MORE DECK CHAIR SHUFFLING?
These White House shake-up rumors been bubbling all day:
CNN…
Presidential press secretary Scott McClellan and Treasury Secretary John Snow could be next in a shake-up in the Bush administration, according to White House and GOP sources.
The possible departure of both men could be among “several senior-level staff” announcements to come within the next couple of weeks, said former White House staff members, GOP strategists and administration officials.
“You’re going to have more change than you expect,” one GOP insider said.
One change already has been announced: Chief of staff Andy Card officially will leave April 14 and is being replaced by Josh Bolten, director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Under one scenario, Dan Bartlett, counselor to the president, would replace McClellan, Republican officials said.
But other GOP strategists said they believe McClellan’s position is secure because of his close relationship with President Bush going back to Texas. McClellan was a communications aide to the president when he was governor of the Lone Star state.
Despite the administration’s public comments of support for Snow, sources inside and outside the White House have said Bush has been ready to replace the treasury chief for the past year and has been searching for an “acceptable alternative.”
And via Reuters this evening…
President George W. Bush looks increasingly likely to replace Treasury Secretary John Snow and is considering former lawmakers and some Wall Street executives to succeed him, Republican sources said on Monday.
The Bush administration wants a more compelling figure than Snow to lead its effort to highlight the economy’s strength in the hope of bolstering Republican chances in November’s congressional elections, the sources said.
A Republican in frequent contact with the White House said there have been discussions about trying to attract Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Henry Paulson for the job, which would bring Wall Street savvy to the post.
A senior Senate staffer named U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, a former congressmen, as another possible contender.
The Senate official said the White House is giving “active consideration” to replacing Snow, a wealthy former railroad executive who took over the top Treasury post in early 2003 after the dismissal of Paul O’Neill.
Snow’s ability to stick to an administration script made a change from the vocal O’Neill, another former industrialist.
The White House was tight-lipped on the speculation. “Our economy is strong and (Bush) appreciates the job that his economic team has done,” said spokesman Scott McClellan.
Meanwhile, lots of folks in the blogosphere are linking to this peppy “Bush Was Right” video.
There was a time when I’d be cheerily gung-ho about that refrain. But what with the administration’s botched response to the Danish cartoons, its lame reaction to the near-execution of Abdul Rahman, and its obstinate insistence on a guest-worker/amnesty plan, among other wrong-headed moves, I’m not in the mood to wave pom-poms.
Sorry.
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