Informed Speculation

On offer from Fred Barnes…let’s look at the first one:

* Staff shakeup. The president has a problem with firing anyone. Unlike most presidents, he’s loyal to his staff, especially those who’ve been with him for years. Thus, it was highly significant that he allowed Andy Card to fall on his sword during a bad spell for Bush and quit as White House chief of staff. Now the president has braced himself for the pain of more staff switches. He’s given the new chief, Josh Bolten, carte blanche to make personnel changes.

They’d better be sweeping. If they are, Bush can create the aura and energy of a new presidency, one ready to overcome troubles and do big things again. The press, communications, congressional liaison, and economic policy offices at the White House may be overhauled. And should Bolten turn his attention to cabinet posts, particularly one or more of the Big Four (State, Defense, Justice, Treasury), he’s likely to look first at Treasury Secretary John Snow. Snow’s the only one who’s not a longtime Bush ally. Rumsfeld has only known Bush since the start of the administration, but he now looks like a Bush lifer.

A spate of major firings and hirings would mesmerize the media. They’d have to cover it extensively. Of course, they’d stress the president was succumbing to the advice of critics. So what? The mere fact of widespread changes, not the press’s needling, would dominate the news.

I couldn’t agree more; regular readers know I’ve been agitating for new blood for quite some time.

For the other three, read on…