Dan Barlett's leaving the psycho's administration "to spend more time with his family."

[in_cog_ni_to]

One more to leave before the ship sinks completely. What should we make of this?

[napi21]

1. Yea, sure he is. I bet if you look eal close, you'll see him eying that life raft

floating just outside the WH fence!

Boy, I sure hope whoever it was that thought up this excuse "spend more time with his family" excuse is getting royalties on his idea! He must be a VERY WEALTHY guy by now!

[mchill]

3. I wonder how many are leaving that we don't even hear about

My nephew was head of the RNC in Boulder County. He quit a month or so ago and left the country. He had his nose in all sorts of election law issues at the local level. (He's related by blood only).

[napi21]

6. I'm positive there have been a LOT of bailers, but if they aren't

big time position holders or well known names, we simply never hear about them. I still find it extremely amusing that Shrub has been having a terrible time filling any open spots too! Nobody wants to work for him! The most recent was the war czar" spot. I understand the job was offered to 5 different people before someone finally said OK.

[Giant Robot]

2. "Spend more time with his family"

Prior to his trial and prison sentence.

[damntexdem]

4. More time with his 'family'? Will he sing Soprano?

[Renew Deal]

5. It means we are within 2 weeks of a scandal breaking.

They's their MO.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Karl's been linked directly with getting a Democratic Governor indicted

Rove Linked to Prosecution of Ex- Alabama Governor

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1627427,00.html?xid=rss-nation

Rove Linked to Prosecution of Ex- Alabama Governor
Friday, Jun. 01, 2007 By ADAM ZAGORIN/WASHINGTON

In the rough and tumble of Alabama politics, the scramble for power is often a blood sport. At the moment, the state's former Democratic governor, Don Siegelman, stands convicted of bribery and conspiracy charges and faces a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. Siegelman has long claimed that his prosecution was driven by politically motivated, Republican-appointed U.S. attorneys.

Now Karl Rove, the President's top political strategist, has been implicated in the controversy. A longtime Republican lawyer in Alabama swears she heard a top GOP operative in the state say that Rove "had spoken with the Department of Justice" about "pursuing" Siegelman, with help from two of Alabama's U.S. attorneys.

[Blackhatjack]

7. And he is leaving without a replacement to step in, like he did for Card....

that should tell us a lot.

It could fortell something big is on the horizon.

This is all about 'distancing' between Bartlett and the White House.

[eek]

9. Question about legal strategy

Hi - being no expert at all on what-means-what in the world of political legal strategy, could anyone enlighten me as to implications of Bartlett's (and other White House) resignation?

Does it affect supoenability?
Does it change accountability/
Privilege?
Who pays the lawyers?

That sorta stuff.

ps: I'm sooo sure someone as close to bush as was Bartlett would resign so abruptly that there was no replacement on deck.
rrright.

[napi21]

11. It does not affect his ability to be subpoenaed, certainly does NOT

affect his accountability. As far as I know, he cannot claim privilege after leaving his job in the WH, and he would have the responsibility to pay for his own lawyers, unless of course someone volunteers pro-bono services, or the RNC decides they will foot the bill as long as he doesn't fry anyone important.
It's difficult to speculate why he's really leaving, or what he will say under oath in the future. Interesting things happen when someone is personally threatened you know.

[eek]

12. same question about other family-time-spenders

like Ari Feltcher, Karen Hughes etc etc

[napi21]

13. Same answers apply. Remember Ari was subpoenaed by

Fitz in the Libby trial. BTW, Karen is still actively employed by the WH! We just don't hear much about her activities any more!

[bobthedrummer]

10. WHat to do? Try this "A DU criminal investigation thread: Bush's White House Staff"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1020760