Townsend: Bolton's Labor Day resignation deadline is "an urban myth" - never communicated to her

[sabra]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/71333

<snip>

The White House announced Monday that Townsend will be stepping down in January after four and a half years as the president's chief adviser on homeland security and counterterrorism issues. The move is the latest in a wave of administration resignations over the past few months that have included political adviser Karl Rove, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Dan Bartlett, counselor to the president—and, most recently, Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes. Townsend's exit took some officials by surprise—if only because Chief of Staff Josh Bolten was widely reported to have given the entire White House staff a strict edict a few months ago: either resign by Labor Day or stay on until the president's term expires in January 2009.

But Townsend, 45, with two children, ages 6 and 12, called Bolton's edict "an urban myth" and said that it was never communicated to her. In any case, she said, "my job doesn't lend itself to artificial deadlines." In fact, she added, she had been discussing her resignation with Bolten and President Bush for some time, and she concluded that now was the best moment for her to announce it. After 23 years in public service—including a lengthy stint as a federal prosecutor and then as a top counterterrorism adviser in Janet Reno's Justice Department—Townsend said she now wants to pursue opportunities "in the private sector," most likely in a job performing "global risk" assessments for financial services companies or other international businesses.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118698747711695773.html

<snip>

Mr. Rove, who has held senior posts in the White House since Mr. Bush took office in January 2001, told Mr. Gigot he first floated the idea of leaving a year ago. But he delayed his departure as, first, Democrats took Congress, and then as the White House tackled debates on immigration and Iraq, he said. He said he decided to leave after White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten told senior aides that if they stayed past Labor Day they would be obliged to remain through the end of the president's term in January 2009.

[soothsayer]

1. Well, it's a toss up as to who the bigger liar is, but Rove surely could have made that up

That's his whole THING after all.

[sabra]

2. Rove a liar - no way!?!

:sarcasm:

[tanyev]

3. Lies pour out of his mouth as automatic as breathing.

Telling the truth would take a great deal of effort and concentration on his part.

[hedgehog]

4. How was Bolton planning on enforcing his Labor Day deadline?

Was he going to fire people who quit later on?

[sabra]

5. give them a bad recommendation for their k-street gig

:sarcasm: