Josh Bolten, who today begins his job as White House chief of staff, is widely expected to make changes to a war-weary team that has stumbled during President Bush’s second term.
Although rumors are rampant about hirings and firings at the staff and Cabinet levels, some scenarios are more far-fetched than others. For example, Bush seems unlikely to heed the advice of conservative pundit Fred Barnes by replacing Vice President Dick Cheney with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Nor does the president appear inclined to listen to former generals who are calling for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s scalp (see related story below). Indeed, Bush interrupted his long Easter weekend at Camp David to issue a statement aimed at quelling talk of Rumsfeld’s departure.
“Secretary Rumsfeld’s energetic and steady leadership is exactly what is needed at this critical period,” Bush said. “He has my full support and deepest appreciation.”
It was a more full-throated endorsement than Bush gave to Treasury Secretary John Snow, whose job security is viewed as tenuous at best. Asked point-blank about Snow’s future recently, Bush issued a somewhat tepid defense of his Treasury secretary, who is widely faulted for failing to sufficiently talk up the booming economy.
“He has been a valuable member of my administration,” Bush said as Snow sat a few feet away. “I trust his judgment and appreciate his service.”
Many observers expect Bolten to bring fresh blood to the office of the White House congressional liaison. Although he is not expected to fire Candida Wolff, the administration’s primary conduit to Congress, Bolten might beef up the office with a former Republican senator like Dan Coats, of Indiana, or Fred Thompson, of Tennessee.
Some conservatives are calling for White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan to be replaced by a more dynamic personality, such as former military spokesman Dan Senor. McClellan declined to comment on his own future, other than to say that he and the rest of the staff and Cabinet serve at the pleasure of the president.
That’s why Andy Card gave up the chief of staff job last week, after holding it for more than five years — an unusually long stretch. Although Card was well-liked, he presided over such administration missteps as the ill-fated Dubai ports deal.
