GOP 'in political shock' over Card's magazine leak

Washington Times ^ | 6/07/02 | Ralph Z. Hallow

[kattracks]

Republicans expressed shock yesterday at reports that White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. discussed internal dissent within the Bush administration in a magazine interview.

The White House has been remarkably leak-proof during President Bush's first 17 months in office, and Mr. Card's comments in the July issue of Esquire are the first major breach in what some have called the administration's "wall of silence" about internal disagreements over policy.

[jwalsh07]

I heard this today, if Card did this he should be fired post haste. He makes Bush sound like one of Jappettos creations.

[Paleo Conservative]

Sounds like W needs to have the same talk with Card that Reagan had with Stockman.

[Fracas]

In my previous Freeper life I was a frequent critic of Andy Card. IMHO, he was one of a few very weak links in an otherwise strong chain. (I would include Mineta, Thompson and O'Neill in that category.)

Rumor has it that Card was leaving at the end of the year; that target date might be brought forward a few months. LOL.

It's a foolish man who would publicly attack Rove, or any member of the President's staff for that matter. GWB certainly has made his feelings about loyalty very clear; to risk his wrath about this is stupid beyond belief.

[Paleo Conservative]

(I would include Mineta, Thompson and O'Neill in that category.)

What about Whitman?

[Fracas]

I deliberately omit her from all my lists because if GWB appointed a more conservative person to that post, there would be constant, never-ending WAR. That war would spill over into the press on a daily basis, diluting the President's agenda and distracting from the good things he's doing.

I don't like many of Whitman's public positions, but make no mistake, she supports GWB when necessary, and HE likes her. I think he is very skillful at 'reading' people; in fact, I agree more with his people assessment than I do some of his policies (such as CFR).

[CyberAnt]

I do so agree with your assessment.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

I agree with the posters above on the weak links-we need to get that red haired woman to get to the WH and point at Card and sneer-"You are the Weakest Link-Bye, Bye"! I never trusted him and cringe when he is on the talk shows.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

In my previous Freeper life

Since I am sure you are not confessing to being a retread, is there some reason you changed screennames, and is it a secret whom you used to be?

[Lancey Howard]

This is the kind of arcane political insider stuff that never makes it down general rabble.

[over3Owithabrain]

Methinks this was a planned "leak", aimed at appeasing unhappy conservatives. Card's job here was to go out and say "Oh no, Bush is lstening more to his conservative advisors!"

We're just supposed to gnaw on this bone a while before the next leftward lurch occurs...

[PhiKapMom]

If you can believe what Andy Card had to say himself, this is mostly fiction including the blue rug in his office. He said he deals in non-fiction and this article is fiction. Have no indication which it is but I sure wish someone else was in that job!

[Sonny M]

I agree with you. Bush's people are amazingly well known for their loyalty and to "fall on the sword". By making Karl Rove the conservative, and saying Bush is listening to him to much, it should make some conservatives who are ticked now, happy. I would much rather though that Bush had a John Sununu type (not necesarily him though) in the white house.

[GraniteStateConservative]

That's exactly the case. Andy Card isn't a retard. Rove concocted this. This wasn't a surprise to Rove. He knew that the topic of the story was the effect of Karen Hughes' departure-- it's not like they asked Card a surprise question about Middle East policy or something that has nothing to do with Hughes. So, he sat Card down and said, "When they ask you how things will now be different with Hughes gone, this is what you'll say."

[GraniteStateConservative]

Rove knew and participated in this magazine story:

In Rove's interview with Esquire, he says of Hughes, ''For every 10 battles we've had, she's won nine of them.'' Asked if her departure would give free rein to his conservative agenda, Rove replied laughing, ''I certainly hope not.''

This was all orchestrated by Rove. Rove knew what the interview was going to be about and told Card what to say.