Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

White House press secretary Scott McClellan was posing as a target for the newly found media artillery units that were ignited by the CIA leak fiasco. In particular, McClellan was being taken to task for his definition of "is". During the early days of the CIA leak scandal, Bush and McClellan promised that anyone "involved in the leak" would be fired. But at a July 18th press conference, Bush revised his promise, pledging only to fire those leakers whose actions were illegal.

Andrew Card was being blamed for the Harriet Miers nomination:

Instead, the driving force [for the Miers nomination] was chief of staff Andrew Card Jr., "who took over the vetting role." Said the adviser: "This is something that Andy and the President cooked up. Andy knew it would appeal to the President because he loves appointing his own people and being supersecret and stealthy about it."

And...

Donald Rumsfeld was being blamed for virtually everything else -- torture, secret prisons, short-sheeting our troops of necessary resources (i.e. Body Armor), mismanaging troop levels, etc.

To boot, Bush's approval ratings were approaching Nixon lows. Because of that, the three amigos held fast to Bush's buckles.

Now, however, Bush's popularity has rebounded dramatically (to a pulse-pounding 41% approval (gong!)) and the White House has essentially secured victory on Alito.

With this auratic renewal comes word from "A Bush insider" that "the feeling has changed and it's not like if [Don, Andy, and Scott] left it would look like they're running away."

And if these fine gentlemen catapult themselves from the depths of the administration, who could possible fill their sizable shoes and replace their exceptional capacity for covering Bush's behind?

All signs point to Dan Bartlett as the frontrunner for premier void-filler. US News once again has the scoop with "insiders" telling them that "President Bush will turn more and more to Dan Bartlett to help get out Bush's twin messages on the economy and Iraq."

These same "insiders" suggest that Bartlett is emerging as the "rising star" in the White House.  And why not? His record is impressive to say the least.

* Bartlett is a master of the Wurlitzer: Along with Stephen Hadley, Dan was able to spin Bush safely away from the disclosure of  "key October memos from the CIA warning that the Niger uranium papers were highly suspect."

 * Bartlett is proficient in Bush logic:

DAN BARTLETT: No, the records have been clear for years that President Bush did not take a physical [as a National Guardsman] because he did not need to take a physical [Even though he was ordered to do so] because, obviously, the choice was that he was going to be performing in a different capacity.

Here, Dan cleverly explains that it was 'okay' that Bush ignored a direct order because it just 'didn't make any sense'. So it didn't make sense. Why should the military care?

See, with Bush logic implemented, the perception is that the military doesn't care. Mission accomplished!

And...

 * Dan has experience lying with a straight face:

During Bush's notorious 'Mission Accomplished' speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, the president's message was clear -- even if he didn't technically utter the words 'Mission Accomplished'. Bartlett begged to differ:

Bush never uttered those words. "The president," argues communications boss Dan Bartlett, "said exactly the opposite: The mission continues." But Bush stood under a banner declaring "mission accomplished." Why? Bartlett says that the Lincoln's captain had the banner made up to thank his crew for the longest-ever carrier tour, not to declare the war over. "It is something the troops are really proud of," says Bartlett. "Of course they can hang the banner."

Garbage.

First, Bush did utter the words "Mission Accomplished".

Second, It was shown that the same banner type used for the 'Mission Accomplished' speech had been used by the administration before, albeit with different headings.

As the Army times Reports, the banner was physically produced by the White House and it was produced specifically for the President's visit to the carrier.

Impressive qualifications to say the least. Nevertheless, it's obvious that President Bush has already recognized Dan's awesome potential. In fact, Bartlett has already been 'promoted' from his first-term assignment as Bush's Communications Director. Now Dan serves as one of Bush's top advisors on domestic issues and message development.

Once again from the News Bulletin:

As one senior White House adviser says, the Bush-Bartlett relationship is "like father and son." Look for Bartlett to increase his visibility in the coming weeks as the White House tries to get 2006 off to a strong start. Insiders say Bartlett will pop up more and more in TV to sell Bush's programs and particularly to make the case that the war in Iraq is going well and the economy is strong.

Might Dan also have to fill in for an indi... a vacated Karl Rove? Let's hope so.

Again, these are still rumors -- supposedly being stoked by those in the know. Either way, you can rest assured that regardless of who leaves, they will be replaced by similar ilk. So what's the difference?