It doesn't follow, however, that team Bush should have fought for Ms. Chavez's nomination. Bush has nothing to gain from any fight over the personal probity of a nominee. Brutal as it sounds, he has no stake in Ms. Chavez's reputation. Loyalty to the troops is commendable, but it isn't always smart. Presidents can't buy the loyalty of their subordinates by offering loyalty in return and they can't afford to try.
Leaders win loyalty by leading in a direction people want to follow.
When a subordinate's conduct gives rise to political difficulties, cutting him loose is usually the better part of valor. The only loyalty Mr. Bush needs to show is to his own agenda. Where his people are attacked, not for some real or imaginary misconduct but for their conservative ideas, Bush must stand and fight or watch his presidency dissolve into mushy futility. So far, there is no reason to suppose that Bush won't hang tough when he has good reason to. With John Ashcroft and Gail Norton, Bush has every reason to hang tough.