Kerik *is* ker-plunk!

Hey, I am on a roll! First Principi, now Kerik (which I called a few days ago, even if I wasn't specific on the timetable).

The word around the blog campfires is that Kerik had a "Nanny Problem" (which refers to a growing number of nominees, starting with Zoe Baird, that allegedly got pulled because they retained the services of illegal immigrant nannies). This may certainly be the case, but I agree with most of the blogs out there in that there is more to this. Josh Marshall put it best in citing multiple little brewing scandals and thinks that Bush was just not willing to go to the mat for a nominee that wasn't his idea in the first place (a thought that is strengthened in the latest reporting). Kevin Drum agrees, and takes it a step further:

Here's what's amusing: apparently nanny problems are now so common and well accepted that they've become a standard excuse to cover up more serious offenses. Heck, it almost makes you a martyr, since the chattering classes unanimously agree that nanny issues are trivial — it's just so hard to find good help these days — and are used mostly as political payback anyway.

Remember that the next time you think the cops are closing in on you for selling secrets to the Russians or something. Just confess to a nanny problem! Everyone will believe you, the cops will suddenly understand why you've been acting shifty, and you might even get some sympathy in the bargain. It's perfect!

That's pretty funny, but I also find humor in crap like this:

Kerik informed Bush of his decision in a phone call about 8:30 p.m.

The White House later issued a statement saying the president "respects his decision and wishes Commissioner Kerik and his wife, Hala, well."

Translation:

Bush said to Kerik: "Your report stinks like a week-old mackeral left out in the sun... do you want to help a brother out and withdraw on a Friday, or do you want to make it hard on the both of us and do it during the week when the media can really cook us?"

Kerik to Bush: "Uhhhh... Rudy tells me to withdraw now."

Bush to Kerik: "I respect you decision... don't let the Secret Service pummel you on the way out the door."