Why all the * resignations? Were they fired, they hate *, or do they know

[Verve]

about the vote fraud? Maybe they don't want to be connected to Shrub when it comes out he rigged the votes? Insight anyone?

[mattclearing]

1. I dunno...

But I'm willing to bet some of them will talk.

[imax2268]

2. I'm wondering the same thing...

Powell, Ridge...I can't remember who else...but it does seem funny that they are all getting off the ship...what's going to happen...???

Do they know something that the rest of the country doesn't...???

[donhakman]

5. I learned two weeks ago

that Ridge and Tommy Thompson were on their way out.

[Verve]

8. There's like seven or eight resignations. Ashcroft, Agriculture head,,

the Education head, ...Excuse me but I don't know all of them. But it is very interesting. What do they know?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[fertilizeonarbusto]

4. They know the shit is hitting the fan

and want to get out of the way. Look, folks, NOBODY is so slick they can get away with all these people have done. They will run out of luck, or go too far on something or piss off the person they shouldn't have or just fuck up one too many times and they'll pay for ALL OF IT because as soon as they are perceived to be weak, all the people that bear them a grudge will come back for theirs, knives in hand. I'd get out of the way too.

[aquart]

6. This is a pretty standard shakeout.

It's an excellent moment to capitalize on inside knowledge and start making all that REAL money.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

10. Way too many for just a shakeout, IMHO

Wait for the barrage of shoes that's about to drop.
And put your money in Euros and gold.

[Straight Shooter]

7. I don't think they even care about the tainted election.

They just want to get away from bush and his imperious attitude.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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[rfranklin]

12. Just wait for all the plane crashes and "suicides"

There won't be anything serious coming out.

[signmike]

11. Are these all 'appointment' positions?

if so, maybe the people Bush is replacing them with are so scary he couldn't have let on before Nov 2.

[Done]

13. Let's see how much money they make in the private sector.

[The empressof all]

14. This is not so unusual

Many two term presidents have changes in cabinet during the second term. I don't think we need to read anything into this. Most of these folks who take these jobs anyway don't want to be out of the private sector too long-It's a big hit to their wallets.

[Yupster]

20. It's unusual that the cabinet has had

so few changes the first term.

Cabinet members rarely serve four years.

It's a tough pretty thankless job and you give up big bucks to do it.

This Gutierrez guy made $ 7 million last year. He'll make $ 177,000 as Secretary of Commerce. People won't do that for too many years.

[Dulcinea]

15. Powell said a long time ago he wouldn't return if Bush did.

eom

[Ima]

16. I really hate to

even imagine this, but do they know of future * plans that they don't want to be associated with.

[onenote]

17. nothing unusual

Its pretty standard for there to be a cabinet shakeout at the beginning of a second term. Lots of different motivations -- cashing out, more time with family, political ambition, etc. I don't think there is much difference in what's going on now than in what happened after Pres Clinton was re-elected. For a sense of all the activity in 1996, check
http://www-cgi.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/candidates/cabi...

The internal links don't seem to work, but the headline listing gives a sense of the changeover.

onenote

[Stinky The Clown]

18. I don't usually like "nothing to see here. Move along" but in this case

there really is nothing to see.

Every reelected pres sees a major cabinet change. Clinton, the last **elected** president, had 7 (IIRC).

[Selwynn]

19. This is very common in second presidential administrations...

I wish it were some sign of something serious - but its not.