E-Z-B
CAGiversary!
Bush Backs Rumsfeld, DeLay in Interview
President Bush said Wednesday that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has done "a heck of a good job" and there are no plans to replace him.
Bush also spoke up for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, saying he believes DeLay is innocent of money laundering charges and he hopes the Republican congressman will be able to reclaim his leadership post.
Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of Rumsfeld's departure from Bush's Cabinet. But the president said in an interview being aired Wednesday on Fox News Channel that the Pentagon chief wasn't leaving anytime soon.
"End of my term is a long time, but I tell you, he's done a heck of a good job," Bush said, "and I have no intention of changing him."
Bush said that Vice President Dick Cheney remains a "very close adviser" and a good friend.
"The truth of the matter is that our relationship hasn't changed hardly at all," Bush said. "The good thing about Dick Cheney is when he discusses a topic with me and he gives me his advice, I never read about it in the newspaper the next day, and that is why our relationship is so close and his advice is so valued."
Bush's "heck of a good job" remarks about Rumsfeld recalled the wording of his praise of then-FEMA chief Michael Brown during a visit to the Gulf Coast in early September to inspect damage from Hurricane Katrina. "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job," Bush said. Brown later resigned in the face of heavy criticism of his performance.
As for Karl Rove, the president said his deputy chief of staff and top political adviser retains his affection. The special prosecutor in the CIA leak case is still exploring Rove's involvement. "We're still as close as we've ever been. We've been through a lot," Bush said.
DeLay is alleged to have funneled, with two coconspirators, $190,000 in corporate contributions through the Texas political committee and an arm of the National Republican Committee to seven GOP state legislative candidates. DeLay has denied any wrongdoing.
Bush said, "Yes, I do" when asked if he believes DeLay is innocent. And he said he hopes that DeLay will return to his leadership post.
"I hope that he will, cause I like him, and plus, when he's over there, we get our votes through the House," the president said.
Uh oh, sounds like Rumsfeld's toast.
Edit: forgot the link: http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/2005/12/14/ap2392932.html
President Bush said Wednesday that Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld has done "a heck of a good job" and there are no plans to replace him.
Bush also spoke up for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, saying he believes DeLay is innocent of money laundering charges and he hopes the Republican congressman will be able to reclaim his leadership post.
Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of Rumsfeld's departure from Bush's Cabinet. But the president said in an interview being aired Wednesday on Fox News Channel that the Pentagon chief wasn't leaving anytime soon.
"End of my term is a long time, but I tell you, he's done a heck of a good job," Bush said, "and I have no intention of changing him."
Bush said that Vice President Dick Cheney remains a "very close adviser" and a good friend.
"The truth of the matter is that our relationship hasn't changed hardly at all," Bush said. "The good thing about Dick Cheney is when he discusses a topic with me and he gives me his advice, I never read about it in the newspaper the next day, and that is why our relationship is so close and his advice is so valued."
Bush's "heck of a good job" remarks about Rumsfeld recalled the wording of his praise of then-FEMA chief Michael Brown during a visit to the Gulf Coast in early September to inspect damage from Hurricane Katrina. "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job," Bush said. Brown later resigned in the face of heavy criticism of his performance.
As for Karl Rove, the president said his deputy chief of staff and top political adviser retains his affection. The special prosecutor in the CIA leak case is still exploring Rove's involvement. "We're still as close as we've ever been. We've been through a lot," Bush said.
DeLay is alleged to have funneled, with two coconspirators, $190,000 in corporate contributions through the Texas political committee and an arm of the National Republican Committee to seven GOP state legislative candidates. DeLay has denied any wrongdoing.
Bush said, "Yes, I do" when asked if he believes DeLay is innocent. And he said he hopes that DeLay will return to his leadership post.
"I hope that he will, cause I like him, and plus, when he's over there, we get our votes through the House," the president said.
Uh oh, sounds like Rumsfeld's toast.
Edit: forgot the link: http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/2005/12/14/ap2392932.html
