Dan Bartlett's Exit Strategy (by John Nichols for The Nation)

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BLOG | Posted 06/01/2007 @ 12:19pm
Dan Bartlett's Exit Strategy

John Nichols

White House counselor Dan Bartlett, the man who unwittingly confirmed that President Bush participated in discussions with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and political czar Karl Rove about firing U.S. Attorneys who weren't sufficiently political in their prosecutions, is hightailing it out of the administration.

Bartlett made the traditional Friday announcement of his exit strategy, coupling it with the even more traditional announcement that when the going gets tough the tough suddenly recognize that they want to spend more time with their children.

What really made Bartlett, a veteran if not exceptionally competent presidential apologist, decide at this particular point to follow the rats over the side of the Bush battleship?

Could it be that even Bartlett – a man who has been at Bush's side for 14 years – has tired of the boy king's, er, gee, what's the right word here, um, madness.

...(snip)...

Let's see: The commander-in-chief is "wild-eyed."

He's whining about how "no one understands."

Taking his finger off the nuclear button and "thumping himself on the chest."

Ranting "I am the president!"

Calling Iraq "our country's destiny."

Friends turn to Bartlett, the man they have always seen at Bush's side, for an explanation of the president's increasingly erratic behavior.

Bartlett checks his watch. "Oops, time to go! Gotta spend more time with the kids." ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?bid=15