Changing of the Guard at Romper Room
The population and media of late have been lobbying the White House to change around its staff in hopes that someone with an ounce of reason will be able crack the walnut that is G-Dog Bush's twisted perception of reality. Sadly, it looks like the "shake up" is going to be the retirement of Chief of Staff Andy Card.
I think it's pretty silly to think that Bush will allow anyone that is not of the hive mind to get within 100 yards of himself. He's been very consistent in his surrounding himself with people to form one of the most "one mindedness" White House administrations in the history of the United States. Secretary Card's replacement will be none other than former OMB toady Josh "I'm Not Michael" Bolton. I don't know much about Bolton. I'm sure he's a perfect ass kisser and will do a great job barfing up the latest reasons why we have to do what we have to do and how Iraq is going to be our finest hour and whatever else the presidential brain trust feels like farting into the American wind.
I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Andy Card on two occassions. He was the only person I met during either of the Bush administrations that I respected. Actually, that's not true... Ari Fleischer was another. But Card had a stronger charisma thing going for him.
Card sincerely believed in what he and his boss were doing. Card was much more warm and smiley though. Whether by design or luck, Card made you feel like he was a regular guy, with a regular job, and he did it well. I found him intelligent and focused, and certainly well liked by his staffers. Unlike most of the senor staff folks I met, he didn't spend alot of time looking down on people. Being at the bottom of the food chain, I was pretty used to getting crapped on by everyone else. Card wasn't into that. I think some folks took pay cuts to get into the West Wing just to be DC ass hats. Card's people worked with him because they liked him and wanted to do good by him.
I think he'd have been a good man to work for.
But he's leaving. I don't know whether he's leaving because he got wise to the sinking ship, or Bush booted him. Hopefully the former. Either way, the nation is losing its greatest ally in the West Wing. It's pretty sad really.
Good luck, where ever you may roam Mr. Secretary.