Tony Snow Signals His Resignation, Plus ‘A Couple’ More ‘Coming Up In The Next Month’

[BrAinPaiNt]

LINK

After the recent resignation of Karl Rove, media outlets speculated on what the rest of President Bush’s term will look like without “the Architect.” The President is “fighting lame duck status,” reported the AP. In response, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow shot back: “As the president has said many times, he’s going to sprint to the tape.”

But even Tony Snow doesn’t want to be around for that sprint. In an interview with the conservative Hugh Hewitt show, Snow signaled that he will not stay until the end of the term. He also mentioned that there are “probably a couple” of other high-level resignations “coming up in the next month or so.”

HEWITT: Are there any other resignations upcoming, Tony Snow?

SNOW: I think that probably…as Josh said the other day, he thinks there are probably a couple coming up in the next month or so. […]

HEWITT: Your intention to go the distance, Tony Snow?

SNOW: No, I’m not going to be…I’ve already made it clear I’m not going to be able to go the distance, but that’s primarily for financial reasons. I’ve told people when my money runs out, then I’ve got to go.

Snow’s upcoming departure makes him one of a bevy of top administration officials who, since November, have left their posts. ThinkProgress has compiled a list of some of the key resignations:

- White House Senior Political Adviser Karl Rove
- White House Counselor Dan Bartlett
- White House Budget Director Rob Portman
- White House Counsel Harriet Miers
- White House Political Director Sara Taylor
- White House Director of Strategic Initiatives Pete Wehner
- White House Deputy National Security Adviser J.D. Crouch
- Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty
- Acting Associate Attorney General William Mercer
- Justice Department White House liaison Monica Goodling
- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
- Army Secretary Francis Harvey
- Joint Chief of Staffs Chairman Peter Pace
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson
- U.N. Ambassador John Bolton
- USAID Director Randall Tobias

With so many key staff departures, the AP reports that “Bush has decided he might get more done in his final months by going it alone,” making increased use of executive orders and veto power.

[jterrell]

?Why all the ship jumping?

Is this a sign Bush is ignoring or angering his own people?
I m fast to think Bush is the devil but this does interest me from a generic *** is going on angle....


The ship has already sunk. I see no reason to get out now.

Are these guys angling for positions under potential Repub candidates or what?

[BrAinPaiNt]

I don't think it is uncommon for people to jump ship with a lame duck president.

However I do not know if the number for him is above, below or average.

Also it was talked about that Bolton told Rove that if someone did not resign by a certain date they were going to have to stick it out for the rest of the term.

If true maybe people are just going ahead and going now.

[burmafrd]

This is typical in the last year or so of any 2 term president anymore. People get burned out, tired of it all, understandable.

[arglebargle]

I have the feeling that some of this 'leaving the administration' pattern is tied to the feeling that they cannot get much done over the last year.

And especially in this case, if these folks do want to continue in the political game, they need to find a new horse....

[Sasquatch]

Originally Posted by arglebargle

I have the feeling that some of this 'leaving the administration' pattern is tied to the feeling that they cannot get much done over the last year.

And especially in this case, if these folks do want to continue in the political game, they need to find a new horse....

That's my feeling as well. I mean, why bother when there are things to do and more money to be earned elsewhere.

[ConcordCowboy]

Too bad Cheney won't resign.

Speaking of Cheney...has anyone watched Lil Bush on the Comedy channel?

Lil Cheney is hilarious.

[burmafrd]

Tony basically said that due to his expenses because of his cancer treatment he has to go back and make some money. Insane as it sounds, $168,000 does not go too far when you work in DC.