The Unhappiest Place On Earth
Robert Novak paints a depressing vision of the George Bush White House in today's column. The administration doesn't fight for the friends it should, and fights for those who bring nothing but misery and disappointment instead:
The Gonzales-Libby equation is symbolic of Republican discontent with the president. He failed utterly to narrow the divide within the party over his immigration reform. Time is running out -- to less than three months -- on GOP forbearance on Iraq. In the closing months of the administration, key posts are unfilled and what old hands call "children" fill others. Facing multiple investigations, Bush aides without personal fortunes are threatened by daunting legal fees.The treatment of Lewis Libby, once Vice President Cheney's influential chief of staff, enrages Republicans far more than their public utterances suggest. The president's studied distance from the CIA leak case led to the appointment of a special prosecutor by then-Deputy Attorney General James Comey at a time when Comey already knew the leaker's identity. That distance has continued with Bush's response from Europe to Libby's conviction; it was filtered through a deputy press secretary, emphasizing that he had no intention of issuing a pardon.
One Republican who did not watch her words last week was Washington lawyer Victoria Toensing: "If the president can pardon 12 million illegal immigrants, he can pardon Scooter Libby." Toensing is joining the procession supporting the still-unannounced run for president by Fred Thompson, who is unequivocal in his outrage over Libby's fate and asserts that he would pardon him.
In contrast, Republican insiders are enraged by Bush's retention of Gonzales, whom they consider a political and governmental disaster. Beyond his affection for Gonzales, the president is reported to fear that a new attorney general could not be confirmed without pledging to name a special prosecutor to investigate the firing of U.S. attorneys. That explanation suggests a lame-duck regime, preferring to stay with a crippled, leaderless Justice Department.
No one ever said that the White House would be Disneyland, but it shouldn't resemble a dungeon, either. Regardless of whether one supports or opposes George Bush, the executive branch has to maintain leadership for the federal government to work properly, especially in the areas where they have the deepest interests: the Pentagon and the Department of Justice. It is precisely these two areas where Bush and his team have shown the most vacillation.
Take, for example, the aborted renomination of General Peter Pace as the head of the Joint Chiefs. His term in that role ends this year, and clearly he wanted to be renominated. Almost as clearly, the White House wanted him back in that role; Pace and Bush share the same vision for the future of the American military as well as similar opinions on war strategy. However, the White House didn't want a confirmation fight, and so they went in a different direction -- not exactly a profile in courage, but probably the pragmatically correct decision.
That's a lot more defensible than his decision to protect Alberto Gonzales to the bitter end. Gonzales has proven himself an incompetent manager of the DoJ, regardless of his involvement in the non-crime of terminating federal prosecutors. Rather than recognize that, as everyone else in the party and his administration has, Bush sticks with Gonzales. In the meantime, as Novak notes, almost 200 other appointees remain in limbo, unable to get their confirmation hearings, and the White House has barely gone to bat for them.
Is this leadership? It looks more like a bunker mentality, where the White House seems cowering in fear of confirmation hearings on any level, except the judiciary, where they have made at least some public demands for progress. Even there, most of the protest has come from the GOP's Senate caucus.
Novak's proposed solution -- to fire Gonzales and pardon Libby -- is only half right (the first half) and even then insufficient. The White House needs to garner some courage and fight for the confirmations of the people they want, and to ensure that they do a better job of nominating qualified candidates for those positions in the first place. If they can do that, then the White House will not appear to be the antithesis of Disneyland for prospective employees, and appointees will not have to worry so much about purchasing legal insurance.
Posted by Ed Morrissey on June 11, 2007 10:56 AM | Comments (22) | TrackBacks (1)
Comments (22)
Posted by RBMN | June 11, 2007 11:40 AM
Has Libby asked for a pardon? I'm no lawyer, but I think Libby might have a good chance to win his appeal. The jury was kept in the dark about the details of the underlying crime, or LACK of underlying crime. That certainly would have an impact on his motive to perjure himself. What evidence is there that Libby WANTS a pardon at this point. He might think he can turn this around on the merits. If I was Libby, I wouldn't want any pardon before I had a chance to appeal.
Posted by Tom Bowler | June 11, 2007 11:49 AM
I suspect Gonzales is not the incompetent the press has made him out to be, but even if he is, there is a good chance the price Democrats would demand for confirmation of his successor would be a special prosecutor -- one who would be tasked with finding a pretext for impeaching the President. I think Bush should keep him on.
Posted by Lew | June 11, 2007 12:07 PM
The dominant theme of this White House in its final two years is going to be conflict avoidance. And what else would we expect from our decision to elect a Texas Governor whose big claim to fame was that he could charm the Democrats right out of their seats in the Texas legislature. We elected a "Can't we all just get along?" moderate to hold that office and we shouldn't be too surprised when he keeps sticking his hand out to his opponents and whimpering "Can't we all just get along?". Just because he's a born-again Christian doesn't mean he's a conservative, after all.
When the history is written, the 2nd Bush administration will be a textbook case of the consequences of a political vacuum at the top.
If anybody wonder's where Rudy Giuliani's big poll numbers come from, look at the White House. He's been running against George W. Bush from day one!
Posted by Okonkolo | June 11, 2007 12:22 PM
Libby doesn't fit the standard pardon guidelines (no contrition, no time served); admittedly, these are only conventions and guidelines;
Gonzales isn't incompetent so much as a liar covering for his boss. No one really believes he doesn't remember all those things, and he isn't a loose cannon making up policy with all the secret maneuverings and under the radar stuff. EVen if Gonzales were to be impeached and/or replaced, there would be no impeachment against Bush. There would be no point to it and the Democrats would gain nothing (Reid and Pelosi have said as much). Bush, however, would lose his shield guy and much more of his actions would become exposed, and that is why he is keeping him despite the pain.
Posted by docjim505 | June 11, 2007 12:49 PM
The impression I get from the White House these days is that the president is simply worn out. This seems to be an occupational hazard; I seem to recall people commenting on the change in Slick Willie's appearance after his tenure (gack!) as (choke) our (barf!) president. The job is VERY wearing.
Is Bush simply worn out by years of virtually having the weight of the world on his shoulders? Is he sick and tired of trying to do his best only to be daily shredded by half of the country that utterly despises him? Perhaps so. Sometimes, I think that the CSA had at least one good idea: under the CS constitution, the president was limited to a single, six-year term. Might not be such a bad idea.
No matter what the cause, Bush has given little reason for anybody to be happy with him these past several months. Cap'n Ed hits the nail on the head: "The administration doesn't fight for the friends it should, and fights for those who bring nothing but misery and disappointment instead."
Posted by Dan | June 11, 2007 12:58 PM
Why would Bush want to appear to be fighting for Libby? I would expect Bush, rather, to be trying to distance himself from Libby to the extent possible -- unless he's only concerned that Libby will sing if not pardoned. But a pardon will still look like "thanks for concealing my part in the scandal"... not a pretty picture.
Posted by Lightwave | June 11, 2007 1:39 PM
I have to disagree with you on both counts, Ed.
Bush should not only continue to stand by Gonzales but he should immediately pardon Lewis Libby. The no-confidence vote in the Senate will not get past the cloture vote. It will need 60 votes to do so, and that's not going to happen. It's yet another example of how ineffective and worthless the Democrats are. When we SHOULD be talking about immigration, Iraq, and Iran, the Senate is wasting time on useless symbolic gestures they can't even pass. Despite all the hearings and the character assassinations, not a single piece of indictable evidence exists against Gonzales. If it did, it would have been found well before now.
This has been a fishing expedition from day 1. This failed cloture vote should put a merciful end to the whole affair.
Likewise, there is plenty of evidence to show Lewis Libby should be pardoned. The President does not require political capital to do the right thing, or to correct an egregious oversight in a politically created case. The case should have been over the moment Fitzgerald discovered Armitage was the leaker, and we all know it. Not only should this case be the end of Fitzgerald's career, it should be the end of the era of the Special Prosecutor as well.
If Bush wants to shed the lame duck label, he needs to take action instead of "practicing conflict avoidance." What the hell happened to Bush the Cowboy? Bush the Wuss needs to go find that fella and put him back in the White House.
Posted by Jane | June 11, 2007 2:40 PM
I'm with you Lightwave. And while I have no stake in the Gonzales outcome I have a huge stake in the Libby outcome. My feeling is that the Libby sentence should be commuted, not pardoned so the appeals process can expose what really went on in this trial.
And while we are at it, the CIA should also be exposed, as well as Walton for his snarky prejudice, and Comey with his ties to Schumer.
As always with my party, I won't hold my breath.
Posted by Carol Herman | June 11, 2007 3:20 PM
Well, there's always a reason. Even if the reasons aren't particularly obvious. (It's like trying to decide why one person picks a mate; and you just don't fathom it. Because your measuring stick is "LUV."
What's LUV got to do with it?)
So you learn to discard your usual prejudices.
The best I can come up with is that Bush is true to form.
And, he obviously doesn't want to be in his dad's shoes; a pair of "no influence shoes," if there ever was one!
So, what's at stake?
Actually, the conservative movement.
Yes. Bush talks a good game. Well, the Realtor for the Saud's would have you believe "no one's been better for Israel." When this isn't true. The only time he was attached to Israel was when Arik Sharon was unilaterally moving Jews out of gaza. (An operation that took 50,000 Israelis troops to do. So they could "hand carry" OUT the screaming settlers.) Did the story at the time look anything like Paris Hilton's bout with jail?
Crying a lot is one of the things that works for getting you headline pictures. But LUV has nothing to do with it.
And, as soon as the move out of gaza was done, Arik Sharon collapsed.
Now, that's the "diplomatic" side of the lies you've heard told.
Domestically? Perhaps you're still enamored with Bush's conservatism credentials. But he's sold ya out!
What Bush and his cohorts recognize is that the donks are also a minority party. So the most influence for the most incompetents will only go to those who can keep the current system in play.
IF all Bush thinks the GOP sheds are the "conservatives," HE WINS! He's not running again. And, he wants to stay "influential." The driver of the expanded government pork mobile.
He probably doesn't have a chance, any longer, at success. Why? Because other than in Massa2shits, men like Kerry and Ted Kennedy, aren't big influence peddlers. But they treat government the way they treated Haarvard. No matter what they did and do. They got the paper. And, both are rich enough not to worry about college bills. Or debt. It's the rich guys in the aristocracy. And, this is their game.
Game's about up?
Yup.
We see other examples. In France you see Sarkozy. And, what happens when shills like Chirac are left to lead for a dozen years.
Ah. And, in Israel. Where Olmert has turned playing the "weak hand" into an art form; what he has done is give people who'd never get elected to great portfolios ... those very portfolios.
T'marra? Barak wins. Do I know this for a fact? Nope. But I read the Israeli papers. And, the polls are predicting this. (What does it mean?) All depends on Olmert. Because even if Ayalon and Amir Peretz LOSE; Olmert can "keep them on." Since normal behaviors aren't part of the Mideast process.
For Bush? Only one goal. Handing real estate to the Saud's. While, interestingly enough Kuwait says Americans can't use their land to base an attack against Iran. Well? With friends like those? Exposure comes eventually.
Will Bush "go to the Capitol?" Who cares?
Right now there are congress critters who've learned a thing or two about the conservative world. And, the Internet. And, ya know what? They're scared. You think Hastert's a happy man?
You think Newt's ever gonna get back "in?"
Lots of scum comes to the top.
And, the hotter the pot gets, the more scum there is. Needs to be skimmed off.
I think it's amazing that the conservative movement is still a force. (It's seen strengths from areas that have gone kaput. Like the John Bircher's.) But what I've begun to recognize ... my prescription glasses aren't the greatest ... Is that conservatives WANT TO WIN!
Bush? Only wants to cheat.
Anyway, come that nominating stage in 2008? I'd love to see Tancredo telling Bush "DON'T DARKEN ARE DOORS, HERE!" You think I'm kidding?
Posted by sarvo | June 11, 2007 3:24 PM
I only hope and pray that it doesn't become so unhappy and uncomfortable that the present administration feels compelled to stage another Terrorist Event in order to maintain power without the bother of an election.
Posted by Carol Herman | June 11, 2007 3:31 PM
Paul O'Neill, Bush's first Treasury Secretary, paints a devisating portrait of Bush, in THE PRICE OF LOYALTY. One of the best books I've read!
In it, he talks about how Bush fired him in 2002. And, what sort of a White House Bush was running, that trucked with NO oppositional arguments. Even from cabinet members.
When O'Neill was fired, he said it was the first time such a thing happened to him, in his life! He was 72. And, had a history of being a very successful CEO!
He said "Bush rather enjoyed firing him, too."
Then, two years later, at some republican function, Bush ran into O'Neill, who was also in attendance. "Gee, the president said, You. Look. Really. Good!" And, he said this IN SURPRISE! As if you're supposed to go around devastated if Bush disses ya!
What a maroon.
Bush has the White House he deserves.
And, by not protecting Libby, some of the departing staff absolutely haven't got the money to hire lawyers! So they're running away.
That's some legacy!
You just haven't seen it all, yet.
That Bush could prod congress over immigration? What's he gonna do? Insult Americans for "not being diverse enough?"
He's already failed on convincing anyone that the Saud's are about "The Religion of Peace."
WHile everything you hear needs to be discounted.
T'marra Olmert's here. It'll be bullshit on parade.
Posted by james23 | June 11, 2007 4:15 PM
As I have been saying now for 2 years, this second term just cannot end soon enough.
The President is weak politically, but he is still in a position to do enormous damage; witness the Bush-Kennedy Amnesty Bill.
Posted by NahnCee | June 11, 2007 4:48 PM
And the people who are supposed to be working for him and supporting him are being equally dreadful and hunkered down; i.e., Ms. Condoleeza Rice - what the hell *is* she doing, any way?!? And Ms. Karen Hughes, who has been fighting to protect an anti-American terrorist-lover who's been runnning the al-Hurra TV network in the Middle East.
With friends like these two dingbats, Dubya doesn't need enemies, and it's no wonder he's afraid to step in ANY direction, lest he step right onto a minefield.
I just wonder who's been advising him in his pigheaded campaign to force 12 million criminals down our collective throat.
I can't believe Laura is that stupid, too. She always struck me as being imminently sensible. I wonder what she has to say about all the swirling non-decisions.
Posted by Joe Doe | June 11, 2007 4:52 PM
The pain just started - wait for the bids to go up, our beloved president will work overtime to insure the best for all of us. Start learning Spanish as it is going to be crowded.
I wish there was some hope - but there is too much money at stake and no morals - just the political scums on any other name.
Posted by Lightwave | June 11, 2007 6:10 PM
And as predicted, the Dems lose another vote as the no-confidence measure in Gonzales fails miserably.
Somewhere, Osama is laughing his beard off. "These dolts are arguing over whether or not they have confidence in their attorney general while we kill their troops in a war."
Posted by Jefferson Smith | June 11, 2007 7:51 PM
After being re-elected in 2004 President Bush said he had built up a lot of political capital and was now going to spend it.
Apparently political capital does not buy much. Especially when what you are buying is what the Democrats are selling.
Posted by owl2 | June 11, 2007 8:03 PM
I seem to have wandered into the world of BDS here. I strongly disagree with the post and most of the posters.
I assume most think that the liberals, MSM and the internationals are not being effective enough with their insane Bushbashing and need all the conservative help they can get.
Posted by owl2 | June 11, 2007 8:05 PM
I seem to have wandered into the world of BDS here. I strongly disagree with the post and most of the posters.
I assume most think that the liberals, MSM and the internationals are not being effective enough with their insane Bushbashing and need all the conservative help they can get.
Posted by NahnCee![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/nav-commenters.gif)
| June 11, 2007 8:33 PM
Owl: You forget what "assume" is, right?
I don't mind if U want to be an ASS, but leave ME out of it.
Posted by The Man | June 11, 2007 10:23 PM
Ah!
How the chicken-hawks have now come home to roost!
The republicans were all outraged when Bill Clinton lied under oath..with no underlying crime. His reward impeachment!
Scooter Libby lies, obstructs justice and right-wing world cries out Oh! The Humanity! Free Libby Now! Please Mr. President set this hero free!
Now today the vote on Gonzales comes up and only 7 republican senators voting for cloture! What ever happened to the up or down vote standard invoked by the reublican senate? The Captain is right...Gonzo needs to go.
And finally, Judge Bork, the king of tort reform sues Yale for damages from a fall. Seems the stage was too high and everyone should have known it was too high! Except apparently for judge Bork who still climbed up there. Based on his past writings he would toss his own case.
The rules apply only to the little people in right-wing world.
Posted by The Man | June 11, 2007 10:26 PM
Ah!
How the chicken-hawks have now come home to roost!
The republicans were all outraged when Bill Clinton lied under oath..with no underlying crime. His reward impeachment!
Scooter Libby lies, obstructs justice and right-wing world cries out Oh! The Humanity! Free Libby Now! Please Mr. President set this hero free!
Now today the vote on Gonzales comes up and only 7 republican senators voting for cloture! What ever happened to the up or down vote standard invoked by the reublican senate? The Captain is right...Gonzo needs to go.
And finally, Judge Bork, the king of tort reform sues Yale for damages from a fall. Seems the stage was too high and everyone should have known it was too high! Except apparently for judge Bork who still climbed up there. Based on his past writings he would toss his own case.
The rules apply only to the little people in right-wing world.
Posted by EV Rider | June 13, 2007 7:55 AM
After the White House's issuance of a "National Continuity Policy" on May 9 which entrusts President Bush to lead the entire federal government, not just the Executive Branch, to ensure "constitutional government" in the case of a "catastrophic emergency," Progressive magazine editor Matthew Rothschild has followed up after consulting with the ACLU to see what they thought about it.
Is Martial Law Around the Corner? http://www.alternet.org/story/53213