James Jones stepping down as National Security Advisor

National Security Advisor James Jones is retiring. The next in line is Tom Donilon, Jones’ deputy. Officials haven’t left the White House in this quick a fashion since Watergate. Rahm Emanuel was a high profile person to quit. He left to run for Mayor of Chicago. Other rumors are beginning to persist. According to the grapevine, Obama plans to replace Vice President Joe Biden with Hillary Clinton.

The retirement of James Jones

There had been a recent announcement about James Jones. He can be retiring. The Los Angeles Times reports that he will serve via the rest of October. Jones can be exchanged by Tom Donilon, the Deputy National Security Advisor. Donilon has plenty of experience. He kept the position of chief of staff under Warren Christopher. Christopher worked under President Clinton as Secretary of State. He then worked for Obama as the 3rd president to work under. Since General James Jones had already had a long career, he only prepared on working for two years. Jones was formerly the Marine Corps Commandant and commander of NATO. In fact, Jones didn’t want the position. He didn’t want to be National Security Advisor. He was also a chief architect of the Afghan surge strategy presently being implemented.

Exodus of officials

CNN reports that officials keep leaving the Obama administration. Mayor of Chicago is what Rahm Emanuel hopes to get the spot as. Mayor Daley is retiring which is a great opportunity. Other senior staff, such as adviser David Axelrod and economic adviser Larry Summers have left as well. A rumor of one more is going around. Joe Biden may step down. Rampant speculation has begun that President Obama will replace him with Hillary Clinton before the 2012 election, though the White House denies it so far.

Musical chairs in the White House

all of the staff within the White House seem to be resigning. Whether it is simply a coincidence remains to be seen. There have been other presidents that had large comings and goings of staff before.

Citations

CNN

cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/06/obama.clinton/index.html

CNN

cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/10/08/obama.jones.replacement/

LA Times

latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-1009-national-security-advisor-20101009,,7588107.story