We think we know why Nixon’s so angry – after sitting on a major political crisis for weeks, only one of his lackeys came forward to take the blame. Such disloyalty! Now Nixon is volunteering scapegoats.
Templeton is already being singled out. Nixon has accused him of sending “false information” to the Governor’s office - part of Nixon’s new story, where he’s the victim of his scurrilous appointees. It seems implausible that Jeff Mazur and Joe Bindbeutel wouldn’t be involved in any imaginary plot that also involves Templeton.
Separating them from the crisis is an intractable problem for Nixon, so they’re being set up to take the fall. And things have reached the stage where your average run of the mill “throwing under the bus” won’t do – Nixon is going to ruin these guys.
Here's the rub: you can't run your pals out of their profession and rub their reputations in the mud without any consequences. If he gives Jeff Mazur the boot, he no longer has any incentive to stay quiet. We saw the same thing with Susanne Medley, although her reasons for leaving aren't yet clear.
Jeff Mazur's political connections make a big problem into a bigger one. He has a long background working for the AFL CIO - not a negligible political quantity - not to mention his long standing as a Fired Up! blogger. His wife used to be Robin Carnahan's chief of staff, and is now the campaign manager for her Senate bid. Mazur's political connections makes crossing him a tricky proposition.
A guy like Mazur won't be willing to walk quietly into the night.
But what other choice does Nixon have?
His administration is dead in the water if he can't scapegoat someone, but if he does it, there's no reason to think they'll keep quiet. The same self interest that drove them to work in his Administration, and go along with his cover-up, will drive them to turn against him.
Two people in particular will be targets: Jeff Mazur and (once again) Joe Bindbeutel.
Templeton is already being singled out. Nixon has accused him of sending “false information” to the Governor’s office - part of Nixon’s new story, where he’s the victim of his scurrilous appointees. It seems implausible that Jeff Mazur and Joe Bindbeutel wouldn’t be involved in any imaginary plot that also involves Templeton.
Separating them from the crisis is an intractable problem for Nixon, so they’re being set up to take the fall. And things have reached the stage where your average run of the mill “throwing under the bus” won’t do – Nixon is going to ruin these guys.
Here's the rub: you can't run your pals out of their profession and rub their reputations in the mud without any consequences. If he gives Jeff Mazur the boot, he no longer has any incentive to stay quiet. We saw the same thing with Susanne Medley, although her reasons for leaving aren't yet clear.
Jeff Mazur's political connections make a big problem into a bigger one. He has a long background working for the AFL CIO - not a negligible political quantity - not to mention his long standing as a Fired Up! blogger. His wife used to be Robin Carnahan's chief of staff, and is now the campaign manager for her Senate bid. Mazur's political connections makes crossing him a tricky proposition.
A guy like Mazur won't be willing to walk quietly into the night.
But what other choice does Nixon have?
His administration is dead in the water if he can't scapegoat someone, but if he does it, there's no reason to think they'll keep quiet. The same self interest that drove them to work in his Administration, and go along with his cover-up, will drive them to turn against him.
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