| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"pedro martori" |
| Date: |
12 Dec 2004 12:33:07 PM |
| Object: |
Kerik Pick Helps Giuliani for 2008 |
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Dec. 6, 2004 Insider Report from NewsMax.com=20
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Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. Kerik Pick Helps Giuliani for 2008
2. Jeb Bush in 2008: Is 'No' the Answer?
3. Jeb Bush on Gay Marriage
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1. Kerik Pick Helps Giuliani for 2008
The buzz in Washington and New York is that George Bush's pick of =
Bernard Kerik as Secretary of Homeland Security is a political make-good =
to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who strongly endorsed George =
Bush for his race in 2004.
Washington insiders were surprised by the choice. Kerik was not =
considered the most qualified person for the critical security job.=20
During his tenure as New York City police commissioner, Kerik =
received mixed reviews as a manager.=20
But he was considered a close crony of Mayor Giuliani.=20
Kerik got to know Giuliani during his days as a prosecutor, and he =
served Rudy as a bodyguard and driver when he ran for mayor.
The personal connection paid off for Kerik, who quickly rose in =
the Giuliani administration to head the city's police department.
Kerik is also was known for his strong Republican Party leanings. =
The Washington Post reports that at one time he proudly displayed a =
photo of Oliver North on his office wall.
Kerik is best known for heading New York's police department at =
the time of the Sept. 11 attacks.=20
Some families of the Sept. 11 victims criticized Giuliani and =
Kerik for not properly coordinating police and fire communication radio =
systems.
The Washington Post noted that Sept. 11 commission member and =
former Navy secretary John F. Lehman "sharply criticized Kerik and =
former fire commissioner Thomas Van Essen for failures of leadership =
during the terrorist attacks, saying that rivalry between the =
departments hampered rescue efforts. The command and control of their =
departments, Lehman said, were 'not worthy of the Boy Scouts.'"=20
In 2003, Kerik also served briefly in Iraq, heading up efforts to =
train Iraq's new police force. But Kerik left abruptly after just four =
months on the job.=20
Kerik's pick by President Bush is viewed as a tremendous windfall =
for Giuliani.
Giuliani, who just announced the launch of his own investment =
bank, is expanding his private businesses centered around his consulting =
firm, Giuliani Partners LLC. Kerik has been a member of the firm since =
2001.
Giuliani apparently has no interest in taking a position in the =
Bush administration as he ponders a run for president in 2008.
But having Kerik in Homeland Security may be the next-best thing.
Kerik, among Giuliani's most trusted aides, will be in the prized =
position of controlling over 22 government agencies employing some =
180,000 people.=20
Moreover, he will control a budget of $40 billion -- with one of =
the richest allocations of discretionary contracts to private =
businesses. No doubt that will give tremendous political leverage to =
Giuliani for his business and political ambitions.
Insiders say Kerik's association will also offer Giuliani a =
tremendous launch pad for fund raising if he plans to run for president =
in 2008.
2. Jeb Bush in 2008: Is 'No' the Answer?
At 10:40 p.m. this past Wednesday, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush responded =
to an e-mail from the Palm Beach Post asking whether he would like -- =
one more time -- to squash the speculation that he's going for the White =
House in 2008:
"I am not running for President," Bush fired back, according to a =
Post report. Bush tersely added, "Period. Over and out."=20
But the very next day, a column from California's Pasadena =
Star-News was being passed around among political insiders in Florida. =
Its second paragraph blared:=20
"Jeb Bush will be the Republican candidate for president in 2008." =
Alas, Jeb Bush has been saying "No" for some time -- to little =
avail.=20
Shortly after brother George W. won a second term in the White =
House, Gov. Bush was asked by reporters in Tallahassee if he would like =
to continue the dynasty in Washington:=20
"No. Why am I not believable on this subject? This is driving me =
nuts."
=20
The younger Bush stubbornly insists that when he leaves the =
governor's mansion for the last time in January 2007, he will not run =
for president.=20
Yet, however many Bush pronouncements of finality on the subject, =
his potential candidacy in 2008 remains the main grist fueling the =
political mill.=20
Ken Mehlman, the future chairman of the Republican National =
Committee, recently mentioned Jeb Bush to the Washington Times as one of =
eight possible presidential candidates in 2008.=20
Mehlman's short list: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Virginia =
Sen. George Allen, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, Arizona Sen. John McCain, =
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, George Pataki, Rudy Giuliani -- and Jeb =
Bush.
RNC spokesman Brian Jones was quick to qualify that Mehlman was =
just speculating about politicians who are being discussed in the media. =
And this past Wednesday, Zev Chafets, writing in the New York =
Daily News, declared that the reason President Bush kept Vice President =
***** Cheney on the ticket was to look out for his younger brother -- by =
making sure "there would not be an incumbent vice president with =
presidential ambitions in 2008."
There's no end to the buzz ...
Indeed, the Pasadena Star's Gerald Plessner was touting the =
younger Bush as "a bright light on the Bush family tree, the choice for =
'08."=20
Clearly paying no attention to the ringing and repeated Jeb Bush =
denials, Plessner declared, without qualification, that "Jeb Bush will =
be the Republican candidate for president in 2008.=20
"Arguably the brightest light on the Bush family tree at least as =
it seems from here in California, Jeb has all the important things going =
for him. He is the president's brother. He comes from a pivotal state =
where he has been a successful governor. He will have Karl Rove to run =
his campaign. And his family reputation and friendships will raise =
half-a-billion dollars for him."
All of this is true. But history suggests that second-term =
presidents don't always leave the public on a happy note. Jeb Bush's =
success for a 2008 race may depend on how well brother George fares in =
the next four years.
3. Jeb Bush on Gay Marriage
If Jeb Bush runs for president, he may not have the firm support =
of the Religious Right, which came out in droves this past election to =
vote in favor of several state gay marriage bans.
One such ban, in the state of Ohio, is believed to have turned the =
state and the election for George Bush.
But Jeb Bush has come out strongly against a state constitutional =
ban on gay marriages for Florida. Jeb's brother, President Bush, has =
come out for a nationwide constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages. =
President Bush says it is the only way to prevent liberal courts from =
making gay marriage law.
After Southern Baptists voted this November to have a statewide =
referendum on gay marriage, Gov. Bush spoke out against such a move.
"My belief is it's not necessary," Gov. Bush said, noting that the =
state's defense-of-marriage law protects against gay marriage, which he =
opposes.
Gov. Bush said that if the courts acted against the state law, he =
would reconsider his position on the state amendment.
Gov. Bush's position drew support from the Human Rights Campaign, =
the nation's largest gay and lesbian civil rights group.
In a letter to the governor, HRC president Cheryl Jacques wrote:=20
"As you correctly noted, constitutional amendments such as the one =
being suggested by Southern Baptists in your state are unnecessary given =
the fact that Florida already has laws banning gay marriage," Jacques =
letter stated. "Such an amendment needlessly wastes legislators' time =
and taxpayers' money in an attempt to write discrimination into your =
state's Constitution."
"We hope that in the months and years ahead you will continue to =
uphold the sanctity of your state's Constitution as it is never =
necessary to enshrine discrimination into any state or federal =
Constitution," the letter said.
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Please Note:
a.. Get the Bush Map and Drive Your Liberal Friends Crazy - See =
it Here. =20
b.. See the New Bush Map Mousepad Here Now.=20
c.. Give Ronald Reagan for Christmas! Unique Products Here.=20
d.. Or Give George Bush - Go Here Now.=20
e.. Ann Coulter, Dr. Laura, Mel Gibson, Tommy Franks FREEE - Go =
Here Now.
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