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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (2982)	7/1/2003 5:23:12 AM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793926

Gen. Clark for vice president? June 29, 2003 BY ROBERT NOVAK SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, meeting privately with moderate Democratic ''Blue Dog'' House members last week as he moved toward a possible presidential candidacy, took hard shots at President Bush but criticized Democrats as well. The former NATO supreme commander, a newcomer to partisan politics, told his new political allies that Democrats ''need to dig in'' and fight harder on both foreign and domestic policy. Clark's criticism of Bush was more pointed than his public statements. Clark did not make a hard commitment to become a candidate. The Blue Dogs were impressed with the general, and many consider him an excellent prospect for the vice presidential nomination whether or not he runs for president. It's not privatization A private national poll taken by Democratic pollster Celinda Lake points to a ''difficulty'' for Democrats because voters do not think Republican prescription drug plans moving through Congress ''sound like'' the privatization of Medicare that they oppose. Democrats for years have accused Republicans of trying to privatize Medicare. Lake reported voters think the GOP proposal ''sounds like supplemental insurance, which seniors have now.'' A footnote: While President Bush puts a high priority on increasing the narrow Republican majority in the Senate, his aggressive lobbying for the prescription drug bill put two key GOP Senate candidates on the spot. Representatives Richard Burr of North Carolina and Jim DeMint of South Carolina both voted against the president's proposal. Bush's Democratic ally With conservative House Republicans rebelling against the administration-backed prescription drug bill, President Bush summoned to a White House photo opportunity a New York Democratic congressman--Rep. Steve Israel--who has broken party ranks to support the GOP proposal. A photo of Bush seated in the Cabinet Room with Israel on his right and liberal Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson of Connecticut on his left was distributed nationwide by the Associated Press and put on the White House Web site. ''I'm so honored that members of both political parties from the House of Representatives have come to discuss our mutual desire,'' said the president. Israel was elected to Congress in 2000 from the Long Island district represented by Republican Rick Lazio before his Senate run against Hillary Clinton. Republicans contested this district in 2000 and 2002, but Israel's invitation to the White House suggests that the GOP now regards Israel as a safe Democratic incumbent. A senator's clout The planned event at which Treasury Secretary John Snow was to endorse legislation permitting banks to share information was postponed, but not because of an ''unavoidable scheduling conflict'' as the Treasury announced. It was objected to by Sen. Richard Shelby, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and a critic of the legislation. About 300 representatives of the banking industry, including many who had arrived in Washington from out of town, planned to attend the event Wednesday in the Treasury's Cash Room. The Bush administration and bankers seek renewal of the Fair Credit Reform Act, which expires Dec. 31. Shelby objected on grounds that the Snow event would overshadow his Banking Committee hearings Thursday. The senator, who became chairman this year, is an advocate of privacy for banking industry customers and is skeptical of information-sharing arrangements. Georgette for senator New York Republicans close to Gov. George Pataki have approached Manhattan businesswoman Georgette Mosbacher, ex-wife of former Secretary of Commerce Robert Mosbacher, as a possible candidate against Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer next year. The approach came to light when Mosbacher contacted friends for help in framing her response. While active in Republican fund-raising, Mosbacher has never been a candidate or held public office. With her net worth estimated at more than $250 million, she might be able to finance her own campaign. Mosbacher's last political activity was in 2000 when she endorsed Sen. John McCain for the Republican nomination. Her former husband is a longtime family friend of the Bushes. suntimes.com