Posted by Mark Silva at 8:50 am CDT
Speak now, or hold your peace through the remainder of the year.
This was the message of the president’s new chief of staff in a meeting with senior staffers this morning. Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, planning to “change some things’’ at the White House, convened his first Monday staff meeting with a message that he hopes to “energize’’ President Bush’s team at a “challenging’’ time and that anyone who is thinking of leaving should speak up soon - he hopes to have a team in place that will serve at least through the end of 2006.
“He is assuming his new responsibilities during a challenging time period,’’ White House spokesman Scott McClellan allowed this morning, following the chief of staff’s morning meeting with senior staffers. Bolten spoke today about this being “a time to reenergize and refresh the team.’’
Bolten didn’t ask for anyone’s resignations today, McClellan said, but did make it clear that he wants anyone planning to leave before the end of the year to speak up soon.
For starters, Bolten has to replace himself at the Office of Management and Budget, which he directed before becoming chief of staff on Saturday. The White House also needs a new domestic policy adviser, following the recent resignation of Claude Allen - before he revealed that he was facing arrest for charges of defrauding department stores in his hometown in Maryland.
“I would expect some other announcements soon,’’ McClellan said today, noting that Bolten is “taking a look at the structure and process’’ of the entire White House.
“Josh has been given the full authority of the president to put in place the structure and team that he thinks will best serve the president moving forward… Josh has been looking at some ways to change some things.’’
For anyone thinking of moving on, McClellan said, “He essentially emphasized that now is the time to settle on this if you’re thinking about it.’’
McClellan, asked by reporters if he has any plans for leaving, said: “Don’t encourage me… Are you tempting me?’’
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Comments
It's a truly outworn joke but Josh Bolten is simply rearranging the deck chairs on Bush's Titanic. Rummy is a "Dead Man Walking" but the real question is "Who will Cheney pick to replace him?". Perhaps Dick will surprise us all by retaking his old office at DOD while continuing to run the White House from the VP office. Kissinger did it briefly with State and National Security Advisor.
Posted by: Bob Stewart | April 17, 2006 11:37 AM
We Suggest The Best Way For Bush's New Chief Of
Staff To Reorganize The White House Staff Has
To Start With Firing President George W Bush &
Vice President Dick Cheney And Work Down The
Ladder From There Until All The Incompetent
Bushies Are Gone,So Now If Congress Will Just
Go Along With Handling Bush & Cheney Their
Pink Slips,aka Impeachment That Would Make A
Whole Lot Of People Happy!
Posted by: Ralph Long | April 17, 2006 12:54 PM
I suggest the Democrats get there deck chairs lined up for there supor stars such as Cynthia McKinney, Shelia Jackson Lee, Nancy Pelosi, Babs Boxcar Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Ted Kennedy. Just to name a few who would really look good in and out of the white house don;t forget Dickie Turbin. Cliff
Posted by: cliff zeider | April 17, 2006 3:25 PM
Why don't we consider replacing a lot of the media in Washington D.C.? Has anyone heard anything of a positive nature coming from their mouths on President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield.
What is the old saying, my paraphrase)become part of the solution, or get out of my way.
When anyone thinks about who they will vote for in the 2006 upcoming Congressional elections- what will be listed as the accomplishments of the Democrats or Liberals? Mmnn, that is a toughy. Well, the Democratic Party has been consistently anti-Bush, anti-conservtive the duration of President's Bush's Presidency to date. Oh, yes, what ideas have the Democrats put forth on Social Security, Immigration Reform(sorry, what you have proposed is absolute hogwash). You have no ideas about Iraq or foreign policy. Yet, you have plenty to say about nothing.
Senator Clinton for President? You're killing me with laughter- how can one really actually vote for a woman who does not love the American people? Has no use for them? Panders to any group she happens to be with, as if she really cared about anyone or anything, except her own ego, and petty ambitions. Tell me one thing that she has done for her constituents? Yet New York loves her-( go figure that one out- but don't take more than one second).What value of hers is there to love or emulate? Remember Whitewater and the Rose Law Firm billing records, and oh yes, Vince Foster? Senator Clinton, you don't really expect us to believe you are innocent, do you? You are just a genius when it comes to destroying incriminating records and/or evidence. So, Ms Clinton, resign now to avoid total embarassment later.
Greg
Posted by: Gregory | April 17, 2006 3:31 PM
First of all, I think our founding fathers are more than likely spinning frenetically in their collective graves with the way things are going in Washington and in the White House. They never could have imagined that people with such poor leadership skills could have actually been placed in these positions. I have worked for large businesses where the leadership was 1,000% better. Actually, I have worked at some small companies that had better leadership. At least none of them lied to their employees or changed policies mid-stream or covered up any ineptitude. I agree that the white house should be cleaned up from top to bottom. If I performed in my job the way our leaders are performing I would have been handed my walking papers years ago. Perhaps we need to have performance reviews for our elected officials - ordinary citizens have to be reviewed. I even worked for a company where the staff really did evaluate senior management - guess what - it worked and everyone knew where they stood and we all worked as a team - something that hasn't been done in Washington probably since Washington's time - George that is.
Posted by: Carolyn Szymanski | April 17, 2006 3:38 PM
Gregory,
And what "good" has the party in power done for you, except teaching you how to lap up catch phrases like flip-flop, blame-game,Hilary is mean and so forth ?
Does anyone, except those with options on Halliburton stock, feel that life in these United States is better today because of what the president has accomplished during the last five or so years?
And exactly what are the plans that the GOP has,and just why are you so excited about it Gregory ? Please be specific, as your last post is absent of anything but name calling.
Posted by: johnf | April 17, 2006 5:15 PM
Unless Bolton can fire Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice, nothing will change.
Posted by: Cheryl | April 17, 2006 5:43 PM
Until Karl Rove is tossed in Jail for Lying, manipulating intelligence and playing politcal games with our security it will mkae little difference what Bolton does. Jr is a pathetic little man who has a GOD complex and is taking the entire country down to prove what a man he is. I hope all you who voted for this are happy.
Posted by: Paul | April 17, 2006 9:36 PM