Loyalty to Bush is this Administration’s Affirmative Action Policy
Loyalty to Bush is this Administration’s Affirmative Action Policy
In a veiled attempt to undermine affirmative action for minorities, President Bush in 2003 assailed the University of Michigan’s law school admissions policy as unconstitutional, charging the law school with giving minorities preferential treatment in reaching diversity targets for its incoming class. This principle, however, doesn’t seem to apply to President Bush or his administration.
Blake Gottesman, a.k.a. “Peanutâ€, Special Assistant to the President and Personal Aide, is stepping down in August to attend Harvard Business School. It’s a great accomplishment considering the school only admits 10% to 15% of its applicants. But to even be considered for admission, the school states firmly at the top of its qualifications, a prospective student “must have completed a degree program at an accredited U.S. four-year undergraduate college/university.â€
Peanut on the other hand, only attended college for one year, and never finished. He has, however, dated Jenna Bush, makes the President peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches, and dog-sits for Miss Beazley.
It is inconceivable President Bush did not lend a helping hand in getting Peanut and Julian Flannery accepted into HBS. Loyalty is this administration’s affirmative action policy and loyalty to Bush seems to be Harvard’s too.
– Sam Davis
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129 Responses to “Loyalty to Bush is this Administration’s Affirmative Action Policy”
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But the Peanut is the King’s servant, of course he gets preferential treatment. Royals are different you know.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:20 amBush ;not a good assman.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:20 amDo as we say not as we do.
Fortunately they use the same stationary on their foreign policy which is convenient.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:21 amIs Miss Beazley going to HBS too?
May 27th, 2006 at 11:21 amQuestion: who’s picking up the tab for his tuition?
May 27th, 2006 at 11:26 amDoes his resume thus state that he has only an MBA? Or does getting an MBA automatically confer one a bachelor’s, too?
Otherwise, that’s one f’ed up resume, Havard diploma be dammed.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:29 amI think this says more about Harvard Business School than it does about Georgie’s hand maiden.
Like Briseadh na Faire, I’m curious as to who might be paying the tuition.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:33 amIf catching a fish is the best moment the president has had while in office, picking up Miss Beazley’s doo-doo must be close to a good moment for our little ‘peanut’.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:35 amThat’s terrible.
I mean, who’s going to clean up the dog shit on the First Lawn? Karl Rove?
May 27th, 2006 at 11:38 amDoes his resume thus state that he has only an MBA? Or does getting an MBA automatically confer one a bachelor’s, too?
He won’t need an undergrad degree when he gets hired by Heritage or The Hudson Institute. Stenography is pretty easy, in fact.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:40 amBush himself was given special treatment to get into Yale and Harvard Universities, so not unusual he would do the same for another imbecile who dated his daughter > lol.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:47 amKarl Rove (and associates) are the dog shit on the first lawn!
May 27th, 2006 at 11:48 amDog-mishandler-in-chief goes to Harvard…Harvard has no shame…
May 27th, 2006 at 11:49 amHey, Joe sixpack, don’t worry about what happens to the dog shit. They will just include it with the rest of the shit they feed us.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:49 amThere are the laws and the rules for everybody else and there are the exceptions for the Bush Elites.
Ah yes, it’s like a kingdom only with a court full of jesters.
-GSD
May 27th, 2006 at 11:53 amIs his nickname “Peanut” or “Pea-Nus”?
-GSD
May 27th, 2006 at 11:54 amUnfortunately, folks, stuff like this isn’t exactly new…what do you think the whole concept of the “legacy student” is? I think it’s safe to say that at least in some case, Mumsy and Daddy actually didn’t make all those endowments to the school out of nostalgic loyalty to the good old alma mater nor out of the altruistic goodness out of their hearts — not even for the benefit of the tax deduction. No…at least in some cases, I think it’s safe to say that it’s an insurance policy so that their darling little progeny will be able to have a little extra edge come college admissions time and not dishonor the family by having to go to a less prestigious school — even if their grades don’t make the cut. After all, the school wouldn’t want to risk losing such a generous contributor…would they? Does anyone here really believe that Dubya would have made it into Yale entirely on his own merits if his Daddy hadn’t been an alumnus?
May 27th, 2006 at 11:57 amAmusing that the young guy dates a Bush daughter, and then agrees to be the dog handler, then gets special treatment to get into Harvard being non qualified >lol. Sounds to me like “Peanut” is a con-artist like Dubya and manuvered himself into good-graces with the Prez to get rewarded with a Harvard degree! Probably was hell to date Jenna, so he gets compensation!
May 27th, 2006 at 11:58 am#16 - Quit doing that, GSD! I laughed so loud I scared my dog! Maybe Peanut carries that for Georgie, too?
Skippy’s certainly on the GWB track: Bang Jenna; bomb out of college; carry shit around for Pres McChimpy; make a few PBJs with spit in them; Harvard Business School.
May 27th, 2006 at 12:00 pmOh, peanut is not the dog. For second there I thought the dog was the one who made it into HBS. I bet the dog passed Obidance School which makes the dog more qualified to be at Harvard then the dog handler.
May 27th, 2006 at 12:07 pmPost 20 lol > I heard the dog pees on Bush’s shoes every chance it gets > it is trained, but knows an asshole when he sees one like Dubya Dunce Decider!
May 27th, 2006 at 12:16 pmBush has dropped the dog on its head a few times, so not much love between them > lol.
May 27th, 2006 at 12:19 pmThis type of preferrential treatment is less controversial because it is more difficult to prove and because people are more willing to accept it. But when preferrential treatment is based on race, it makes people react becausr they feel it that it is unfair because they don’t believe that being black can’t be constitute an obstacle to success nowadays. Most people would say that “Peanut” in way earned his way into Harvard since in fact he “networked” his way in while they would say that Blacks are doing nothing to earn they way in. It is unfair, but that doesn’t mean that we have to accept it.
May 27th, 2006 at 12:22 pmA joke for the day: Bush Junior was nicknamed “Lips” at Yale supposedly for giving good BJs to male students. “Peanut” when he goes to Harvard might get named “Pea-Nus” for doing the same? ( Bad joke but what the hell I detest Bush > lol.)
May 27th, 2006 at 12:26 pmIs his nickname “Peanut†or “Pea-Nusâ€? — GSD
**********************
“Pea-Brain’ may be more like it…
Now the $25,000,000 question is…will “Peanut” be able to meet the demands of the full two-year tour of duty at Harvard? And if he doesn’t (as seems likely, given that he apparently couldn’t even hack two years of college), will he be asked to leave as I imagine other poor-performing students have been…or will he simply be permitted to graduate with his classmates as the last-ranked student? I know that when I was in graduate school at another Ivy-League institution, I seem to remember that I was required by school policy to receive at least a “B-” in all of my classes — if I received even one “C”, I would be dismissed from the program and not permitted to complete my degree — and that wasn’t even as prestigious a program as Harvard Business School is supposed to be. I spent over five years working closely with Harvard Business School grads who were at the top of their class, most of whom later went on to pursue careers at consulting firms such as Bain or McKinsey. I’ve always thought, based on my experiences of having worked with these people, that Harvard Business School deserved at least some of their sterling reputation — but now I’m inclined to wonder. I’m inclined to make one prediction — “Peanut” won’t find quite so warm a welcome as he may be expecting from his classmates, at least some of whom worked their ever-lovin’ tails off to get there…
May 27th, 2006 at 12:28 pm23 Peanut is not qualified. He did not complete 4 years of college. That is one of the requirements. Go to the Harvard Web site and read the REQUIRMENTS for admission. Then get back to us on whether or not Peanut should have let in to HBS.
May 27th, 2006 at 12:28 pmBe careful on this one…Peanut could end up being Secretary of State for President Jeb Bush!!!!!!!!!!
THE HORROR!!!!!!!!!!
May 27th, 2006 at 12:30 pm24.Jay
May 27th, 2006 at 12:31 pmSo that explains what the dog handler was doing to Bush’s leg
Yes post 28 > this is a bit too cozy for Bush to reward this young guy with a Harvard Business degree > he might have done more intimate special favors for Dubya? Call him a Mike instead of a Monica perhaps!
May 27th, 2006 at 12:35 pm29 So then when Jeff Gannon was outed Peanut needed a new friend
May 27th, 2006 at 12:37 pmPeanut’s real name is Blake Gottesman pronounced Got-his-man > lol. This story is more amusing than I realized!
May 27th, 2006 at 12:40 pmBluestocking, your Post 25 sounds correct. When I got my MS from UMD any grade below a “B” was removal from the program. I expect that a MBA from Harvard would have at least as stringent requirements as one from Maryland. Of course, I don’t know what type of scrutiny the teachers at Harvard will have on them to make sure that “Peanut” gets at least a B in his classes. Maybe we should get all the undergrads we know to apply to HBS before they finish their degrees then use the rejection letters to spotlight the hypocrisy! I wonder what “Peanut” scored on his GRE?
May 27th, 2006 at 12:46 pm31 It is really funny. Do you mind if a cross post a couple of your jokes on another blog?
May 27th, 2006 at 12:46 pmI know just how Peanut feels. I’m not really a surgeon…but I did stay at the Holiday Inn last night!
May 27th, 2006 at 12:47 pmThe dog is a good cover story for “Peanut” if he was found on the floor under Bush’s desk by someone rushing into the Oval Office unannounced > Blake could proclaim I am getting the dog out from under here for the Prez > the hotdog that is > lol. ( I am going to hell for that joke.)
May 27th, 2006 at 12:47 pmPost 33 feel free to use my jokes on any blog you desire!
May 27th, 2006 at 12:49 pmWhenever Bush gives a funny nickname to some guy it means something like Dubya calling Karl Rove his “Turd Blossom” or Jeff Gannon the “Bull Dog” or Scotty the “Under Bear” or Blake being called the “Peanut”? Sounds very Gay speech to me , but whatever floats Bush’s boat > lol.
May 27th, 2006 at 12:57 pmI will be back on later with more jokes > have fun with this thread everyone!
May 27th, 2006 at 1:00 pmHarvard selling out to the highest bidder is nothing new.
George Bush the second went there and graduated!
May 27th, 2006 at 1:04 pmThis wouldn’t have happened if Gottesman were not black.
May 27th, 2006 at 1:09 pm#40, But the dog is black. Certainly that has to count for something!
May 27th, 2006 at 1:23 pmIf I lick boot I can get special favors also? I love America! This is just the way it was in aristrocracy Europe!
May 27th, 2006 at 1:29 pmYawwwwn…..This is the best you can do on a MEMORIAL DAY weekend???? Those war movies on TNT, TCM and A&E must be driving progs nuts. Please stop acting like this is something only EVIL Regugs do - hypocrites!
May 27th, 2006 at 1:31 pmDemocrats won WWII MA … get over it Repubs are FAKE war types…
May 27th, 2006 at 1:32 pmMost people I am friends with are intelligent people. Most are not republicans or if they are they are not neocons… because of this we are very interested in things like war… I personally have a large DVD collection about war, strategies of war, weapons of war, etc… this BS line about how “tuff” republicans are… I thought republicans respected Jesus… yet in your parlance he is a wussy…. which is it?
May 27th, 2006 at 1:35 pmMy ideological critics will dismiss this as “sour grapesâ€, but I think that this whole idea of considering Harvard Business School to be “prestigious†is just another lie perpetrated on the rest of us by the wealthy and politically-connected. As we learn from this article HBS has very specific, very high standards for admission. But as President George W. Bush knows from personal experience (and now Mr. Peanut Gottesman, too), those standards are just for show. If your family is wealthy enough, or your connections high enough (like having a grandfather who was a US Senator or a father who was a US Representative or a girlfriend who was a president’s daughter), the standards don’t apply to you. This is not speculation, this is fact. Why then should the rest of us continue to believe that a degree from HBS means anything special? The school is, and has been for years, doing itself a grave disservice by lowering their standards just to accept the rich and powerful. While I am not familiar with all of the hundreds of colleges and universities in our country, I would have a great deal more respect for someone who went to an academically tough school based on merit and not political connection, and who got good grades on that school because of hard work and study. If I were Harvard Business School, I would write to the president and ask for his MBA back and to insist that he not tell anybody that he attended their school. That is, if I wanted a degree from HBS to stand for quality, not bribery.
May 27th, 2006 at 1:44 pmBig deal. This type of thing happens no matter what party is in office. Quit trying to tie race to everything.
May 27th, 2006 at 2:09 pmLeftists may claim that their activism is motivated by compassion or by moral principle, and moral principle does play a role for the leftist of the oversocialized type. But compassion and moral principle cannot be the main motives for leftist activism. Hostility is too prominent a component of leftist behavior; so is the drive for power. Moreover, much leftist behavior is not rationally calculated to be of benefit to the people whom the leftists claim to be trying to help. For example, if one believes that affirmative action is good for black people, does it make sense to demand affirmative action in hostile or dogmatic terms? Obviously it would be more productive to take a diplomatic and conciliatory approach that would make at least verbal and symbolic concessions to white people who think that affirmative action discriminates against them. But leftist activists do not take such an approach because it would not satisfy their emotional needs. Helping black people is not their real goal. Instead, race problems serve as an excuse for them to express their own hostility and frustrated need for power. In doing so they actually harm black people, because the activists’ hostile attitude toward the white majority tends to intensify race hatred.
May 27th, 2006 at 2:13 pmHere’s my hostility Ted:
May 27th, 2006 at 2:16 pmYou’re nuts!
And here is my hostility Ted
You are whacky
May 27th, 2006 at 2:21 pmI am a progressive, or what you cal a leftist, because I see injustice, and I want to do something to correct it.
I am a progressive because I see the right wingnuts shreading the Constitution, and I want to stop it.
I am a progressive because I see my government engage in illegal wars, and I want to stop it.
The plain simple fact of the matter is that there has been an historic, instituionalized racism with regard to admissions of black students, who don’t always have the same opportunities to prepare for college that upper middle class white students do.
May 27th, 2006 at 2:23 pmPerhaps a bit of group-think therapy will help you in your time of confusion.
May 27th, 2006 at 2:25 pmMany leftists have an intense identification with the problems of groups that have an image of being weak (women), defeated (American Indians), repellent (homosexuals), or otherwise inferior (blacks). The leftists themselves feel that these groups are inferior. They would never admit it to themselves that they have such feelings, but it is precisely because they do see these groups as inferior that they identify with their problems. (We do not suggest that women, Indians, etc., ARE inferior; we are only making a point about leftist psychology).
May 27th, 2006 at 2:28 pm53 Ted we are not Indians we were here before you were. And we will be here after you are gone.
Being a leftist I have yet to meet this people you reffer to. These points you bring up only show that you are the one who is the racist
May 27th, 2006 at 2:33 pmProjecting much Ted?
May 27th, 2006 at 2:37 pmOf course the left has no problem at all with providing Americas enemies with a free education at Yale. That’s different. Perhaps if “Peanut” submits a few articles critical of the US, kills a couple of Marines or sells advanced technology to the Red Chinese(in case Clinton missed anything) the left will change its tune and wish him all the best. Nope, no hypocrisy with our leftist friends. None at all.
May 27th, 2006 at 2:40 pmSo the right wing solution is to dry up federal education spending that benefits the middle, and working classes; and give a free pass to effete little snobs like Gott-his-man to go to the most prestigious business school in the country, when he hasn’t even finished the first year of college.
May 27th, 2006 at 2:41 pmComment by Ted
Hostility towards what Ted?
Against nothing? Or against injustice? Or against two faced double standards? I grew up right wing, conservative, republican, Reagan loving, America has done no wrong ever ….
But history and the facts refute almost everything I grew up with. My family believe racism was wrong because of Jesus… yet most of my family didnt want to be friends with blacks, didnt like blacks getting factory jobs that other whites could have had, and for the most part didnt want anything to do with them. This I wasnt able to understand and reconcile until I grew up and went to the library and learned about what my fellow white Americans were really all about, what we had done over the years, where we had all came from…
Other than three main events 1) America revolution and that goes with it like the Consitution 2) the civil war and 3) WWII America has been filled with racists, closet racists, anti christs, money worshiping, war mongering, selfish, immoral, weirdos. Just like all the rest of humanity. So how can one love America then? Well just look back over the history of humanity before America… it was even worse. Reason, science, and the codifying of Jesus ways in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights has provided an environment where people that are “leftists” or “progressives” or “true followers in the ways of Jesus” has the POTENTIAL power to bring an end to the worst that humanity has to offer… THAT is the fight for power that you fear Ted.
So either you are just ignorant and are fighting on the wrong side or you are truelly evil fighting for the OLD ways instead of the NEW ways that America has to offer.
Which America do you love more? The America that commited genocide against the American Indians? Or the America that avoided war in Europe out of principle for as long as possible and then when they did fight they fought to bring it to an end as quickly as possible?
The war on terrorism is no more about terrorism than the cold war was about cold…. You cannot wage a war on terrorism nor cold. So do you support Americans dieing for profit? Dieing and killing out of ignorance? Is that YOUR America? I want the America I thought I had as a child. And the ONLY way there I can see is bringing down every person that tries to lead America back into the old ways of humanity.
Which is it Ted? The enlightened all for one and one for all American future or the tribalist dark human past?
May 27th, 2006 at 2:41 pmI know it’s easy to bash anything having to do with Bush…he is a complete idiot after all. And yes, it would be shocking if Gottesman’s boss did not have a helping hand in his admission. But I have to believe that Harvard admissions at least has enough sense to make damn sure that this guy has enough of a brain in his head to make it through the program. He still had to do well on the GMAT. He still had to write great essays. And you must admit, going everywhere the president goes, traveling the world on airforce one and meeting world leaders…that’s life experience that is not to be sneezed at, regardless of who the president is that you are shadowing. I’m not saying he didn’t get preferential treatment from HBS, I’m just saying we shouldn’t crucify the guy by association. Good for him!
May 27th, 2006 at 2:43 pmYou will have to elaborate on who you are referring to as the ‘enemy,’ book. Is that someone that has your twenty-nine percenter, backwash, world view?
May 27th, 2006 at 2:44 pmPeanut will soon be President with no knowledge as the current President. This is what Americans want for this country. All the educated qualified young people will leave. Look all the appointments by Bush are learning on the job. Remember the horse trainer Brownie. Yes those famous words heard around the world as thousands of Americans begged for help President Bush said ” Brownie your doing a great job”. We allow dumdies to run our country as they pay for the support lies to continue to conduct criminal acts. Gonzales is as dumb as a door knob and it shows. People like Cheney do their crimes behind closed doors while letting the dumbies take the front row.
May 27th, 2006 at 2:49 pmMK,
May 27th, 2006 at 2:51 pmLook at this way. This guy getting a free pass, when he did not even meet the minimal standards of admission is a slap in the face to all those who fought and struggled to get their MBA at Harvard. It also damages the reputation of the school, and the degrees that they award.
MK,
In post 59 you asserted that he had to do well on the GMAT and write great essays. Do you have any proof that in fact he actually accomplished these tasks that you credit him with? I could speculate as well and postulate that the WH speech writers did his essays for him.
May 27th, 2006 at 2:52 pmI know it’s easy to bash anything having to do with Bush…he is a complete idiot after all. And yes, it would be shocking if Gottesman’s boss did not have a helping hand in his admission. But I have to believe that Harvard admissions at least has enough sense to make damn sure that this guy has enough of a brain in his head to make it through the program. He still had to do well on the GMAT. He still had to write great essays. And you must admit, going everywhere the president goes, traveling the world on airforce one and meeting world leaders…that’s life experience that is not to be sneezed at, regardless of who the president is that you are shadowing. I’m not saying he didn’t get preferential treatment from HBS, I’m just saying we shouldn’t crucify the guy by association. Good for him!
Comment by MK
Then why cant friends of mine that have completed more than 1 year of college get in? They worked hard, they are smart, they have done MORE than this loser… It has NOTHING to do with Bush… it has EVERYTHING to do with rich people thinking they have a god given privilage that others do not…. I grew up poor and have been steped on and saw my father get steped on WAY too much… and then little shits like this get a free ride why hippocritically going on about blacks getting a free ride? How damn stupid you think we are?
May 27th, 2006 at 2:53 pmI suppose John Fund and David Horowitz, who made such a big stink about Yale accepting a former Taliban spokesman as a special (non-degree) student, will remain silent on this one.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:27 pmI smell a Class Action Law Suit for all the degreed applicants that were rejected and this peanut accessed.
Yep, Harvard Business School could loose a lot of money on this.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:47 pmPeanut? What kind of an idiot deserves a nickname like that?
May 28th, 2006 at 12:41 amTed,
Odd how you pigeon-hole leftists as virtually all being the same per your rather bizarre descriptions. As is true of all groups of people (leftists, rightists, centrists or whatever) there are great variety among each group’s members. I’ve met very few leftists as you have described, so I conclude you are projecting. Your arrogance is also quite overwhelming. Idiot!
May 28th, 2006 at 1:20 amPeanut? What kind of an idiot deserves a nickname like that?
Comment by SKdeA — May 28, 2006 @ 12:41 am
Something that is found in a turdblossum?
May 28th, 2006 at 1:49 am#25: Your prediction is wrong. Gottesman will get a hero’s welcome among all those future CEOs and would-be hacks. They will do his homework, cover his ass in the group projects, and invite him to all the best parties to get closer to power. HBS is all about networking, not about linear programming and case studies.
May 28th, 2006 at 2:49 amYawwwwn…..This is the best you can do on a MEMORIAL DAY weekend???? Those war movies on TNT, TCM and A&E must be driving progs nuts. Please stop acting like this is something only EVIL Regugs do - hypocrites!
Comment by mighty hypocrite
Mighty,
May 28th, 2006 at 7:12 amWe all know that you would be posting all sorts of protests and nasties if a Clinton intern or dog walker got into a professional school with only a year of college. Your usual hypocrisy is glaring.
This is so blatantly unfair to anyone who has worked four years to earn entry into an ivy-league school - or any graduate program for that matter.
May 28th, 2006 at 10:31 amBy doing so, Bush demeans the value of education and shows everyone where his values are — loyalty to the king.
Will the White House cleaning staff get admitted to Yale? Oh, wait, the WH cleaning staff. Does Yale accept illegal immigrants?
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May 28th, 2006 at 11:00 amAh, it’s good to be King.
May 28th, 2006 at 11:48 amDoes Yale accept illegal immigrants?
Comment by LC Liberal — May 28, 2006 @ 11:00 am
They will now. But just in this case.
Harvard just lost prestige. You can bet it will piss off those who use it to open doors and other perks it generally guarantees…
May 28th, 2006 at 12:17 pmComing a few weeks after the Kaavya Viswanathan affair, Harvard is certainly developing a reputation for being home of the hackocracy….
May 28th, 2006 at 1:15 pmYou guys are missing the big story here. Do you think he maight have actually slipped the salami to Jenna? What’s the chance she gave him oral gratification?
May 28th, 2006 at 5:05 pm#77 - Um, 100%? And how bad is it when you “satisfy” the Peanut, and then he starts hanging out with your dad? Ick…
May 28th, 2006 at 5:52 pmSam Davis needs to check his facts. President Bush endorsed the Grutter decision involving the University of Michigan Law school. For decades, Harvard Business School has admitted students of unusual promise despite the lack of a college degree (See Boston Globe, 12/22/91). And Blake Gottesman’s duties were far more extensive than the Crimson article suggests.
May 29th, 2006 at 12:33 am#79– How do you KNOW his duties were FAR more extensive
and do you REALLY think–that one who had MORE IMPORTANT duties would ALSO be charged with Dog Sitting and carrying the MINTS of the PREZ
—-I mean what do you think those FAR more extensive duties are
and HOW did they prepare him to excel in a TOP MBA program–
WITHOUT the proper undergraduate foundation or ACTUAL business experience
Please provide details –which served as the basis for your assertion
May 29th, 2006 at 2:55 am#70 — He’ll probably be a favorite of the HBS faculty as well, since he’ll be such a useful foil for class discussions. For starters, the faculty who were on the admissions committee have specifically indicated a willingness to work with what he brings to the table, even if it isn’t very much. Most MBA programs have a remedial track for students with low quantitative skills, and I’d be surprised if HBS didn’t have one as well. All of which goes to show that if your pedagogical goal is to teach the best and brightest young minds in America, you probably shouldn’t teach at a business school.
May 29th, 2006 at 7:11 amIf Peanut dated Jenna then Harvard better get the bars stocked!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 29th, 2006 at 8:20 amTAI asks for more details on Blake Gottesman. Happy to provide them. On 9/11, he was in charge of the logistics for the people who accompanied the president to Florida. According to National Journal(5/27/06): “Gottesman improvised arrangements for a military plane, punched through choked phone lines to find the necessary military officials and to obtain emergency clearances in two locations, and kept the group together in an atmosphere of tension and unconfirmed rumors about risks of new attacks.” I doubt that very many other MBA candidates have had to face similar challenges.
May 29th, 2006 at 9:44 amBush’s affirmative action…
From Think Progress:In a veiled attempt to undermine affirmative action for minorities, President Bush in 2003 assailed the University of Michigan’s law school admissions policy as unconstitutional, charging the law school with giving minorities prefe…
May 29th, 2006 at 9:58 amSo he made some PHONE CALLS in a CRISIS situation –i.e. he LOCATED the OTHER PEOPLE —- who could get the job done
how does this PREPARE HIM –for ADVANCED business,accounting, and finance courses–which will be part of the Harvard MBA Graduate Program
May 29th, 2006 at 10:31 amTo say that Blake Gottesman’s performance on 9/11 consisted of making some phone calls is like saying an architect merely scribbles some lines on a piece of paper. On this day, as he did throughout his tenure, he drew on an extensive knowledge of government and his ability to work with people under high pressure — which is exactly the kind of skill that is at the heart of the HBS case study method. The school prides itself on admitting students from a variety of backgrounds, not just econ majors.
May 29th, 2006 at 11:33 amHow could you COMPARE what he did to the work of an architect—- HECK -ANY SECRETARY would KNOW who to call DIRECTLY or who to call to FIND OUT who to call-
so why is that such a BIG DEAL for you —and as far as WORKING with folks-under pressure— he was calling from AIR FORCE ONE — basically on BEHALF of the PRESIDENT—so WHO in their RIGHT MIND would tell him NO—- this is HARDLY the same thinkg you would encounter at HBS–i.e. he is SIMPLY there PEER and DOES NOT work for THEIR BOSS ……
I noticed how you skipped answering the following
how does this[i.e. 9/11 phone calls] PREPARE HIM – for ADVANCED business,accounting, and finance courses–which will be part of the Harvard MBA Graduate Program
I really want to know your thoughts on that
May 29th, 2006 at 11:45 amHow could you COMPARE what he did to the work of an architect—- HECK -ANY SECRETARY would KNOW who to call DIRECTLY or who to call to FIND OUT who to call-
so why is that such a BIG DEAL for you —and as far as WORKING with folks-under pressure— he was calling from AIR FORCE ONE — basically on BEHALF of the PRESIDENT—so WHO in their RIGHT MIND would tell him NO—- this is HARDLY the same thing you would encounter at HBS–i.e. he is SIMPLY there PEER and DOES NOT work for THEIR BOSS ……
I noticed how you skipped answering the following
how does this[i.e. 9/11 phone calls] PREPARE HIM – for ADVANCED business,accounting, and finance courses–which will be part of the Harvard MBA Graduate Program
I really want to know your thoughts on this–because that is the HEART of the matter
May 29th, 2006 at 11:53 amAlso what do you think of the fact- that GWB must not have told the TRUTH when he stated in the Michigan Case—that he felt ADMISSION should be based on MERIT - well clearly he did not tell the ENTIRE truth —because our boy Friday –DOES NOT meet the MINIMUM requirements(i.e. holding an undergrad degree)–so this was certainly NOT based on MERIT
Ignore POST 87 –my browser crashed and I did not think it posted—
May 29th, 2006 at 12:38 pmI created post 88 —expanding on the orginal 87 -and after I hit post0 I noticed that the original 87 actually did post
Besides getting into the MBA program w/ a crappy GPA, Harvard has history of helping junior.
Harvard Was Unlikely Savior Of Bush Energy Firm Harken
http://foi.missouri.edu/ usenergypolicies/ harvardharkenwsj.html
May 29th, 2006 at 2:30 pmI did a little checking and found that on wikipedia.com there was an excerpt about this flyboy. He is not quoted as saying this but is listed as something he says and I am only quoting from the webiste.
“He has said he plans to finish college and attend business school after he finishes working at the White House.”
Now this leads me to believe that he is aware of the need for completing college before business school. But as is the right of all people in America, if you can find a way around something then you should go that route since it will be much easier.
He is quoted as saying that his job is pretty similar to the Charlie Young character from West Wing. And since Mr. Young did date the President’s daughter at one point, it would seem that way. However, the fictional Mr. Young did get his degree from Georgetown before applying to law school and being accepted.
I also found this interesting little tidbit:
Now unless my ability to read and reason is off. This guy isn’t really some super guy who went above and beyond his station in life to help the president with anything. PBJs, dog sitting, schedule planning, flight planning, and general go between stuff is his job. He sounds just like any normal secretary in an average day of work for some high level position. The real people who need to be upset here are those secretaries who aren’t beng accepted to law school in staggering numbers.
May 29th, 2006 at 3:13 pmPlease tell me how skipping undergrad is goiinng to make it EASIER for him to master ADVANCED accounting,finance,and business classes at the GRADUATE business school at Harvard.
May 29th, 2006 at 3:38 pmThey’re not even pretending to disguise their contempt for people without connections anymore.
May 29th, 2006 at 4:00 pmBut as is the right of all people in America, if you can find a way around something then you should go that route since it will be much easier.
Was meant to be sarcasm. It won’t be any easier than playing hand maiden to a president who plays hand maiden to the vice president. Think about it. If this guy has decided to skip the normal process then he already knows it is going to be a cakewalk and he isn’t going to have to work that hard for a degree. When I was in High School we had the same type of student, they were called football players. This guy is known to hold Mr. Bush’s hand in times of trouble, do you really think it is going to be that hard to make it at HBS? This is just how it goes for the people who are connected. America has ceased to be a country of “can do’s” and become a country of “those connected”. You don’t achieve based on skill, you achieve based on who you know. I don’t care what your political bias is, if you are handed something it means much less than if you worked hard to get it. Since most people in this country still work hard to get somewhere I believe this country still has a chance to be good.
May 29th, 2006 at 4:22 pmLeading off the original story by referencing theunpopular President Bush isa red herring The simple point is that affirmative action as practiced by our U ni versity (giving pblic benefits based on race, not talent) isn’t just uconstitutional and unfair, but is counterproductive. Michigan is generating racial animus for additional generations, whereas adherance to a colorblind admissions policty would be accepted by all but the race huckseters (read: Jesse Jackson) who make a living keepting the issue alive. Justice O’Connor’s 25 year suspension of the Constitution won’tbe enough time to heal the University’s self-inrflicted wounds.
May 29th, 2006 at 5:46 pmWho gave him the nickname? George, or Jenna?
May 29th, 2006 at 5:51 pmActually- MOST whites who are anti-AA are fine with preferences traditionally handed out to whites via legacy admit and provost admit.
The reality is that BUSH is like the crowd who PUBLICLY claim MERIT only admissions–when they have NO problem with Non-MERIT based admissions which are traditionally handed to whites —via legacy and provost admits —and are AGAINST those which are traditionally handed to women and minorities via AA. Do you honestly NOT recognize this reality?
May 29th, 2006 at 6:23 pmThese points may be made above but I wanted to make sure someone said it.
First, the Bush Administration’s briefs on the two UM cases did indeed attack a system where applicants got specified numbers of points for being of particular races. That plan, which applied at the undergraduate level only, was soundly (but not unanimously) rejected by the US Supremes. Obviously, no such program benefitted Gottesman here.
But regarding the UM law school plan, the Bush Administration filed a brief that left lots of room for AA. The right-wing chatter at the time was that Olson’s draft brief made the proper argument but Gonzales (who favors AA) rewrote it so that Bakke’s middle ground could once again prevail. The brief stressed the legitimacy of the need for diversity in education. Such a program could have benefitted Gottesman here.
Second, it’s not Bush but rather Harvard that is doing the admitting here, so one can hardly claim Bush is being a hypocrite.
Third, I would be surprised to learn that the progressive position is that demonstrated talent must be disregarded if the candidate lacks formal credentialing. To the contrary, almost every argument in support of AA and diversity in higher education stresses the moral need to take account of the candidate’s strengths and potential.
May 29th, 2006 at 6:57 pmThe reality is he got in based on a NON-MERIT based PREFERENCE—– so it makes no diffc that it was NOT race based—it matters that it was NOT merit based. In fact he failed to meet the MINIMUM requirement of an UNDERGRAD degree
how so — you think HBS is lacking white males–so much so that they need to admit one to graduate school that does not have the required undergrad degree.
Clearly GWB assisted –in this —and he certainly is NOT speaking OUT AGAINST IT–i.e. AFTER declaring in the Mich case that he felt ALL ADMISSION should be MErit based
What talent has he demonstrated - that you think is WORTHY of waiving the requirement for an UNDERGRAD DEGREE—— I mean his job responsibilities are more gopher/secretarial in nature —-i.e. not HBS material
What would be his STRENGTHS in your view- as it relates to this program—-i.e. WHY NOT go to Harvard and finish his undergrad degree first —- what is the BIG REASON -skill-wise to let him SKIP that requirement
May 29th, 2006 at 7:20 pmT30,
You and I will necessarily continue to disagree, since our respective understandings of what the Bush Administration’s two legal briefs actually said are simply irreconcilable. But I do appreciate that you took the time to reply.
Additionally, in response to my second point, you take a position I just won’t be able to credit: that no white male can add diversity to a classroom university.
As for the strengths or demerits of this candidate’s application, I am not one to speculate, as so many on this thread have no problem doing! I’d want to actually read his application and find out what work experiences he would bring to the classroom. All I know is that he was granted admission into a very selective undergraduate school and that he’s Bush’s personal assistant. From where I sit I lack enough info (and I think you do too) to properly measure the young man’s accomplishments. But the more general notion — that life experience can substitute for formal credentials — is a position that affirmative action progressives such as myself heartily support.
May 29th, 2006 at 7:40 pmit is not impossible —just unlikely that adding ONE MORE white male –to a white male dominated classroom –is going to ADD diversity
His job responsibilities are like that of a gopher or secretary —what does that bring to ANY GRADUATE program—that would make it worth WAVING the undergrad degree requirement
he dropped out after ONLY 1 year –and has held very low level spots —in th gwb 2000 campaign and thn the whitehouse—-so there is NOTHING special about it –that would warrant the UNUSUAL treatment of WAIVING the undergrad degree requirement-
just think about it —— do you actually think those kind of Jobs —would make the RARE event of waiving the undergrad degree requirement –JUSTIFIED
As far as AA –it is NOT used for this kind of thing– in College admissions—
May 29th, 2006 at 7:57 pm[…] Every year about 1,800 students enroll in Harvard Business school. This year Blake Gottesman will be one of those “select” few. Even more selective, will be Blake’s status as the only entering student to not have finished college. How might you ask can Blake get accepted to Harvard B-School without a college degree? Easy, he makes the President’s Peanut Butter-and-jelly sandwiches and dated Jenna Bush. So much for qualification based admission that this administration carped about when it tried to end affirmative action. […]
May 29th, 2006 at 9:18 pmWin any elections lately looozers?
May 29th, 2006 at 9:54 pmIF we lived in a meritocracy, (talent and hard work) most of the sons and daughters of conservative GOP bigshots would be cashiers at mCdonalds or picking vegetables at a farm somewhere. These losers are living proof that we live in a society that is more caste system than capitalistic.
May 29th, 2006 at 10:03 pm#83- Given the vital role this young man played on 9/11/01, it seems to me that he was treated very shabbily by GWB in return for his heroism. To carry the presidential Altoids tin was the best they could do? Really now, is that showing the proper gratitude? Surely there was some vacant post within the Administration that a man of his abilities could have filled? So it is good that they are finally making it up to him by easing his entry into Harvard. It’s long past due.
May 29th, 2006 at 10:54 pmAll this bull about ‘ivy league’ excellence is so much pap. Like the New York Times is the premier ‘paper of record’. Maybe at some time in the past, but now? That Bush got degrees from Harvard and Yale should tell you just how much bull that is. The guy can’t read, was drunk or on other drugs, by his own admission during his times at these supposed top of the line schools…come on now! Like our entire government these schools and newspapers are riding dead horses of past glory. Let them take in yet another idiot, at least it will keep him off the street.
May 30th, 2006 at 3:11 amI can not believe this guy got a job with the WH for $95,000 a year with no college education. It’s not what you know but who you know. I guess this is also goes for colleges too. It is not fair I been out of work for almost two years and only have some college classes but no degree. I will take a job for $95,000 a year with some college education.
Who would like to work for old Bushie not I.
May 30th, 2006 at 8:12 am…and al Crackers wonder why America is so reviled…
May 30th, 2006 at 11:44 amThis just shows you that you have to kiss some ass in life; especially in the Bush Crime Family (thanks for calling them that Mike Malloy). Okay, he did not finish college, but yet he is my age and working in the Bush Administration? This I do not get….well once you are in the Bush Crime Family, you are in there for life…
May 30th, 2006 at 1:23 pmAll this bull about ‘ivy league’ excellence is so much pap. Like the New York Times is the premier ‘paper of record’
Comment by Peter Jaxon
I agree that Peanut got into HBS, despite the lack of a BA (and not even enough of college to qualify for a junior college degree) because of his WH connections, and clearly Dumbya couldn’t have entered and graduated from Yale without the Bush legacy. However, as an Ivy League grad without prestigious family connections, I can say that your statement is not entirely true–at least not for us who lack big name backers. And even then, I once had a class with a Rockefeller; she failed it and was not back for the next semester. Maybe my university didn’t fall for family names as much as Harvard and Yale.
May 30th, 2006 at 6:45 pmCongress ironed the details of affirmative action while I was in undergrad school, and I was all for it. It was sold to us as a means to level the field not just for minorities and women, but Vietnam veterans having trouble returning to work. Affirmative action came into law just in time for my entrance into the Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1976. The first day of class it was announced the school was trying an experiment: they were admitting a double-size class of 200 and requiring third year courses the first year. Although I was considered a good student and worked hard, like many hard-working, good students I was asked not to return at the end of the year–reason: academic deficiency. Three years later I happened to encounter a small group of fellow students who had completed the program. They told me the school had been about to lose its accreditation due to its poor physical plant, a World War II era wood frame shanty, and the substandard library, and in order to make points with the accrediting officials they had graduated only the strongest affirmative action candidates. Out of the original 200, only 13 graduated, an attrition rate of 93%. Ordinarily, law schools base grades only on final exam performance. But that year the OCU law school began by flunking people who were white, male, able-bodied, native born nonveterans. The best candidates fell into that category, unfortunately, and were swept away. Their strategy worked, however, and today OCU has a great law school facility. I guess that’s all that matters. They created a generation of local lawyers who are incompetent and fight endlessly with the DA’s office–but that’s okay, because they’re female Latinos. Since then I enjoyed applying for menial-clerical jobs only to be told I couldn’t be hired because I wasn’t a woman, and laughed out of the office.
I’d like to go back to school and learn, but am not willing to waste my time and money because half-ass educators who don’t feel I fit into their agenda.
May 30th, 2006 at 6:47 pmHelp, I just found out Peanut lives in my building.
January 17th, 2007 at 5:22 pmIt took me 10 years to afford a $600,000 condo but Peanut’s parents bought him this condo while he is attending college.
[…] Every year about 1,800 students enroll in Harvard Business school. This year Blake Gottesman will be one of those “select” few. Even more selective, will be Blake’s status as the only entering student to not have finished college. How might you ask can Blake get accepted to Harvard B-School without a college degree? Easy, he makes the President’s Peanut Butter-and-jelly sandwiches and dated Jenna Bush. So much for qualification based admission that this administration carped about when it tried to end affirmative action. […]
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