Reply #47: Very simple

[alcibiades_mystery]

After Vilsack gives instructions to shitcan Sherrod, he tells the undersecty to inform the WH contact, which he or she does. "Hey, Big V already told me to shitcan the party involved, so no worries on your side." The WH contact says "Whew. Well, glad that's handled, and thanks for doing it so quick. One less thing on my desk, har har." Undersecty takes that as a signal to say the WH approves, and that he or she will get brownie points with WH if the shit happens sooner rather than later, thus the three phone calls and the supposed statement that WH agrees. For both the WH contact person and USDA undersecretary, there are little, minor, personal motivations (get shit off one's desk, look good to others, etc.). This is how stuff really happens in organizations, not these grand plots and other nonsense.