The Bush Brigade

(I always loved that cover...)

In case anyone missed it (I did – I heard about it later), Andy Rooney commented about this on “60 Minutes” a couple of nights ago.

Do you know how many assistants Dubya has working for him in the White House?

433, that’s how many.

According to Rooney, these people make a total of $28 million (and somehow I cannot imagine that these salaries are being paid by anyone except the U.S. taxpayer). For example, Stuart Girand Baker is the “Director of Lessons Learned” and pulls in $106K (must be nice).

This story appeared in Time a couple of months ago about Blake Gottesman, a guy all of 26 who managed to worm his way into Dubya’s good graces as his “body guy” and “walking mood ring” to the tune of $95,000 a year. For that salary, here are some of Gottesman’s typical duties:

Like his predecessors (?), he's at the President's elbow with a Sharpie pen for autographs. But sharing Bush's love for streamlined systems, he also developed a faster thank-you-note process. Gottesman collects artifacts for a future presidential library, down to the whistles Bush blows to start the White House Easter Egg Roll. Since it's hard for the President to receive mail, Gottesman takes to work the catalogs he receives at home so that when the two have downtime on Air Force One, the President can choose running shoes and fishing gear, which Gottesman then orders online.

No word on whether or not Gottesman “holds it” for Dubya when he has to relieve himself or doubles as Head Fluffer (and Mike Allen reports on this as if there is nothing ridiculous or unseemly going on in any way).

I have no idea whether or not Dubya has a lot of staffers in comparison to other presidential administrations. I suspect that he does, but I don’t have any other data on that.

However, according to Rooney’s article, Bush has two “ethics advisors.” Based on this administration’s sorry performance, I’d say they should start looking for other employment; either they’re not doing their jobs, or their being ignored in as dreadful a manner as we can imagine.

As long as I’m posting on Dubya, I should note this book from a man named John Warner (not the Virginia senator of course – kind of a problematic topic for a kids book, but a good idea).

Also, here’s the latest from Ann Coulter:

Once again, Mr. Bush resorts to fear and lies to try and win an election for his party.

The war in Iraq, despite the fact that it is almost civil war, is going overwhelmingly well.

Afghanistan is a complete democracy, despite the return to car bombings.

We are saving the world from terrorists by letting them come in across the Mexican border uncontrolled.

Another gift from our leaders?

That would be Ann Coulter of Bensalem, PA, who wrote this letter which was published in the Bucks County Courier Times this morning.