the nyts has recently promulgated the following incendiary words from this unpatriotic tome - mr. biden called mr. holbrooke the most egotistical bastard ive ever met , a variety of administration officials expressed scorn for james l. jones , the retired marine general who is national security adviser gen. jonesis depictedas a disgruntled whiner who regards the presidentas cerebral and distant , and who describes the presidents aides ( including mr. emanuel , david axelrod and robert gibbs ) as the water bugs or the politburomr .