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Steadfast and True

Rove is saying the White House must avoid "triangulation," a term used by political guru Dick Morris to describe the strategy Morris advocated when he was an aide to President Clinton. As generally understood, Morris' approach, which Clinton adopted in getting reelected in 1996, meant appearing to favor policies that appeal to the right and the left to win as many votes as possible. Instead, Rove is saying the party must operate on principle and remain true to its beliefs.

While Bush will tilt more to the right, he will not abandon key programs that illustrate his compassionate conservative approach, a way of helping people by developing government programs and policies that allow them help themselves. Under this approach, Bush does not see government as an enemy, as traditional conservatives do.

He also does not believe the solution to problems is to throw money at programs that do not achieve results. Instead, Bush's philosophy has favored adjusting existing programs, discarding cumbersome procedures, energizing bureaucrats, or supporting the efforts of faith-based and other volunteer groups to achieve results while saving taxpayers money. Reducing taxes, in turn, is yet another way to help people help themselves.

The No Child Left Behind Act, which seeks to reintroduce phonics, or sounding out letters to reading instruction, is the best example of Bush's approach. As described in an Oct. 3 NewsMax story, "Margaret Spellings: Media Star," Bush's strategy is to get kids to read so they will not wind up in prison, on drugs, or on welfare.

While federal education spending has more than doubled under Bush, according to Bush's vision, the investment will be worth it because enabling kids to read will strengthen the country and the economy in the long run, not to mention garnering votes.

Programs like No Child Left Behind and the Medicare prescription drug benefit use "conservative means to achieve liberal ends." Rove told me for my book "A Matter of Character: Inside the White House of George W. Bush."

Conservative Means for Health Care

In the case of the Medicare drug benefit, "The liberal end is quality health care for seniors," Rove said. "The conservative means we're going to use is the market, choice, innovation, and empowerment of the individual and incentives for savings and for taking personal responsibility to try to achieve it."

Now Rove is saying the emphasis will be on holding the line on spending. In talking to Republican strategists, Rove has been saying that Bush will be advancing an aggressive policy agenda that will start to become public in the weeks ahead and will be highlighted in his State of the Union address.

Efforts to restrict illegal immigration and re-authorization of the No Child Left Behind Act will be the top priorities.

Social Security Reform

Bush will also be pushing Social Security reform but will not yield when it comes to raising taxes to fund Social Security. He also will not yield on his proposal to offer personal accounts, which was always envisioned as voluntary.

In developing these proposals, Bush will work with the Republican leadership. He recognizes that the White House will not be successful with a "go it alone" strategy, Rove is saying.

Almost from the beginning of the administration, politicians on both sides of the aisle have been critical of Bush for not seeming to recognize that fact. Longtime Washington Republicans complained the White House made no effort to reach out to them.

White House aides would say Bush operates like the Harvard Business School graduate he is and is simply focused on achieving results. Rove would point out that he maintains an intricate system for obtaining feedback from political leaders throughout the country, from governors to members of local school boards.

But Margaret Spellings, when she was White House domestic policy advisor, told me, "My perception is a lot of those people want to say, ‘I was at the White House this morning.' They get to trade on that and have cachet. We're not here to puff up the reputations of people who want to trade on their access."

Spellings has gone on to take an inclusive approach as Education secretary, and Rove is now asking insiders to let him know of members of Congress who need extra love and attention from the White House. In the same vein, since August, the White House has opened up more to the media.

As Dan Bartlett, the White House counselor in charge of communications, told me long before the more open policy took effect, Bush wants results. Too much contact with the media can lead to leaks — as occurred during his father's presidency — and can undercut the president's efforts by forcing his hand and allowing aides to push their own agendas in the press.

Laying the Groundwork for Greater Appeal

As Bush's poll numbers began to drop, he and his advisors began to recognize that, while his press policy was based on high-minded principles, it simply will not wash in this media-driven age. Without a higher approval level, Bush was in danger of losing his effectiveness.

Reporters are human, and even if they are not pushing a liberal agenda, they will take it out on Bush if the White House does not return their calls and does not feed them tidbits for their stories. Sen. John McCain, in contrast, has enjoyed good press because he gives the press access.

As with the new policy agenda recently outlined to insiders by Karl Rove, Bush has reversed course on his press policy, the subject of an Aug. 17 NewsMax story, "New White House PR Pro: Who is Kevin Sullivan?"

Ronald Kessler is chief Washington correspondent of NewsMax.com. Get his dispatches FREE sent you via e-mail. Click here now.

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