Book Gives Another Look at Ford's Mixed Feelings About Cheney

Give and Take, Surrender-Style

Cynics who think that they, too, know Cheney and assume he does not believe much in the art of negotiation can now rest easy. Asked during a rare question-and-answer session after a speech to the World Affairs Council of Dallas-Fort Worth on Friday why the United States should invade countries such as Iraq and Iran rather than sit down and talk with their leaders, he said he would be more than happy to talk with them -- on certain rather favorable terms.

"Well, I would love to have one giant peace conference, to see our adversaries come sit down on the other side of the table, and negotiate a treaty here -- like we did at the end of World War II onboard the USS Missouri -- and have the problem solved," he said, before going on to explain why he did not think that was possible.

Of course, the "treaty" signed on the Missouri was actually an instrument of "unconditional surrender" in which Japan agreed to "obey and enforce all proclamations, orders and directives" issued by the Supreme Allied Commander, Gen. Douglas MacArthur. If only Iran would be reasonable and agree to something like that, everything sure would be a lot easier.

No Surrender but an Open Bar

Speaking of tell-all books and not surrendering, it looks like former U.N. ambassador John R. Bolton has not been excommunicated from the House of Bush despite his score-settling new memoir, "Surrender is Not an Option: Defending America at the United Nations and Abroad." Bolton details internal debates over foreign policy, taking aim at Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

That hasn't stopped a group of Bush associates from throwing him a book party. Ken Mehlman, the president's former political director and a former Republican National Committee chairman, is hosting a launch party for Bolton at his Washington house Nov. 19. Co-hosts include Mary Matalin, the former Cheney counselor who still advises the vice president from time to time, as well as former congressman Vin Weber (R-Minn.) and American Conservative Union chief David Keene.

The Bushworld Shuffle

Barry Jackson, the White House official who took on many of Karl Rove's duties, has a new deputy. Brian V. McCormack, 33, whose many jobs in the administration included a stint as Cheney's personal aide, will be deputy assistant for strategic initiatives and external affairs. Jackson said in a statement that McCormack did an "amazing job" and "knows that getting the job done is more important than who gets the credit."

In another move of familiar faces, former White House deputy press secretary Trent Duffy is setting up a new communications firm with Chad Kolton, the former spokesman for the director of national intelligence, and GOP operatives Terry Holt and Jim Morrell. Their initial clients include the Real Estate Roundtable and America's Health Insurance Plans.

Quote of the Week

"This morning I was with the vice president. I was asking him what costume he was planning. He said, 'Well, I'm already wearing it.' Then he mumbled something about the dark side of the force."

-- President Bush during Halloween speech to grocery manufacturers.