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HE has been rather unlucky with his nominations to the senior positions in the government requiring senate confirmation. Overzealous political aides have also brought disrepute to his presidency. The war in Iraq is taking its toll causing a big slippage in his public standing. Economy is not what it should be with deficit in federal budget going beyond control and trade imbalance mounting without any sign of relenting. The United States is doing what it has always resisted others from doing.
Harriet Miers, a long time pal of President Bush, withdrawing hernomination for the Supreme Court was a big blow to the White House. She came under attack from both sides of political divide. She never sat on a court bench. Harriet Miers is the third Bush nominee to face trouble with her nomination. President Bush's first nomination to the office of the Secretary of the Homeland Department had to withdraw his candidacy.
He was linked to various crimes. John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN failed to win senate approval. He was hurriedly packed to the UN taking advantage of a recess in the Congress. The nominations of John Roberts first as the judge of the Supreme Court and subsequently to be its Chief Justice and Ben Bernanke's as the Chairman of the US Federal Reserve won wide support. Ben Bernanke is likely to have a smooth sailing. John Roberts did face tough questioning but his confirmation was never in doubt.
The White House faces the grim prospect of witnessing one of its officials being indicted for his involvement in the leakage of the identity of a CIA agent. Disclosing the identity of the CIA agent is a crime here. Lewis Libby, Vice-President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff will be indicted. The fate of Karl Rove ,another very influential WH official, known as political guru of President Bush, is still under shadow.
Meanwhile, mother nature has also been very unkind to President Bush. Three hurricanes in rapid succession -- Katrina, Rita and Wilma -- wrought inconceivable havoc exposing the inadequacies of the emergency management, an area which has received undisturbed attention and unrestricted flow of funds since the ghastly occurrences of 9/11. The American Red Cross which came under stringent criticism for its tardy response to the hurricanes and lack of transparency and accountability in its fund management is being forced to take loans. It has never faced a situation in its 124 years of existence when it had to borrow money. Red Cross set a target of raising $2.3 billion but it has so far received $1.3 billion. American Red Cross has already borrowed $340 million.
Red Cross has provided money to about one million families uprooted by the hurricanes. Each family was given $1000 to $1200 as grant. The total cost will be around $1.5 billion. Red Cross expects the money spent on hotel bills to be reimbursed by the Federal Government.
The United States has imposed various restrictions on donations given to Islamic charities fearing the fund could eventually end up in the coffers of the terrorists groups. But it has decided to give $66 million it has received as assistance from foreign countries to religious charities to be dispensed to 100,000 families uprooted by hurricane Katrina. Many donors here who want to contribute to relief funds for Pakistan quake victims are afraid of doing so because they may later be charged for financing the terrorists.
In another instance of cronyism, Michael Brown who resigned as chief of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for his poor performance will remain on government pay roll for one more month after resignation He was first hired for one month. His annual salary was $148,000. He will be paid accordingly.
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