The Obama Administration Thinks Military Spending Cuts Is A Winning Issue This Year Because…

There are five reasons why it was virtually inevitable the White House is making military spending an issue this year.

1. The Pentagon Has Become Increasingly Unpopular. After foreign aid and NASA, military spending is the area of the federal budget that has the least amount of public support. Many national polls conducted over the past year show that more than half the country thinks that reductions in defense spending are warranted. The Obama administration could not possibly fail to notice that, while the generality of “a strong defense” continues to be popular, there is a growing feeling that it can be provided at a much lower cost.
2. The President’s Focus On The Deficit Made A Close Look At The Pentagon Impossible To Avoid. This is simple math more than complex politics. The political difficulties with reductions in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and increases in taxes, plus the limited amount of spending (at least by federal standards) in annual nondefense appropriations meant that there was no place else for the White House to turn for deficit reductions but to national security programs.
3. The GOP Is Already On Record In Favor Of Cutting Military Spending. No matter how often congressional Republicans now try to come up with alternatives that would eliminate or mitigate the national security “sequester” that was triggered when the anything-but-super committee failed in late November to agree on a deficit reduction plan, the fact remains that they first agreed to throw the Pentagon under the budget bus when they voted for the Budget Control Act in early August. That allows the White House to claim bi-partisan support for Pentagon reductions.
4. There Is Ample Hi-Level GOP Expert Opinion That Pentagon Spending Can Be Cut Without Sacrificing National Security. A number of highly respected Republican military experts are on record with ideas about how the Pentagon can and should be cut. This includes Colin Powell, Robert Gates, Dov Zakheim and even Donald Rumsfeld, all of who have all offered specific plans for cutting one or more parts of the military budget. In fact, Powell was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Dick Cheney was secretary of defense when Ronald Reagan reduced the DOD budget by 25 percent. The Obama White House knows it can use all these to validate its claim that the reductions can be done safely. (NOTE: Quotes from Reagan, Cheney and Powell on this subject should be expected in the State of the Union Address.)
5. The War In Afghanistan Is Increasingly Unpopular. The polls indicate an overwhelming preference for reducing or eliminating the spending associated with activities in Afghanistan rather than on virtually any domestic activity.

None of this should be a surprise: The military contracting community has been reading these same tealeaves for months. Indeed, the Aerospace Industry Association’s analysis following the super committee’s failure that highlighted the job losses associated with the sequester cuts has to be seen at least in part as an attempt to deal with the same factors that is motivating the Obama administration.

A Continuing Resolution For 2013 Is Now Even More Likely

Not only are the Obama administration’s $450 billion-over-10-years military spending cuts not likely to be enacted before the 2012 election, but no significant deficit reductions of any kind should be expected to be enacted this year.

The witches’ brew of hyper-partisan politics, the 2012 election, the influence within the GOP of its tea party wing and the narrow majorities in the House and Senate will combine this year to do what they did in 2011: Make a deal on any aspect of the budget impossible to achieve. More energy and effort will be expended this year on avoiding, delaying, or reducing the sequester’s military spending cuts than in developing an agreement on any additional Pentagon reductions.

In addition, given the narrow majorities in both houses, the spending reductions that were outlined by Pentagon officials today will provide the representatives and senators from the congressional districts and states that would be harmed with ample opportunities to make life miserable for the Democratic and Republican leaders.

As a result, a fiscal 2013 Department of Defense appropriation is now even less likely than it was before, and it wasn’t that likely to begin with. A continuing resolution that keeps Pentagon spending at or near current levels and keeps existing policy in place is the most likely outcome until at least a lame duck session.

Contractors Should Be Most Concerned About 2013 And Beyond

The fact that the Obama administration’s proposed Pentagon spending reductions are not likely to be enacted in 2012 should bring little comfort to the contracting community.

Even if they’re not put in place this year, reducing the military budget from current baseline levels will be hotly debated this year and be a campaign issue. This is likely to change the budget debate that has occurred since at least 2001 from how much should
military spending rise to which reductions are most acceptable. That’s a significant change.

Without an external shock that alters this outlook such as a terrorist attack or new overseas contingency, this changed debate will last at least until a significant deficit reduction plan is adopted, and, regardless of who gets elected and which political party controls each house of Congress, it will make the Pentagon as much a part of that discussion as Medicare and Medicaid.

Qorvis partner Stan Collender is one of the foremost U.S. experts on the federal budget, federal spending and revenues, the national debt and the congressional budget process.

Stan writes the very popular “Fiscal Fitness” column for the prestigious Capital Hill newspaper Roll Call. In 2009, the Wall Street Journal named Stan’s blog — “Capital Gains and Games” — one of the top 25 economic blogs in the United States. Stan is also the author of The Guide to the Federal Budget, which was one of the most assigned texts on the subject during the 19 years an annual edition was published.

Stan frequently advises banks, investment banks, hedge funds, and other major Wall Street players on fiscal policy, federal budget developments and the likely outcome of current debates. He also works closely with nonprofits, corporations and associations on spending and tax issues, especially on the federal budget process and politics.

Stan has been involved with the congressional budget process since 1974 and is one of only a handful of people who has worked for both the House and Senate Budget Committees. As a member of the House Budget Committee staff, he served as administrator of the Task Force on State and Local Government. For the Senate Budget Committee, he was responsible for analyzing defense spending. Stan also served as the administrator of the Task Force on the Budget of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition, a bipartisan group of representatives from the states in those regions.

The humidity is now in full swing as we have passed the celebrations of the Fourth and head into the heart of summer. What events there are left celebrate architecture and Bastille Day:

Thursday July 14

Sorg Architects celebrates its 25th anniversary with “awesome Indian barbecue,” DJ Rekha and the Bollywood Dancers, 6 to 10 P.M., The Roofing Company, 933 V Street, N.W. By invitation.

French Ambassador and Mrs. Delattre host the annual Bastille Day celebration from 6 to 10 P.M. at the French Embassy, 4101 Reservoir Road, N.W. By invitation.

It’s hard not to be impressed with how fast this discussion has gone from underground rumor to mainstream option. From my column in today’s today’s Roll Call.

The 14th Amendment is one of three ratified after the Civil War to guarantee individual rights by prohibiting slavery (13th), defining citizens to include all those born in the United States (14th) and guaranteeing all citizens the right to vote regardless of race (15th).

The fireworks will continue on July Fourth and beyond. If you haven’t quit town for Maine or destinations beyond, be sure to check out the following events…if you’re invited, that is.

Monday, July 4

Secretary of the Smithsonian and Mrs. G. Wayne Clough host a picnic supper and viewing of the national fireworks display from the terrace of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center, Constitution Ave at 14th street N.W. 7 P.M. By invitation.

Tuesday, July 5

On the occasion of the Bicentennial of the Independence of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim, Angelo Rivero Santos, will receive guests at a concert “Un Cuatro para el mundo con Los Roy,” and a reception to follow, 7 P.M., The Bolivarian Hall, Embassy of Venezuela, 2443 Massachusetts Ave, N.W. By invitation.

Thursday, July 7

Ambassador of Monaco and Mrs. Gilles Noghes will receive guests at a reception to celebrate the wedding of Prince Albert II to Mademoiselle Charlene Wittstock, 6 P.M. To 8 P.M., The Metropolitan Club, Red Lounge, 1700 H Street, N.W. By invitation.

The Embassy of Chile invites guests to a Chilean culinary tour with 2011 RAMMY’s Chef of the Year Todd Gray, who will join Chilean chef Pilar Rodrigues in preparing dishes using fresh ingredients and unique pairings from various regions of Chile. Pisco sours and Chilean wines will be featured. 5 P.M. to 7 P.M., Chef Todd Gray’s Watershed, 1225 First Street, S.E. By invitation.

Saturday, July 9

The grand opening of Trohv Home & Gift, a store featuring “artful objects discovered or found” with cocktails, food and a live band. 6 P.M. to 9 P.M., 232 Carroll Street, N.W. By invitation.

Little known fact: Qorvis has serious floral skills. Pictured here are flower center pieces shaped like tennis balls, made to adorn the high top tables at this year’s Kastles Season Kickoff Party “Wimbledon on the Water”—superbly constructed by Qorvis staff, including Meryl Draper and Grace Fenstermaker (featured above).

The floral tennis balls were created using 6″ foam to anchor the mix of green button flowers (covering the bulk of the ball) and white strati (for the “seam”). They took an average of four hours to complete, and they looked incredible.

As you may have seen in the resulting media, the party was quite a hit, and we’re excited to once again be partnered with the Washington Kastles as they head into another great season. More updates to come!

I’m pleased to announce that Kevin Chaffee, veteran journalist and nationally-respected expert on Washington’s political and social power structure, has joined Qorvis as a senior adviser. Chaffee will apply his unique skills and significant connections to help clients navigate the complex and interacting levels of Washington. He will also advise in the development of communications and events strategies.

In bringing Chaffee to Qorvis Michael Petruzzello, the firm’s founder and managing partner, said: “A significant part of what Qorvis does is help our clients navigate Washington. Kevin will add a new dimension to that service, bringing tremendous knowledge and experience with the media and the Washington social/political community.”

Chaffee’s extensive journalistic background includes 17 years as an editor and writer at The Washington Times, where he wrote more than 2,000 articles on the social and arts scenes in the nation’s capital, and three years as senior editor of Washington Life Magazine, where he will remain on the masthead as an editorial consultant.

“I’m thrilled to join Qorvis,” Chaffee said. “Qorvis has a reputation in Washington for its dynamic leadership and impressive list of clients. I look forward to employing the experience and knowledge I gained over the years to Qorvis’ client roster.”

In discussing the new hire, Michael also pointed out that as Qorvis heads into its eleventh year, there has been a significant pattern of growth in bringing aboard new accounts and experienced team members like Chaffee. In addition to adding four new partners earlier this year, we’ve hired more than a dozen new staffers to service clients and keep up with the expanding realms of digital, branding, public affairs, media relations, and online reputation management.

There are many more positions available. If you’re interested in joining our rapidly growing firm, please contact Jessica Bayer at jbayer@qorvis.com.

[A post carried on Capital Gains & Games]

Last week’s effort by the House GOP leadership to embarrass the Obama administration on Libya may have had some success politically but it has the potential to backfire legally big time.

Just to review: Knowing that it would be voted down, the House leadership held a vote last week on legislation that, if enacted, would have provided official congressional support for U.S. military activities in Libya. As expected, the bill was overwhelming defeated.

But…in what could be one of the classic overreaches of all time, the leadership then held a separate vote on another bill that, had it been enacted, would have stopped any federal money from being spent on Libya and it too was voted down. The problem for the GOP is that the courts and the Government Accountability Office have consistently held that the most recently considered legislation is the one that expresses current congressional intent. In this case that means that the failed attempt to cut off funding for Libya would likely be taken by the courts as the real expression of what Congress wants to do.

In other words, the House may have voted against what in effect was the “authorization” for the activities in Libya, but it then voted for what effectively was the appropriation for those same activities.

This is actually a widely misunderstood part of the federal budget process. The U.S. Constitution only requires an appropriation; the authorization is a congressionally created requirement. There have been legal challenges to spending for programs that have not been both authorized and appropriated, but the courts have generally determined that, in the absence of an authorization, the appropriation, that is, the most recent expression of congressional intent, serves as both.

All of this is somewhat academic in this case because the Senate doesn’t seem to have any interest in taking up the bill to authorize the Libyan activities or defund the spending and, even if it did, the president almost certainly wouldn’t sign it. But even if the Senate followed the House’s lead by defeating the authorization and it was not vetoed, a lawsuit challenging the funding on authorization grounds would very likely be decided in the administration’s favor because of the second vote the House GOP leadership forced.

Be sure to check out Qorvis’ Federal Budget Expert Stan Collender on Bloomberg TV at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. He’ll be discussing the budget and debt ceiling—particularly the talks taking place today at the White House between the President and GOP leadership, and the negative impact on financial markets if they don’t/can’t/won’t reach an agreement.

You can find other Qorvis folk in Washington Life this week. Matt J. Lauer and and I attended the re-launch of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority—now known as Events DC—which took place at Sax Restaurant & Lounge in Penn Quarter.

As stated in the accompanying article, “…hospitality, events and tourism drive about $400 million in economic growth for the District each year, and no city-chartered organization is better positioned [as Events DC] to campaign to attract more events and provide greater economic benefits for the nation’s capital.”

Qorvis knows, since we’ve helped to conduct some of the most high-profile events in Washington, for such clients as Bloomberg, Capitol File, the National Gallery of Art, GQ, Financial Times and numerous Embassies. We wish it good luck.

In the run-up to Independence Day, there remain a few events of note; however, many Washingtonians have already quit the city for cooler climes. Do enjoy these gatherings, if you’re invited…

Sunday, June 26

Washington’s ever-burgeoning restaurant community celebrates the annual “Oscars of the local dining scene” at the RAMMY Awards, with top prizes going to the chef of the year, the best new dining spot, best wine selection and many other categories. A must-attend for restaurateurs, maitre d’s, sommeliers, bartenders, waiters and foodies alike. 5:30 P.M. dinner, 7 P.M. awards ceremony and 8 P.M. dinner, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, rammys@ramw.org.

Monday June 27

Reception celebrating the opening of “Machu Picchu: A Lost City Uncovered,” a new exhibition at the National Geographic Society. 7 P.M., 1145 – 17th Street, N.W. By invitation.

Wednesday, June 29

Cajun cuisine aficionados get to sample crawfish, po’ boys and beignets as well as more exotic Louisiana fare (alligator, frogs legs, etc.) prepared by Executive Chef Thomas Schoberg at Cajun Experience, 6:30 to 8:30 P.M., 1825 18th Street, N.W. Open bar and live music will also be featured. By invitation.

The Washington social season is winding down as the humidity and heat are cranking up. I am currently in London attending to some festivities, which I’ll report on next week; however, here are some select events in the days ahead:

Saturday, June 18

The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership hosts “The Heart & Soul of the Journey” annual gala at Little Oatlands in Leesburg, Va., with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dancing to classic Motown and soul-infused tunes. Silent and live auctions will be featured along with a raffle of a 2011 Mini Cooper convertible. (500 tickets at $100 apiece will be sold.) Tickets start at $125. 540-882-4292

Monday, June 20

H.R.H. Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, will be present at an event sponsored by the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, a program that has helped thousands of young people become role models and leaders through self-development. Honorary co-hosts: Sens. Thad Cochran, Kay Hagan and Mary Landrieu. 6 P.M. to 8 P.M., Mansfield Room, United States Capitol. By invitation.

The fifth anniversary of The Center for Democracy in the Americas, 7 P. M. to 10 P.M., The Stewart R. Mott House, 122 Maryland Avenue N.E., By invitation.

The opening night of the SilverDocs film festival features a screening of “The Swell Season.” 7:30 P.M., AFI Silver Theater, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Md., with reception to follow at the Silver Spring Civic Building. By invitation.

Wednesday, June 22

Jim Justice, chairman and owner of the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., invites clients and friends to a cocktail reception to announce the unveiling of “The Greenbrier Presidential Express,” a special train route that will connect the famed resort with Washington, D.C. within the next year. 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M., Hay Adams Hotel. By invitation.

Thursday, June 23

Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants “Crave Kimpton” bash promises to “indulge your senses with a night of inspired cocktails, chef-driven cuisine and festive entertainment” plus the chance to win private chef dinners and trips to Kimpton hotels around the country. 5 P.M to 7 P.M, Monaco Washington DC, 700 F Street NW. By invitation.

Small of entrance and obscure from the street, Shakespeare & Company is tough to locate, so you have to work to find it. As I wandered the back streets of the Latin Quarter, I kept running into others just as lost as me. Yet there it was, right on the Seine, hiding in plain sight. Ironically, this is a place you go not because you know what you’re looking for, but rather because you never know what you’re going to find.

It has the feeling of an ancient tomb, musty and sacred. Three rambling floors of titles and tomes—piled up on the floor, falling off makeshift shelves, arranged using no traditional scheme. They populate narrow stairs and tiny rooms. It is bookstore as destination—as much a feast for the mind as for the senses. And I believe, I hope, this relic of Paris can provide some understanding of what the future holds for bookstores.

The demise of the big booksellers is hardly a new story. In Washington, DC, one of the most educated, literate and wealthy communities in the country, Borders has shuttered almost all of its locations. The reasons are obvious—competition from online vendors and ebooks has combined with a decrease in disposable income as a result of the economic recession. Sales dry up, business is business.

It is as true here as it is throughout the world. Just this week, Australian Minister for Small Businesses Nick Sherry even made a bold declaration about the death of the bookstore: “I think in five years, other than a few specialty bookshops in capital cities, you will not see a bookstore. They will cease to exist because of what’s happening with Internet-based, Web-based distribution…. What’s occurring now is an exponential take-off—we’ve reached a tipping point.”

In my opinion…maybe. There’s no doubt consolidation will continue to take place. What exists, though, is an opportunity for large booksellers to reinvent how they market themselves—to rethink their approach to the Thinking Class. And it has everything to do with the experience they present.

Barnes & Noble, Borders and the others had in recent decades become a sterile alternative to the convenience found on the Internet, providing little reason to wander in and make a purchase. It is the same with Starbucks, entirely lifeless in presentation; yet, caffeine can be rather powerful when it comes to purchasing decisions. Few people claim to be addicted to literature.

The question then becomes anthropological. Do books possess an inherent nature that appeals to humans? Or, is our desire to be around them rooted more in nostalgia or to be associated with something intellectual? While it is difficult to say, demand does still exist for bookstores, and there are of ways large booksellers can retool their marketing to cultivate demand and re-grow sales:

• Commit to an Experience: Shakespeare & Company is but one example of the type of experience a store can offer—old world and unpretentious. The Strand in New York City is just as special, but almost exactly the opposite—a labyrinth of metal shelves. There’s Red Emma’s in Baltimore, a socialist enclave of considerable character. San Francisco offers a number of funky places in the Mission off Valencia. I go out of my way to check these places out. Without becoming some themed hell, like a Clyde’s Restaurant, the big stores can embrace the local or regional aesthetic and culture and create an experience that would be authentic and bring people in the door.

• Curate to the Community: Bookstores are, yes, about books. One of the best examples is right here in Washington, DC: Politics & Prose. It is not much of a place to visit, though does have some folksy charm; however, the staff does an exceptional job selecting books relevant to their readers and holding events that people want to attend. Again, the large booksellers can use their considerable catalogs to craft finely tuned collections that speak to the local audience, all while offering the convenience of a broader selection.

• Become Distribution Points: Apple is all about the Internet…but it still has stores. There are a number of reasons why—immediate gratification, tech support and the opportunity to kick the wheels of products before buying. Bookstores should adopt a similar model, bridging the gap between the online and offline world. Kindles and iPads are not going away. It will be important to find ways of becoming relevant in this new world. For example, book retailers should work with publishers and authors to create destination-specific products. Ubiquity is a product of the web. We need more ways to offer uniqueness and something special.

Old-line companies need to take risks and dive into the demand that still exists. It is a turbulent time for justifying costs and growing the bottom line; however, innovative marketing and creative communications—combined with smart business decisions—can do a lot to create new business.

Summer may be heating up and the social season winding down, but there are still a good number of interesting event taking place throughout Washington. Here’s the best of the lot for next week:

Sunday June 12
Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki and his wife Yoriko will host a barbecue at their residence to thank guests who contributed to relief efforts in their country. The tennis courts and swimming pool will be available. Noon to 2 P.M. Japanese Embassy Residence, 4000 Nebraska Avenue NW. By invitation.

Jamaican Women of Washington Tea-Off to Good Health Reception and Silent Auction hosted by Jamaican Amb. Audrey Marks, 2-4 P.M., The Four Seasons. Call 202/756-4810 for tickets and information.

Monday June 13
The Water for People Gala will recognize women around the world who have made significant contributions to their community in the field of water and sanitation. Throughout the world, 884 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and 2.6 billion are without adequate sanitation facilities. 6:30-9:30 P.M., National Museum of Women in the Arts. Ticket price: $60.

Tuesday June 14
Preview of “Wedding Belles” featuring wedding gowns worn by cereals heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her daughters. 6:30-8:30 P.M., Hillwood Museum, 4155 Linnean Av. NW. By invitation.

Thursday, June 16
Transformer Gallery showcases its most recent “Corporate View” exhibition at the offices of J.P. Morgan, 6-8 P.M. By invitation.

Capital City Real Estate Red Capet Roof Deck Party and Grand Opening Reception benefiting the Easter Seals Foundation.  6-9 P.M., 1854 Mintwood Place NW. By invitation.

Friday June 17
Opening of “Susan Schwartz: Seasons of the Soul,” 6:30-8:30 P.M. National Museum of Women in the Arts. By invitation.

Contrary to what the GOP has been saying, financial markets not only will react negatively to the debt ceiling fight happening on Capital Hill, but as I explain in my column from today’s Roll Call, that negative reaction has already begun and it’s not at all ambiguous or tepid.

Qorvis has announced the addition of four new partners: government and corporate communications strategist Gregory Lagana; Republican communications specialist John Reid; former Washington Times Editor Sam Dealey; and Dr. Ron Faucheux, who is being elevated to partner while retaining his position as President of Clarus Research Group, a Qorvis Company.

“Greg, John, Sam and Ron represent the brand of leadership and talent that can meet the growing needs of our clients and our expansion efforts,” said Managing Partner Michael Petruzzello. “This new talent will augment Qorvis’ strong public affairs, corporate affairs and crisis management services.”

Lagana, Reid and Dealey have already begun to integrate themselves in the broader Qorvis team, applying their experience to the agency’s clients.

Greg Lagana: Lagana was formerly senior vice-president for communications and marketing at DynCorp International, a major services provider for the United States government. Prior to which, he spent four years in the Bush (43) White House, as a member of the Coalition Information Center staff and then as associate director of the Office of Global Communications. For more than two decades, Lagana served in the U.S. Foreign Service in public diplomacy and public affairs with the United States Information Agency and the Department of State.

John Reid: Reid is the former Communications Director for U.S. Senator George Allen (R-VA), helping to build the Senator’s legislative record and support network in preparation for his potential presidential bid. Reid departed prior to Allen’s most recent reelection campaign, moving to serve in a strategic communications role at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation. Reid has also served as President of the U.S. Senate Press Secretaries Association and has the distinction of having been an intern to President Ronald Reagan.

Sam Dealey: Dealey most recently served as Editor of The Washington Times, known as “America’s Paper” and one of the most prominent media brands in the world. He is a contributing editor to Reader’s Digest and U.S. News and World Report, and has reported on international crises for a host of organizations, including TIME, CNN, PBS “Newshour,” The New York Times and GQ. Dealey has worked for The Wall Street Journal, The American Spectator and The Hill newspaper. He is a media fellow at the Hoover Institution and in 2006 received the Henry R. Luce Award for deadline reporting by TIME.

Dr. Ron Faucheux: Dr. Faucheux is President of Clarus Research Group, a full-service polling and research firm. He is a nationally respected public opinion analyst and public affairs professional. A former state legislator and Secretary of Commerce in Louisiana, he edited and published Campaigns & Elections magazine. He also served as a U.S. Senate Chief of Staff and headed government affairs for the American Institute of Architects. Dr. Faucheux teaches at the Public Policy Institute at Georgetown University and the Graduate School of Political Management at George Washington University.

In addition, Qorvis recently announced the hiring of former Boston Globe and CNN correspondent and Rand analyst Rebecca Bou Chebel, as well former M+R Strategic Services associate Will Dempster.

Mr. Charlie Gibson was nice enough to highlight our Presidential Inauguration mobile app on the World News Webcast. He said: ”If you’re headed to Washington next week for Inauguration festivities, don’t forget your iPhone or your BlackBerry. It could be your key to finding your way around town.” We completely agree. Be sure to check out Version 2.0, which features a new polling function that will allow you to answer Inauguration-related questions and see the results from others all over the country.

Qorvis is honored to be able to cap off another great year with today’s news that PRWeek has named us a finalist for the category of Midsize PR Agency of the Year 2009! We’re all clearly thrilled about this recognition.

What helped driving our nomination were several achievements, including the launch of Clarus Research Group, a full-service, in-house polling and research firm; a number of new clients, including an advertising campaign for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM); the hiring of some top-tier talent, such as Karen Hanretty, former Communications Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, and Lisa Bushey, a public relations veteran; and the expansion of the company’s headquarters in Washington, DC.

Qorvis is starting the year with the launch of the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Mobile App. The new, free mobile application, named “Phone App of the Week” by the New York Times, will provide visitors to Washington in January the ability to easily navigate the city with a glance at their iPhone or BlackBerry.

The PRWeek awards are among the industry’s highest accolades. Qorvis was nominated for the category for agencies whose annual revenues range from $15 million-$65 million.

To cap off a great week, Gadgetwise, the New York Times tech blog, has named the Qorvis / Patton Boggs 2009 Presidential Inauguration App the App of the Week.

Qorvis, Patton Boggs and PointAbout are really excited about the potential this app has to help people navigate Washington (which is the elegant metaphor for what we as companies do for our clients). The next iteration for BlackBerry should be out in the middle of next week, and new functionality for iPhone will be up soon too.

To experience the app, check out this video. Or to download it, go here. Enjoy!

Some articles from the week:

• Yahoo!Tech
• CNET
• National Journal’s Tech Daily Dose

To all of you who read the Qorvis blog I want to invite you to take another look. I’ll be including here an increasing number of updates about the events and goings-on at the Q.

Please note: I won’t be doing this to fill space; rather, it will be more of an exercise in telling the Qorvis story. There is a lot happening at Qorvis, and in my estimation it is worth sharing.

So to begin, I want to thank everyone who joined Qorvis and Beam Global Spirits & Wine for our Election Night party (see pics), which featured an appearance by now President-elect Barack Obama (courtesy of Madame Tussauds, of course). We welcomed more than 500 friends and colleagues to Qorvis’ new office space.

And, it seems many from the party stayed on for the Qorvis Morning-After Webinar with Patton Boggs. More than 300 attendees chose Qorvis for the first word on the impact of the elections. We look forward to holding another one soon to discuss policy issues during the First 100 Days of the Obama Administration.

In other Qorvis/election news, at about 5:30 p.m. on Election Night the Qorvis-led Wireless Innovation Alliance of tech innovators and public advocacy groups secured government approval of a revolutionary broadband technology called “white spaces.” This victory, the latest public affairs success for Qorvis, represents one of the biggest breakthroughs ever for wireless communications in the U.S.

On an additional note, we have a some new clients to announce, including the Society for Human Resource Management, YMCA, and Vitol, plus, a new hire: Karen Hanretty, Communications Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee, to strengthen our bipartisan team.

It may have taken a few years, but I finally have some respect for Scott McClellan, the former Bush White House Press Secretary. His new book (What Happened?), to be released in the next few days (some stores have them already – just ask Mike Allen of Politico), is a scathing insiders look from one of the closest men on the inner circle of the Bush White House. Allen was the first to break the story yesterday on politico.com. From the excerpts, it basically appears as if McClellan is confirming the worst fears that many Americans have come to suspect: White House insiders plotted to smear an undercover CIA operative and lied about it. Security officials used unsubstantiated claims of weapons of mass destruction to propagandize the nation into war in Iraq.  A lax and intellectually lazy President ignored the disaster on the ground in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The book’s revelations would be NOT be as startling had they come from my friend Bill Press or others on the Left, but they come from a man who has been close to the Bush family and came to Washington, DC on the coattails of George W. Bush.The predictable outcry from the Bushies is that somehow McClellan has lost his mind and is not the ‘same’ guy they knew, or that he is a disgruntled former employee and is settling old scores. Dana Perino, the current occupant of McClellan’s old job, just labeled him as ‘sad.’ What is sad is the Bush attack machine trying to slime a guy who really just wanted to tell the truth, and it’s also sad that it took so long for some of these truths to come to light. McClellan may be a little late but he won’t be a dollar short. His book, book tour and lectures fees are now all in the stratosphere to be sure. But that is not why he did this. Once the novelty of this wears off and the media scrambles off to their next story (the Democratic Rules Committee this weekend), McClellan will be left as a man without a country here in Washington. Surely McClellan knew this but did it anyway. I imagine it was because he hasn’t slept much since he began discovering that what he was told to say from the White House daily briefing room was mainly fiction. He may have some trouble landing a job, but at least he’ll finally get a good night’s rest.