-Caveat Lector-
[This guy's (i.e., the POTUS's) ignorance, audacity, and just
plain buffoonery will never cease to amaze me:( I mean, at least
Bill had some intelligence. I think Bush should have his
nick-name in the media changed from "Dubya" to "clueless," or
even more on the mark, "Brain-dead." --MS]
'Ted Kennedy stormed out of a bipartisan meeting on education
policy after the new president referred to him as "Chappy."'
<http://www.miami.com/herald/content/opinion/opcol/digdocs/098552.htm>
Opinion
Published Sunday, February 18, 2001,
The Miami Herald
Dubya's a real name-caller
Washington's learning that George W. Bush has a habit of giving
people nicknames that can be disconcerting for startled
recipients
BY NORM ORNSTEIN AND AL FRANKEN
``There is a new tenant in the Oval Office these days, and
President Bush has brought with him his own signature style. That
means nicknames, even for a liberal Democrat like (Rep. George)
Miller.'' The New York Times, Jan. 25
``Big George'' Miller is one of many grizzled Washington veterans
struck by new President Bush's modus operandi, including his
legendary fondness for assigning nicknames. ``I must say, I found
it refreshing,'' Miller said.
While other Washington leaders have been similarly charmed, on
occasion Bush's folksy, loosey-goosey style has backfired.
Earlier this month, Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy stormed out of
a bipartisan meeting on education policy after the new president
referred to him as ``Chappy.''
``It's just his way of showing affection,'' said White House
spokesman Ari Fleischer, whom Bush likes to call ``Bald Jew.''
Popular-culture references are a big part of the fun-loving
president's repertoire. Interior Secretary Gale Norton was a bit
startled the first time Bush, impersonating an angry and
frustrated Jackie Gleason, addressed her simply as ``Norton!'' In
the same way, Arizona Sen. John McCain was somewhat taken aback
when the new president called him ``Hoga-a-an!'' in a
pitch-perfect imitation of Col. Klink from the popular `60s
television show Hogan's Heroes.
``I'm used to it now,'' said the former POW, ``and I admit it's
funny in an odd sort of way. But I'm still going to introduce
campaign-finance reform as soon as possible.''
Sometimes, though, a Bush popular-culture reference will fall
flat. At an early White House reception, for example, Bush
referred to openly gay Rep. Barney Frank's new partner as ``Anne
Heche.'' ``He was offended,'' Frank said, ``not so much because
it was tasteless, but because it was so outdated.''
Still, Democratic Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski, whom Bush
referred to as ``Mini-Me'' in a recent meeting with women
lawmakers, came away feeling hopeful about working with the new
administration. ``He's very down-to-earth,'' said the 4-foot-11
Mikulski, the Senate's shortest member. ``It was a very
lighthearted meeting, though a little thin on policy specifics.''
But California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said the president's
penchant for nicknames confused her for most of the 45-minute
powwow.
``Every time he looked at me, he called me `Frasier.' I thought
he had me confused with (Washington senators) Patty Murray or
Maria Cantwell, because the show Frasier takes place in Seattle.
But after he called (Sen.) Barbara Boxer `Ali' for maybe the 10th
time, I realized he was playing off her name and the two of us
were Ali-Frazier.''
``The point is, he's trying,'' Boxer said.
The thought process behind Bush's choices can sometimes seem
impenetrable. The president's new name for Vice President Dick
Cheney, ``Angie,'' came out of an incident following Cheney's
heart attack last Thanksgiving. When Bush went in front of
cameras to reassure the nation, he failed to mention that his
running mate had just had an angioplasty because his staff had
withheld that information from him.
``That was a mistake,'' Fleischer lamented. ``But frankly, we
were in a bind. None of us thought there was a prayer he could
pronounce `angioplasty.'''
The first sign that Bush would use nicknames as a bonding
technique came during the campaign, when he assigned a name to
each member of the traveling press corps. CNN's Candy Crowley
drew the name ``Candy-leeza'' because, he told her, she and
Condoleezza Rice were the smartest women he knew. The president
has continued to use the same nicknames now that he's in the
White House, although not always with an eye toward comity.
``(New York Times reporter) Adam Clymer kept his nickname,''
Fleischer said.
Privately, Bush aides have expressed concerns on how the
nicknames will play with foreign leaders. The first head of state
Bush contacted was Mexican President Vicente Fox, whom Bush
jokingly called ``Montezuma.'' ``We think that Vice President
Cheney or Secretary of State (Colin) Powell will be doing most of
the one-on-ones with foreign leaders,'' Fleischer said.
Washington insiders wonder whether the president's overtures will
translate into real legislative achievements. ``He does have a
talent for working a room,'' said Brookings Institution Senior
Fellow Thomas Mann, one of three people whom Bush calls ``My Main
Man.'' (The others are Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts and White House
steward Manolo Ramos.) ``But he has to remember that this town is
a two-way street. He's got to take as well as he gives. Let's see
how he reacts when a (Sen.) Robert Byrd or an Alan Greenspan
calls him, say, `President Butthead.' That'll be the test.''
�2001, The Los Angeles Times
Norm Ornstein is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise
Institute in Washington. Al Franken is a comedian and author.
=================================================================
Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT
FROM THE DESK OF:
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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