Political Bulletin

WASHINGTON NEWS

White House: Bush Agenda Survives Rove

A day after Karl Rove officially announced his departure on August 31, the White House argued that even without his top aide, President Bush expects to pursue a robust agenda for the remainder of his term. With much of Tuesday's press commentary concluding that Rove's resignation signaled the effective end of the Bush presidency, the White House appeared to be trying to debunk what's fast becoming the media consensus. Last night and this morning, there appeared to few media takers for that line. Fox News' Special Report ran an extensive report on the White House preparing "without Rove to do battle with the Democratic led Congress," and showed White House spokesperson Dana Perino saying, "We are going to have some fights on our hand." But later on the broadcast, during a roundtable discussion, columnist Charles Krauthammer said, "It's over." Talk of "an ambitious agenda...is absurd, there is no agenda." Nina Easton of Fortune Magazine said, "I disagree. I think there are some important domestic policy items on the agenda still. One is free trade, some real critical free trade things coming down the road. The other thing -- energy." But Fred Barnes of the Weekly Standard said, "Bush has no agenda. I am all for free trade -- it's gone. Democrats are rejecting all four of those free trade treaties. "

The New York Times, meanwhile, reports, "On Tuesday, several White House officials acknowledged with unusual candor that with just 17 months remaining in Mr. Bush's final term, there is little time for new ideas. Nor is there much time to realize the long list of unaccomplished presidential proposals."

In fact, with the departure of his grand architect and little support in Congress for grand new policies, the US News Political Bulletin has learned Bush is being urged to copy former President Clinton's post-1994 election move to push bite-sized initiatives that could help polish his legacy. Congressional Republican aides and GOP strategists are just starting to talk about the strategy as they prepare to draw up a fall blueprint for congressional action. "There's not much of a chance of getting big stuff through," one key strategist tells the Political Bulletin. "But little things and programs could work," added the strategist. No firm examples were provided, but the sources said that they could include elements of past failed legislation like the immigration reform bill. Those chosen would have to have bipartisan support, they added.

Sources also tell the Political Bulletin that two more names appear to be the main beneficiaries of Rove's departure as senior adviser to the President. West Wing insiders are saying that Chief of Staff Josh Bolten will gain influence because he will now decide who will do Rove's many jobs. Rove's exit allows Bolten to name people loyal to him, and to consolidate his authority. In addition, the insiders tell the Bulletin that Karen Hughes, one of Bush's closest confidantes, could be reassigned from the State Department back to the White House, where she served as communications czar during Bush's first term.

White House "Downsizing" Rove's Image The Los Angeles Times reports that even as "President Bush bear-hugged Rove and showered him with praise," presidential counselor Ed Gillespie has "quietly" begun "to whittle down Rove's image as the man who played a key role in almost every major decision of this Bush administration. If all that sounds contradictory, it's just politics. Praising such a prominent member of the administration as he prepares to leave office is almost obligatory, especially since Rove remains an admired figure and longtime friend to many in the GOP's conservative base. At the same time, downsizing Rove puts some distance between Bush and a man who, for all his service to president and party, has become a lightning rod for Democratic attacks."

Rove: Democrats Repeat Vietnam-Era Errors The Politico reports "an unrepentant" Rove said Tuesday "that Democrats are headed toward repeating Vietnam-era mistakes that gave Republicans the upper hand on national defense for 30 years." Rove "said congressional efforts to oppose...Bush's 'surge' strategy have clear echoes of Democrats in the early 1970s who cut off support for U.S. military involvement in Vietnam, a war that was even more unpopular than Iraq."

Clintons May Be Imitating Rove Tactics The Washington Post asks and answers the question who is the "candidate who seems to be adopting" Rove's "style and methods the most so far? Hillary Rodham Clinton." Clinton's campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle has "effectively vowed to run her operation much as Rove did his two successful national campaigns." The Clintons "recognize the skill Rove has brought to politics and admire his craft, if not his ideology." Days after the November 2004 election, Bill Clinton "pulled Rove aside at the dedication of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in Arkansas. 'Hey, you did a marvelous job, it was just marvelous what you did,' Clinton told Rove, according to the book 'The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008,' by John F. Harris and Mark Halperin. 'I want to get you down to the library. I want to talk politics with you. You just did an incredible job, and I'd like to really get together with you and I think we could have a great conversation.'"

A second Washington Post piece asked "Who Will Be The Karl Rove Of The 2008 Campaign?," and concludes that "the most obvious heir to a position of Karl Rove-like influence is Mark Penn," Sen. Clinton's "top political adviser." Penn "reinforces some of what liberals do not like about Clinton: He is a centrist who has pushed the New York Democrat to the middle and advised her not to apologize for her vote to authorize the war in Iraq."

More Criticism Of Rove. After yesterday's media onslaught, there are still a few critical pieces about Rove's legacy in today's major newspapers. Ron Brownstein writes in the Los Angeles Times, "Speaking to conservatives has been the centerpiece of Rove's distinctive political vision. That was its great strength -- and its fatal weakness."

James Carville writes in a Financial Times op-ed that while Rove "won elections," he "has lost an entire generation for the Republican party." Harold Meyerson, in the Washington Post, says, "In the end, the Rove program for Bush's second term was stillborn for lack of support. And yet Rove and Bush seem to have bequeathed their tone-deafness on economic insecurity to a number of the Republicans seeking Bush's job." The Kansas City Start editorializes, "The mistake was in bringing...Rove into the White House in the first place."

Petraeus May Back Partial Drawdown

The Los Angeles Times reports Gen. David Petraeus, "intent on demonstrating progress in Iraq," is "expected by top Bush administration officials to recommend removing American troops from several areas soon, possibly including the al-Anbar province." Gen. Petraeus "is expected to propose the partial pullback in his September status report to Congress. Administration officials who support the current troop increase hope Petraeus' recommendations will persuade Congress to reject pressure for a major US withdrawal." Meanwhile, stories in the Financial Times, New York Times and USA Today, among other newspapers, this morning report a horrific suicide attack in Northern Iraq, which killed at least 175 people.

US Officials Allegedly Aided Extremists

The Washington Times reports that it has obtained a "confidential 2006 USCIS report" that says several US Citizenship and Immigration Services "employees are accused of aiding Islamic extremists with identification fraud and of exploiting the visa system for personal gain." The report also says "that despite the severity of the potential security breaches, most are not investigated 'due to lack of resources' in the agency's internal affairs department."

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CAMPAIGN NEWS

White House Raps Clinton Ad

The AP reports the White House yesterday "assailed" Hillary Clinton for criticizing President Bush in her new Iowa TV spot, "calling her statements 'outrageous.'" In the ad, Clinton says, "If you're a family that is struggling and you don't have health care, you are invisible to this president. If you're a single mom trying to find affordable child care so you can go to work, you're invisible too." The AP adds White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino "initially declined to comment on the ad, but then lambasted the spot and the senator." Perino said, "As to the merits of it, I think it's outrageous. This is a president who, first and foremost, has helped millions of seniors across the country have access to prescription drugs at a much lower cost. As to whether or not our troops are invisible to this president, I think that is absurd and that it is unconscionable that a member of Congress would say such a thing." The Hill reporting also features the "unconscionable" statement.

Clinton moved immediately to turn the criticism to her advantage. The Des Moines Register reports Clinton said "she thinks she struck a nerve with her new TV advertisement that accuses President Bush of ignoring certain Americans." Speaking to about 800 in Dubuque, Clinton said, "The White House just attacked me a few minutes ago saying how dare I say that Americans weren't visible to the president. I've said it and I will keep saying it because I happen to believe it." In a story headlined "Hillary thrilled that Bushies hate TV ad," the New York Daily News reports that Clinton's camp "placed the White House's response at the top of its HillaryHub.com Web site in the belief that Bush administration attacks help establish her with Democratic primary voters as a top antagonist to an unpopular President."

Giuliani Gets Tough On Illegals

The AP reports Rudy Giuliani "vowed Tuesday to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States by closely tracking visitors to the country and beefing up border security." On the "first of the day's two stops in" South Carolina, Giuliani said, "We can end illegal immigration. I promise you, we can end illegal immigration." Giuliani said "he would require a uniform identification card for foreign workers and students and create a central database to track the legal status of visitors to the country. He told the crowd of more than 300 that 12 million immigrants have entered the country illegally." The Aiken (SC) Standard adds that "Giuliani laid out a plan that would stress the construction of physical fences and the use of technological tools to stem the flow of illegal immigrants crossing the Mexican border. In addition to the fences, he also wants to increase the border patrol by 6,000 officers over the next two years, for a total of 20,000 agents."

The New York Sun, taking a broader look at the strategy behind the announcement, says Giuliani "took another step today toward recasting himself as tough on illegal immigration in an effort that seemed designed to staunch criticism from his chief Republican rival for the presidential nomination, Mitt Romney."

However, Giuliani's plan for dealing with immigrants already here is closer to the approach that has gotten President Bush and John McCain so much heat than it is to hardliners such as Tom Tancredo. Long Island Newsday reports, "Under his immigration plan, Rudy Giuliani would allow most of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in this country to stay, work and even become citizens -- provisions that GOP hardliners blast as 'amnesty.' ... In response to a question by Richard Pope, 75, about the 12 million illegal immigrants already here, Giuliani said, 'I would say come forward, get your...tamper-proof ID card, get photographed and fingerprinted, and we will check you out.' He added, 'If you want to work, pay your fair share and we'll sign you up. People who don't sign up we will find and throw out of the country.'"

Hastert To Announce Retirement

The Chicago Tribune reports former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is "expected to announce Friday he will not seek election to a 12th term from his far west-suburban 14th Congressional District." Sources also said Hastert "may not stay in Congress for the remainder of his term, which expires in January 2009." The New York Times says Hastert's decision "means that as of January 2009, he and former Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, two Republicans who dominated the House for years after Mr. DeLay helped elevate Mr. Hastert, will be absent from the halls of Congress." It also "creates a second potential Democratic opportunity in Illinois."

The Washington Post also says that "like other exurban districts, Hastert's once-solidly Republican district of suburban and rural voters has drifted toward the Democratic Party." Two Republican candidates for Hastert's seat "have already emerged -- state Sen. Chris Lauzen and Jim Oberweis, a well-funded investment adviser and dairy farmer who has run for office several times." But "a special election could give the GOP trouble, said Stuart Rothenberg."

Global Warming Bill His "Last Hurrah" Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal says Hastert "wants to add one 'last hurrah' to his career: enacting climate change, energy legislation with the woman who took the gavel from him, Nancy Pelosi of California." It is "a remarkable convergence of interests," given the resistance of the House to climate change legislation under Hastert and former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, "and given the splits among Democrats over energy policy, the Illinois Republican could be a spoiler for Ms. Pelosi or an invaluable asset with access to the White House and an understanding of the difficulties of her office."

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Giuliani, Clinton Tops In New Poll

A new national poll out this morning shows Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton hanging onto double-digit leads in their respective primaries, and in a dogfight in general election trial heats. The Quinnipiac University poll of 1545 registered voters taken August 7-13 shows Clinton leading the Democratic field with 36%, followed by Barack Obama, 21%; Al Gore, 15%; John Edwards, 9%; and the rest of the field at 3% or less. On the GOP side, Giuliani takes first place with 28%, followed by Mitt Romney, 15%; Fred Thompson, 12%; John McCain, 11%; Newt Gingrich, 7%; and the rest of the field at 2% or less.

In general election trial heads, Clinton tops Giuliani (45%-42%), McCain (47%-41%), and Thompson (49%-48%). Obama ties Giuliani (42% apiece), and leads McCain (43%-39%) and Thompson (46%-35%).

Maurice Carroll, Quinnipiac's polling director, notes one potential problem for Clinton, however. Carroll says, "She holds her double-digit lead among Democrats and edges up a smidgen against Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. But the 'Hillary hostility' factor is constant and feeds doubts about whether she can win in November 2008. That polling perennial her unfavorability factor remains high." The poll shows 48% of voters have a "favorable" opinion, while 43% have an "unfavorable" opinion, the highest of any of the competitive presidential candidates.

Gore, Thompson Tops In Michigan

A new Detroit News poll of Michigan voters' preferences in each party's presidential contest produced some surprising results. The News says the "crowded field of presidential hopefuls isn't crowded enough to suit Michigan voters, who prefer two unannounced candidates for the Republican and Democratic nominations" Fred Thompson and Al Gore. In the Democratic primary, 36% would vote for Gore; 32% would vote for Hillary Clinton; 16% would vote for Barack Obama; 8% would vote for John Edwards. Without Gore, 45% would vote for Clinton, 26% would vote for Obama, and 16% would vote for Edwards. On the GOP side, 22% would vote for Thompson, 19% would vote for Rudy Giuliani, 16% would vote for John McCain, 15% would vote for Newt Gingrich, and 12% would vote for Mitt Romney. Without Thompson or Gingrich, 30% would vote for Giuliani and 21% each would vote for McCain and Romney.

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POLITICAL HUMOR

The Latest From Late Night Comedians

Craig Ferguson: "It's a great day for most of America, but not for Hawaii. They're waiting. Hurricane Flossie is bearing down. This storm is so huge that already FEMA is making preparations to ignore it."

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