White House staff exodus exposes Obama to charges of disarray

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

More senior White House staff are to leave in the next few months, adding to the high exit rate from President Barack Obama's administration.

Political analysts attribute the attrition rate to exhaustion, but Republican opponents blame disarray inside the White House, with an insular team responsible for too many policy failures.

The imminent departures include those of defence secretary Robert Gates, who has said he hopes to retire early next year, and Obama's senior White House adviser, David Axelrod, who is planning a return to his home town of Chicago early next year to concentrate on planning for Obama's 2012 re-election bid.

The White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, has been mentioned in the past few weeks in connection with a range of jobs, including White House adviser or chairman of the Democratic national committee, which runs the party.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/10/white-house-staff-quit

[HipChick]

1. On average, 2yrs is a long time for a WH staffer..more media hyped press

un-rec'd

[Cal33]

23. It depends on what types of people are leaving. If mostly Repubs. and right-leaning Dems.

are leaving, I say "Hurrah!" (This seems to be the case so far).

If, on the other hand, mostly progressives and liberals will be leaving,
it could be an indication of what to expect from the second half of
Obama's term -- especially if he should be nominating more right-leaning
people to fill their places. It would be a very bad sign.

By the way, would Gen. Clark make a good Sec'y of Defense? He's one of
the few Democratic military officers, and he knows the other high-ranking
officers. I have a feeling he'd know how to handle them, among other
things. I hope he'd know how to handle the military part of the
Military/INdustrial Complex. From what I've read about him, he's one
of the brightest of the military people.

[ClarkUSA]

2. Why would you bring a story full of Republican spin here?

Thanks for your concern.

:sarcasm:

[Missy Vixen]

7. The Guardian is not "Republican spin"

It's one of the more liberal papers in London. I've been reading it online since the Bush administration.

They're raising a legitimate question. It's unfortunate that some here choose to ignore it.

[HipChick]

8. I'll dispute that..I've been reading it since it was only available in print

Born and raised in London. some of their writers lean way too right..White House burn-out is not new..try this..for balance..

http://drezner.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/08/12/news_flash_white_house_jobs_are_exhausting

[cstanleytech]

11. "They're raising a legitimate question." Not imo.

Every administration loses people, Carter did as did Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2 and now Obama and its not a sign of an administration in disarray.

[sandnsea]

15. Right, this is cynical chic

Some journalists don't think they're doing their job if they're not finding something to criticize in govt. That would be the position of The Guardian.

[ieoeja]

27. Leaving Obama (1) to work for Obama, (2) to take over Chicago, and (3) as orig. scheduled 2 yrs ago.

Axelrod is not leaving.

Rahm is probably (unfortunately) going to be the next Mayor of Chicago.

And Gates was originally asked by Obama to put off retirement until combat operations ended in Iraq. Gates actually stayed around longer than scheduled.


There is nothing remotely legitimate about that question.

[JNelson6563]

18. Because clearly it is most welcome.

I see this crap here all the time. Who needs Faux News?

Julie

[jpak]

3. GOP propaganda is not LBN

:thumbsdown:

[notadmblnd]

4. Let's see.. How many left the white house during the bush years?

Ari Fleisher, John Ashcroft, Donald Rumsfeld. Little Snotty. Daniel Pearl (he was part of the admin right?) Bolton, c'mon.. I know there were more. And, I believe all their excuses was that they needed to spend more time with their families, no?

the repukes are truly grasping at straws if they are implying that two people leaving is a White House in disarray

[Politicalboi]

21. Gillespie, Jeff Gannon LOL!

Tom Kaine, Karen Hughs. But for history's sake I don't blame them. But if they couldn't see that train comin, then they deserve it. I would be so embarrasssed to say I worked in the Bush Assministration. And I ain't no genius either. My first clue was "misunderestimated"

[SharonAnn]

24. You mean Richard Perle. Daniel Pearl was killed in Pakistan.

[boppers]

BS Narrative.

"Whitehouse changes in staff show a vibrant and thriving culture"

See how that game works?

[47of74]

5. Our resident teabagger at work...

Every time someone leaves the company he goes off on a rant about how everyone hates the company so they're all leaving, how the benefits suck, the pay sucks, etc etc.

[OregonBlue]

6. Agreed.

[JohnWxy]

9. bullshit. It's very typical for staffers to leave after 2 yrs. It's a helluva drain on your life

(and on one's family) to work in WH. These people's LIVES are totally given over to helping the PResident get policies in place. They did a huge amount in the first two years. There is nothing noteworthy in people deciding it's time to 'get there lives back'. (if this wasn't done, some would be in for divorces, really.)

[EFerrari]

10. Gates retiring is good news. n/t

[blue sky at night]

12. I always make sure to check in with the pukes....

when analyzing the staff of the Obama Administration...they are so sensitive and fair you know.

[tomhayes]

13. White House Staff Calcifies (Where is change we can believe in?)

That's what they'd say if everyone stayed in place the entire term.

[Writer]

14. Here's your problem, you jackasses: You used the word 'exodus' to describe...

the departure of two or three officials from a staff of hundreds! Seriously, go fuck yourselves.

[flpoljunkie]

16. Indeed!

[WhiteTara]

17. great to all three of them

this is a chance to get more progressive people in those positions. We can hope for that. Gibbs as DNC chair is a horrible thought, but I won't miss him in the limelight.

[Hawkowl]

22. Let's hope these changes are the beginning

I like to think that rather than disarray, Obama's White House is undergoing a smooth, deliberate, shifting to the left. He's tried the bipartisan bullshit and it didn't work. So now it is time for left wing partisanship! And then the alarm goes off and I have to wake up and go to work.

Nonetheless, I am pleased at the departure of the DLC/right wing staff, and the addition of Elizabeth Warren.

[WhiteTara]

26. makes two of us. n/t

[Arkana]

19. Axelrod's leaving to work on the campaign, Rahm left to run for mayor of Chicago.

And Gates has always said he hadn't planned to stay on forever.

I fail to see the problems here.

[book_worm]

20. Why publish right wing talking points?

[impik]

25. So? Is there anything he wasn't charged of yet?

Two more years, that's all.