If the Bush was anxious to keep his first-term team largely intact, there’s some wide-spread disappointment at the White House this week. Six cabinet officials have resigned since the election, and there’s indications that three more are about to do the same.
Tom Ridge, for example, who’s been hinting at a resignation for several months, reportedly has one foot out the door. Transportation’s Norm Mineta, the cabinet’s only Democrat, is also reportedly prepared to go.
The third possibility is a little more complicated. HHS’s Tommy Thompson is also rumored to be ready to leave his post, and when asked by reporters this week about his future, Thompson repeatedly dodged questions.
But Thompson may want out at HHS while staying in Bush’s cabinet. The Dallas Morning News said Thompson might want to replace Mineta at Transportation, while the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said he might be eyeing DHS.
As things stand, Thompson’s buddies are saying that if he stays with Bush, he would like to do so as head of the Department of Homeland Security, now led by Tom Ridge, who is said to be on the way out.
“If he were to stay in government, what’s a bigger nugget than that?” asked a second Thompson buddy. “He’s thoroughly enjoyed the HHS stuff. But could you imagine how he’d feel putting the country on red alert? Geez, it’d be seventh heaven.”
Just what America needs — someone who enjoys raising the terror alert level.
Stay tuned.