The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

"The problem that the President has, and I think he knows it, is that he doesn't have people out there in the agencies who believe wholeheartedly in the kind of change he wants to make," says a former White House staffer, now working as a lobbyist on the House side. "You have senior people in the Social Security Administration who do not want any form of private investment in the plan. They will not be working for us. You have people in the Treasury Department who do not support the President's agenda, and will not fight for it. He needs a few more fighters."

p> HUSKER HUSTINGS br> Another potential pickup for Bush's Cabinet could be Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Before Thanksgiving, Nelson was believed to have been offered the Secretary of Agriculture post by the White House. Nelson did not deny the offer was placed on the table, but would not discuss his thinking. Nelson would probably temporarily become the second Democrat in the Bush Cabinet. Current Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta was the first, but his expected to leave in the second wave of resignations down the road. /p> p>Nelson is facing a tough 2006 re-election race, particularly if , as rumored, second-term congressman and former University of Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne decides to challenge him. Nelson's move over to the Bush team would give Republicans another Senate seat, with GOP Gov. Mike Johanns making the appointment. Osborne would be the favorite to fill that slot, giving the Republicans perhaps an early pickup in the 2006 election cycle. br> /p>

topics:
Transportation, Social Security, NATO