Bruce Bartlett lists my prior response on Matt Latimer’s Speech-Less as being among those reflexive, circle-the-wagons Republican responses to criticisms of George W. Bush.

Actually, my reflexive, circle-the-wagons reaction was against speechwriters betraying the trust of their presidents.  On substance, I have to agree with Bartlett that Latimer offers disturbing corroboration of what appeared to be so wrong with the second Bush presidency, especially in its disastrous second term.

Here is a quote from Latimer, after revealing how little thought went into communications, themes and messaging, as well as policy:   “The whole White House was like that–infatuated with decisiveness, dismissive of deliberation.”