President Bush's leading White House pals in taking advantage of the family leave act. The Austin Statesman-American reports
Dan Bartlett, one of President Bush's longest-serving, most-trusted and closest aides, announced Friday he will leave the White House to seek a new opportunity and a normal family life.
"I've had competing families," Bartlett said. "And unfortunately, the Bush family has prevailed too many times and it's high time for the Bartlett family to prevail."
His wife, Allyson, had joked that they should name their newborn "Exit Strategy."
Other Bartlett Quotes:
About Katrina and National Security: "It's a matter of national security. Not only do we have to contemplate other natural events that could be of a similar scale of Katrina, but we also have to think of other manmade events.”
"We're not resting on our laurels" and will "continue to press to make the type of changes to make the country safer."
About Bush's second inauguration: "We're a nation at war, but we do believe it's important, through privately raised money, [that] we ought to go forward with the inaugural festivities.”
About Bush war policy: "It's never been a stay-the-course strategy. Strategically, we think it's very important that we stay in Iraq and we win in Iraq. And if we were to cut and run and go and leave that country too early it would be a disaster for American policy."
About Iraq: "Just because we have taken some serious sacrifices this month and that the fighting has been remarkably violent, that doesn't make it any less necessary for us to be there and make sure we prevail," Bush adviser Dan Bartlett told CNN.
"Most people would argue we are part of the solution in Iraq, not part of the problem," Bartlett said. "Our commanders are there on the ground, seeing the situation play out hour by hour, are constantly evaluating that very question. Where is the best and most appropriate use of forces?"
"[The Iraqis] want to have this benchmark and milestone process as much as we do. They want to take over control as quickly as possible," he said. "The president has constantly said it's going to be up to the commanders on the ground to give him advice about what our troop strength should be. It's important that we do it in a way that doesn't prematurely pull our troops out before we're able to succeed."
About Donald Rumsfeld: "He's doing an enormously difficult job: fighting a war, trying to transform our military to meet the new threats of the 21st century. We recognize that he has his critics. We recognize that he's made some very difficult decisions. Some people don't like his 'bedside manner.' But what President Bush looks to in Secretary Rumsfeld is to bring him the type of information he needs to make the right decisions in this war. And make no mistake about it, this has been a difficult war."
About Richard Clarke's statements that Bush ignored his advice prior to 9/11: "He has chosen at this critical time, in the middle of a presidential campaign, to inject himself into the political debate. And he has every right to do so. But in so doing, his judgments -- his actions, or the lack thereof -- should also come under scrutiny."
About energy prices: "That’s not correct. The president or no one else ever said that this war was going to result in cheaper gas prices."
About negotiating drug prices to lower costs for the elderly: "The marketplace is working. We’re more than happy to have that debate with Republicans, Democrats, whoever wants to talk about it. The proof is in the pudding. It’s been working. It’s been benefiting America’s seniors."
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