Point taken, but I also don’t trust the media regarding the tone these men might have taken in declining a position. They could say “I am flattered Mr. President, but I respectfully decline” and CNN would say “Gen. Harwell slaps down the President.”
True, and again you’re right about the media. Possibly, the media lied about both men dissing the president gor rejecting their demands to bring with them their own team. Possibly neither said such a thing.