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.
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