Re:

and in keeping with the conversation from yesterday, those who put you in your job are supposed to get loyalty in return? loyalty often comes with a beating

At the very least, you are not supposed to trash the person who put you in your job. Loyalty is the expectation, but not stabbing in the back is the bare minimum.

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That was good advice... Here, friend doesn't really describe the relationship. I think that is another reason why BB is not thrilled with the idea.

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One of my colleagues described the relationship this way: like a race car driver to a fan belt. The fan belt is critical to the race car driver's needs and he can't exist as a race car driver without it. But, eventually, every fan belt gets worn out and breaks, and the driver throws it out, replaces it with a new fan belt, and gets back in the car.

Cold---your "colleagues " ignore the fact most fan belts are indistinguishable from one another - not appropriate in this case

That is part of his point -- that with Presidents, we are fungible.

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The choice:

(1) I decline the job soon and the press will report that I was his first choice but I declined for personal/timing reasons.

(2) I say I will do it knowing that there will be significant personal/financial/reputational costs because I like a good fight, I am loyal, and I am the best person for the job.