Since I wrote yesterday’s article on trust, it is becoming widely apparent that Cheney’s staff managed most, if not all, of the press on this incident independently from Bush’s staff. Articles such as the New York Times’ Handling of Mishap Creates Strain in the White House have the details.
The disconnect between Bush’s and Cheney’s staffs brings up some interesting questions. If the president is in charge, why does he tolerate a subordinate who operates outside the boundaries of expected behavior? What power does the president have to discipline or demand performance from the vice president? Can the president fire the vice president, or is he pretty much stuck with his assistant unless a law is broken and congress impeaches?
