Josh Marshall asks why McClellan left now

[chaumont58]

April 20, 2006 -- 01:36 PM EST // link)
Does it strike anyone else as odd that the White House tossed McClellan out the window without having a replacement ready to announce?

-- Josh Marshall

The above is from the TPM site. I wondered what was the hurry. Did McClellan piss someone off? It's hard to understand why the Bushies do anything, but this seems a bit much.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. The rumor of his leaving has been around for at least a few weeks...

Is he gone-done-gone? I though he was going to hang around for a while until his successor was in place? :shrug:

[Atman]

2. They needed a "positive" headline, nothing more

Plus, it gave them an excuse not to have ANY press conferences for a while.

[ClintonTyree]

3. Something is in the works here.........

not quite sure what yet but I'd hazard a guess that it has something to do with the Plame leak and subsequent investigation. I think it's connected to Rove somehow. We'll see.

[Duer 157099]

Well sure it is

It's so when the new press secretary starts getting those "...but Scotty told us..." and nobody will have to be held accountable for those lies.

The truth just can't be suppressed forever, and they need to continue to patch this leaky boat as quickly as they can

[worldgonekrazy]

7. That is my thinking

Jason Leopold of Truthout reported that Fitzgerald is seeking an indictment on multiple counts against Rove. If this is true, it could certainly explain at least a part of McClellan's sudden departure. Scotty has publicly declared Rove's innocence in the matter many times before, so if Rove does indeed get indicted that would put McClellan in one hell of a hard spot. Plus, he might just not want to deal with it. Its possible he knows the shit is going to hit the fan in a major way and is trying to remove himself from the situation.

[MADem]

13. Scotty was not under oath; he can claim he was lied to by Rove, et. al,

And he was. Clearly. He sure as hell didn't probe; he happily stood up there and parroted the horseshit. There's no crime in that, though. If he's smart, that will be his theme if he is called as a witness. I did what I was told, I was only following orders, that's what they said to me....

The Press Sec is usually kept halfway out of the loop anyway, so they can lie with a straight face.

They likely want to start off with a different person, so Scotty wouldn't have to be issuing Ziegler-like statements, declaring that the lies he told were no longer operative. His replacement can feign ignorance, and go for the NEW BROOM approach. It only works for a little while, though, before the press starts demanding that the new bozo stop playing dumb and do a little homework.

[beaconess]

20. One of the original articles of impeachment against Clinton was that

he "obstructed justice" by lying to his staff knowing they would go out in public and insist that he was innocent. This was too much of a stretch for even the rabidly partisan, bloodthirsty House majority and they voted it down.

But it would be interesting to bring this up again to those who voted for it and see whether they still think that telling a lie to a staff member who then repeats the lie to the general public constitutes "obstruction of justice."

[chookie]

4. Scapegoat?

Maybe because he is the major source of information for the press. The Bush administration is so wacky that I could see them blaming him for the administration's abyssmal public standing, rather than consider that it is their policies that are repelling people. I guess poor Scotty doesn't spin fast enough for them.

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. He served his purpose

He was a very good little stonewaller but now Bush needs a new stonewaller with a friendlier face.

[11cents]

5. Just emblematic of their contempt for the press

What's the difference between having no press secretary and having a press secretary like Scott McLellan? None. That's what they're saying. Either way there's no information emerging from the WH. I don't think he was scapegoated for bad PR, since he wasn't really dispensing any. And he's too minor a tool to have a meaningful involvement in the Plame scandal or anything else.

[Duer 157099]

6. *Everything* now is an "ongoing investigation"

so you're correct, there is absolutely no need

[KoKo]

8. It was handled pretty badly. Almost making it look like Scotty did

something to offend them. He sure looked pretty sad when he announced his resignation. Why not wait a week or two. Or, was Scotty the cover for Rove possibly being indicted. Scotty had to take the fall to take the heat off the Buzz that Rove was relieved of his "policy duties." :shrug:

[rurallib]

9. Also wonder why some can quit but he won't let that fucking Rummy

go. I figure they are so afraid of Rummy saying something by accident they are keeping a close eye on him.

[MADem]

14. Rummy must know where a few bodies are buried, figuratively

Or who knows, maybe literally, with that bunch!

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. They are prepping someone for the ramping up of war on Iran

Scotty's just not the right face for that.

[Zen Democrat]

12. Scottie's departure was announced to partially cover the Rove demotion.

And the Rove demotion had to be hurried up because they now know that Rove is a target and that Fitz is meeting with the grand jury. With the Illinois / Ryan matters winding up, the full on with Plame.

Rove had to be relieved of his White House policy job so when the indictment comes down it will be a shorter fall. Scottie's departure was a beard. Also, ultimately he had to go because of the "ongoing investigation" and his inoperative statements (a la Ron Ziegler).

[Fridays Child]

15. What I thought was odd was how he fawned all over B*sh...

...when they came out together yesterday to make the announcement. It wasn't just a disgusting display of sycophantism. It was almost a case of "the lady doth protest too much, methinks." It seemed like he was trying to convince B*sh, and everyone else, that he's not one of those proverbial rats deserting a sinking ship. I have to think that, maybe, it's because that's what he really is.

[AlCzervik]

16. Gannon coming out with a tell all including pics?

[demgrrrll]

17. Did Blumenthal write "a flea on the windsheild of history?" or something

equally snarky about Snotty? That's my take. He is the ultimate disposable Bushman. My hunch is that he is leaving because he wants to get out before the sh*t really hits the fan.

[newsguyatl]

18. all i know is, that

scotty was about as nervous as i've ever seen him when he was in the rose garden with dim son announcing his "resignation."

[Dr Fate]

19. Swingvoter: "John who?"

What are Democrats saying about this on TV?