Fierce Defender of President to Lead Campaign for Court [Ed Gillespie]

New York Times ^ | July 6, 2005 | Elisabteh Bumiller

[West Coast Conservative]

Ed Gillespie was called "President Bush's pit bull" during the 2004 presidential campaign, when as chairman of the Republican National Committee he seemed to live on cable television trading snarls with Terry McAuliffe, his attack dog of a counterpart at the Democratic National Committee.

So Mr. Gillespie, 43, might seem a strange choice to manage the expected fight in the Senate over who will replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, since the job will include delivering moderate Democratic votes for whomever Mr. Bush selects as a Supreme Court nominee.

But Republicans said that White House officials turned to Mr. Gillespie as their battle commander for two reasons: his organizational skills in managing the chaos of a political campaign and, hot television rhetoric aside, his longtime ties across the aisle.

"As soon as the camera lights went off, we'd have a lot of conversation," Mr. McAuliffe recalled on Tuesday. "We're both strong Catholics, we both have a lot of kids, we spent a lot of time talking about our kids. We get along great. For two years, I spent more time with Ed than I spent with my wife."

Other Democrats were less convinced of Mr. Gillespie's merits and his suitability for the job. "To choose the former head of the Republican Party who's known for slash-and-burn tactics doesn't help," said Senator Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat who is a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Gillespie, who has seldom, if ever, been at a loss for words, was returning from a long Fourth of July weekend on the Jersey Shore on Tuesday and declined to be interviewed for this article. Republicans said that Mr. Gillespie was unwilling to discuss his role because his responsibilities have not yet been finalized.

[babaloo]

Good pick by the President. Between him and Fred Thompson the candidate(s) should be in very capable hands.

[Michael.SF.]

Interesting. Looks like the GOP is going to take this seriously. Reading in between the lines, I would say this may be an indicator that Bush is not going to go for a safe milque toast of a nominee.

[PhiKapMom]

Outstanding -- Gillespie and Fred Thompson -- looking better and better and now waiting for Howard Dean to throw his hissy fit!

[MarcusTulliusCicero]

Hardly. After all, it was Fred Thompson who took the lead on impeachment in the Senate. And look what a good job he did with that.

[ConservativeMan55]

Lets support Michael Luttig!

[ncountylee]

"To choose the former head of the Republican Party who's known for slash-and-burn tactics doesn't help," said Senator Charles E. Schumer

Chucky, you chose the Gutter. Now Get Ready to Rumble!

[Arkie2]

"To choose the former head of the Republican Party who's known for slash-and-burn tactics doesn't help," said Senator Charles E. Schumer

This from the jackass heard saying on a cell phone before the nominee is even known that this will be a nuclear war or some such nonsense.

[Arkie2]

It's kind of hard to blame Fred for that mess since more than a few Senate Republicans stated publicly that the eveidence didn't matter.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

[Christian4Bush]

"As soon as the camera lights went off, we'd have a lot of conversation," Mr. McAuliffe recalled on Tuesday. "We're both strong Catholics, we both have a lot of kids, we spent a lot of time talking about our kids. We get along great. For two years, I spent more time with Ed than I spent with my wife."

W.T.M.I.!!!!

[jigsaw]

Does the %&^$@ Main Street Losers (i.e., Press) have to quote Chuckie Schumer on everything?   Does his staff call the press constantly with quotes or does the press have its nose permanently stuck to his backside?

I don't know which is a bigger embarrassment: Schumer or the Presstitutes.

[MarcusTulliusCicero]

True enough but Thompson was obviously just going through the motions.....perhaps he was already in negotiation to be the token conservative on Law and Order?

[Arkie2]

LOL! He's a pretty good actor. Don't know if he was better on the big screen or C-Span.

[el_texicano]

" does the press have its nose permanently stuck to his backside?"

THAT is NOT a pretty picture...

[Uncle Miltie]

Then there's Mark Racicot, Montana Governor who could be added to that team!

[gov_bean_ counter]

Amazingly the Rats have already made several missteps that will come back to bite them if played properly. Biden's comment that the SC makes law was Christmas in July. Now Schumer's going to war statement. This has the potential to not go at all well for the Dems if the Republicans play it right.

This group just aren't as smooth as Slick. Makes you wonder just who is in charge now.

[Truth Table]

They got Fred Thompson as well. Good man. His narration at the GOP convention was pure magic. I'll put Ed and Fred up against the banshees of the left any day of the week.

I 'spose it is time for someone to post the popcorn gif with EXTRA butter.

Off to church to do some Wednesday night Prayin'

[Ax]

McAuliffe is a "strong Catholic?" The god at whose altar he worships is the uber-abortionst, William Jefferson Clinton.

[Truth Table]

Yes. Better and better. This probably means without a doubt that Attorney General G WILL NOT get the nod...