Robert Gibbs is leaving the White House and will most likely be replaced by either his deputy Bill Burton, or by Joe Biden’s communications director and former Time correspondent Jay Carney. I liked Gibbs. I like Burton more. I don’t really know Carney very well, although I occasionally mocked his reporting. So, I don’t really have a preference. Gibbs will join the ‘professional left’ that he chose to criticize last year. He’ll probably open up some consultantcy and help explain to people who to pay to get laws passed and repealed. I can’t say I blame him, but it’d be nice if he found a less soul-deadening career for himself. As for other shakeups, Anne Kornblut and Scott Wilson have all kinds of gossip at the link above. Obviously, one rumor is that William Daley will come in as Obama’s new chief of staff. I know that choosing a ‘Daley’ from Chicago who is a JP Morgan executive will do nothing to inspire cynicism and conspiracy. But, hey, it worked so well with Rahm, why not continue to have the chief of staff as “the story”?
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
Howard Dean likes the whole Daley idea.
Well that sure as hell doesn’t fit the narrative.
Don’t know much about Daley but it does seem like a bit of a wierd thing to have a chief of staff who was just previously employed by a big bank. Optically I mean. I like Gibbs although didn’t think he was that brilliant at being a press secretary – too subtle I think – but maybe that’s because I’ve been over-influenced by CJ Cregg. Burton always seems to do a good job when he replaces Gibbs and then there’s that guy Pfeiffer? who always writes those acerbic blog posts on the white house website.
I don’t think Gibbs is going to open a consultancy at least not in the way you think – apparently he is taking over Plouffe’s offices in DC when Plouffe joins the WH.
Did you know that Daley called HCR/HIR a liberal overreach? That’s right, he called 1990’s Heritage Foundation RomneyCare a liberal over reach!! From a supposed Democrat!!
Well only if your prime qualifications are the ability not to throw a tantrum and the attitude of not being the smartest political operative in the room.
Seems like Dean was being gracious and not advocating for anyone. Nice dig at Rahm Emmanuel, however.
Was he being gracious this morning on Morning Joe advocating entitlement cuts? You white liberals kill me with literally white washing the double speak and hypocrisy of your own. Lucky for Democrats and the country, most Americans can read “progressive” frauds like him and Edwards and every other fake ass great white liberal hope you all champion.
Please. You’re giving an imaginary constituency imaginary powers that aren’t even fully operational.
What did Dean say exactly? I don’t watch cable news anymore.
Which entitlements was he advocating being cut? I can think of some that should be cut (Congressional healthcare and pension subsidies, retired elected official pensions, and so on).
If he was talking about Social Security, Food Stamps, Medicare, SCHIP, and so on, he was not being gracious he was being stupid.
If he just talked about “entitlement” cuts, he was dodging the question.
I don’t know how Obama plans to craft a legislative strategy now that the House is run by certified nut jobs. I would think the goals are going to be very modest.
He’ll probably be too busy handing out copies of his birth certificate to offer up large legislation.
hell no to Daley.
hope yes for Burton.
Yes to Rouse. CoS’s should neither be seen, heard, nor interviewed.
Yes to Burton. Go with someone who knows how to do it.
As for Gibbs, like some many in DC Gibbs is cashing out.
Public service is a lost motivation. For either party.
this particular observation certainly gives very little hope for anything but a continuation of team obama’s premature capitulation strategy:
really?!…the business community has not been catered to the past two years?…and they said this with a straight face?
guess l’ve been living in an alternate universe and wall street and the banksters really didn’t get off scott free.
who knew?
they’re upset because the president said some nasty things about them and passed Wall Street reforms that they interpret as intrusive and judgmental. They HATE Obama on Wall Street and they just destroyed the Democrats in the midterms through groups run by Dick Armey and Karl Rove and John Roberts.
That was not a quote. That is what passes for analysis from Anne Kornblut and Scott Wilson.
It’s the current Village chant.