11/08/2006
Bush Nominates Bob Gates as Secretary of Defense as Rumsfeld Steps Down
The dominos continue to fall.
After acknowledging the results of last night's Democratic takeover of the House, George Bush announced that Donald Rumsfeld will step down as Secretary of Defense. Bush nominated Robert Gates, former head of the CIA, to replace Rumsfeld. Gates is currently the President of Texas A&M University.
Said Bush: "After a series of thoughtful conversations Secretary Rumsfeld and I agreed that the time is right for new leadership at the Pentagon."
The talk of a "fresh perspective" is something entirely new for America's "stay the course" president.
According to Bush at his press conference today, "stay the course" means "constantly adjusting".
When asked about statements last week that Rumsfeld was staying on, Bush replied, "I didn't want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days of this campaign. I hadn't had a chance to visit with Bob Gates yet. I hadn't had a chance to talk with Rumsfeld yet. He and I both agreed in a meeting yesterday that I would accept his resignation."
Regarding yesterday's election, Bush said, "I thought we were gonna do fine yesterday. Show's what I know."
Posted 1:26 PM EST by Andy Towle in Democratic Party, George W. Bush, Iraq, News, Republican Party | Permalink
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"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall—think of it, always." - Gandhi
Tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick.......
Posted by: Leland | Nov 8, 2006 1:33:33 PM
I'm listening to the President right now. Did anyone else hear him say (regarding the elections), "this isn't my first time at the rodeo?" Crawford, Texas indeed.
Posted by: Patrick | Nov 8, 2006 1:40:23 PM
Neither Bush nor Rumsfeld meet the definition of tyrant. Or murderer for that matter.
However I am glad to see him go.
Posted by: Rob | Nov 8, 2006 1:41:11 PM
Rob,
You are categorically wrong.
On both counts.
Ask the families of the dead soldiers or murdered Iraqi civillians.
Or the people whom had their votes stolen in the past 2 presidential elections.
Posted by: CF | Nov 8, 2006 1:44:02 PM
This grows more delicious by the minute. All thats needed now to make my day is Democratic Senate control.
Posted by: Damon | Nov 8, 2006 1:46:37 PM
Rumsfeld offered his resignation at least twice before. Finally!!!
And this year's Hackneyed Unrelated Post Award goes to CF!
Posted by: rrgg | Nov 8, 2006 1:57:39 PM
Boy, I leave my desk to go to lunch and Rumsfeld resigns and Montana goes Democratic. If I take a bathroom break, will Webb be declared the winner in Virginia?
As someone said in a previous thread, karma is a bitch. And it's nice to see it being visited on Bush.
Posted by: Larry | Nov 8, 2006 1:58:02 PM
Not a big fan of politics but I have learned quite a lot today. I didn't realize that Bush Sr.'s team was at odds with Bush Jr's team (or more specifically, Rumsfeld). Bush Sr. couldn't stand him.
By appointing Bob Gates, Bush Jr. is saying "Ok Daddy... we'll do it your way"
Cheney, be sure to hold the door for your buddy Rumsfeld on his way out.
Posted by: mark m | Nov 8, 2006 2:13:08 PM
The Wicked Witch of the Pentagon has had the House of Representatives dropped on him! Ding Dong!
Posted by: Patrick | Nov 8, 2006 2:21:07 PM
CF gets my Totally On Point, Totally Accurate Award unless RRGG would like to simply substitute the word "demagogue" for "tyrant."
Posted by: Leland | Nov 8, 2006 2:21:14 PM
Perhaps in a few months, VP Cheney will theatrically-clutch his chest and mutter, "Oops, time to step-down and retire..."
Posted by: Ted B. (Charging Rhino) | Nov 8, 2006 2:29:19 PM
Gates is just another tired old Nixon/Reagan-era scumbag--he was up to his ears in Iran/Contra.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Posted by: Henry Holland | Nov 8, 2006 2:56:41 PM
"Shows what I know."
Bingo.
Posted by: samir | Nov 8, 2006 3:13:25 PM
CF and Leland, sending enlisted men to war, even an unpopular one, is a job that falls to the president of the United States and the secretary of defense. Do you call Kennedy a murderer? FDR? They did the same thing, and Bush and Rumsfeld did it with the backing of Congress.
Stalin was a tyrant. Hitler was a tyrant. Anyone who tries to put Bush and Rumsfeld in the same group as them is the one who is "categorically wrong."
I am not a Republican and I do not support Bush or Rummy in any way, but I object to people who overcharacterize them as demons. Buffoons yes, incompetent yes, but not the cruel, oppressive rulers you imply.
Posted by: Rob | Nov 8, 2006 4:10:46 PM
Poppypenis! "falls upon"???? Dude, they did not inherit this war, they STARTED IT! "not the cruel, oppressive rulers you imply"??? Tell that, again, to the noncombattants they caused to be killed. Tell that to the 14,000 prisoners being kept in secret prisons around the world. Note, NOT "convicted in a court of law of whatever" but locked up just because Bush/Rumsfeld and their mercenaries think they should be. Read any of Rumsfeld's litany of callous, indifferent comments about civilian casualties, about his creation Abu Graib, about Geneva Convention rules, etc.
I agree that neither rises to the level of tyranny of Stalin or Hitler, but tyrants they are nonetheless.
Posted by: Leland | Nov 8, 2006 4:37:59 PM
They were not THAT incompetent until they invaded Iraq. They've managed to roll back our rights significantly because of 9/11, with hardly a peep from most Democrats.
Much more evil than stupid.
Posted by: Bill W | Nov 8, 2006 5:14:02 PM
Actualy ROB
Congress did NOT authorize the invasion of iraq.
The actual authorization was the war on terror ...those who attacked america on 9/11. Iraq was never mentioned in the authorization/empowering that congress gave bush
bush sort of stretched that to iraq who never threatened us, no wmds, and not 1 Iraq took part in 9/11
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Nov 8, 2006 6:01:05 PM
Lets not forget that Bush and Company, mostly Cheney and Rove, made the Gay community the poster child of evil If that is not tyranny or the disregard of the people in the Katrina mess, I don't know what is. These pricks are EVIL. It was of no small pleasure seeing the press go after Bush today.
Did anyone else notice how he inflicted the last word of every sentence during his speech as well? He was so sired I thought his head would explode, that would have been the perfect ending except we'd have two years of Cheney, imagine the damage he could do in that time.
I can't wait until The Daily show tonight, Stewart and company will have a field day.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Nov 8, 2006 7:02:53 PM
Sorry for the typos, that's wired not sired. Was up late watching the good news.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Nov 8, 2006 7:04:18 PM
bum, bum, bum, bum another one bites the dust...
Posted by: Cory | Nov 8, 2006 7:42:48 PM
Good for you, Patrick, in daring to use the "E" word! I am long past being sick of hearing people say, "Oh, they don't really hate us." "Oh, they mean well." "Oh, it's just politics." "Oh, they haven't done anything to affect my life negatively." "Oh, you're just a Bush Hater." "Oh, they haven't killed us so why are you getting so upset?" Blah Blah Blah
We have a long way to go before I'll be blaring "Happy Days Are Here Again" from my rooftops. The Dems have to show that they can tend the garden well enough to keep the snakes they just killed dead. But to see that vile huckster choking on words he had spewed barely 36 hours ago; along with Tony Snow and Tony Blankley, and the Fox Heads, and the Ditto Heads, ad nauseum.....hip hip hooray! Welcome to Democracy!
Posted by: Leland | Nov 8, 2006 9:00:14 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MFsv_K2Ha0
Cindy Shennan
"No shit?" when told Rumsfeld resigns
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Nov 9, 2006 10:55:43 AM
Rumsfield is MUCH more of a patriot then anyone on this site.
Posted by: brett | Nov 10, 2006 3:53:07 AM
I duuno about you, but I've been sleeping a lot better knowing that fool is gone.
Posted by: Chris Rako | Nov 10, 2006 4:20:21 AM
Partick, these people, as you say are evil. I also fully believe they are war criminals. My greatest wet dream is to see Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld dragged off to the Hague to be tried for war crimes. The kinds of behaviour they have engaged in, had other leaders in another country done similar things, the U.S. would be demanding they be tried for war crimes. Starting an illegal war, using banned weapons in battle, engaging in torture (by any other name is still torture) etc, constitutes war crimes. It breaks my heart to believe the leaders of my country could be guilty of such heinous crimes, but they have been and continue to be.
Posted by: Michael D. Fein | Nov 11, 2006 2:54:00 AM