White House Budget Director Steps Down Tue  May 6, 200311:45 AM ET By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House budget director Mitch Daniels, dubbed "the Blade" by President Bush for his budget-cutting zeal, announced his resignation on Tuesday, completing a reshuffling of the administration's economic team.
As head of the Office of Management and Budget since January 2001, Daniels oversaw a federal budget that went from surpluses to record deficits. His tenure was also marked by pitched battles with both Republicans and Democrats over the administration's tax and spending priorities.
With his departure, said White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer, "The demons of bad economic news have been sacrificed to, and we hope they are happy."  When asked whether he was using 'sacrificed' metaphorically, Fleischer replied "Look, if you want to daub the blood of the victim on the lintels of the doors in the West Wing, metaphor only takes you so far.  The Gods were angry.  They demanded their approximately 175 pounds of flesh, and they got it.  Plus two pounds of cotton, linen, and wool, and a few ounces of shoe leather --  which, let me tell you, does not go through a shredder easily.  So we expect some good news real soon.  Besides, he had insurance."
	Seventy-Six Words of Explanation:  Each piece starts with a line or two from an actual news item from an actual, usually reputable, news organization, which I attempt to cite properly.  That part is in bold.  The rest is the way the piece would have run if the world had been more like the inside of my head.  It is not the fault of the news organization cited; please do not blame them.  Blame me.  Go ahead.Seventy-Six Words of Explanation:  Each piece starts with a line or two from an actual news item from an actual, usually reputable, news organization, which I attempt to cite properly.  That part is in bold.  The rest is the way the piece would have run if the world had been more like the inside of my head.  It is not the fault of the news organization cited; please do not blame them.  Blame me.  Go ahead.