Trump card?

Recently, people like Fred Barnes started talking about how President Bush could have a proverbial “third term” if there was a major staff shakeup. The thinking went that a new crew might lead the media and others to give Mr. Bush a relatively fresh start.

Now we get to see if the theory holds true. Andrew Card – the most powerful man in the executive branch to have not been elected by voters – is out and Josh Bolton, former Budget Director, is the new White House Chief of Staff.

Frankly, for an administration so closely wed to the notion of loyalty, I am stunned that Mr. Bush would hatchet his chief of staff, who has been with him all five years. And I also have some trouble seeing someone like Mr. Card voluntarily resigning. This is a man who worked in the Reagan administration as well as the first Bush administration.

But that is all in the past now. The question before us today is just how much of a fresh start the media is willing to grant Mr. Bush with Mr. Bolton now running the White House.