White House Week
You Can't Stump a Man Who Has All the Answers
President Bush has become so confident of his mastery of the issues-and the media-that he doesn't feel much pressure when he holds news conferences these days. To get ready to meet the press on Valentine's Day, Bush read some briefing materials the day before, but he spent only an hour with his aides going over possible questions and answers. The team correctly predicted all the topics, aides say. Some advisers to past presidents think this approach is too cavalier, as careful preparation can clarify issues and even push a president to set new policy. But Bush is now confident that the press can't stump him. Says an aide, "You're not going to ask him a question that he's not familiar with"-especially when the questions are on Iraq, Iran, North Korea, or terrorism.
Tell Us Again. Who Is on Trial Here?
Not so long ago the saga of who leaked the name of a CIA operative was the biggest story in Washington-a blockbuster with the potential to bring down those at the highest levels of the White House, like Vice President Dick Cheney or political adviser Karl Rove. But as the trial sputtered to a close last week, only Cheney aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby was in danger. Unless the jury finds him a sympathetic character, he most likely faces conviction on at least a couple of the five charges against him. The trial's collateral damage, however, was not insignificant: It tarnished the reputations of several media stars and is likely to add to the continuing erosion of journalists' ability to protect their confidential sources.
All Aboooard! the Straight-Talk Express
So far in the 2008 race, White House political advisers are most impressed with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, because of their efforts not to pander to voters by shifting positions. "The straight-talk express has a couple of new riders," said a Bush aide, referring to the nickname of Sen. John McCain's blunt 2000 campaign. In the case of Clinton, the advisers cite her refusal to back off her Iraq war vote or apologize, despite criticism from voters in Iowa and New Hampshire. They also expected Giuliani to moderate his antigun and pro-abortion rights positions, but there appears to be little of that. One White House strategist said, "We think you can win if you stick to your positions" but added that the candidates will have to play up other stands that appeal to their bases of support.
Former Star Player Dons a New Uniform
President Bush once described John Bolton, his former ambassador to the United Nations, as a "stalwart defender of freedom and peace." But the celebrated antagonist of rogue regimes did not remain a team player for long. Shortly after U.S. and other negotiators concluded a nuclear-suspension agreement with North Korea that will send energy aid and other goodies its way, Bolton publicly slammed it as "a bad deal" that undercuts the president's policy principles. Bolton's defection heralded a wave of attacks by conservatives against the deal-and signs of dissent from within the normally on-script foreign-policy team. Bush was forced to fire back with "I strongly disagree" at his press conference, adding that Bolton's argument was "flat wrong." And chief U.S. nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill turned away a question on Bolton. He dismissed him as "a private citizen."
PHOTO OP: 11:32 a.m., February 14, the East Room
It was Valentine's Day, but not exactly a lovefest, when President Bush met the press last week. But the briefer-in-chief made his points and, aides say, was quite pleased with himself for refusing to play "pundit in chief" on the 2008 presidential race. That remark wasn't precooked by advisers, a Bush aide said. "It came out of his head."
With Kenneth T. Walsh, Paul Bedard and Thomas Omestad
This story appears in the February 26, 2007 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.
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