So long, toadie

For some time there have been rumors of a shake up in the White House. When Chief of Staff Andrew Card stepped down recently, it was assumed there would be several colleagues close behind him. Today the purges continued.

In nearly three years as White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan lied, defended, and ducked at every turn.

He picked fights with journalists, often getting schooled by a woman in her eighties. But perhaps his most remarkable achievement was almost making America forget what a jerk his predecessor was.

In his resignation statement McClellan offered all the typical "honor to serve" and "excited about beginning the next chapter" pablum that one expects.
Bush responded to the trite boilerplate in kind.

"I thank Scott for his service to our country," Bush told reporters outside the White House."It's going to be hard to replace Scott. But nevertheless he has made the decision, and I accept it."

"I don't know whether or not the press corps realizes it, but his is a challenging assignment dealing with you all on a regular basis, and I thought he handled his assignment with class, integrity," the president said.

McClellan didn't specify any plans beyond heading back to his native Texas, where he and President Bush first met. Maybe he'll go to work on his mommy's campaign for governor.