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04-18-2006, 08:49 AM
Bolten Says White House Staff Must `Re-Engage' or Leave Posts
April 17 (Bloomberg) -- Joshua Bolten, the new White House chief of staff, indicated he's preparing to make changes in the Bush administration, telling senior aides today to `refresh, re- engage'' or quit now.
``If you're thinking about leaving, now's the time,'' Press Secretary Scott McClellan quoted Bolten as telling White House senior staff. The former budget director said he wanted people with enough energy to be ``charging ahead for the next two-and one-half years,'' McClellan said.
Bolten took over the job on Saturday, replacing Andrew Card. A replacement for Bolten as director of the White House budget office is expected ``soon,'' McClellan said.
President George W. Bush has granted Bolten, a one-time campaign aide and former director of Goldman Sachs International Inc. in London, authority to clean house. The president, his approval ratings in polls eroding, faces a host of challenges led by the war in Iraq, a largely stalled legislative agenda and lawmakers in Congress charting their own courses as they prepare for elections in November.
Bolten, 51, has ``hit the ground running,'' McClellan said, seeking advice from members of Congress, reviewing organizational charts at the White House and spelling out his thoughts for White House staff this morning. He told them he expects to make ``some changes and adjustments'' in White House meetings and structure in a week to 10 days, McClellan said.
`Renew Our Commitment'
``Josh talked about how this is the time to refresh, re- engage our team, and for all of us to renew our commitment,'' McClellan said. ``He wanted to make sure that he had the team in place that's going to be here for a minimum of the rest of the year.''
Bolten was named to the post on March 28 as some Republican lawmakers such as Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota expressed frustration with the administration's stumbles on the Dubai ports deal, Hurricane Katrina recovery and management of public unease over the Iraq.
Among possible candidates for budget director are Joel Kaplan, the current No. 2 person who oversees spending matters, and Clay Johnson, a long-time friend of Bush, who shares the No. 2 position with a focus on management of federal departments and agencies.
``I would expect an announcement soon'' on filling the position, McClellan said today.
Other positions must also be filled, including that of domestic policy adviser to replace Claude Allen, who resigned in February after being charged with defrauding retailers in a credit card scheme.
Changes
Analysts have said they expect U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow will soon depart, though Bush gave him some praise earlier this month in response to questions at a Cabinet meeting and in an interview with broadcast reporters. In contrast, Bush on April 14 announced his ``full support'' for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld after six retired generals publicly called for his resignation.
McClellan said the statement of support for Rumsfeld was ``a unique situation.''
There may also be changes in the administration's congressional relations staff, currently headed by Candida Wolff, as well as changes in the economic teams.
Asked at a briefing this morning if he was departing, McClellan replied, ``Are you tempting me?'' He then invoked his past stance of not commenting on personnel matters.
You're either with us, or against us, Bolten told the West Wing's Axis of Evil
;)
April 17 (Bloomberg) -- Joshua Bolten, the new White House chief of staff, indicated he's preparing to make changes in the Bush administration, telling senior aides today to `refresh, re- engage'' or quit now.
``If you're thinking about leaving, now's the time,'' Press Secretary Scott McClellan quoted Bolten as telling White House senior staff. The former budget director said he wanted people with enough energy to be ``charging ahead for the next two-and one-half years,'' McClellan said.
Bolten took over the job on Saturday, replacing Andrew Card. A replacement for Bolten as director of the White House budget office is expected ``soon,'' McClellan said.
President George W. Bush has granted Bolten, a one-time campaign aide and former director of Goldman Sachs International Inc. in London, authority to clean house. The president, his approval ratings in polls eroding, faces a host of challenges led by the war in Iraq, a largely stalled legislative agenda and lawmakers in Congress charting their own courses as they prepare for elections in November.
Bolten, 51, has ``hit the ground running,'' McClellan said, seeking advice from members of Congress, reviewing organizational charts at the White House and spelling out his thoughts for White House staff this morning. He told them he expects to make ``some changes and adjustments'' in White House meetings and structure in a week to 10 days, McClellan said.
`Renew Our Commitment'
``Josh talked about how this is the time to refresh, re- engage our team, and for all of us to renew our commitment,'' McClellan said. ``He wanted to make sure that he had the team in place that's going to be here for a minimum of the rest of the year.''
Bolten was named to the post on March 28 as some Republican lawmakers such as Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota expressed frustration with the administration's stumbles on the Dubai ports deal, Hurricane Katrina recovery and management of public unease over the Iraq.
Among possible candidates for budget director are Joel Kaplan, the current No. 2 person who oversees spending matters, and Clay Johnson, a long-time friend of Bush, who shares the No. 2 position with a focus on management of federal departments and agencies.
``I would expect an announcement soon'' on filling the position, McClellan said today.
Other positions must also be filled, including that of domestic policy adviser to replace Claude Allen, who resigned in February after being charged with defrauding retailers in a credit card scheme.
Changes
Analysts have said they expect U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow will soon depart, though Bush gave him some praise earlier this month in response to questions at a Cabinet meeting and in an interview with broadcast reporters. In contrast, Bush on April 14 announced his ``full support'' for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld after six retired generals publicly called for his resignation.
McClellan said the statement of support for Rumsfeld was ``a unique situation.''
There may also be changes in the administration's congressional relations staff, currently headed by Candida Wolff, as well as changes in the economic teams.
Asked at a briefing this morning if he was departing, McClellan replied, ``Are you tempting me?'' He then invoked his past stance of not commenting on personnel matters.
You're either with us, or against us, Bolten told the West Wing's Axis of Evil
;)