khaosworks | Bye, bye, Ari...

Bush Spokesman Ari Fleischer to Resign
Mon May 19, 2003 09:43 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush's spokesman Ari Fleischer on Monday announced that he is resigning this summer "after 21 years of doing nothing but government and politics."

"My heart tells me it's time to go," he told reporters.

Fleischer, a 42-year-old New Yorker who got married six months ago, said he would spend the next 18 months trying to help Bush get re-elected then would move home to New York.

"I informed President Bush last week that after 21 years of doing nothing but government and politics ... that I have decided that my time has come to leave the White House. And I will leave later this summer, most likely in July," Fleischer said.

A deputy press secretary, Scott McClellan, was seen as a likely replacement.

Fleischer, who has enjoyed a close relationship with Bush despite the fact that he is not from the president's band of Texas advisers, said he told Bush last Friday of his decision in an emotional meeting at the end of which Bush kissed him on his bald head.

"This is a wonderful job. I love this job, I love President Bush, I believe deeply in President Bush, policies and the man. But there comes a time in public service when you have to know when it is time to go to pursue other endeavors," Fleischer said.

Fleischer said his immediate future plans are to help Bush get re-elected, give speeches, do some writing, and eventually head into the private sector.

"Leaving the president, leaving the White House, it's a hard thing to do. Today is a day of happiness for me and for Becky, but it's also a day of sadness. Leaving is not easy," he said.
Oh no! Whatever shall Russell Mokhiber do now? Who is going to snub Helen Thomas? Who will pick which reporters get to feed which softballs? Who else will be as skilled in obfuscation, dissembling, avoiding answering questions or just plain feeding us lies? Will Bush be actually forced to speak out for himself? Oh, say it ain't so, Ari! Say it ain't so!

You can tell I'm really broken-hearted about this.

The best line in this is the line that says "Bush kissed him on his bald head." Makes a change from all the times Ari's had to give Bush head, if you ask me.

About fucking time, Ari. If I had been in your shoes, I'd have resigned years ago just to save money on the showers I'd have had to have taken after every press statement I had to give. Time to transfer the hate hate hate to Scott McClellan. But it won't be the same, Ari. It just won't. Be. The. Same.

Now fuck off.

(thanks to