Centerfield: Maybe it's a real shakeup after all

March 30, 2006

Maybe it's a real shakeup after all

Much of the initial reaction to Josh Bolten's replacement of Andy Card as White House Chief of Staff was summed up in Powerline's initial reaction: "Yawn." The Wall Street journal reported it was unlikely to be the start of a major shake-up in the administration.

But maybe first reports were wrong. The NY Times is reporting that Bolten wants to overhaul the economic policy team and the White House staff. First up appears to be moving John Snow out of Treasury and replacing him with someone who will more forcefully present the President's economic program. Rumored successors include: Henry Paulson, chief executive of Goldman Sachs; John Mack, chief executive of Morgan Stanley, and Richard Parsons, chairman of Time Warner. Scott McClellan confirmed what's going on in a very Washington-esque manner, by saying that the President appreciates the great job Snow is doing, without assuring him that no changes were in the offing.

Posted by PatHMV at March 30, 2006 09:29 AM

Comments

I know people that have worked around Josh Bolten for years, this isn't your go along get along kind of a guy. Just because someone has a calm demeanor doesn't mean they aren't willing to rock the boat. There will be waves, how big they get is anyone's guess, but I agree Snow should go.

Posted by: Mathew at March 30, 2006 03:23 PM

It's a nice gesture, but it's still just a gesture. The economy is perking along fairly well; it's Iraq that's weighing down W. If he wants to stop the bleeding, he's going to have to accept Rum's resignation.

Might put in Lieberman; that would build some bipartisan bridges, and Joe's name is already mud in Dem circles.

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Posted by: Blue Jean at March 30, 2006 07:07 PM

You know Jean, I think you are right to an extent, but I am sick of hearing the Lieberman argument. What the hell has he ever managed? What we need in the Defense department is a manager, not an ideologue, and on the Iraq war Joe has made what in large part is an ideological case... I would hope that the President would appoint a Josh Bolten type, a competent manager, rather than a politician at Defense if Rummy were to, god willing, finally give it up. Don't get me wrong, I would walk on glass for Joe Lieberman, but I would rather see him playing his current roll.

I know defenders of Rummy will come back at this argument with his experience as a CEO,and his reputation for being an effective leader. My answer is that I have read the book, I know what Rummy did as a CEO and as Secretary of Defense, and anyone who thinks that it was competent leadership or good management really doesn't understand either.

Posted by: Mathew at March 30, 2006 07:28 PM

I take back a little of what I said... Lieberman was the Attorney General in Connecticut. I guess my overall point is that he should be appointed for his skills to effectively manage the defense department and implement the programs neccesary to conduct war, manage DoD employees, etc., etc. and not because "it would build some bipartisan bridges." So, it's not the appointment of Lieberman that would neccesarily bother me, but the reasons for it that seems to be the conventional wisdom.

Posted by: Mathew at March 30, 2006 07:39 PM

I seem to be one of four or five Americans who actually *like* him. Not going to defend him on torture, of course, but otherwise I think he's done mostly well.

Posted by: Jon Kay at March 30, 2006 11:34 PM

(Rumsfeld, that is). After all, he did turn in a rather substantial win....

Posted by: Jon Kay at March 30, 2006 11:36 PM

Centerfield

A Weblog of Centrist Voices in American Politics

March 30, 2006

Maybe it's a real shakeup after all