Newsweek: Bush Pops His Bubble (White House spring cleaning continues)

Bush Pops His Bubble
On the Move: The White House spring cleaning continues. But will it matter?

By Richard Wolffe and Holly Bailey
Newsweek
May 1, 2006 issue -
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Moving On: Bush with Rove, left and McClellan after the press secretary said he'd resign

Bolten started at the top, going after the two highest-profile staff members inside the West Wing: Bush's Brain and Bush's Mouthpiece. Karl Rove, who stepped down as day-to-day policy coordinator, and Scott McClellan, who announced his retirement as press secretary, were by no means equals inside the administration's power structure. But they were the most visible changes Bolten could make to Team Bush, and the news put everyone else on notice, and on edge.

Some Bush aides learned about McClellan's resignation from cable TV. "Thank God for Fox News," ran one White House joke. Nervous aides, who knew Bolten wasn't done yet, began listening for random applause coming from West Wing offices, especially during senior staff meetings. "It could be a clue" that someone was headed out the door, says a White House aide who didn't want to be named talking about the new boss. "It's really weird right now," says another senior White House official who likewise asked for anonymity. "People are worried about their jobs."

They should be. Bolten—and Bush—have good reason to be unhappy with the help. The staff upheaval reflects a broader loss of confidence inside the administration. It wasn't so long ago that the White House prided itself on its discipline and effectiveness. But after a year of political blunders, scandal and increasing violence in Iraq, the president and his team seem exhausted and sapped of swagger. At the moment Bush can't get a break even when things go his way.

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Likewise, Bush's White House visit with Chinese President Hu Jintao last Thursday was an opportunity for strong-leader visuals. Instead, the meeting was marked by one embarrassing, amateur-hour moment after another. A White House announcer messed up the name of the country, saying China's national anthem was "the national anthem of the Republic of China"—the formal name of China's bitter rival, Taiwan. Later, a Falun Gong protester with a press pass got through security and berated the Chinese leader for what seemed like an eternity while Bush stood, tongue-tied, waiting for the Secret Service to haul her away. When Hu mistakenly began to walk the wrong way off the dais, Bush awkwardly grabbed him by the sleeve and tugged him back.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12441785/site/newsweek/

He's SO INTREGAL to the inner workings of the Staff and all - altho I'd be careful, when bush hit the floor after too many jack Daniels with a pretzel lodged in his mouth (how proud we can be of this clutzy DORK), then Barney was left in charge.

Bush woke up with two dogs licking him, but it's my personal opinion that they were licking the salt off of him and there was no real affection, especially the way he treats that dog, who doesn't even like him, been a dog person all my life and had a scottie and I know then they are loyal and when they are not, and Barney doesn't want to really be around BUSH..

Dropping him on a tarmac didn't help much either..

So maybe Barney KNOWS too much to get fired, but firing him would really make about as much difference as the other LAPDOGS he's let go..

So many pigs, so little lipstick.

What a dork, and the media expects us to lap this up? That Bush is cleaning house, starting with the "ghost turds" that sit around cluttering up his office?

Wonder if Rumsfeld take out his teeth when performing his main function on Bush, the same thing that got PRESIDENT (love being able to say that for real) Clinton in so much trouble.

I guess if there's a stain afterwards on some clothing they can all blame the dog, just like when Bush farts and blames Barney, and I'll bet he does that all day long, such a classy guy.

Shouldn't they be worried about our country?

doesn't fix the furnace

I know they love to smile at these Photo Ops. Look especially at "Chubby" Scott McLiar.

It's a double-bonus: they get to look "successful" and they get to drive in the dagger to their detractors.

"See? I'm in fact very happy. The fact that I'm about to get canned doesn't matter".

Phony, phony.