The Belmont Club has an interesting post about the new Woodward book on the Obama administration, the premise of which is that Woodward begins his interviews at the bottom of the ladder, talking to people who see the opportunity to get their names in print, and so tell him things they think will get them that brief moment of fame. Woodward then interviews people at the next level up, indicating he knows a lot more than he’s telling, and the people at that level then believe the people at a lower level have told Woodward things that might be damaging to them, and so are at pains to disavow or dispute statements that were never made. And so it goes, everyone assuming those below have the knives out, making them afraid not to defend themselves. Woodward’s methods simply reflect the entire Washington mind set. Everyone is at daggers drawn.

 

 

At daggers drawn

In deepest night

We creep toward dawn

And fear the light

We have no friends

We share no trust

No means or ends

That mean we must

Work hand in hand

With colleagues who

Will just demand

We’re loyal to

The guy above

Whose shoes we shine

Who shows no love

And gives no sign

That loyal works

Both up and down

He’s got his perks

He owns this town

And when its time

To tell a lie

He drops a dime

On such as I

At daggers drawn

We walk the halls

Each just a pawn

When Woodward calls