Washington Whispers
New in West Wing: Clock Watching
With President Bush's sagging poll numbers and the possibility that Democrats might take back the House in November, White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten has developed a special motivational technique to keep West Wing staffers focused on getting things done in the next 2
"I keep that clock as a reminder to myself that we have a lot of days left," Bolten says. "We have ample time to accomplish many things but not so many that we can waste a single day ... and I know that's the president's attitude. He wants to make the most of the time that we have left." Bolten was reminded that Bush has roughly the same number of days left that Gerald Ford had in his entire administration. "It's a good amount of time," he replied. One top priority: preparing a 2007 White House push for expanded use of nuclear energy and biofuels as a way to lessen dependence on foreign oil.
Back Story to Spy Source Outing
Turns out that Richard Armitage, the No. 2 under Secretary of State Colin Powell, was the first Bush administration official to disclose the name of CIA analyst Valerie Plame to columnist Robert Novak. But why'd it take nearly three years for Armitage's role to emerge? One answer: Patrick Fitzgerald, the special counsel investigating the mess, suggested that Armitage keep quiet. In a July 2003 interview, Armitage casually mentioned Plame's affiliation to Novak. In October, after controversy erupted over Novak's outing of Plame, Armitage realized he was the columnist's primary source. According to a person familiar with his actions, Armitage immediately told Powell, took steps to tell the Justice Department, later met with Fitzgerald, and voluntarily appeared before a grand jury several times. He offered to resign but stayed because Powell couldn't easily explain his departure as Fitzgerald examined whether the White House had tried to dirty up Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson, an Iraq war critic. Earlier this year, Fitzgerald told Armitage he wouldn't be charged.
Donna Brazile's Bipartisan Blurbs
Democratic strategist Donna Brazile won't blurb just any Republican's book. In fact, her plug for former Republican National Committee Chair Ed Gillespie's Winning Right, out this week, is her first across-the-aisle blurb. The two met for lunch to analyze the '04 election in early 2005 and hit it off. "I cross political lines to gain insight into what the other side is thinking," Brazile says. "That's the way to beat 'em."
Can GOP Triple Its Black Vote?
Speaking of Ed Gillespie's new book ... it claims the GOP can double or triple its share of the black vote-just over 10 percent for its recent presidential nominees-by courting black veterans, entrepreneurs, and churchgoers. But "we will not get the votes of ... upper-middle-class African-American voters in the suburbs," he warns, "until we demonstrate our commitment to poor African-Americans in the inner cities."
Barenaked Band Courts Race Fans
You'd think racing fans would be more country than alt rock, but Barenaked Ladies becomes the first band to launch an album at a NASCAR race this Saturday, when it plays the Chevy Rock & Roll 400 in Richmond, Va. "We've succeeded in getting soccer moms," says singer Steven Page, "so we're moving on to NASCAR dads." Which means BNL won't be playing its anti-Bush number, "Fun and Games": We just got re-elected/...Bill of Rights will be rejected." Says Page: "That would be playing with fire."
Russia on Iran: Truth or Bluff?
Judging by its public statements, Russia, which holds veto power at the U.N. Security Council, wants to stick with negotiations to deal with Iran's nuclear program. But behind the scenes, European and U.S. diplomats say Russia, and probably China, will go along with at least a first round of modest sanctions. Now that Iran has ignored last week's deadline to halt uranium enrichment, the question is what kind of sanctions will follow U.N. negotiations in September, not if they will. Why? Russia and China made a commitment to President Bush and European leaders supporting sanctions to secure backing for the incentives package offered to Iran in June. The Russians don't want to be seen in lock step with the West on promoting penalties. "We are used to this from the Russians," says a European official.
Duchess Backs U.S. Values
Whom did Rep. Kay Granger get to pen the intro to her new book, What's Right About America? Sarah Ferguson, aka the duchess of York. The two met while working to stop childhood obesity. "She came to my district and talked to 3,500 young women about making the right choices," Granger says. The women were "eating out of her hand."
Israel Reservists Call U.S. for Gear
Like the U.S. soldiers in Iraq who relied on friends and family back home to pay for gear, some Israeli reservists called up for extended ground operations in Lebanon have taken to calling American contacts to raise money for simple protective body armor. "There is still the notion of [Israeli military] invincibility," says David Rich, 32, a reserve paratrooper who helped raise $22,000 from Americans for 80 body armor vests. "So people are a little upset about the disorganization." Oklahoma City doctor Eli Reshef started Operation Body Armor, raising money to equip four units.
With Edward T. Pound, Thomas Omestad, Suzi Parker and Silla Brush
This story appears in the September 11, 2006 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.