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March 13, 2006
Too Tired To Think
In today's Washington Post, Peter Baker probes a more innocent and simple reasoning than is normally offered for the Bush White House's declining political fortunes of late -- staff exhaustion.
Many members of President Bush's core inner circle are into their sixth year of serving him there -- a long tenure by Washington standards -- and the article speculates that the brutal work hours and nearly constant dealing with crisis and/or scandal have taken their toll.
The piece particularly focuses on Andy Card, the White House Chief of Staff since Day 1, who continues to put in 18-hour days, seven days a week, and who while widely respected, is thought to not be as sharp as usual. Exhaustion can indeed impair judgment. And remember, since the President is in bed by 9:00 every night, somebody has to keep working!
The litany of recent missteps by the White House has been remarkable (not that we necessarily mind) from a group that had previously showed such keen political instincts. The explanation that folks are just too tired to think straight strikes us as plausible.
Many Republicans believe it's time for some fresh faces on the White House staff, but this notion runs contrary to this president's modus operandi. George W. Bush is well known to be a loner, who trusts and is close to few people. The idea of bringing new staff into his inner circle, likely many of whom he does not have a close relationship with or fully trust, is likely less than appetizing for Bush, despite the fact that he desperately needs it.
In the face of ongoing political controversy, scandal and simple bad luck, this White House has come to resemble a bunker. For team Bush to fight its way out, it first would have to call in reenforcements. After all, two and a half more years is a long time to stay holed up. Pretty soon, however, the battle may be lost.
Posted by houtopia at March 13, 2006 10:11 AM