Daley Quits As Obama’s Chief Of Staff - Lew Trots In From The Bullpen

Daley Quits As Obama’s Chief Of Staff - Lew Trots In From The Bullpen



By Dell Hill

When a minor league baseball player gets called up to the majors to replace an injured star they say “he was up for a cup of coffee”.  That’s exactly the position William Daley finds himself today - his one year stint as Barack Obama’s chief of staff is over.

The L.A. Times reports:

“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.


White House Chief of Staff William Daley, left, confers with White House Press Secretary Jay Carney as President Barack Obama addresses the media in the briefing room of the White House. (Win McNamee/Getty Images / December 8, 2011)

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.

"There's no question I will deeply miss having Bill at my side here at the White House," Obama said.  "But Chicago is only a phone call away."

After accepting Daley's resignation last week, the president said, he asked for advice on a replacement.  "He told me there was one clear choice," Obama said, "and I believe he's right."

Lew was the first and only choice for the job, aides to the president say.

The official shift will take place at the end of the month, giving Lew time to complete the administration’s budget proposal while Daley leads the team through the crafting of the State of the Union address due in two weeks.”

Dell’s Bottom Line:

There’s going to be a budget?

I hope it’s a bit more creditable than the last one submitted to congress by this president.  That one went down to defeat in the Democrat controlled senate 97-0 with three Senators not voting.