John Ashcroft would be a "...very good Supreme Court pick"

According to some newly released personal conversations between George Bush and Doug Wead, a friend and former aide, John Ashcroft would not only be a good Supreme Court Justice, but also a "fabulous" vice president. The conversation was one of many that were secretly recorded by Wead in the time when Bush emerged on the national scene.

Mr. Wead said he recorded the conversations because he viewed Mr. Bush as a historic figure, but he said he knew that the president might regard his actions as a betrayal. As the author of a new book about presidential childhoods, Mr. Wead could benefit from any publicity, but he said that was not a motive in disclosing the tapes.

The White House did not dispute the authenticity of the tapes or respond to their contents. Trent Duffy, a White House spokesman, said, "The governor was having casual conversations with someone he believed was his friend." Asked about drug use, Mr. Duffy said, "That has been asked and answered so many times there is nothing more to add."

When somebody does something like this when a book comes out, it is obviously for publicity, but that really shouldn't discount the value that will come from the insights. Especially the value that comes from Bush's somewhat unbelievable thoughts like this one,

"It's me versus the world," he told Mr. Wead. "The good news is, the world is on my side. Or more than half of it."

Very very interesting - although it really doesn't make sense. But of course, this really isn't the first time that Bush has said something out of the ordinary.

Full Article at NYTimes.