The Cheese Stands Alone
How long until the Prez is left all alone in the White House? Not even a week after Karl Rove decided to remove himself from the fray, Press Secretary Tony Snow announced that he's getting out of Dodge pretty quickly himself. Via Think Progress, he let it slip to Hugh Hewitt that serving his country doesn't pay well enough, so "when my money runs out, then I've got to go." Although Atrios points out that Snow makes $168,000 a year in his post, let's don't forget that Snow is used to TV money. A salary in the low six figures is pocket change to a guy like him. He'll no doubt run right back to FOX News if they'll have him (like they might not). Of course, he'll have to shift back into "fair and balanced" mode rather than mindlessly defending the President (oh, wait, this is FOX News we're talking about--nevermind). Think Progress has a list of administration officials who've
posted by Doug @ 11:58 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
The rumor I heard when Rove's departure was announced is that White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten told everyone "If you don't leave by X date" -- X date being sometime in fall 2007 -- "you're sticking around until inauguration day 2009." So we're seeing departures of people who aren't willing to pledge another 18 months in the Bush White House.
Much as I'd love to imagine the wheels falling off the bus of this administration, are we seeing more turnover than normal? Working in the White House is high pressure, and people tend to move on after a few years. Has President Bush seen more departures than did President Clinton on President Reagan?
I've heard that rumor, too, and it has a ring of truth to it. Bolten may well have made a decision that an exodus now might be preferable to a slow leak throughout the next few months. If true, though, it does run the risk of what could appear to be a sudden rush for the door.
You're right, though, Jason, that I haven't seen a comparison to late second-term departures in other two-term presidents. There's always a drain of some sort, and the administration leaving with the inauguration of the next president always seems to have the taint of the B-team about it.
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