Who Makes Policy? (CM)

Ever wonder why president’s policies don’t get implemented? Peter Baker in the Washington Post relates an exchange between a government official and a State Department bureaucrat over President Bush’s policy to promote democracy abroad:

The official recalled a conversation with a State Department bureaucrat over a democracy issue.

"It's our policy," the official said.

"What do you mean?" the bureaucrat asked.

"Read the president's speech," the official said.

"Policy is not what the president says in speeches," the bureaucrat replied. "Policy is what emerges from interagency meetings."

More here.