Today, David Brooks told Bob Schieffer on "Face the Nation" that Bush was replacing Andy Card because Bush was frustrated by Card's unwillingness to pass information to the President's desk.
Huh?
Maybe someone will explain this to me, since I seem to have missed out on some part of the information dissemination (or "spreading the propaganda around," as Bush would say). On Monday, Card resigned, quoting Ecclesiasties and The Byrds about "a new season." The New York Times and other papers reported that Card had notified Bush of his intention to leave a few weeks ago. Pundits cited a few weeks worth of rumblings about White House staff changes and asked, "Is that all there is?" We were all hoping for something a little more... meaningful.
But now, at the end of the week, Bush is taking credit for making the change, and his mindless mouthpieces are blaming Card for not passing upward knowledge of the Katrina disaster.
Did I say that right?
In reading a backward look at Andy Card's White House service, I was reminded that Card was involved in compiling for Bush a DVD of news stories about the unfolding (or, by then, UNFOLDED) disaster in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast. This finally brought Bush's attention to the dire situation.
Thank you, Mr. Card.
By the way, it's not quite a new season yet. The 2006 hurricane season starts on June 1. Who will make the DVD for Bush this time?