This is CNN citing an anonymous source they call “a friend” of retired Vice Admiral and Trump nominee Bob Harward, on his feelings about the offer to be Trump’s National Security Adviser, and his reason for turning it down.

A friend of Harward’s said he was reluctant to take the job because the White House seems so chaotic. Harward called the offer a “s*** sandwich,” the friend said.

I’ll tell you this, that’s exactly the way military folks talk. And isn’t is amazing how Trump really emphasized today in his presser that his operation is a “well-oiled machine”? Almost like he was trying to get in front of something, don’t you think?

CNN had Ret. Army Maj. Gen. James “Spider” Marks on the air to discuss Harward turning the gig down, and his on the record, non-anonymous answer seems to support the source.

Marks said he didn’t want to speculate why Harward turned down the job, but said turmoil in the White House was likely a contributing factor.

“I’m sure Bob looked at this, Adm. Harward looked at this, and said, ‘Look there’s a lot of forming and storming going on right now.'”

That’s a pretty picture, isn’t it? It’s a shame, though, Harward would have been excellent in the position and as I said a few days ago, I think getting a Mattis guy in there is a smart move.

But you can’t blame him. Puzder already withdrew thanks to sh** sandwich syndrome. It’s ugly out there. And the problems are both external (media/dems) and internal (duh).

No wonder Trump was testy today.