Dead Drop: February 17

MIKE, WE HARDLY KNEW YE: In a world where the President’s counselor says he has “full confidence” in his national security advisor at 4:12 PM, an hour later his press secretary says the guy is under review, and three hours later the man is gone –it is very hard to publish a weekly column. For all we know, while we were typing the previous sentence, Mike Flynn has been rehired. What can be learned from the Flynn flap?  Presume every phone call you make is being transcribed somewhere. Presume folks you have previously offended will not be able to resist leaking and spinning what was in your calls.  And, no matter how big you get, remember you will still fit under a bus.

SECOND CASUALTY: All the attention Monday night and into Tuesday was focused on the departure of Mike Flynn after a fun-filled 24 days as National Security Advisor.  But spare a thought for his deputy, K.T. McFarland – late of Fox News.  When the White House announced Flynn’s exit – they also announced that retired Lt Gen. Keith Kellogg would be the acting National Security Advisor until a permanent replacement could be identified. But Kellogg had been the executive secretary of the NSC – at best #3.  What about McFarland who was – and at last report is— #2?  It is pretty clear that getting passed over as “acting” was a vote of no confidence.  Dead Drop sources tell us McFarland will be departing soon – perhaps under the cover of the new appointee being giving the option of bringing in his own deputy. The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, however, that McFarland “wants to and has been asked to remain as deputy..”  Color us unconvinced.