Ben Smith takes a stab:
Smith has some statements and analysis that back up his theory, but I’m dubious. The Iran issue is blowing up and Ross is nowhere to be found. It’s not clear what responsibilities he will have in his new job, which means he hasn’t been moved to take on any particular problem but will be part of a team at the White House. And when something looks bad, it usually is bad. Smith quotes Mike Allen: “With proximity comes power. Ross could soon be running Middle East policy, as he will have the president’s ear on a daily basis.” Right, but how many members of this administration have claimed they’ll have the president’s ear on major policy issues only to end up as marginal figures? Biden and Jones come to mind. If Ross didn’t have the president’s ear before, my guess is that moving to the White House is unlikely to change things.
