R strategist Rick Wilson (on Chris Hayes) said Bannon was ousted because

[Ilsa]

his plan to use Cohen-Watnick and Nunes as a patsy failed and exposed the WH to additional scrutiny. The "adults" on the NSC said, "He goes or we go," because he isn't worthy of receiving highly classified information.

[jberryhill]

1. That makes the most sense

I wonder who it was that convinced Trump that Bannon's "genius plan" was stupid.

[monmouth4]

3. I would speculate Jared. He's the man these days..n/t

[MedusaX]

4. I think Jared was 'enlightened'

by the Chairman of the JCoS while visiting Iraq...

Lots of opportunity to receive advice .... and possibly some encouragement to share this new found enlightenment with 45 ...

[Alice11111]

20. All major newspapers, said the generals said, it's him or us.

Kushner is w the globalist faction, while Bannon is w the nationalists. DT was of course a nationalist as a candidate, but seems to be transitioning, probably in response to his poll numbers. This is good, or at least better.
Bannon threatening to leave is good news. He wasn't on the plane to Mar o Lago.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Plauseable

deniability. Following Roger Stone Nixon Play Book. Scrutiny,huh.

[wishstar]

5. Bannon/Cohen-Watnick's stunt of politicizing intelligence is contrary to aim of NSC

Media has failed to appropriately raise issue of inappropriateness of WH staffers on NSC searching through and leaking classified intel with the clear intent of impeding and disrupting Congressional investigation. Nunes himself said the WH intel did not involve Russia, was collected legally, names had been masked (although he could figure out their identities) and there was nothing important there.

I wonder if Flynn flunky Cohen-Watnick is gone or going from NSC as McMaster had wanted earlier esp. since reports claim McMaster had told Cohen-Watnick to lay off the unmasking research but instead he continued orchestrating the Nunes circus ending with unfounded leaked accusation about Rice.

[Ilsa]

6. 45 will have a day of reckoning soon, I bet.

He'll have to choose between keeping the traitors on, or lose his national security experts.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Your point re: Cohen-Watnick searching/leaking need more visibility. Thanks. . . . nt

[NoMoreRepugs]

7. If Bannon is one of the smart guys in the room

with Rump and this lame brained scheme was the best he could come up with there may not b enough popcorn to go around as this clown car continues to breakdown

[hatrack]

9. But isn't President Bannon keeping a Top Secret clearance?

That's what the earlier reports stated.

[2naSalit]

11. As long as he doesn't have access...

I suspect there are additional clearances that go with being on the council or whatever it's called. I would hope he exits the scene soon. I vote for giving him permanent residence on Bikini Atoll and not allow any kind of boat or aircraft near the place so he can't leave.

[Ilsa]

17. I just heard on L.O'D. Yes, you are correct.

NYT says bannon threatened to quit and leave WH.

[haele]

19. Bannon's always been like that.

If the personification of the 7 Deadly Sins is not in charge or can't make himself the power behind a throne, he takes his ball and goes home.

Haele

[Drahthaardogs]

22. Too Secret does not mean you get to casually flip through anything

That might interest you. You are only cleared for what you need to know. He will be cut off to some degree

[williesgirl]

10. He'll probably still get classified stuff, just now from his boss!

[LiberalLovinLug]

21. No doubt

It changes nothing in regards to Bannon being out of the loop.

[zentrum]

12. Wish it was a worse

...reason. Real corruption or something. Wish we had the goods on this bad guy.

[calimary]

13. I knew it!

I knew that the Ezra Cohen-Watnick affair helped blow things up. It starts when you're named the department head, but you can't hire the people you want. REALLY makes you feel shitty about the job and the responsibilities that come with it - that have been denied you. That's a HUGE slap-in-the-face. When it happened to me, it wasn't public all over every set of airwaves and every front page in the country, like McMaster's had to deal with.

But it's a serious destabilizer for a new department head, as McMaster was/is. A real insult from the guy who gave you that job. Now he's not gonna let you DO that job? McMaster was shamed in front of the country, if not the world - because Bannon and Kushner overruled his decision to get rid of Ezra the Artificially Self-Important Pipsqueak. And their collective boss, the so-called pResident, sided with THEM over him. VERY demoralizing for a department head. I'd want out, too, and threaten as much, if I didn't get full autonomy over my department. So I suspect it WAS a "him or me" ultimatum he gave to trump. Anybody in his position, an active-duty general, who demands respect and obedience from his troops, and knows his credibility can be a life-or-death matter to them all, would not allow that loud public snub to stand.

I'd bet there absolutely was an ultimatum. McMaster probably knows he can't command this department when his credibility has been savaged.

[mwooldri]

14. I actually prefer Andy Borowitz's explanation...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028897769

[Marie Marie]

15. ...

[Ilsa]

16. Yes, that was hysterical! Great Borowitz! NT

[enid602]

18. night

Night of Long Knives?

[Ilsa]

24. Seems like it a bit, doesn't it? nt

B

[JI7]

23. this makes more sense than any of the other crap they put out

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. President Bannon attended NSC meeting today by invitation, just not as a principal w automatic seat.