Ari Fleischer To Resign!

#1 Postby **wx247** » Mon May 19, 2003 8:51 am

WASHINGTON (AP) -- White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, the public face of the Bush administration through two war and a terrorist attack, said Monday he will resign in July to enter the private sector. His replacement will likely be deputy press secretary Scott McClellan.

"I've decided my time has come to leave the White House," Fleischer said in a telephone interview.

The spokesman said he wanted to leave the hard-driving job before President Bush's re-election campaign geared up.

Fleischer clashed at times with the White House press corps and had an uneasy relationship with some senior Bush aides, but he said the departure was his idea. He notified Bush of his decision Friday. The president ended the conversation "by kissing me on the head," the spokesman said.

Fleischer, 42, got married six months ago. He said that after 21 years in government he wanted to go on the speaking circuit and maybe do some writing. With Bush beginning his re-election campaign, Fleischer said this is the time to leave the White House "or sign on for the full four years."

"I've just been thinking about what I want to do, when I want to do it," he said. "I believe deeply in this president, his policies and the man. But there comes a time in public service when you have to decide when it's time to go."

Bush has not decided who will replace Fleischer, two senior White House officials said. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Texas native McClellan is the likely replacement but there are other candidates.

Republican strategist Ed Gillespie and Pentagon spokesman Victoria Clarke are potential prospects.

A cautious and calibrating press secretary, Fleischer has been the public voice of the presidency through the September 11, 2001, attacks, the war in Afghanistan and the Iraq war, loyally putting the best spin on events. He frustrated reporters by constantly dodging the toughest questions and sometimes irked his White House colleagues by pushing for access behind the scenes.

His meatless pronouncements on Bush policy are generally in keeping with a White House that keeps a tight lid on information. He often professes ignorance about details.

Fleischer has had his share of fumbles and dodges in the hothouse atmosphere of the White House briefing room.

He acknowledged shooting himself in the foot when he snapped that "one bullet" in Saddam Hussein's head would be cheaper than a war.

In the run-up to war with Iraq, Fleischer denied reports that Bush was meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair abroad. The trip was announced the next day.

#2 Postby **azskyman** » Mon May 19, 2003 8:57 am

Ari's done a very respectable job in my view. Having to spend much of his time in a defensive posture, he has done well to represent the President. Still, the press corps is a challenge for sure, and it is never easy to be all they expect you to be!

#3 Postby **streetsoldier** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:01 am

I liked Ari Fleischer...but then, my choice for his position would be either Rush Limbaugh or Dr. Laura Schlessinger, with Bill O'Reilly a close third.

I can see it now..."Helen, I TOLD you...this...is a 'No-Spin Zone', so SHADDUP!" :o

#4 Postby **wx247** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:03 am

streetsoldier wrote:I liked Ari Fleischer...but then, my choice for his position would be either Rush Limbaugh or Dr. Laura Schlessinger, with Bill O'Reilly a close third.

I can see it now..."Helen, I TOLD you...this...is a 'No-Spin Zone', so SHADDUP!" :o

LOL! Helen vs. Bill O'Reilly. Those would be the highest rated press briefings ever! :lol:

#5 Postby **streetsoldier** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:08 am

I'm taking 3-to-1 odds on O'Reilly.... 8-)

#6 Postby **bfez1** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:12 am

O'Reilly, he's the man :lol:

He has my vote.

chadtm80 · #7 Postby **chadtm80** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:16 am

Ari is a great guy... Oreilly will follow him nicely :-)

#8 Postby **BreinLa** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:26 am

Hate to see him go

Rainband · #9 Postby **Rainband** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:47 am

I really hate to see him leave too!!! Those are gonna be some hard shoe's to fill!!! :wink:

weatherlover427 · #10 Postby **weatherlover427** » Mon May 19, 2003 10:14 am

He did a great job IMO ... especially given the tough things he had to deal with. Sad to see him go.

#11 Postby **wx247** » Mon May 19, 2003 10:37 am

He was good. Thoughts on replacement besides O'Reilly? Victoria Clarke might be a good choice.

southerngale · #12 Postby **southerngale** » Mon May 19, 2003 11:32 am

Boy am I going to miss Ari!!! I really liked him.

Something about that cute, bald, funny guy...

JQ Public · #13 Postby **JQ Public** » Mon May 19, 2003 4:48 pm

I liked ari. He chose his words very carefully. Bush is losing a definite asset.

the_master · #14 Postby **the_master** » Mon May 19, 2003 8:17 pm

yeppers, i agree. I liked him to.

mf_dolphin · #15 Postby **mf_dolphin** » Mon May 19, 2003 9:17 pm

streetsoldier wrote:I liked Ari Fleischer...but then, my choice for his position would be either Rush Limbaugh or Dr. Laura Schlessinger, with Bill O'Reilly a close third.

I can see it now..."Helen, I TOLD you...this...is a 'No-Spin Zone', so SHADDUP!" :o

Not a bad idea Bill. I think I would favor General "Stormin" Norman Schwartzkopf! :-)

ColdFront77 · #16 Postby **ColdFront77** » Tue May 20, 2003 2:24 am

Ari Fleisher was the White House Press Secretary longer period of time than most Press Secretary's. It sure is a huge job. I must agree, he did it very well.

At his moment I am not sure who Republican strategist Ed Gillespie is, his name sounds familiar. Pentagon spokesman Victoria Clarke would be a good choice to replace Fleischer.

JQ Public · #17 Postby **JQ Public** » Tue May 20, 2003 12:15 pm

So when will they figure out the new speaker?

ColdFront77 · #18 Postby **ColdFront77** » Tue May 20, 2003 11:56 pm

I believe it is up to Bush to appoint him or her when he wants to.

#19 Postby **pojo** » Wed May 21, 2003 11:30 pm

I'm not really a politics person, but I enjoyed Ari behind the mic...he is very intelligent and has a way with words.

M2 · #20 Postby M2 » Thu May 22, 2003 11:39 am

Yes, he is talented and will do fine wherever he goes. - The lecture circuit I believe, then a book....huge $$$. Anyone in that position has to be able to look into the camera and say the sky is yellow, not blue (when in fact it's blue)...like ole' whats-his-name from Iraq, the infamous Info Minister who said 'no tanks are here'. That's part of the job requirement, to be able to do that and be believable. It's part of the MisInformation dissemination criteria, and everyone should always do their own analysis before swallowing any news conference whole without chewing... :wink:

Ari Fleischer To Resign!

Ari Fleischer To Resign!

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