Bolten’s 5-Point Plan, 75 Days Later
It’s a testament to how messy my desk is that I just came across Mike Allen’s article, from a week after Josh Bolten ascended to the Chief of Staff role, describing Bolten’s plan to right the sinking ship of the Bush Administration. But the benefit of rediscovering it now is that what once appeared as an earnest plan now reads like humor.
So how has Bolten’s five-point plan fared?
1 DEPLOY GUNS AND BADGES. This is an unabashed play to members of theconservative base who are worried about illegal immigration. Under thebanner of homeland security, the White House plans to seek more fundingfor an extremely visible enforcement crackdown at the Mexican border,including a beefed-up force of agents patrolling on all-terrainvehicles (ATVs).
A great idea, Bolten, if only the National Guard weren’t already so taxed as a result of long deployments in Iraq. As of last week, Bush was far short of his goal to have 2500 Guardsmen and women deployed by now (though Fox News says they’re not). It seems a bunch of Governors saw the devastation of Katrina last year, and want to make sure their Guard is available for any summertime disasters in their own states.
Bolten's 5-Point Plan, 75 Days Later
It’s a testament to how messy my desk is that I just came across Mike Allen’s article, from a week after Josh Bolten ascended to the Chief of Staff role, describing Bolten’s plan to right the sinking ship of the Bush Administration. But the benefit of rediscovering it now is that what once appeared as an earnest plan now reads like humor.
So how has Bolten’s five-point plan fared?
1 DEPLOY GUNS AND BADGES. This is an unabashed play to members of theconservative base who are worried about illegal immigration. Under thebanner of homeland security, the White House plans to seek more fundingfor an extremely visible enforcement crackdown at the Mexican border,including a beefed-up force of agents patrolling on all-terrainvehicles (ATVs).
A great idea, Bolten, if only the National Guard weren’t already so taxed as a result of long deployments in Iraq. As of last week, Bush was far short of his goal to have 2500 Guardsmen and women deployed by now (though Fox News says they’re not). It seems a bunch of Governors saw the devastation of Katrina last year, and want to make sure their Guard is available for any summertime disasters in their own states.
Comstock's New Gig
Via scribe and TPM’s Muck, I see Barbara Comstock is now taking on another legally challenged Republican, Jerry Lewis, as her client.
Barbara Comstock, an attorney with the firm Blank Rome GovernmentRelations and a former Justice Department official, will handle pressinquiries for Lewis’ legal team, the sources added.
I take that to mean Lewis is now regarded as seriously imperiled. And seriously valuable to the conservative project.
Consider this woman’s career track. GOP opposition research, DOJ legal overstep shill, indicted (or soon to be indicted) Republican PR flack. I can’t say I’m surprised. I just think it’s worth noting that the GOP spent the 1990s spreading lies about us, the early 2000s implementing legally atrocious programs that infringe on our liberties. And now, they employ the same person–apparently full time–to try to lie top GOP leaders out of jail.
I don’t have much more to add. But I do think Comstock deserves a new title. Instead of Opposition Researcher we call her Jailbreak Press-Screecher? Any suggestions?
Update: I like lotus’ suggestion over at Jane’s: A gooper scooper.
