Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GROUND ZERO™ who wrote (732240)	3/15/2006 2:06:52 PM
From: pompsander	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

W.House dismisses speculation about staff shake-up By Steve Holland 1 hour, 4 minutes ago WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's spokesman on Wednesday dismissed calls for a White House shake-up as "inside-Washington pontificating" after a series of controversies that have pushed his approval ratings to new lows. ADVERTISEMENT "The president has a smart, capable and experienced team that is fully committed to helping him advance his agenda and get things done for the American people," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. A variety of critics, including a member of his own Republican Party this week, have complained it is time to bring in some fresh faces to jumpstart a White House team that has faced crisis after crisis. Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman (news, bio, voting record) cited as the most recent example a Republican revolt over an Arab company's attempt to manage some terminals at six U.S. ports. Bush's job approval ratings have tumbled to their lowest -- a CNN/Gallup/USA Today poll put him at 36 percent this week -- and the White House has struggled to get its footing ever since New Orleans was swamped by Hurricane Katrina six months ago and the federal government was blamed for a bungled response. McClellan, asked about speculation that the White House team was tired, fired back that he was "tired of some of the questions." "This is all inside Washington pontificating and second guessing. We're staying focused on the priorities the American people care about," he said. So far the fiercely loyal Bush has resisted any major restructuring of a White House team led by chief of staff Andy Card. If Card stays on until September he will be the longest-serving chief of staff ever, surpassing the record of Sherman Adams, who was Dwight Eisenhower's chief of staff for five years and nine months. "I serve at the pleasure of the president for the time being," Card told Knight Ridder Newspapers recently. "If the pleasure goes, I go. If the time being arrives, I'm gone. And I don't expect a month's notice or two weeks' notice." Treasury Secretary John Snow has long been rumored to be on his way out and it has been noted in Washington that the group that approved the Dubai ports deal, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, fell under his jurisdiction. Some in the administration have grumbled privately that someone should have raised a red flag about the ports deal before it became a political liability for Bush. Bush is currently looking at candidates to replace Interior Secretary Gale Norton, who announced her resignation last week. Some of the candidates are believed to include Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, former Colorado Republican Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (news, bio, voting record) and former Utah Republican Rep. Jim Hansen. McClellan said he expected an announcement soon.