Stephen Hess
Stephen Hess
Stephen H. Hessis a senior fellow emeritus in the Governance Studies program at the Brookings Institution. He studies media, the U.S. presidency, political dynasties and the U.S. government. He first joined Brookings in 1972 and was distinguished research professor of media and public affairs at the George Washington University. He served on Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon's White House staff and as an adviser to Presidents Gerald R. Ford and Jimmy Carter...
dues inner paid sit
There's no way he can be in the inner, inner circle. He hasn't paid his dues enough for that. He can sit at the table, he can even say things, but he understands that.
doubt happy jobs mentioned people pleased presidents simply
Presidents never get everyone they want -- no one does. There's simply no doubt that while these are fascinating jobs and interesting times ... some people are pleased to be mentioned and happy not to accept.
justices run states supreme united united-states
The most important thing in the long run in the United States was the appointment of two new justices to the Supreme Court.
call effect profound shows
I don't want to call it only cosmetic, because these things do have an effect, but how profound the effect is, that I would question. Much of this is not about policy, it's about motion. It shows that they are responding; that they are moving.
past terms
I don't think they're necessarily better than some past administrations in terms of the spin. What they have done which distinguishes them ... is how close-mouthed they are.
cost historic people room run state talk union wiggle
I don't think this is going to be one of those historic State of the Union messages. When people talk about new initiatives, they cost money. He's run out of wiggle room there.
came none robust second series shifted term
He really came into his second term with a series of robust proposals, and he's accomplished none of them. His circumstances have shifted dramatically.
hope local national politics
How much is this going to be a national election? Clearly, the Republicans will hope it's not. ?All politics is local will be their mantra.
assuming foreign learned listening speech today
It was not a speech of surprises. Assuming other foreign ministries have been listening, I don't what they would have learned today that they already didn't know.
bad dominating katrina month
A month from now, if Katrina is still dominating the headlines, he really is in bad shape,
adequate elections iraq issue
An adequate withdrawal by mid-year 2006 could neutralize Iraq as the overriding issue of the mid-term congressional elections.
congress houses last loses presidency
If he loses two houses of Congress, or even one, the last two years of his presidency are toast.
everywhere front line
The front line is everywhere there is someone with an explosive.