|
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
Insider Report: Bush Needs New Staff; Gore Falls Flat Special From NewsMax's Most Informed Sources
Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
Wanted: At least one seasoned GOP veteran to join President Bush's staff and help lift the administration out of a growing political slump. Several high-ranking Republicans have been quietly urging White House Chief of Staff Andy Card to bring in one or more new faces, such as a respected former senator or other experienced hand, to help Card deal with congressional leaders, troubleshoot and provide advice, sources told CNN. Washington observers feel such a move is direly needed. Bush's approval rating slipped to 36 percent, the lowest of his presidency, in a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, and 60 percent of respondents said they believe the war in Iraq is going poorly.
Story Continues Below
The recent flap over the Dubai Ports World deal also stung the administration, and suggests that "fatigue" is setting in among the White House staff, according to the CNN report. "No one is trying to get them to fire anyone," a GOP source told CNN. "This is just about adding a supplemental person to add to the mix." It's a presidential ploy that has been used before. When Bill Clinton's healthcare reform effort stalled and he scuffled with the Pentagon over gays in the military, he brought in Republican White House veteran David Gergen. Ronald Reagan axed some staffers and brought in former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker as his chief of staff after the Iran-Contra scandal unfolded. But despite the Bush administration's problems, the president is said to be reluctant to shake up his staff or even add a new key member. A senior White House official told CNN there is "zero indication" that changes were in store for Bush's staff, but confirmed that administration allies had suggested the president "add not subtract."
2. Ken Blackwell Seeks Support From Black Ministers Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell treated more than 70 black pastors to lunch in Cleveland - and to a speech explaining why he should be Ohio's first black nominee for governor. The conservative Republican vowed to improve job creation in the black community and limit spending by state and local governments. His appeal was generally well received - which is significant because the black ministers' flocks are overwhelmingly Democratic. Blackwell has predicted that he will win as much as half the state's black vote if he is the Republican nominee, which would sharply cut into the African-American support that his likely Democratic opponent, Rep. Ted Strickland, would need to be elected governor, the Columbus Dispatch reports. After the private, 90-minute luncheon at the Antioch Baptist Church on March 14, Rev. Marvin McMickle, pastor of the host church and a former Democratic candidate for Congress, said Blackwell's vote projection is credible. "Strickland has a formidable challenge when it comes to the African-American vote," McMickle told the Dispatch. "He cannot presume it. "Strickland must answer one question for black voters: 'Tell me why I shouldn't vote for Ken Blackwell.'" On the day of the luncheon, Blackwell also had dinner with the predominately black Baptist Ministers Conference. In an interview before the dinner, Blackwell said: "It would be a fundamental mistake for any person to vote for me on the basis of skin color, just as it would be a fundamental mistake for anybody to vote against me on the basis of skin color." Instead, he said, voters should support him because of his track record and accomplishments in public office. Blackwell's contacts with ministers have created controversy this year in Ohio. A group of Columbus pastors filed a complaint with the IRS alleging that pastors Russell Johnson and Rod Parsley and their churches have improperly promoted Blackwell's campaign by featuring him at large rallies. The complaint asks that the agency probe whether the two pastors violated federal law barring churches from endorsing candidates for political office, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Blackwell has said his involvement with the pastors was in his capacity as secretary of state or as an elected leader backing a cause - in many cases a 2004 ban on gay marriage. Editor's Note:
3. Gore Falls Flat in Florida - Again "I'm Al Gore and I used to be the next president of the United States." That's one of the zingers the former vice president tossed out as he addressed the American Association of Advertising Agencies' Media Conference in Florida. But a commentary in the trade publication Broadcasting & Cable said the one-liner was a stale joke: "The number of times Gore has wrung applause" from the joke "in the past five years is roughly double the margin of popular votes he won over George W. Bush in 2000." Gore also quipped: "I'm on step nine on the road to becoming a recovering politician." Another old stand-by, according to B&C. Gore addressed the group as a media mogul, but vowed that he wouldn't talk about his new Current TV cable channel, then went ahead and did anyway, B&C reports. Gore also delivered a lecture on global warming, complete with slides. But the presentation got a poor review from B&C, which said it was reminiscent of his failed presidential campaign: "Sure, he was passionate, and we learned a thing or two, but did we really want to spend the next four years with him, let alone four minutes past his allotted speaking time?"
4. Condi's Close Adviser Is 26-year-old 'Kid' When Condoleezza Rice steps out on the world stage, she most likely delivers lines written by a 26-year-old redheaded "kid" - her speechwriter Christian Brose. One year ago, Brose was the most junior speechwriter at the State Department. When Rice was nominated to be secretary of state, she assembled the department's speechwriting team - including Brose - at the White House to discuss her confirmation hearings.
"The conversation meandered and seemed uninspired," Rice aides said, until Brose "shyly raised his hand and offered a suggestion that, for Rice, crystallized her foreign policy themes," the Washington Post reports. Rice asked one of her senior advisers afterward: "Who is that red-haired kid? Let's keep an eye on him." Brose was recently named Rice's chief speechwriter, and he often accompanies her when she travels overseas so they can work together sharpening the secretary's speeches. "Chris can write her voice better than anyone," senior adviser Jim Wilkinson told the Post. "He's become one of her closest advisers on policy and communications."
Editor's Notes:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Print Page 
Forward Page 
|
| All Rights Reserved © 2009 NewsMax.Com |