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In final days, Bush likely to pardon more than turkeys
The headline in The Onion may have nailed it: “In Thanksgiving Tradition, Bush Pardons Scooter Libby In Giant Turkey Costume.”
Skip the turkey costume, and the reality may not be far off: Many are betting that Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff will be among those granted clemency before the president steps down.
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Libby is unlikely to be the only last-minute pardon. Other top prospects, listed by ProPublica, are said to include:
- Michael Milken, the 1980s junk bond king whose pardon application is being handled by former U.S. Solicitor General Theodore B. Olson – a close friend of the president’s, and the lawyer who successfully argued Bush v. Gore before the U.S. Supreme Court.
- James Tobin, Bush’s 2004 New England campaign chairman who raised more than $200,000 for the president’s re-election bid. Tobin was indicted in October for making false statements to the FBI in connection with the bureau’s investigation of the plot to jam Democratic Party phones in New Hampshire in 2002;
- Brent Wilkes, the defense contractor who was sentenced to 12 years in prison in February for furnishing former California Congressman Randy Cunningham with yachts, vacations and other luxury items in exchange for lucrative contracts, because of his cooperation with federal investigators;
- J. Steven Griles, a deputy Interior secretary during Bush’s first term who pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charge sin connection with his 2005 Senate testimony regarding the Jack Abramoff political corruption scandal.
Presidential pardons are a long political tradition, embraced by both parties. In his final days, for instance, George H.W. Bush pardoned former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, along with 10 others who had been convicted in the Iran-Contra scandal, an arms for hostage program during the Reagan administration (when Bush was vice president).
That raised eyebrows, but nothing like the reaction to Bill Clinton’s pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich, whose ex-wife Denise Rich had been a major contributor to his presidential library and to the Democratic Party.
The Rich decision, which became the subject of Congressional and criminal investigations, is likely to come up again in the confirmation hearings for Eric H. Holder Jr, Barack Obama’s choice for attorney general, given Holder’s involvement in the decision.
(One interesting historic footnote: Rich’s attorney from 1985 until the spring of 2000 was Scooter Libby.)
By comparison with his predecessors, the younger Bush has been downright niggardly in his use of pardons, granting clemency to only 171 people over eight years.
Most of those have been for penny-ante crimes. For instance, Leslie O. Collier – one of 14 people he pardoned last week – was pardoned for his conviction for the unauthorized use of a pesticide in killing bald eagles.
Bush’s most significant clemency to date was commuting Libby’s prison sentence. But of course, he still has almost two months to make up for lost time.
Among those who have submitted applications are disgraced Olympic gold medalist Marion Jones, suspended National Football League quarterback Michael Vick, home living doyenne Martha Stewart, former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling and Andrew Fastow, jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff and convicted former California Congressman Randy Cunningham.
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This post is tagged with: Brent Wilkes, Crime, George W. Bush, I. Lewis Libby, J. Steven Griles, James Tobin, Marion Jones, Martha Stewart, Michael Milken, Politics, Randall Cunningham
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Small donors played comparable roles in Obama and Bush campaignsNovember 30, 2008 at 7:28am
A new study by the Campaign Finance Institute shows that Barack Obama received about the same percentage from small donors in 2008 as George W. Bush did in 2004.
In Final Days Bush Likely to Pardon More Than Turkeys
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Christina Romer may not be Harvard material, but she suits Obama
Harvard’s loss may be Barack Obama’s gain.
Obama Tuesday picked Christina D. Romer, currently a member of the Economics Department at the University of California, Berkeley, to be the head of the Council of Economic Advisers in his administration.
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The selection of Romer comes a few months after Harvard President Drew G. Faust turned down an economics department recommendation that Romer be offered a tenured position at Harvard.
At the same time, Faust gave her approval to the offer of a tenured position at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government to Romer’s husband, David H. Romer.
David Romer, who is also a professor of economics at Berkeley, turned down the Harvard offer, and the couple remained at Berkeley.
Faust did not comment on her decision to reject Christina Romer’s appointment, a decision that was met with disappointment at Harvard and relief at Berkeley, according to the Harvard Crimson.
“I have great admiration for Christy Romer as a teacher and a scholar, and I was looking forward to having her as a colleague,” N. Gregory Mankiw, a Harvard professor of economics who chaired the Council of Economic Advisers from 2003 to 2005, told the Crimson.
Her Berkeley connection may have been a factor in Romer’s selection to Obama’s economic team.
Two of her faculty colleagues, Laura D’Andrea Tyson and Robert B. Reich, have been part of Obama’s transition team.
Tyson chaired the Council of Economic Advisers in the Clinton administration and Reich was secretary of labor.
Christina Romer, 49, is an expert on the Great Depression and monetary policy. She has published a wide variety of articles, often working with her husband.
Both Romers are members of the Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research. Among other things, the group determines when the country is in a recession.
The Wall Street Journal Tuesday wrote that Christina Romer will “face a tough challenge” wielding influence at the White House.
“With big guns and players like Summers and Geithner, she’ll have to learn to get sharp elbows,” said Gerald J. Driscoll, former vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Barry Eichengreen, a colleague of Romer’s at Berkeley, said that Romer will do fine making herself heard.
“There will be a lot of loud voices in the room where the Obama economic policies are hammered out,” he told the Journal. “Chris can hold up her end in that kind of situation.”
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This post is tagged with: Barack Obama, Berkeley, Christina D. Romer, Council of Economic Advisers, David H. Romer, Politics, University of CaliforniaRead related stories: Politics0 Comments
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Small donors played comparable roles in Obama and Bush campaignsNovember 30, 2008 at 7:28am
A new study by the Campaign Finance Institute shows that Barack Obama received about the same percentage from small donors in 2008 as George W. Bush did in 2004.
High-powered group, most from Chicago, plans Obama inaugural
The group overseeing Barack Obama’s Jan. 20 inaugural boasts a bipartisan roster of go-getters, most with deep Chicago roots.
In addition to Democrats William Daley, Penny Pritzker, John W. Rogers Jr. and Julianna Smoot, Republican Patrick G. Ryan, the businessman who heads Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics, is a co-chair.
By drawing big names from both parties, Obama is clearly hoping to emphasize his commitment to a bipartisan governing style.
Ryan’s participation particularly helps boost the image of collegiality. The chairman of Chicago-based Aon Corporation has been a major donor to George W. Bush and the Illinois Republican Party. On the other hand, he is spearheading Chicago’s Olympic bid, and it can’t have hurt that Obama made a video last week extolling the Windy City to the International Olympic Committee.
The other co-chairs of the inaugural committee are longtime Obama pals, as well as fund-raisers.
Pritzker, the hotel heiress, and Smoot, a professional Democratic fund-raiser, are credited with Obama’s record-setting campaign war chest.
Daley, a former Commerce secretary and the brother of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, is a Chicago bank executive. Rogers, a longtime friend, is the founder of Ariel Capital Management. (His ex-wife, Desirée Rogers, is set to become White House social secretary.)
The committee will go to some lengths to honor another Obama pledge – to reduce the influence of money on government – by limiting donations to $50,000. George W. Bush’s inaugural committees accepted contributions as high as $250,000, according to the New York Times.
It will also bar any contributions from corporations, political action committees, lobbyists who are currently registered with the federal government, people who are not citizens of the United States and from registered foreign agents.
No pricetag has been put on this inaugural, which is expected to draw a record number of people to the Capitol, perhaps in the millions. To get some perspective, Bush spent around $40 million on his inaugural events in 2005, much of which was raised from corporations and lobbyists.
Committee spokeswoman Linda Douglass said higher costs than usual are expected as a result of the president-elect’s intention to open as many events as possible to the public.
“This inauguration is more than just a celebration of an election,” she said. “This is an event that can be used to inspire and galvanize the public to act. That is what we’re aiming for.”
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This post is tagged with: Barack Obama, Barack Obama inaugural committee, Chicago, John W. Rogers Jr., Julianna Smoot, Patrick G. Ryan, Penny Pritzker, Politics, Recent Stories, William Daley0 Comments
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New owners take charge of Houston AstrosNovember 23, 2011 at 7:38am
After a long vetting process by Major League Baseball, ownership of the Houston Astros passed Tuesday to businessman Jim Crane and his partners.
Muckety Movers American Billionaires
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Christina Romer May Not Be Harvard Material but She Suits Obama
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High Powered Group Most From Chicago Plans Obama Inaugural
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Muck tracker – AIG’s Edward Liddy to get $1 salary
Troubled insurer American International Group scrapped executive bonuses Tuesday – with recently installed CEO Edward Liddy agreeing to an annual salary of $1, reports Bloomberg News.
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The relationship map to the left is interactive.• Solid lines are current relations. Dotted lines are former relations.• Expand items with + signs by double-clicking or by selecting multiple items in the map and pressing the “e” key.• Move an item in the map by clicking and dragging.• You can also delete items, separate boxes and save maps. Right-click on the map or select Map Tools for these options.• Find out more about an item in the map by right-clicking on the item and choosing Information about…• View map color key.• This interactive map requires Flash player.
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Loeffler joins Huntsman campaignSeptember 9, 2011 at 11:43am
As a Republican presidential candidate from Utah who’s given slim chances of election, Jon Huntsman just scored a substantial Texas victory.
Social Secretary Desiree Rogers is decades-old Obama pal
It is testament to her close relationship to Barack and Michelle Obama – and to members of their inner circle – that Desiree Rogers threw an intimate birthday party for her friend, Valerie Jarrett, last week. Among the guests were the president-elect and his wife.
“She has extraordinary flair and exquisite taste,” Jarrett, co-chairman of Obama’s transition team, told the Washington Post. “My party was perfect – she had my favorite food, my favorite flowers.”
Hint: Click in map to explore connectionsStory continues below interactive map
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(requires Java)MAP HINTS: Click expands a name. Control+Click centers map on a name. Solid lines are current relations. Dotted lines are former relations. For advanced tools choose Tools > Options from the menu at top. More help. Not seeing the maps? Please go here to check for the latest version of Java.The prominent businesswoman and Harvard MBA, who cuts a glamorous profile at Chicago’s A-list social events, was a natural choice for White House social secretary. A major fund-raiser for Obama’s presidential campaign, she is smart, well-connected and exquisitely attuned to details, say friends.
And she has been a close friend of the Obamas for decades. Rogers was once married to John W. Rogers Jr., another old pal of the Obamas, who played basketball with Michelle Obama’s brother Craig Robinson at Princeton. John Rogers, the founder of Ariel Capital Management and also a major Obama fund-raiser, is co-chairman of the president-elect’s inaugural committee.
“This appointment sends a strong message that the Obamas want to use the White House strategically . . . [to] open it to a broader range of people,” Jarrett said.
“Desiree is a heavy hitter – she comes with her own range of contacts from around the country. She’s close to Michelle and she knows everyone who will be working in the West Wing, so she will be able to create a synergy.”
The Post notes that the position of social secretary is more influential than commonly realized. Best known for staging state dinners, the social secretary is also responsible for every event or ceremony that occurs in the White House or on the grounds.
The day after the inauguration, for example, Rogers will be responsible for organizing the swearing-in of the Cabinet.
Ann Stock, a social secretary in the Clinton White House, was once charged with pulling together the signing of the historic Mideast peace agreement in four days, for 4,000 guests.
“It’s like running a small agency,” said Stock, who briefed Rogers on the job last week. “Her business savvy, her marketing skills will all come into play. Her close relationship with the Obamas is very important because she comes to the job already understanding their preferences.”
Rogers, 49, will come to the White House from Allstate Financial, where she was hired to create a social network of consumers and clients.
Prior to that, she was president of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, a $2-billion utility which she had headed since 2004. She worked at the company starting in 1997 as its chief marketing officer.
Besides serving on business boards like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Rogers is vice chairman of the board for both Lincoln Park Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry, and is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Perhaps her most important qualification for the job of White House social secretary, Jarrett said, is that she understands the Obamas’ desire to bring in all sorts of people, “so it’s the people’s house again.”
“This campaign engaged a lot of people in ways they had not engaged before,” Jarrett said. “This is about continuing to capture that excitement.”
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This post is tagged with: Allstate Financial, Barack Obama, Desiree Rogers, John W. Rogers Jr., Michelle Obama, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, Politics, Recent Stories, Valerie JarrettRead related stories: Politics · Recent Stories0 Comments
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Small donors played comparable roles in Obama and Bush campaignsNovember 30, 2008 at 7:28am
A new study by the Campaign Finance Institute shows that Barack Obama received about the same percentage from small donors in 2008 as George W. Bush did in 2004.
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