WP: White House Shifts Into Survival Mode

[kskiska]

By Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 20, 2006; Page A01

In a White House known for both defiance and optimism, yesterday's senior staff changes represent a frank acknowledgment of the trouble in which President Bush now finds himself. They are also a signal of how starkly Bush's second-term ambitions have shifted after a year of persistent problems at home and abroad.

Longtime Bush confidant Karl Rove -- who had hoped to use his position of deputy chief of staff to usher in an expansive conservative agenda -- was relieved of his policy portfolio to concentrate on long-term strategy and planning for a November midterm election that looks increasingly bleak for Republicans.

(snip)

One former administration official, who asked not to be identified in order to speak freely about his former colleagues, called yesterday's shift in Rove's responsibilities a "huge" development. "This is putting back things where they belong," he said. "It's given Josh back policy. Joel is a total Josh disciple, and he is very good in the policy world. It focuses Karl back on politics, which is what he needs to do."

But former Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer said Rove's losing the policy portfolio also is significant, because the policy job "is where ideas comes from, where creativity comes from, and that is where presidents rise and fall."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/19/AR2006041902517.html

[saltpoint]

1. So. When's that Mars launch scheduled, anyway?

[tuvor]

2. Right after Africa gets all that AIDS money, maybe?

:shrug:

[saltpoint]

3. We can send them video tapes of Bill Frist diagnosing entire regions...

[DBoon]

4. Bill First couldn't diagnose his own death correctly!

nt

[saltpoint]

6. But...but...he diagnosed Terri Schiavo's brain activity long-distance

by video tape! He's a fine, fine doctor! He's a miracle worker!

[northofdenali]

12. No joke -

He'd do a CAT scan with a dead Siamese.

[DBoon]

5. but first they have to deal with the theat of human/animal hybrids

nt

[CoffeeCat]

7. "Survival" mode....Does this mean...

...that the entire group of thugs and evil bastards will be shipped to a remote desert island for a new reality program? So, we'll get to witness them back stabbing each other as they rot in the hot sun and cry for their stuffies?

Oh I loooooove it! Pop the corn and program the TIVO.

Ten bucks says that Mehlmen, Rove and Bolton have a three-way!

[fooj]

8. "Survival Mode" is right!

Peace.

[Beetwasher]

9. Well Can Only Hope They Are Just As Successful At Surviving

As they are at everything else they do.

[rodeodance]

10. whow, that is quite the headline for the Post. GREAT

[rodeodance]

11. n

[Cronus Protagonist]

13. Consider the source

I bet you $20 that the Rove move was planned last year and it's just business as usual for these people. They want us to think the minor Rove changes are some big deal - they want us to think it's a big deal, in other words, since it's part of their propaganda plan. Don't fall for it. Rove is being maneuvered into position to start firing the big guns, all completely and totally according to plan.

Locked and loaded. Check. :)