Firm fist: Kelly signals he intends to get White House in order

It would appear that some much needed order is finally being implemented inside 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Enter retired Marine Gen. John F. Kelly.

The decision to ax Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci just 10 days into his tenure after he -- having promised to root out leaks and get a wrangle on the "fake media" -- contacted a reporter and launched into an expletive-laden tirade bashing members of the senior White House staff, was reported to be Kelly's.

The general wasted no time. And his decisiveness in firing Scaramucci is a welcome sign. The president's inability, so far, to implement his promises from the campaign has been a point of consternation for his reluctant party, and has given the left-leaning media and late-night comedians plenty of fodder.

But no one is laughing at the increasing nuclear capability of North Korea to launch and maneuver ballistic missiles. Nor at it's recently reported "abnormal submarine" activity.

If the president is going to hold North Korea in check, gain any traction on dismantling Obamacare -- as he continues to vow he will do despite setback after setback -- or if he is going to find a way out of the rabbit hole that is the Russian collusion investigation, he is going to need to first get his own house in order.

And while none of those issues can be resolved with a barrage of tweets that each land with a thud, maybe the firm fist of his new chief of staff pounding soundly on his desk is the cadence the president needs to hear to get his troops in line.

Published in Editorials on August 1, 2017 10:17 PM