Word: panetta
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...motor voter" and family-leave bills, some vague reformist intentions here and there -- followed by an inexorable stagger to the right. Even after all the bean counting, for example, and despite the near appointment of Lani Guinier, Clinton is surrounded with moderate white fellows like Bentsen, Rubin, Panetta and Christopher; and his Cabinet contains more millionaires per capita than either Reagan's or Bush...
...BOSNIA AND BOB DOLE WEREN'T ENOUGH, NOW Bill Clinton had to contend with a depression. Leon Panetta's depression, that is. On the 97th day of the Administration's first 100, as Cabinet colleagues burnished their leader's record, the Office of Management and Budget head volunteered that Clinton's North American Free Trade Agreement was "dead" in Congress, his Russian-aid request endangered, and even parts of his huge budget proposal threatened unless he "defines his priorities." Panetta's suggested definition: Postpone introducing Hillary's health plan until after a June budget vote...
Clinton was at first reported to be "extremely upset," then avuncularly forgiving -- Panetta needed "bucking up." Next, denial set in: a nuanced refusal that NAFTA was in trouble and a loud rejection of further health-plan delay. To some it makes little sense to postpone the health plan if it is going to make up a large part of the budget. But many Democrats, even in the Administration, agree that Clinton is oversubscribed. And on Friday the President added one more brick to his load; a government takeover of the student-loan program, which will lower collegians' interest rate...
Budget Director Leon Panetta led the charge. In an interview with a dozen reporters last Monday, the plainspoken former Congressman declared that the President's Russian-aid bill was in trouble, the North American Free Trade Agreement was "dead" and cherished health-care reforms were in for tough sledding. Panetta noted that elements of Clinton's economic plan -- the energy tax, spending plans, key tax credits -- were in jeopardy. To overcome these challenges, Clinton must "define his priorities" more clearly, Panetta said...
Such startling candor shook the White House just as it was warming up the 100-days fog machine. But behind the scenes, many officials were quietly grateful. Panetta's comments echoed warnings from top aides in recent weeks that Clinton was, as one put it, "everywhere, and nowhere, at once." Though officials dutifully huffed that Panetta was "off the message," they hastened to note that they concurred fully with his conclusions. Within days, Clinton had throttled back; his proposal for reforming campaign finance had been postponed, and measures on crime and welfare reform were sidetracked. As a relieved Democrat...