--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a Texas loyalist who followed Bush to…" description: "\"As a Texas loyalist who followed Bush to Washington with great hope and personal affection and as a proud member of his administration, I was all too r..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/scott-mcclellan-14223_administration_as-a-texas-loyalist-who-followed-bush-to_692650.jpg" --- # As a Texas loyalist who followed Bush to Washington with… ![“As a Texas loyalist who followed Bush to Washington with great hope and personal affection and as a proud member of his administration, I was all too ready to give him and his highly experienced foreign policy advisers the benefit of the doubt on Iraq. Unfortunately, subsequent events have showed…” quote by Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/scott-mcclellan-14223_administration_as-a-texas-loyalist-who-followed-bush-to_692650.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/scott-mcclellan-14223_administration_as-a-texas-loyalist-who-followed-bush-to_692650.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a30/scott-mcclellan-14223_administration_as-a-texas-loyalist-who-followed-bush-to_692650.jpg) > “As a Texas loyalist who followed Bush to Washington with great hope and personal affection and as a proud member of his administration, I was all too ready to give him and his highly experienced foreign policy advisers the benefit of the doubt on Iraq. Unfortunately, subsequent events have showed that our willingness to trust the judgment of Bush and his team was misplaced.” [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author reflects on misplaced trust in leadership during the Iraq war, highlighting how initial optimism can be shattered by later outcomes. **In simple terms:** Blind trust in leaders can be wrong. Key Takeaway Question assumptions before trusting. Themes politics leadership war trust accountability Mood cautious reflective critical Type historical political personal When to use this quote - government service - foreign policy analysis - public speaking - media interviews Key Concepts confirmation bias policy failure decision making Questions to Reflect On - How do you evaluate a leader’s credibility? - What safeguards can prevent blind trust? A Different Perspective Trust can be eroded by lack of transparency and accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Benefit of the doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefit-of-the-doubt/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Foreign policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foreign-policy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Great hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-hope/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Iraq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iraq/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Loyalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalists/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Texas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/texas/) [Willingness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willingness/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm not the expert on how the Iraqi people think, because I live in America, where it's nice and safe and secure." --George W.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-m-not-the-expert-on-how-the-iraqi-people-think-because-i-live-in-2/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“As I said earlier, for the first several months under Obama, it took a lot of discipline to sit quietly at the table as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/as-i-said-earlier-for-the-first-several-months-under-obama-it-took-a/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [As I think through the issue of funding the rebuilding of Iraq, I think about the analogy of a bankruptcy proceeding. There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlen-specter/as-i-think-through-the-issue-of-funding-the-rebuilding-of-iraq-i/) [Arlen Specter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlen-specter/) > [Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/intelligence-gathered-by-this-and-other-governments-leaves-no-doubt/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [What we have in the Bush team is a faith-based administration. It launched a faith-based war in Iraq, on the basis of faith-based intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/what-we-have-in-the-bush-team-is-a-faith-based-administration-it/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [I surround myself with loyalists and people that I would die for. I just would rather die than make bad stuff for people because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/i-surround-myself-with-loyalists-and-people-that-i-would-die-for-i/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [It's hard for the Catholic Church to accept change. When the mass was no longer said in Latin, loyalists went into mourning for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/it-s-hard-for-the-catholic-church-to-accept-change-when-the-mass-was/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [I am a loyalist and I really absolutely love film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-furman/i-am-a-loyalist-and-i-really-absolutely-love-film/) [Brad Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-furman/) > [ This is someone \[Michael Flynn\] who is considered a loyalist and as we have watched this transition process unfold, again roiled by reports of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-o-donnell/this-is-someone-michael-flynn-who-is-considered-a-loyalist-and-as-we/) [Lawrence O'Donnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-o-donnell/) > [Great leaders find a way to rise above politics while at the same time keeping their party's loyalists in the fold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-schlapp/great-leaders-find-a-way-to-rise-above-politics-while-at-the-same/) [Mercedes Schlapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-schlapp/) > [There is one key area in which Zuma has made no attempt at reconciliation whatsoever: criminal justice and security. The ministers of justice, defence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gevisser/there-is-one-key-area-in-which-zuma-has-made-no-attempt-at/) [Mark Gevisser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gevisser/) > [“Give honesty to your clients, and they will give you their loyalty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/give-honesty-to-your-clients-and-they-will-give-you-their-loyalty/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [There can be no such things as an Irish nationalist accepting the loyalist veto and partition. You cannot claim to be an Irish nationalist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-adams/there-can-be-no-such-things-as-an-irish-nationalist-accepting-the/) [Gerry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-adams/) > [Americans fall into two categories when it comes to British royalty: loyalists and rebels. Loyalists made Princess Diana the all-time best-selling 57-time cover girl…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-maccallum/americans-fall-into-two-categories-when-it-comes-to-british-royalty/) [Martha MacCallum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-maccallum/) > [“The relevant point here is not merely that many partisan loyalists are unprincipled hypocrites with no real convictions other than a quest for power,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-relevant-point-here-is-not-merely-that-many-partisan-loyalists/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Scott McClellan > [Critics have stepped up their attacks on the President for authorizing the National Security Agency to listen to international communications of known al Qaeda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/critics-have-stepped-up-their-attacks-on-the-president-for/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [As press secretary, I spent countless hours defending the administration from the podium in the White House briefing room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/as-press-secretary-i-spent-countless-hours-defending-the/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [I fell far short of living up to the kind of public servant I wanted to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-fell-far-short-of-living-up-to-the-kind-of-public-servant-i-wanted/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [We are disappointed at the decision. The president remains fully committed to building a culture of life ... that is built on valuing life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/we-are-disappointed-at-the-decision-the-president-remains-fully/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [I still like and admire George W. Bush. I consider him a fundamentally decent person, and I do not believe he or his White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-still-like-and-admire-george-w-bush-i-consider-him-a-fundamentally/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [If it takes talking about unpleasant truths to change Washington, then so be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/if-it-takes-talking-about-unpleasant-truths-to-change-washington-then/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [I was raised on the values of speaking up and making a positive difference in a very political family that believed in the importance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-was-raised-on-the-values-of-speaking-up-and-making-a-positive/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [My criticisms are extremely mild in comparison to the tone of some of the questions fired in my direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/my-criticisms-are-extremely-mild-in-comparison-to-the-tone-of-some-of/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [I think that there's a tendency in this town to try to selectively pick snapshots when the broader reality is that we have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-think-that-there-s-a-tendency-in-this-town-to-try-to-selectively/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [There's a difference between loyal opposition that has a different view, and those who are advocating a defeatist approach that sends the wrong message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/there-s-a-difference-between-loyal-opposition-that-has-a-different/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [I remember my mom saying to me that what your friends do is one thing, but what you do could be on the front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-remember-my-mom-saying-to-me-that-what-your-friends-do-is-one-thing/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [It's no coincidence that Superman's parents are Joseph and Martha Kent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/it-s-no-coincidence-that-superman-s-parents-are-joseph-and-martha-kent/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [The president said, 'You've got to vote your conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/the-president-said-you-ve-got-to-vote-your-conscience/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [I'm glad to share my views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/i-m-glad-to-share-my-views/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) > [When I was knowingly misled but only learned that much later, that's really when I started to become disillusioned at the White House.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcclellan/when-i-was-knowingly-misled-but-only-learned-that-much-later-that-s/) [Scott McClellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) [Explore all 47 Scott McClellan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcclellan/) ## More Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a Texas loyalist who followed Bush to Washington with great hope and personal affection and as a proud member of his administration, I was all too ready to give him and his highly experienced foreign policy advisers the benefit of the doubt on Iraq. 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