The NY Times calls McLellan’s resignation the Departure of a Pragmatist. The basic problem was that his “reign” at FDA will be remembered for the pained look on his face when he was forced to defend the ban on reimportation on 60 Minutes, and the horlicks that was the introduction of Part D. He never looked too happy defending the stupid industry-based bills that the Congress sent him.

What he really wanted to do of course was turn Medicare into a real influential purchaser. There’s going to be a huge political fight about that, but it will happen eventually. And that’s a role for which he’ll be much better suited. Perhaps he’ll come back then?