No not that one. The other one....no that other one. The taller guy:
- William Daley is stepping down as White House chief of staff and budget director Jack Lew is taking over the President Obama’s team as it heads into a tough election year, senior administration officials say.
Daley gave his letter of resignation to the president in a private meeting in the Oval Office last week, recounting the administration's successes of his one year on the job and saying it was time for him to return to his hometown of Chicago.
President Obama made the news official this afternoon in a brief appearance in the state dining room of the White House, where he told reporters in somber tones that he is sorry to see Daley leave.
Speculation abounds:
- Daley doesn't associate with losers. Obama is headed into a tough reelection;
- Obama and his team realize the Chicago connections are more of a liability than an asset now, especially with Chicago being run by Rahm and circling the proverbial toilet;
- Damage control - maybe a Daley or someone close to them is about to get indicted and having Bill Daley in the White House might be a bit of a distraction.
Personally, we're hoping for option #3.