AP: Bush builds Bolten-proof firewall around his "invaluable" brain, Rove

Loyalty is so frigging touching, especially when criminals are loyal to each other.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060415/ap_on_go_pr_wh/white_house_changing_of_guard



WASHINGTON - President Bush traded an early bird for a night owl. Incoming White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten has been joking with his new boss all week about his known dislike for the super-early work hours for which outgoing chief Andy Card was famous. After rising at 4:15 a.m. Thursday to join nearly 200 staff members for a surprise greeting of Card upon his usual pre-dawn White House arrival, Bolten joked that he wasn't likely to see that hour again unless he had stayed up all night. And though Bolten promised Bush, an early riser himself, that he would beat him to the Oval Office every day, Bolten said it would only be by minutes — not hours as was Card's practice.

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With the White House buffeted by criticism that it has been slow to deal with — or even recognize — crises, Bush chose Bolten nearly three weeks ago to help reinvigorate his administration. Republicans and Democrats alike have called for policy changes and fresh faces in the White House staff, and Bolten was expected to deliver — quickly.

Administration officials say he has the flexibility to make big personnel moves. The first announcements could come early next week, focused on who will fill key vacancies — such as Bolten's old job as budget director and a new domestic policy adviser to replace Claude Allen, who left in February before being charged with theft in suburban Montgomery County, Md.

Other changes could follow soon after. Republicans close to the White House anticipate adjustments in Bush's congressional relations, communications and economic teams. There appeared to be a firewall around political operations, led by deputy chief of staff Karl Rove, who is invaluable to Bush and close to Bolten.

Except for Ceaser Disgustus. That sunuvabitch owes his employers MANY hours of missed work.

...think of Bolten as "The Bobs"...a hatchet man brought in to clean house, but ONLY in a superficial way that will give the ILLUSION that Bush is "responding" to demands from his own party that he bring in "new blood."

Bolten is in charge of the dog 'n' pony show...nothing more, nothing less.

So yeah...he doesn't have to play the martyr card like his predecessor. He can fire Scott McClellan at 6:00 AM or 9:00 AM. Either way, McClellan...and John Snow, and the rest of the Bush Administration Sacrificial Lambs...are toast.

Of course, Bush's "base"...and Mr. and Mrs. Middle America...won't even come close to pondering what I've just laid out here. They'll buy the "catapulted propaganda" about Bush taking charge, being a leader, etc. etc. etc.

Sad and pathetic, all at the same time.