How Bush Made the Call

Deborah Orin writes in the New York Post: "President Bush went for a conservative who can really change the Supreme Court -- instead of making a symbolic gesture by tapping a woman or the first-ever Latino. . . .

"Last night, it was clear Democrats were struggling and divided over the Roberts nomination while Republicans were happy and united -- an ideal outcome for the White House."

But Is He Mainstream?

Remember that in Bush's Saturday radio address, he said this: "My nominee will be a fair-minded individual who represents the mainstream of American law and American values."

Poll Watch

So is this change of topic enough to turn the tide of public disapproval and increasing skepticism?

A new poll from the Pew Research Center holds some dire news for the White House.

Will Lester writes for the Associated Press: "Americans have growing doubts about President Bush's honesty and his effectiveness, according to a poll taken at a time people are uneasy with the war in Iraq, uncertain about the economy and nervous about the terrorist threat.

"Half of those in the poll taken by the Pew Research Center, 49 percent, said they believe the president is trustworthy, while almost as many, 46 percent said he is not. Bush was at 62 percent on this measure in a September 2003 Pew poll and at 56 percent in a Gallup poll in April. One of Bush's strong suits throughout his presidency has been the perception by a majority of people that he is honest."

According to the Pew poll, only about half of the American public is paying close attention to news reports that Rove may have leaked classified information about a CIA agent. But 39 percent of the public and a solid majority of those closely following the reports (58 percent) believe that Rove should resign his position.

The poll gives Bush a 44 percent approval rating, with 48 percent disapproving.

And more Americans favor a nominee for the Supreme Court who will keep the court as it is now (40 percent), rather than someone who will make the court more conservative (27 percent), or more liberal (24 percent.) Asked to provide one-word descriptions of Bush, the top ten words that came to respondents' minds were: Honest, incompetent, arrogant, good, integrity, determined, liar, stupid, idiot, strong.

Compared to five months ago, the words "leader" and "fair" dropped out of the top ten, while "stupid" and "determined" made it in.

The Timing

Howard Kurtz writes on washingtonpost.com this morning: "A prime-time announcement that bamboozles the press, draws a bigger television audience, knocks Karl Rove off the front page and limits the time for reporters to dig up controversial information?

"Not a bad night's work.

"As interesting as Bush's pick of the not-so-much-buzzed-about John Roberts -- which will dominate newspapers, magazines, television and blogs for the next two months, or at least until the next missing white woman -- is the choreography. . . .

"By choosing to unveil his nominee at 9, Bush not only threw the media establishment into a tizzy, he also broke the news right on deadline for East Coast newspapers and after the network newscasts. He cut through 'the filter,' as he calls the media, preventing -- or at least delaying -- journalists from researching long pieces picking apart his choice. The president also guaranteed himself a bigger audience than with a morning announcement (even if some would have preferred the scheduled 'Big Brother 6' and 'I Want to Be a Hilton')."

Peter Johnson writes in USA Today: "Meet the Press host Tim Russert told anchor Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News that every Republican he had talked to on Tuesday said, 'Thank God the White House is changing the subject.'

"And '9 o'clock at night is the perfect time if you want to control a big chunk of the news cycle,' said ABC News executive Paul Slavin. . . .

"The timing 'certainly illustrates that one of the great powers of the presidency is the power to change the subject,' Court TV News anchor Fred Graham said. 'Bush was back on his heels over Karl Rove, and this announcement wipes Rove off the front pages, for a time.' "

Making a Mockery of the Press

It's been said by some media critics that Bush has made a mockery of the White House press corps.

But in yesterday's noontime press availability with Australian Prime Minister John Howard, he literally made a mockery out of their questions.

Taking just two questions from American reporters, one from each major wire service, Bush was first asked by the Associated Press's Jennifer Loven where he stood on his Supreme Court nomination. Keep in mind that less than an hour later, the White House press office sent out word that Bush would announce his decision later that night on prime-time television.

But Bush is not known for actually giving substantive, responsive answers -- and this time, his answer was almost shockingly unvarnished.

After trotting out a few well-worn phrases ideal for stalling -- "I'm comfortable with where we are in the process," and "I have thought about a variety of people" -- Bush stopped himself and blurted out: "I'm trying to figure out what else I can say that you -- I didn't say yesterday that sounds profound to you without -- without actually answering your question."

Later, asked by Caren Bohan of Reuters whether any of his aides have offered to resign, and what constitutes a firing offense, Bush didn't even make a go of it.

"You know, I appreciate you bringing that up," he said, which was so baldly untrue that the room burst into laughter. "My answer really hasn't changed from 24 hours ago. It's the same answer. Now, I'll be glad to answer another question if you've got one."

Then he ducked that one, too.

Plame/Novak Watch

Barry Schweid writes for the Associated Press with more news about the State Department memo that has apparently caught the attention of prosecutors.

"The memo has become a key piece of evidence in the CIA leak investigation because it could have been the way someone in the White House learned -- and then leaked -- the information that Wilson's wife worked for the CIA and played a role in sending him on the mission. . . .

"The memo said Wilson's wife worked for the CIA and suggested her husband go to Niger because he had contacts there and had served as an American diplomat in Africa. However, the official said the memo did not say she worked undercover for the spy agency nor did it identify her as Valerie Plame, which was her maiden name and cover name at the CIA."

Once again amorphously citing sources with knowledge of the investigation, Murray Waas writes in the American Prospect about Rove's apparent failure, during his first interview with the FBI, to mention that he had ever discussed Plame with Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper. (See yesterday's column for more.) Waas writes: "The omission by Rove created doubt for federal investigators, almost from the inception of their criminal probe into who leaked Plame's name to columnist Robert Novak, as to whether Rove was withholding crucial information from them, and perhaps even misleading or lying to them, the sources said.

"Also leading to the early skepticism of Rove's accounts was the claim that although he first heard that Plame worked for the CIA from a journalist, he said could not recall the name of the journalist. Later, the sources said, Rove wavered even further, saying he was not sure at all where he first heard the information."

Karen Hughes Watch

Al Kamen writes in The Washington Post: "The U.S. public diplomacy team is starting to take shape. Dina Habib Powell , a former White House personnel director, was sworn in Monday as assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs. Powell is expected to be a major player in yet another major effort to improve the U.S. image abroad.

"Former White House counselor Karen P. Hughes is coming back to town for a hearing Friday on her nomination to be undersecretary of state for public diplomacy. . . .

"Liza Wright , who's been working in the White House personnel shop since 2003 and before that worked in an executive search company, is moving up to replace Dina Powell as head of personnel."

Bandar Bush Watch

Dominic Evans writes for Reuters: "Saudi Arabia's veteran envoy to Washington Prince Bandar bin Sultan, a former fighter pilot who built close ties to several U.S. presidents, has resigned for personal reasons, the Saudi government said on Wednesday. . . .

"The prince earned the nickname 'Bandar Bush' because of his close friendship with President Bush and later with his son, President Bush."

Late Night Humor

David Letterman: "You folks following the scandal with Karl Rove? Earlier today, President Bush says that he doesn't want to act too quickly. And does not want to act before he has all of the facts. And I was thinking, 'Jeez, this doesn't sound like the President Bush I know.' "