McClatchy: Bush's prep-school buddy sticks by him in Washington

[babylonsister]

Bush's prep-school buddy sticks by him in Washington
By Dave Montgomery | McClatchy Newspapers

snip//

In his current job, Johnson is the president's point man for the daunting task of making the federal government more effective. He works out of a spacious second-floor office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House. He is one of a handful of people who can see the president without an appointment.

"He's somebody who the president confides in and can bounce things off of and know that he can get an honest reaction from Clay," said Dan Bartlett, another Texan who stepped down this year as a Bush senior adviser. "Sometimes that's hard to find in Washington."

In an interview, Johnson acknowledged that he has occasionally "invited myself over for a lunch" with the president, sometimes socially, other times to "bend his ear" on an official matter.

"A couple of times I have ventured or suggested a few things to him," Johnson said. "He doesn't like to be lobbied, but if you have a good idea, let him know what your idea is and thank you very much. A few of the ideas he's followed through on ... and sought to implement them. Most of the others, he appreciated my interest but had something else he wanted to do."

Johnson's wife, Anne Sewell Johnson, director of the U.S. State Department's "Art in Embassies" program, is close friends with first lady Laura Bush. The two couples get together socially and "stay in touch pretty regularly," Johnson said. Sometimes, Bush will call "spur of the moment" to ask the Johnsons to come over for dinner or a movie, he said. The Johnsons also have been weekend guests at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.

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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/19891.html

[rpannier]

1. Cronyism is alive and well at the White House

Oh...BTW...for those who are not well versed in politico speak, by "...get an honest reaction..." this guy means:

scrub: "So, loser underling johnson,what do you think of the job i be doin as preznut?"

loser underling johnson, "Oh, mr president, you are the most gifted and charismatic president ever."

scrub: "It's preznut you under-edumaketed nincampoop. Besides you left out, handsomestest, best dressed, most dignifried and strongust."