Isn't it awfully early in Bushco's 2nd term for so many prominent Admin officlas to jump ship?

[saracat]

I know the meme is that this is not unusual but I always thought the mass exodus took place in the 2nd part of the lame duck admin not first.And isn't it odd that Rove is leaving yet Gonzo is yet to resign?

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Well his press secretary is not surprising

the man should spend whatever is left of his life with the family

Snow is not healthy

As to Turd Blossom

Well the turds are hitting the fan... and they know it

Perhaps his egg hatched (Hatch act violations) and the only way to try to protect themselves
is disntace

[soothsayer]

2. rove must be the canary in a coal mine

[BOSSHOG]

3. One possibility

1 October 2007 starts the next (2008) fiscal year (and bush's last fiscal year in office.) A rational human being could relate to that reason; don't want politicos changing jobs in the midst of a money year.

But with bush I think it is fair to say that people around him want to get as far away from the cancer as possible if they think they have any hope of a future in politics.

[northzax]

4. no, it's pretty standard to white house officials

with 16 months to go. this is the time to leave, if you are going to before 2009

[Igel]

5. NPR reported that there was a deadline:

If you're there the day after Labor Day, the expectation would be that you'd be there 1/19/09.

Seems not an unreasonable condition--as your lame-duckitude increases, you'd want less and less instability in your staff. Well, less instability as to the names on the staff roster.