Can You Marginalize a Majority?

Jewish Circuit

Bush has been celebrating with Jews a lot lately. Last Wednesday, he didn't stick around the United Nations for very long after his address to the General Assembly, instead choosing to zip back to Washington to visit a synagogue and speak at a dinner commemorating 350 years of Jewish life in America.

Just this Wednesday, Bush was the lunch speaker at the Republican Jewish Coalition 20th anniversary celebrations.

Today, as Emily Bazar writes in USA Today, Bush will award the Medal of Honor to Tibor Rubin, who Bush has called "one of the greatest Jewish soldiers America has ever known."

It's always interesting to see who Bush brings along with him when he speaks to different groups. Typically, he calls attention to members of his entourage who have something in common with his audience.

At the first event, he brought along Office of Management and Budget Director Josh Bolten (a Jew) -- and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson (not a Jew).

At the second event, he called attention to the presence of, among others, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele. Presbyterian, Mormon, Catholic.

He noticeably did not bring along the only Jewish member of his Cabinet, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. I guess Chertoff has better things to do with his time.

Katrina Watch

Peter G. Gosselin and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar write in the Los Angeles Times: "As President Bush tackles the monumental task of easing the social problems wrought by Katrina, he is proving deeply reluctant to use some of the big-government tools at his disposal, apparently out of fear of permanently enlarging programs that he opposes or has sought to cut.

"Instead of depending on long-running programs for such services as housing and healthcare, the president has generally tried to create new, one-shot efforts that the administration apparently hopes will more easily disappear after the crisis passes. That has meant relying on the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has run virtually all of the recovery effort."

Immigration Watch

Mary Curtius writes in the Los Angeles Times: "White House political strategist Karl Rove is offering lawmakers new details of an administration-backed guest worker program that would temporarily legalize the status of millions of illegal workers, according to Republicans who have attended the meetings. . . .

"Some lawmakers see the recent White House sessions as evidence that Bush intends to pursue his plan as soon as this fall -- despite the strains Hurricane Katrina has put on the legislative agenda and despite ongoing opposition within his party."

Don't Hold Your Breath

Agence France Presse reports: "North Korea is seeking a visit from US President George W. Bush or other prominent US figures in an effort to improve ties between the two countries, a news report said."

Aussie Golfer Nearly Burns Down White House

Andrew Both writes in the Age: "Leave it to Australian Mark Hensby to almost burn down the White House. During Wednesday night's official Presidents Cup dinner hosted by US President George W. Bush, Hensby's menu caught fire when he knocked over a candle while listening to a choir entertaining the guests."

Hensby, who apparently has a reputation as a bit of an eccentric, explained to Both: "Everyone was saying, 'Something's burning', and Bush was looking around and the lady next to me said, 'It's your menu'. I picked it up and I'm blowing on it because half of it was on fire.'"

Both writes: "The flames were quickly extinguished, no harm was done and although Hensby was more than a little embarrassed, it didn't stop him from leaving the White House with an invitation to go mountain biking with Bush.

"'I asked him how his (recent) ride with Lance Armstrong was, told him that I rode a bit, and he said, 'We should get together some time'.

"'I was going to say, 'How about you give me your number', but I bit my tongue. It's the President of the US and I was too flustered but I told him he's got to lower those taxes.

"'He said, 'They should be lower'."

Desperately Seeking Bianca

Lloyd Grove writes in the New York Daily News: "President Bush treated White House reporters to a decidedly goofy moment yesterday, when he kept demanding the whereabouts of the junior Bloomberg News correspondent during a mini-press conference at the Pentagon. 'Bianca?' Bush inquired, looking down at a list of White House press poolers (notably Bloomberg reporter Bianca Davie). 'Nobody named Bianca? Well, sorry Bianca's not here. I'll be glad to answer her question.' While Vice President Cheney and other high officials smiled supportively, Bush explained: 'Just trying to spread around the joy of asking a question.' More official smiles. The President wouldn't give up. 'Are you Bianca?' he asked another young woman. 'No, I'm not,' the woman answered. 'Anita - Fox News.' Bush responded with determination: 'Okay. I was looking for Bianca. I'm sorry.'"

Blogger Wonkette writes: "Sources inform us that Bianca was at the Pentagon for the President's remarks, but she was sitting in the back, and she's in radio so she had headphones on. After the conference, someone said: "Who's Bianca?' She said sheepishly: 'I am.' Someone asked, 'Didn't you hear him?' She said: 'I didn't have a question.'"