Given all the problems in Iraq and the numbers of lawmakers, citizens and retired generals calling for Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation, it was somewhat surprising that President Bush reaffirmed Wednesday his support for the secretary of defense. Why remind voters, less than a week before the election, of his stubborn unwillingness to hold Rumsfeld accountable?
Bush said Wednesday that he wants Rumsfeld to remain in the job until the end of Bush’s presidency, and he said that Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney are “doing fantastic jobs.” Bush said he is “pleased with the progress” Rumsfeld has made overseeing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and overhauling the military. But can America survive two more years of this “progress”?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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47 Comments
Does the term “stay the course” have a familiar ring?
When I first saw a posting about this on a web site yesterday, and posted a link, I was amused to read that W had also indicated Cheney would stay on, as if the President has any control over the term of the Vice President under the Consitution; perhaps this is a part of the “unitary executive” I kept hearing about during the Roberts confirmation hearings.
http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2006/11/02/dick-cheney-war-profiteer/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fviews05%2F1117-22.htm&frame=true
Don’t forget war profiteer Dick!
Typical leftist crap…
Demand resignation of Rumsfield simply because you disagree and then sit here scratching your head in wonder at why Bush doesn’t do your bidding?
Are you really that ignorant?
No, but then I didn’t vote for either once, let alone twice! That’s really got to be smarting about now.
http://quest.cjonline.com/images/122900/rumsfeld.jpg
Nathan, there are many Republicans running for office this election who also are calling for Rummy’s resignation/firing. Are they all leftists?
Vaughn,
What is “many?”
Who are these “many?”
More than likely, yes they are.
Either way, it is all politics. Rumsfield had not done anything wrong. Calling for his resignation is petty politics.
If he did resign, all it would do is give ammo to the Bush haters to say they had been right all along and use it to attack Bush.
This is one of those classic damed if you don’t and even more damed if you do.
Demand resignation of Cheney? Nae, I’d call for probe for war profiteering at the minimal, and maybe impeachment. W can stay, he’s a mere figurehead anyway…
Rummy kinda’ looks like he oughta’ be the evil dude on some Harry Potter sequal.He’s casting an evil spell over innocent liberals in the picture here!
Vaughn’s right,folks: W can’t demand the resignation of Cheney. He’s holds a constitutional office, and unlike a Cabinet appointment, does not serve at the President’s pleasure.
BTW – it’s also why, historically, VP’s don’t generally get important duties. Ya can’t fire em if they screw up.
Instead they get to go to funerals and make photo-op appearances to DEMONSTRATE “importance” (as opposed to actual importance).
I don’t see what the big thrill is with the display name changers.
Rumsfeld has offered to resign, twice I believe. No the blame for the failure of Iraq does not attach to him. THAT belongs solely to georgie bush and he will wear that and many other shames LONG after the mess he has made is any longer his problem.
Vaughn, No.They now call them centrists.
It’s the new buzzword for repugnicans who aren’t quite sharp enough to be democrats,but a little too sharp to stay in Bush’s burning boat.
Csn anybody provide a real list of Repubs who call for the ouster of Rummy?
dicklick, real slow for you now…
It’s spelled g-o-o-g-l-e
Your really should try to do your own research now and then.
Here ya go dicklick.
I know you dont have any research skills or the ability to process information not spun by the preznit.
And notice? It is from your favorite news source. FUX news.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,141887,00.html
dumbass
Posted by: ksfarmgrrl | November 02, 2006 at 01:58 PM
I know you dont have any research skills or the ability to process information not spun by the preznit.
And notice? It is from your favorite news source. FUX news.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,141887,00.html
Nice researching skills, a 2 year old news story.
Yawn…
2 years old and one Repub (Lott) who wanted Rummy to step down. There were a lot of libs calling for it.Libs = cowardly bed wetters
hotlick:
I know this may be pointless, but here goes.
“Libs = cowardly bed wetters”
I’ve said this with folks on the other side of the aisle, but it applies to this side as well.
This is not personal. Refrain from making it so. This kind of inflammatory rhetoric does not move any real debate forward (assuming we do any of that here). We’re above simple name-calling, or at least I keep hoping we can grow out of it.
I may be spitting in the wind saying so, but it’s infantile, ignorant, and beneath us to use that kind of rhetoric. I know you probably feel provoked, and I can understand that, but that’s no excuse.
Same to you, KFG (i.e. “dumbass” – and that’s mild by this blog’s standards). But I’ve learned to expect just that from you. And there’s others, as well, of course. Those are just the two that pop up here.
You are right, GMC. I should have said-Libs = Cowards
hotlick:
Try to grow up. Isn’t it possible that people who disagree with you are rational? Do you truly believe that anyone who doesn’t agree with you is irrational? Or do you just name-call to stir the pot?
Well said GMC70.
The point is that REPUBLICANS have been calling for rummy’s head for a long time.
A newer one?
How about Chris Shays?
GMC, you are such a one trick pony. Everytime you get your ass kicked you huff off the blog in a cloud of “civility”.
heheheh
buh – bye to you too.
But you keep coming back….
Oops, Nathan, just back for a minute; fair question from what I posted, but word “reportedly” apparently didn’t get typed before “many”; didn’t catch it before I posted. However, I will try to get you some type of a list or a number or something; keep forgetting you are not in a position to be bombarded by all the punditry we here are constantly subjected to here stateside.
Stay safe.
I’ll stand by the coward remark.Chris Shays is an east coast repub. Doesn’t count.
KFG-
You’re par for the course. SSDD. In my book, you’re relegated to scroll-by material, I just wanted to be even-handed.
I know you spew this crap to stir the pot; I expect nothing less. There are plenty of rational folks here that can discuss issues; you simply aren’t one of them. Or you don’t want to be one of them.
GMC quit picking on Farmgirl. She is one of the bright spots on this blog. Her needles go deep, but they sting with common sense. And that’s a rare commodity in this world.
OK, I’m no Rummy-fan. But, who’s better ? Who the hell can replace him at this point, get up to speed, and have time to do anything constructive before the 2008 elections dominate everything for another 11 months ? That’s a rhetorical question, because I sure don’t have an answer !
I’ve got no problem with tearing down something if there is something to rebuild that’s better. But to tear something apart, just for the sake of tearing it up seems counter-productive.
GMC–you’re the first right-winger who ever rebuked a right-winger on this blog as far as I can remember.
Miracles can happen.
As far as Rumsfailed, let him stay. Once a car has sailed off the cliff, changing drivers doesn’t do much.
And how about that “fantastic job.” Heck of a job Brownie, come back, we miss you. George Tenet with the medal around your neck for overseeing 9-11, come back and be with your “great job!” buddies.
GW Bush is such a screw-up, I’m surprised he hasn’t given himself a medal.
Capn — Don’t necessarily agree with you, but the “mind visual” of Dubya giving himself a medal is just laugh out loud funny !!! Thanks !
Dennis:
I’m not picking on KFG; certainly, I’d guess she doesn’t feel picked on. On the contrary, I’d bet she loves the attention. We even agree occasionally. It’s just that there’s rarely substance behind the “needles” – she just jabs to stir the pot. Or more accurately, tars anyone she disagrees with with as broad a brush as possible. Her usual tactic is to tie any point of view she disagrees with to Phelps, knowing full well he’s abhored by all. Anyone who disagrees, on anything, is a “wingnut,” or worse, as if attaching that label is instant dismissal of any opinions held. It’s tiring. Frankly, she’s smarter than that.
She’s not alone, many others on both sides do the same sort of thing. I’m simply tired of the endless mudfights. It accomplishes nothing. And it’s my blog too.
We complain about the level of political discourse in this country, and rightly so. Well, here’s the place to raise it. Quit bitching about it, and do something about. Instead, too many here, it appears, simply enjoy wallowing in the mud.
Just callin’ ‘em as I see ‘em. She doesn’t like me calling her (and others) on it? Too bad.
“This is one of those classic damed if you don’t and even more damed if you do.”
Although I’ve never been damed, I agree with you Nathan. The real pity is that it’s come to this.
(Sorry, couldn’t help the “damed” part.)
Rumsfeld is revamping the entire military structure. For instance the Air Force will be a much smaller force, based on the home soil. He has brought the Big Red One home to Ft Riley. These are examples of changes that he has put into place since being appointed the Secretary of Defense. The decisions reflect the need to bring a dinosaur military structure into the highly technical fighting force needed today. Change is not popular and that is why Rumsfeld is part of why he is so unpopular and you see the old military hacks appear publically fighting him all the way. There is a lot more going on here than the Iraq War. I believe Bush wants the military modernized and leaves Rumsfeld in the position of taking all the backlash for doing just that.
Nathan & RD : I agree too, except, guys, it “d.a.m.N.e.d”, not “d.a.m.e.d.” Point is well taken, though.
KFG calls ‘em as she sees ‘em, too.
But she’s a lot funnier.
“hotlick:
“Try to grow up. Isn’t it possible that people who disagree with you are rational? Do you truly believe that anyone who doesn’t agree with you is irrational? Or do you just name-call to stir the pot?”
GMC,I, too, commend you for your above efforts. The only problem is, if someone is so immature as some here seem, an instruction to grow up seems like a pretty weak intervention. The parties needing to grow up, probably would have done that by now, if they could have figured out a way to do so. And for those not wishing to grow up, you’re just wasting your breath.
But again, thank you for trying.
I too note and commend GMC.
It is good to know that he can be evenly high handed: )
No sniveling allowed
Whats cowardly and absurd is Boehner, Senate Majority Whip (republican) (pronounced BONER) blaming the war failures on the Generals — it’s what this administration has been good at, placing blame on others and taking no responsibilty / no accountabililty. The gen’s wanted at least twice as many troops on the ground, better equipment (i.e. armored Humvees from the beginninto name one) — Rummy and Bush have tried to chump change the soldiers best interest, while bestowing no bid contracts / no accountaility contracts on Halliburton / KBR, CaCI to name a few ….. it would be pound foolish to try to impeach Bush, very costly, and the next 2 in line are no bargain —
Ok Hotlick — you were grounded and sent to your room last week — how did you get out of your cage? Whose turn was it to watch him?
The same President that said, “You’re doing a heck of a job, Brownie” is the same one saying, “You’re doing a heck of a job, Rummy.”
Anything wrong with this picture?
Dennis:
Yea, she can be that. But this is not a comedy club. Even I can appreciate a good line (yes, I do have a sense of humor, JR). KFG’s lines are not generally intended as humor, however. Some on the right (hotlick comes to mind) are just as bad; but he’s not nearly as clever.
And yea, Steven, I know. Like I said, I may be spittin’ in the wind. But ya gotta try. I won’t shut up.
Maybe it’s my profession. Where I work, it is routine to be professionally adversarial, sometimes bitterly so, without it becoming personal. We can then share a beer afterwords and exchange thoughts. I guess I don’t understand a point of view that says that anyone who disagrees with me is either ignorant beyond the pale or an enemy that must be defeated at all costs. Don’t make sense, never did. Even when I was teaching, the students I enjoyed the most were those who disagreed with me.
Like I said; we can’t complain about the level of discourse while rolling in the mud ourselves. I’ll let this one go, for now. But I won’t go away just so some can be more comfortable.
You might remember that Kean in New Jersey and Coker in Tennessee are running as Republicans for Senate in part on the platform of replacing Rumsfeld.
If they are running on that point, what does that say about Bush and his “heck of a job” endorsement of Rumsfeld?
Hee, hee, WS. Bush is screwing his own.
Time for Rummy to go …
Papers sold to military: ‘Rumsfeld must go’Editorial comes days after Bush affirms defense secretary’s job security
Just days after President Bush publicly affirmed Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s job security through the end of his term, a family of publications catering to the military will publish an editorial calling for the defense secretary’s removal.
The editorial, released to NBC News on Friday ahead of its Monday publication date, stated, “It is one thing for the majority of Americans to think Rumsfeld has failed. But when the nation’s current military leaders start to break publicly with their defense secretary, then it is clear that he is losing control of the institution he ostensibly leads.”
The editorial will appear just one day before the midterm election, in which GOP candidates have been losing ground, according to recent polls.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15552211/
If GW keeps Rumsfeld there are two reasons why:
Because of this agenda:http://home.earthlink.net/~platter/neo-conservatism/pnac.html
And James Baker III is also involved and advises Bush often. As always Baker likes to operate quietly pretending he is not a mover and a shaker. Also whatever he says MUST NOT leave the oval office by his own admission. James Baker III is a person who not to be taken lightly no matter how he portrays himself.http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html
Much was made of the Army Times newspaper running an editorial calling for Rummy’s head.
Well SHAZZAM!!! Guess who runs the Army Times- none other than Gannett news service. Hell they may as well have printed one from USA Today!!!