AM Feed - June 15: Bush Backs Embattled Rove - Again
Hot Topics
- President Bush is famous for his (often misplaced) sense of loyalty, and he reaffirmed this again yesterday when he spoke out in support of his embattled adviser Karl Rove. Rove testified several times in front of a grand jury regarding the leak of Valerie Plame’s undercover identity as part of a coordinated White House smear campaign. Then-Press Secretary Scott McClellan assured reporters that Rove had no role in the leak, although court documents show that he did confirm her role in the CIA to two reporters. Bush initially pledged to hold those involved accountable, and now it looks like his plan for doing so consists of bear hugs. [link]
- It looks as though the second term shake up in the White House isn’t yet finished: Top policy adviser and speechwriter Michael Gerson has announced his departure from the Bush administration. Gerson was Bush’s chief speechwriter during the first term, and was credited with penning some of the president’s most influential addresses. A hallmark of Gerson’s speeches has been an ability to sugar-coat radical policy ideas with catchy terms (think “compassionate conservatism”) while using symbolic language to appeal to Bush’s conservative base. [link]
Quote of the Day
The following exchange took place between President Bush and Los Angeles Times reporter Peter Wallsten during Bush’s press conference yesterday. Wallsten is legally blind:
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, Peter. Are you going to ask that question with shades on?
QUESTION: I can take them off.
PRESIDENT BUSH: I’m interested in the shade look, seriously.
QUESTION: All right, I’ll keep it, then.
PRESIDENT BUSH: For the viewers, there’s no sun.
Morning Snark
- Nothing says “compassion” like poking fun of the blind in front of a national audience.
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