White House Week
Conservatives to Liberals: Pardon Me? No, Pardon You!
President Bush's decision to commute the 30-month prison sentence of former vice presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby last week launched another bitter partisan battle. With many conservatives angry over Bush's support of a compromise immigration bill, commuting Libby's sentence was widely seen as a play to the base by a president with little to lose. The move worked. Energized conservatives responded to liberal outrage by highlighting a number of controversial pardons by former President Bill Clinton. In addition to pardoning fugitive financier Marc Rich, Clinton offered clemency to 16 members of a Puerto Rican nationalist group blamed for a series of bombings in the 1970s and 1980s. Clinton's 1999 decision was perceived by some as a move to curry favor with Hispanics when his wife ran for New York's Senate seat. Conservative radio host Steve Malzberg calls Hillary Clinton's criticism of Bush "blatant hypocrisy."
Pioneers Wander Off the Reservation
While Democrats rake in record amounts of campaign cash for the 2008 race, a Republican malaise has depressed the spirit of giving among conservatives. "A lot of them tell us that they are pretty perturbed with the state of the party," says one GOP fundraiser. "And I think a lot of them are embarrassed of Bush." Another fundraiser suggests that a majority of the so-called Bush Pioneers, donor organizers who raised at least $100,000 for the president, are waiting for a candidate to inspire them. Insiders blame the Grand Old Party's funk on the war in Iraq and fears that the GOP has lost its way.
GOP Suffers Defections on Iraq War
A reeling Republican Party took another hit last week when conservative stalwart Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico announced, "I am unwilling to continue our current strategy [in Iraq]." Conservative California Congressman John Doolittle followed suit, telling the editorial board of the Sacramento Bee that he believes a majority of his GOP colleagues are growing "skeptical" of the Iraq war. "That's a big change." Insiders believe a number of Capitol Hill Republicans will soon desert the Bush administration's Iraq policy. And not just the moderates. Military booster Sen. John Warner of Virginia praised the dissenting remarks of his Indiana colleague Dick Lugar in June. Republican officials acknowledge the schism, but they note that Domenici and others aren't necessarily calling for withdrawal, as are Democrats. "That's a big distinction that's being lost," says one GOP leadership aide.
The White House Awash in Irish Cheer
Despite his fortunes at home, President Bush has received a proverbial kiss from the Irish. Ireland's ambassador to the United States, Noel Fahey, tells U.S. News that Bush's "personal interventions" on the Northern Ireland dispute spurred progress. Today, Protestant- and Catholic-based political parties are sharing power in Belfast. "From Ireland's point of view, the Bush administration has been very good," Fahey says. He notes that Bush's personal interest in the region's politics for more than five years was an "important background influence." High praise. Unfortunately for Bush, his admirer's remarks came as he leaves to take over Ireland's Embassy to the Holy See.
PHOTO OP: 11:18 a.m., July 4, Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Md.
Former President George H. W. Bush and Tiger Woods enjoy the ride at the AT&T National PGA golf tournament, where Bush took the ceremonial first shot. "If anybody laughs when I hit it, they're dead," Bush joked. "We've got Secret Service here." Bush's drive traveled about 100 yards. The crowd opted to cheer.
With Paul Bedard, Silla Brush and Thomas Omestad
This story appears in the July 16, 2007 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.