White House Slams NYT Story as 'Gross Negligence'

His philosophy at center of housing crisis

(NEWSER) - A range of factors led to the housing crisis that dragged the economy into the toilet—but President Bush’s philosophy likely played a key role in the collapse, reports the New York Times. Dozens of interviews point to both Bush’s drive to expand homeownership and his steadfast belief in minimal market regulation as central factors in the crisis, the Times reports. More»

He thinks president is 'Hubert Humphrey on steroids'

(NEWSER) - Ex-presidents are supposed to remain above the fray, so it’s up to Jeb Bush to defend his brother’s administration from the Obama White House—and he’s eager to do it, ripping Obama in an interview with the New York Times today. “He apparently likes to act like he’s still campaigning, and he likes to blame George’s administration for everything,” Bush declares. “It’s childish. This is what children do until they mature. They don’t accept responsibility.” More»

(NEWSER) - Karl Rove fired back today at Maureen Dowd for criticizing former President Bush’s frequent vacation time in Texas, Politico reports. “I think Maureen Dowd is a bitter, twisted, deranged columnist for the New York Times,” Rove told Fox News, “who misses no opportunity to show her disdain for the conservative side of the aisle.” Rove added that he likes her writing. More»

(NEWSER) - New York Times economics reporter Edmund Andrews was smart enough to avoid a financial disaster like the mortgage crisis. But “I had two utterly compelling reasons for taking the plunge,” he writes: “The money was there and I was in love.” With a new fiancée—and back-breaking alimony payments to his first wife—he bought a $460,000 home, using a “liar’s loan” mortgage, based on a fib about his salary. More»

Rove, Fleischer, Perino look to set the record straight, combat spin

(NEWSER) - Two months out of office, President Bush rarely warrants mention these days, but his old aides quietly work at rebuilding his reputation, reports Politico. “We’re invited to comment on the events of the day and along the way, we remind people that there was, indeed, good news under President Bush,” says former flack Ari Fleischer. “We believe that history will get it right in the end,” adds Dana Perino. More»