Posted on 04/20/2006 9:08:17 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Joshua B. Bolten, the new White House chief of staff, has raised the possibility of moving Harriet E. Miers from her job as President Bush's counsel as part of a continuing shake-up of the West Wing, an influential Republican with close ties to Mr. Bolten said Thursday.
The Republican, who was granted anonymity to talk openly about sensitive internal White House deliberations, said that Mr. Bolten had floated the idea among confidants, but that it was unclear whether he would follow through or if the move would be acceptable to Mr. Bush, who has a longtime personal bond with Ms. Miers.
"It's a reflection of Josh's thinking," the Republican said. "It's not a prediction that he's going to get it done."
A senior White House official denied that Mr. Bolten was considering such a step. "It's not the case," said the official, who was granted anonymity to get around the administration's policy of not commenting on personnel matters.
On another front, Republicans said that Tony Snow, a commentator for Fox News and a former speechwriter for Mr. Bush's father, was in negotiations for the job of White House press secretary. Mr. Snow would replace Scott McClellan, who announced Wednesday that he was resigning.
Mr. Bolten's thinking about Ms. Miers, however tentative, provided an insight into the scale of his ambitions for overhauling the White House staff and, should he proceed, could amount to a test of how far he would be able to go in bringing about change.
Ms. Miers, who was once Mr. Bush's personal lawyer, followed him from Texas to the White House. He nominated her to the Supreme Court last year, and brought her back into his inner circle when she withdrew after a brutal period of scrutiny and criticism.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
What kind of negotiations could there be with Tony Snow?
>>The Republican, who was granted anonymity to talk openly about sensitive internal White House deliberations, said that Mr. Bolten had floated the idea among confidants, but that it was unclear whether he would follow through or if the move would be acceptable to Mr. Bush, who has a longtime personal bond with Ms. Miers.<<
So... is this an intentional trial baloon of a betrayal of confidence by someone who shouldn't be talking.
Why remove her. She's been giving such great advice so far. Think of what a great SCOTUS Justice she would have made.
Well yesterday I was giving 5:1 against him getting/accepting the job but today I'm glad nobody took me up on it... Its feeling more likely.
???
Slow news day at the Slimes?
Come on now, I am sure she is the best and most qualified person for the job. ;)
I can imagine this exchange:
David Gregory; "Tony, why did you get picked for this job?"
Tony Snow; "That should be obvious, David, Fox Rocks!"
:-)
On another front, Republicans said that Tony Snow, a commentator for Fox News and a former speechwriter for Mr. Bush's father, was in negotiations for the job of White House press secretary. Mr. Snow would replace Scott McClellan, who announced Wednesday that he was resigning.
And Harriet Miers, yet again, is being treated like she doesn't exist...except for people to talk about behind her back, besmirch...or just generally make fun of...
This poor woman has been through enough..and your post is excellent in pointing out that a "confidence" that isn't confidential....tells us AND her what her fate probably is.
Of course, that is if this is TRUE...this is the NYTimes after all...
This story reads like farce. Perhaps that's intentional.
I agree. Miers did a fantastic job in selectin Roberts and Alito. They were inspired choices and it takes intellegence to identify excellence. Miers likely would have been a great SCOTUS.
What's with the castle purge mania?
Are you being sarcastic? How do you know Miers had anything to do with the Roberts and Alito nominations? As far as anyone can tell, Miers tried to nominate herself to the seat Alito now has, and she would've been worse than O'Connor.
This stinks.
Tony Snow overshadowing the President? What?
Consider the source: it's the New York Times
He is a radio and TV personality. Why put him in as a spokesman for the President of the United States? He comes with too much of his own "personality" baggage. It just isn't done.
Yeah, but it sure is fun to think about Tony Snow OVERSHADOWING the elite PRESSIES, though.
Yea, it is fun. But that is not the job of the Press Secretary.
Republicans said Mr. Bolten has been focused on finding a new White House press secretary with good contacts in the Washington news media and a deep understanding of how they work.
Mr. Snow is the host of his own radio program and comes from the news operation that flashes from every television in the West Wing.
But before entering into job negotiations with the White House, Mr. Snow publicly joined other conservative critics of the administration.
In a column posted on his Web site that focused on the president's most recent State of the Union address, Mr. Snow in February called Mr. Bush's domestic policy agenda "listless" and portrayed his staff as burned out and unwilling to stand up to him.
"He inspires loyalty and confidence," Mr. Snow wrote in the column, titled "Thud!" that also included high praise for the president. "But over time, even the best burn out — or worse, lose their capacity to tell the boss, 'Sir, that idea stinks.' "
Associates of Mr. Snow, 50, said he has been weighing whether he and his family are up for the rigors of such a demanding job.
Mr. Snow had surgery for colon cancer last year and is awaiting an clearance from doctors before making a deal, according to people with knowledge of his deliberations who spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not want to upset private discussions at a sensitive time.
Mr. Snow's deliberations played out on Fox News on Thursday night, when be acknowledged the downside of the job. "You get a massive cut in pay," he said, adding that a press secretary can get treated "like a piñata," and that the job would cut into time with his children.
On the plus side, he said, "You become part of something that's very rare, which is an inner White House circle."
The White House has also been interested in a communications job for Dan Senor, the former spokesman for the United States in Iraq who is now a Republican consultant and Fox News analyst. But Republicans said Mr. Senor was cool to the idea and faced complications because of his wife, Campbell Brown, sometimes fills in as anchor of the "NBC Nightly News" and is the co-host of "Weekend Today."
That's bullshit, and you know it.
Harriet Miers was put forth for the SC by Andy Card. She's too self-effacing to push herself.
Oops - should have been all italics or none at all. Everything but the first line is from the article.
That raises several questions should he be selected. Which TS would we be getting? The Fox News Tony or the radio Tony. And which Tony does GW want?
Harriet Miers wanted to cancel the Fourth of July,and wanted to wear shorts in the Oval Office.
That's no big deal.
Why even bring Miers into the news? I'm sure she's at least ok in her role but was the #1 worst political mistake of Bush's Presidency to be nominated to SCOTUS. Why remind people of this?
But Republicans said Mr. Senor was cool to the idea and faced complications because of his wife, Campbell Brown, sometimes fills in as anchor of the "NBC Nightly News" and is the co-host of "Weekend Today"
Let me get this straight: it's sleep with Campbell Brown, or have to stare at Helen Thomas every day?
Geezzz......I guess I'll start replying to your "post" with the following:
WTF DO YOU CALL THE ROOM OF TOTAL IDIOTS ASKING THE QUESTIONS ???????!!!!!
That's ALL THEY ARE are "TV personalities"!!! They are there for no other reason but their OWN agenda. The position of WH spokesman would be PERFECT for someone like Tony Snow, who has "been there-done that", and would make them look like the "idiots and wanna-be TV stars" that they REALLY are, instead of "reporters"!!!
The position is WAY TOO IMPORTANT to have a "punching bag" behind the podium.
Look at the President's "poll numbers".The position requires someone who is unafraid and able to "punch back"!!
And bnelson44, I apologize to you for my "rant", but IMHO, The WH needs to fight "fire with fire", and I believe Tony Snow would be able to handle the position VERY WELL!!
I think Tony Snow would make a GREAT Press Secretary. Bill Moyers also served as White House Press Secretary for LBJ from July 1965 to February 1967 - here's a complete list of all Press Secretaries going back to 1937:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Press_Secretary
Salary, freedom of operations, etc, etc, etc.
That bra-burning, bald-facedly lying, baby-murder-promoting, homophilic hippy can never get too much.
She's giving the speech at my law school graduation. And our dean just resigned in disgrace after being forced out (the school has been in a rough spot lately--we've declined in the rankings significantly. It's happened since I matriculated--coincidence?). It's funny, Harriet, the Dean, and I will have something in common--none of us will have jobs!
Which law school?
"Think of what a great SCOTUS Justice she would have made."
Are you kidding?
What a waste of space!
I think it would actually stink to replace her. She has picked solid judges, took one for the team, and it would be unbecoming to ditch her.
1. Causing division and suspicion within the White House
2. Stirring up the divide within the Republican party about the Miers nomination.
Folks, don't take the bait. No one who knows anything is leaking to the New York Times. Period.
Harriet Meyers betrayed her boss by allowing her name to be considered for the Supreme Court, and she should have resigned already.
Keeping the brown M&Ms out of his office.
anonymity ???
What's this ... a new word for the NYT to use ... and grant?
The NYT always grant anonymity to their imaginary friends.
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