THIS MODERN WORLD

So in a speech yesterday Bush said this:

Today, some Americans ask whether removing Saddam caused the divisions and instability we’re now seeing. In fact, much of the animosity and violence we now see is the legacy of Saddam Hussein. He is a tyrant who exacerbated sectarian divisions to keep himself in power.

I actually have some sympathy for this perspective. But it does contrast starkly with Bush’s pre-war views, as recorded in the January 31, 2003 “White House Memo”:

The memo indicates the two leaders envisioned a quick victory and a transition to a new Iraqi government that would be complicated, but manageable. Mr. Bush predicted that it was “unlikely there would be internecine warfare between the different religious and ethnic groups.” Mr. Blair agreed with that assessment.

Again, Bush’s speech was yesterday (Wednesday). This memo story was on the front page of the New York Times two days before (Monday). So…would it be too much to ask for some enterprising reporter to repeat both instances of Bush’s words back to him, and politely ask when between January 31, 2003 and March 29, 2006 HE MANAGED TO FIGURE THIS OUT?

I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess: yes, it is too much to ask.

Atrios.

Up at 6 a.m. EST in my dimly lit, overly-designed New York City hotel. Car service to Newark. Land in Los Angeles six or seven hours later. Picked up at airport by media escort who takes me to the bookstore for a technical check. Grab a quick sandwich. Off to KPFK to record an interview. Back to hotel to check in. Confusion with room — apparently, and I kid you not, there is a second Dan Perkins staying here tonight — either that or a random travel agent I’ve never heard of booked an extra room for me. Spend almost a half hour fuming in the lobby as they sort it out. End up with about five minutes to throw my bags down and change clothes. Off to a lovely dinner hosted for me by an extremely gracious Arianna Huffington. Greg Saunders and his wife meet us there, along with a couple of Arianna’s friends. Over too soon, and it’s off to the bookstore. The rains result in a small turnout, but astonishingly almost everyone there buys two or three books apiece–we sell more than we did last night in NYC, and we had a huge turnout there. Back to the hotel for a few moments of downtime, and then I’m off to a radio station for another interview. After which point it will be three a.m. my time.

Tomorrow morning I get up at six a.m. local time and start all over again. If you’re in San Francisco, come by the Booksmith tomorrow night. I’ll be the tired-looking one.

Over at his site, Bob posted this update from the first stop on Tom’s book tour :

Gratituitous further plug for Tom Tomorrow’s live appearances on the west coast this week: Book Soup in West Hollywood on Tuesday, Booksmith in SF on Wednesday, Stacey’s in SF and Cody’s in Berkeley on Thursday, and the Elliot Bay Bookstore in Seattle on Friday.

He’s an old friend and it’s fun to do Sparky’s voice (as I did at a Barnes & Noble here in NYC tonight), but I’d never seen him appearing live. Worth seeing. The cartoons are cool, hearing some of the backstory of how they came into being is cooler, and his honesty and sense of humor in the Q&A is coolest of all. Also, the book is gorgeous.

I haven’t seen Tom perform either, so I’m really looking forward to seeing him in Los Angeles tonight. If live near any of the stops, check it out. Tour details are here.

Even the greatest salesman in the world is gonna have trouble selling something that nobody wants to buy.