Goodbye Rumsfeld

Al in NYC · November-8th-2006, 12:52 PM

The murdering torturing ghoul is OUTTA THERE!!

larrycohen · November-8th-2006, 01:00 PM

Don't be so shy. Tell us what you really think of him.

larrycohen · November-8th-2006, 01:03 PM

Hey - it's for real! Rummy resigned!

Quote:

(CBS/AP) Republican officials say Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, is stepping down.

Word comes a day after the Democratic gains in the election, in which Rumsfeld was a focus of much of the criticism of the Iraq war.

Officials said Robert Gates, former head of the CIA, would replace Rumsfeld.

Gates is also a Bush family friend. Why am I not surprised? Does Shrub know any other kind of people?

Gentle Giant · November-8th-2006, 01:16 PM

Embattled Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, one of the architects of the increasingly unpopular Iraq war, has announced he will resign today. Former CIA Director Robert Gates will replace him.

In addition, Democrat Jon Tester has defeated Republican Senator Conrad Burns in Montana, edging the Democrats closer to control of the Senate with Virginia remaining as the last undetermined election.

This is the kind of domino effect I like! I'm guessing the number of people falling on their sword or having their heads put on the chopping block will continue to grow.

hornplayer · November-8th-2006, 01:32 PM

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... wonder who's next!

Chris D · November-8th-2006, 02:27 PM

Hi ho the merry-o, sing it high, sing it low...

lynn · November-8th-2006, 02:31 PM

Pray for a Cheney resignation since those two are conjoined. They need someone that can run in '08.

patricia · November-8th-2006, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrycohen

Hey - it's for real! Rummy resigned!

Gates is also a Bush family friend. Why am I not surprised? Does Shrub know any other kind of people?

Gives new meaning to the cliche that all politics are local. It seems that to President Bush all politics are familial.
If whoever it is that he's considering isn't a friend of the family, he/she is not guaranteed to stick with him, no matter what damnfool scheme he proposes.
I give you Rumsfeld, now thankfully gone and of course, Condoleeza Rice.

A rude awakening for him, I would think.

Brian Olewnick · November-8th-2006, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynn

Pray for a Cheney resignation since those two are conjoined. They need someone that can run in '08.

Why would you want Cheney to resign, giving Bush a chance to appoint someone who'd get a headstart toward running in '08? Best thing Dems have going for them now is the apparent lack of strong Repub candidates, at least anyone who could make it through the primaries. I would think they'd like to keep it that way.

Scott Dolan · November-8th-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Why would you want Cheney to resign, giving Bush a chance to appoint someone who'd get a headstart toward running in '08? Best thing Dems have going for them now is the apparent lack of strong Repub candidates, at least anyone who could make it through the primaries. I would think they'd like to keep it that way.

I don't think it would do any good either way. Any association with Bush come '08 will certainly be a kiss of death.

Based upon what has just happened, the Republicans can only hope the dems fuck up in Congress so bad that they lose the independents that put them in this time when '08 rolls around.

Lynn and the rest of the jubilant Dems, enjoy this moment. You've earned it. But once the party's wind down you need to keep one thing in mind. This was not so much a vote for the Dems as it was a vote against the Republicans. You still have a lot of work to do if you want to retain the Houses in '08, or gain the most important house.

Gary Sisco · November-8th-2006, 03:12 PM

True, Brian. Let them both stew in their lameness.

Good riddance to Rumsfeld, the worst thing that ever happened to the American military since McNamara.

Thank goodness.

Take that, motherfuckers. Whack!

lynn · November-8th-2006, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

I don't think it would do any good either way. Any association with Bush come '08 will certainly be a kiss of death.

Based upon what has just happened, the Republicans can only hope the dems fuck up in Congress so bad that they lose the independents that put them in this time when '08 rolls around.

Lynn and the rest of the jubilant Dems, enjoy this moment. You've earned it. But once the party's wind down you need to keep one thing in mind. This was not so much a vote for the Dems as it was a vote against the Republicans. You still have a lot of work to do if you want to retain the Houses in '08, or gain the most important house.

No doubt there is a lot of work to do. Guess who will be the obstructionist now. I know there's a veto pen somewhere in the White House and I'll put good money on Bush finding it.

Also, the rush to replace Rummy is a sideways run around the new congress. This lame bunch will rubber stamp the nomination and there you have it ... a brand new SOD.

Scott Dolan · November-8th-2006, 04:28 PM

You don't think Bob Gates is a good choice?

I'd say the fact that he is part of the Baker/Hamilton group is a major plus.

Who would be your choice?

Jon Abbey · November-8th-2006, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

You still have a lot of work to do if you want to retain the Houses in '08, or gain the most important house.

this is true, but assuming the Virginia results hold, the Democrats have a very good chance to hold the Senate for at least six years. don't forget only 1/3 of the seats are contested each time, and the Democrats won the ones yesterday 24-9. the other 40 Republican seats will be voted on again in 2008 and 2010, while only 27 Democrat seats will be, so the odds are with the Democrats.

lynn · November-8th-2006, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

You don't think Bob Gates is a good choice?

I'd say the fact that he is part of the Baker/Hamilton group is a major plus.

Who would be your choice?

I honestly haven't given that a lot of thought, I mean it's only been a couple hours and I actually work for a living. I'm sure they've been brewing on this for a while though. Plan B as it were.

Ron Thorne · November-8th-2006, 05:06 PM

How much do you suppose we'll be paying this smug S.O.B. in "retirement"?

Grab your barf bags.

Scott Dolan · November-8th-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

this is true, but assuming the Virginia results hold, the Democrats have a very good chance to hold the Senate for at least six years. don't forget only 1/3 of the seats are contested each time, and the Democrats won the ones yesterday 24-9. the other 40 Republican seats will be voted on again in 2008 and 2010, while only 27 Democrat seats will be, so the odds are with the Democrats.

That ensures nothing.

Scott Dolan · November-8th-2006, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynn

I honestly haven't given that a lot of thought, I mean it's only been a couple hours and I actually work for a living. I'm sure they've been brewing on this for a while though. Plan B as it were.

You know, they claim to have been sitting on this for a few weeks so that it wouldn't influence the election. I say horseshit. If anything it would have been a positive influence for them.

I work for a living too. But thankfully I'm by myself about half of my day so I can listen to quite a few podcasts each day.

Gordon B · November-8th-2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Why would you want Cheney to resign, giving Bush a chance to appoint someone who'd get a headstart toward running in '08? Best thing Dems have going for them now is the apparent lack of strong Repub candidates, at least anyone who could make it through the primaries. I would think they'd like to keep it that way.

The only way I see a healthy Cheney resigning would be if Rice indicated she wanted to run for President and Bush asked Cheney if she could replace him as VP and become the front-runner.

Baker's going to be consulting with Congress on a bi-partisan basis to determine Iraq policy. Cheney's wings were clipped with the Bush debacle yesterday and Rumsfeld's subsequent resignation.

Sandi22 · November-8th-2006, 06:48 PM

We're always hearing it's such a privilege and an honor to serve one's country, perhaps the multimillionaires appointed or voted into office should pay us? That'd be a kick. Take it out of the tax breaks they vote in for one another. Sure, like it could happen.

Gordon B · November-8th-2006, 06:48 PM

The good news is that after HRC serves for eight years, Jeb Bush won't be able to continue the Bush-Clinton dynasty.

Why not, you ask?

Because he won't be able to form a cabinet of players from his father's administration because they will all be dead by then.

lynn · November-8th-2006, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Why would you want Cheney to resign, giving Bush a chance to appoint someone who'd get a headstart toward running in '08? Best thing Dems have going for them now is the apparent lack of strong Repub candidates, at least anyone who could make it through the primaries. I would think they'd like to keep it that way.

I'm not wishing for that to happen but I do think it is the next likely change.

patricia · November-8th-2006, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynn

I'm not wishing for that to happen but I do think it is the next likely change.

McCain??

Scott Dolan · November-8th-2006, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynn

I'm not wishing for that to happen but I do think it is the next likely change.

I don't.

patricia · November-8th-2006, 10:02 PM

I agree with Scott. I think that Cheney is the real power in the Bush Administration.
Although it might be interesting if John McCain were brought in as a kind of apprentice for the next two years, I think he has opted to carve out a path which would paint him as having a plan to get out of Iraq, with honour, if that's possible.
I think that the Bush Administation intends to "stay the course", no matter what they say in the next while, with their defeat in the mid-terms.
Even with opposition, the President still has the last word and he is not standing for re-election.
President Bush can walk away from the mess, whether it's resolved or not.
If I were John McCain, I would think twice about what he'll be taking on, if he runs for President and wins.
Right now, it looks like the booby prize and I wonder why anyone would want to be the Janitor in Chief in '08.

GoodSpeak · November-8th-2006, 10:27 PM

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Rummy.

moron

Squaredancecalling Steve · November-8th-2006, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

You know, they claim to have been sitting on this for a few weeks so that it wouldn't influence the election. I say horseshit. If anything it would have been a positive influence for them.

Exactly! I'll bet there are a number a losing GOP candidates who wonder why he didn't do it in time for them to benefit from it.

Ron Thorne · November-8th-2006, 11:04 PM

I agree, Steve. There's more to this story than we've heard . . . thus far.

Gee, I wonder? Nah, Karl Rove wouldn't have tied Dubya's hands.

Edit: I'm not complaining, mind you.

Dr Dave · November-8th-2006, 11:31 PM

The election, by common agreement, was a referendum on the war in Iraq. We all know how it came out. The first order of business was to get rid of Rumsfeld, who was, if not the architect, then certainly the symbol of the thoroughly discredited US policy regarding Iraq. I give Bush credit for realizing what needed to be done. I also give him credit for nominating Gates, who is in the unique postion of having virtually no public stand on the Iraq war, yet is a member of the Iraq Study Group, and is in a position to dictate terms regarding his acceptance of the post. Gates didn't have to leave Texas A&M; didn't want to leave, by all accounts. I am reasonably certain that he will be given carte blanche to do what needs to be done to extricate us from Iraq with the least damage to our military and to our international reputation.

Then again, I may be full of shit. I am trying not to think the worst.

GoodSpeak · November-8th-2006, 11:40 PM

I give George the II credit for nothing.

Rummy's resignation was called for not once but twice and the C+ graduate from Yale backed his ass up anyway.