticians do. But most understand you have to DO SOMETHING WORTHWHILE to keep the job. GOP doesn't get this.
Bush didn't comment directly on these speculative comments / recollections, significant omittance. I have a tendancy to think his reactions, even as bungled a job as he did as president, would have been that she was not ready for the office. After all, Alaska has what, 600,000 people total - let me see, as populated as Ft. Myers FL? - and then she quit that because it was too much for her and oh yeah, Katy's questions were too hard for her! Yeah, she is/was sooo ready to lead the free world.
It was a plain fact that George Bush knew when his dad gave the order to the Adjutant General State of Texas to have Colonel Hullum Air Guard Commander to clean-up little George's Air Guard records because he was going political. I know because I was there in the Army National Guard working next door and listening to the Colonel's outrage of he was not going to do it. A man's military record was his personal military record not to be changed. He however lost on that one because of higher up's demanding he do it or lose his career.
Sarah and Bush should be friend, both are clueless, she is more so.
the two things about Sarah Palin that I don't think have been adequately appreciated are, number one, if you look at the numbers, she really wasn't that different than Barack Obama in terms of experience and time in office, and [things] like that. The real big difference between the two was she hadn't campaigned non-stop for two years, and had she campaigned non-stop on the national stage for two years she'd have been just as polished as Barack Obama. She's a phenomenal politician and there's no better retail politician on the planet than Sarah Palin with a microphone in front of a crowd. So I think the big experience gap was the one that is about running on a national ticket—he had a lot more experience there and it showed up.
CNN should make sure they report things honestly-Did Matt Latimer really say that about Bush. I don't think so. That is why Cnn is losing listener to their station-cause you can not believe what they say any more. Check thinks out and go to the person and asked them. Same with them reporting the someone in Palin ralley howl out kill him–It was not someone that was their for Palin but it was your own reporter that did that. Same as that lady that said white men are carring gun and might hurt Obama-it wasnt a white man it turn out to be a blk man they showed. Come on state checking out doublely-we only want the truth not what CNN wants was to believe. We dont want DAN RATHER REPORTING any more.
Hi Sarah. I have'nt met you but feel that we have a 'relationship' of sorts.
In other news....Kudos and hats off to Rep. Barny Frank for finally giving the share-a-tooth crowd a taste of it's own tasteless, and boorish medicine. Yes, okay, if he'd been a RepthugliKlan I probably would'nt be as enthusiastic in my praise. LOL
sarah palin is a very smart women. She has great Management skill, and gets people moving.
as a Hispanic, and Here in Nevada we love GOV. Sarah Palin I Hope she runs in 2012. She is the American dream we want to follow. A nation of self made people, and not welfare handouts.
I love Sarah palin’s no-nonsense approach to the issues. She’s not one of these good ole boy types that does nothing but worry about how many pet projects he or she might get.
For the best sarah news go to Conservitives4palin
Those who disrespect Gov. Palin are only disrespecting themselves. If there were a compilation (and there may be somewhere) of all the unprecedented vitriolic slander directed at this absolutely charming intelligent and RESPECTFUL woman, it would deserve a place of honor in a Hall Of Shame.
I have come to the conclusion that certain types of people need scapegoats and sacrificial victims to satisfy some kind of atavistic sadism that compels them to attack what is beautiful and good. Any NORMAL human being, would be able to see that Sarah Palin is a down to earth good person and agree or disagree with her policies and positions, afford the high respect that is her DUE, that she DESERVES, for her honest work on behalf of the American People and her lifelong efforts to live in a loving, intelligent and moral life.
There is absolutely no reason to show disrespect to Sarah here. I’m getting tired of relentless attacks by MSM on her even after the election. It only shows how scared the liberal establishment is.
If he was aware of her and didn't use his influence to keep her off of the ticket, he did the Republican Party a great disservice.
I was a McCain supporter until he let the right wing of the Party force him to put her on the ticket.
Gov. Sarah Palin would have been a great president. It’s to bad uniformed Americans bought into the myth that sarah palin was unqualified, and did not bother to research her record PALIN 2012
hey Cnn...everytime you write about this dump nitwitt, who's done nothing to contribute but death panels and scare tatics stop reporting on her.....she's annoying...not cute anymore! Please stop it!
Bush told aides that the then-Alaska governor was "not even remotely prepared" for the national stage.
BINGO!
She has a big time grassroots movement going on right now
Bush is intellectually sterile and hasn't a clue about anything.
It amuses me that most people who post in these blogs end up quoting Tina Fey instead of Sarah Palin
some of you need to show the same maturity of our President that you voted for, and get on with your little lives. Sarah Palin got where she was because of her intelligence, integrity, and willingness to serve.
lol you libs are so desperate to tear this good women down. its pretty funny imo.
Someone tell me why this is considered news.
Sounds like Bush got this one right. No one knew who Palin was and many us wish it was still that way.
The math doesn't add up on this... "Madam Vice President" three weeks before she was selected? Either Bush knew three weeks before McCain did, or somebody's telling a boo-boo. I've got my money on the boo-boo.
" the former President was well aware of Palin — especially since the two met in person in Alaska just three weeks before Palin was added to the Republican ticket." Um...this is Bush we're talking about. Doesn't mean anything.
And how is this news? One tell-all Republican writing a book about other Republicans.
President Bush is probably a fairly nice guy, one on one. Now, mind you, the only things I know about his recently is that everytime he is "home" in Dallas , there are traffic jams and Secret Service everywhere, but he probably did know who Ms Palin was. That said, why should we care one way or another whether he did know her?
republican strategy: wait for the bus, then throw them under.........they are not even aware of who worked where...........
"'What is she, the governor of Guam?'" sounds more like sneering than ignorance, though with Duhbya you never can tell.
For once I would not have blamed George Bush for have depleted brain cells.
Question is....does Palin know who George Bush is?
Who Cares anyways?????????????
CNN – you just had to do it. Post another story about Palin. Tsk. Tsk. We all know that "W." didn't have a clue...so who cares that dumb met dumber in Fairbanks???
So what. Go away already.
These People can't even keep their lies straight.
Wow, first time I agree with Dubya... Sarah is the "former" Governor of GUAM and a very bad one at that. LOLz
These two are legends in their own minds.
Can't fault Bush on this one, nobody knew who this idiot was at the time!
Who cares?
Nobody cares.... Sarah Palin is a joke, and a stoopid one at that!!
Who cares what Bush says or does. This is a lost cause talking about Bush. There are to many other important issues at hand. Please forget Bush and move on.
I can see why Palin is a big fan of Bush; they both don't see to know much and are ideologues. If he could make it, why can't she? I hope that she doesn't do much beyond rally people to their respective causes; liberals to those causes and conservatives to theirs.
I log on to CNN every couple of days during my lunch hour to read the Ticker. I have yet to read one that did not have a story about Sarah Palin. Enough already! Why is this woman still news? Why don't we see stories about Mike Huckabee all the time or Mitt Romney? I will tell you why – BECAUSE THE ELECTION IS OVER! CNN, please talk about stuff that really matters. I am almost to the point of not reading your web-site anymore. I will go read the BBC or NPR where I can read some real news.
"that the former president was clueless about Palin"
Oh heck George, don't fret I am still clueless about why someone as smart a McCain would have picked that loose cannon. Picking a woman was brilliant. Picking that woman clearly not.
Now as far as being clueless about other things..................
How long before Palin comes out with her comment? We're waiting!!!!!!!!
And the backpedalling continues. It seems the same thing happened after previous revealing book releases about the Bush administration: Ridge, McClellan, Woodard's "State of Denial..."
thanks so much for this article. i knew pres. bush was a better judge of character than latimer was claiming. it sounded like he was buttering up someone who might hire him for 2012.
The blind leading the blind. Two negatives will always make a negative. I think the most telling comment, repeated throughout the story, is that no one seemed to have a clue. Mr. Latimer seems to know what he is talking about. I still can not find a single republican that gives the slightest appearance of having a clue.
Well, George W Bush's assessment of Palin as anything resembling viable just makes one wonder if he was even more clueless than we already know. Whether he thought she was ready for the national stage or not, my reaction is "how on earth would he be equipped to determine this?" On the other hand the fact that he got appointed makes it rather terrifying, insofar as if someone like him could get int the white house, there might be a chance someone like her could. I find the thought of her even worse than the fact of him, as she actually believes all that religious -uh – stuff – and would try to force it onto everyone, whereas he only used it as a trick to get the "believers" to vote for him. And she is probably even less informed than he was, and determined to remain so. At least his speech writers knew English!
Can CNN keep the "governor of Guam" out o the Ticker for one day?
For the record, I was aware of her well before anyone who she was. You remember? Yeah, you remember. But unfortunately for her, the only things she's good at is talking in freelance so maybe she can get some help in Hong Kong when she's visiting. They're smart people.
You know what's funny? Actually, there's nothing funny about a woman who quit her job and is making speeches for her own benefit, let alone her own ambitions. I heard about the book and who knows how's it like and I wonder how is portrayed and so forth. She seems cool and a nice person but for starters, I respect the ladies if they know what they're talking about or in her case, knows what the Bush doctrine is so thank you!
Wanna know another secret about me? I'm hot!!
Let the two devils go at each other. Who cares. They are both lost souls.
Nobody else knew who Palin was either: INCLUDING JOHN MCCAIN
Of course Bush didn't know who she was...neither did McCain...and she turned out to be a national embarrassment...dumb as dirt and completely clueless! Still proving that everytime she opens her mouth!
I'm running out of barf bags
even Bush is smart enough to distance himself from Palin. I'd pretend I never knew her too!
Thanks for more reporting on Palin!!! Love her, keep it up! no such thing as bad press right? hahaha
When I saw that GW Bush was negative on Palin, I actually had a moment of respect for the man (there are/were other moments, but only rarely). Now the Republican spin machine is trying to deny that Bush had some real insight. Why not let the truth stand. I may not have liked Bush as a president, but I would happily choose him over Palin and her ilk any day.
Finally, CNN gives a positive view about Governor Palin credence in a Political Ticker story! Now admit it. It didn't hurt that much did it? Get used to it. There will be many more positive stories and comments in the future dispite your elite media bias! Get over it!
Bush wasn't the only one. I never heard of palin. I still don't know who or what she is. i know she quit her job as gov. with 2 years left, that I know.
Is it possible NOT to see this twitt in the news for maybe at least one week?
*************
"There is no air, no space between them," Recher said. "Sarah Palin is a big fan of George Bush, and she has said publicly she was proud he was Commander-in-Chief when her son Track was in Iraq."
**************
Best Friends are always like minded, think alike and work alike!!!
The difference ::: Palin is a updated, technologically upgraded, idiot – she knows about twitter!! Bush ... huh huh, he would ask what critter !!