WASHINGTON -- President Bush said Wednesday Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld is stepping down and former CIA Director Robert Gates will take over at the Pentagon and in prosecuting the war in Iraq.
Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, intends to resign after six stormy years at the Pentagon, Republican officials said.
The development occurred one day after midterm elections that cost Republicans control of the House, and possibly the Senate, as well. Surveys of voters at polling places said opposition to the war was a significant contributor to the Democratic victory.
Bush described Rumsfeld as a "superb leader" in a time of change, but said his defense chief recognizes the value of "fresh perspective." He said Rumsfeld is a "trusted adviser and friend," and that he's "deeply grateful" for his service to the country. Bush said he and Rumsfeld agreed that "the timing is right for new leadership" at the Pentagon.
Last week, as he campaigned to save the Republican majority, Bush declared that Rumsfeld would remain at the Pentagon through the end of his term.
Rumsfeld, 74, was in his second tour of duty as defense chief. He first held the job a generation ago, when he was appointed by President Ford.
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Posted by Mikey T (Member # 144) on :
Looks like it should be an interesting two years left for Bush...
Posted by Peregrinus (Member # 504) on :
I like how Bush is starting to be called "The Lone Ranger". He's managed to alienate almost everyone. And is slowly losing those he hasn't to other things.
--Jonah
Posted by HopefulNebula (Member # 1933) on :
Hahahahaha. (Is that all the smilies there are down there? I need an evil grin one. Very well... *searches online*) Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
I laughed out loud- seriously laughed my ass off- on the way home upon hearing this news.
About fucking time.
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Changes nothing. None of it does. I can chrome a turd & polish it up all shiny & nice, but under the chrome, it's still a turd.
Everything is still the same as before.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Not exactly- not unless the new guy manages to alienate the entire military and ignore their advice like Rumsfeld did.
Any replacment would be hard pressed to be a bigger dick to the armed services. Some specs on Robert Gates. Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
I mean all of it. All the elections. "WHOOO!!! DEMOCRATS ARE IN!!!"
Nothing. Will. Change. As long as the same foundational elements are in place & I have to get up to go to work to get money to buy food, it's all the same. The rest is all superficial cosmetic wankery.
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
Amen brother.
Posted by HopefulNebula (Member # 1933) on :
Yep. I know it's a turd. But it's shiny this time, and I needed something to laugh maniacally about.
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
Yes with the shiny turd we shall take over the Earth. And then, the U N I V E R S E ! ! !
Muhahahahaha!!!
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
"But I LIKE snacks..." "He LIKES snacks, Zim...!" "I KNOW....."
Revolution is all.
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
Yeah because after the Russian Revolution, everybody had their food magically appear to them.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
Well, they could have eaten the royal family...
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Russian Revolution(s) didn't change anything either. As long as food is locked up & people still believe in the infallibility of this culture, doom is rapidly nigh.
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
Oh so we should just pig out, cause if that's the case this country is already way ahead of you. I don't know what you mean by the culture, since it changes more than I change underwear.
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
When I say "culture," I do not mean America or Britain, or Russia, or China or the Islamic world or Judaism or New Yorkers or Sydneyites or Berliners. I mean ALL of them. It's ALL ONE SINGLE CULTURE. It's all based on the same ideas, the same concepts. That is why I can move from New York to Brussels, or Shanghai to Kinshasa, or Lahore to Reykjavik. It's all the same. Yes, there are small local variances, but the operating principles are all the same.
By contrast, a Bushman cannot up & move to Nunavut to become an Inuit. An Alawa member in Australia cannot become a Yakut, & a Kreen-Akrore cannot become a Amazonas.
Ponder upon that, & the reasons for it. Then we shall talk.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
So your complaint is that food is a limited quantity and those that have it want something in exchange for it?
Also, woo for Dems in da House. If nothing else, they can slow Bush down in the damage he wants to do.
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
No...putz. I have not given the whole picture, only a slight sliver. It's called "maiuetic teaching."
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
Woah! An Omega siting.
Posted by Chris (Member # 71) on :
Yes, the Omega is getting thin on the ground these days. Something about a life with grad school and a girlfriend, I think.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Mmhmm. Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
To address the actual topic (the what, now?), I don't think Rumsfeld's resignation has anything to do with the realization that many voters were unhappy with the war. Everyone already knew the public was fed up, and the administration didn't care. I suspect Rumsfeld already planned to quit sometime before 2009, and, once they realized the Democrats were winning the Senate, they decided he'd better leave now so they can squeeze his successor's confirmation in before January.
Also, I've just discovered that Firefox 2 does inline spell checking on things you type into textareas. Neat.
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
I just hope we don't end up electing a President and First Husband from Arkansas named "Hill" & "Billy"
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by Shik: No...putz. I have not given the whole picture, only a slight sliver. It's called "maiuetic teaching."
Riiight. Are you prahaps referring to Maieutic teaching? If so, you should go back and read up on it a bit more. Your'e about as far removed from Socratic teaching as imaginable.
So...I'm going to take a guess and say you did not vote- either because of laziness, apathy or legal restrictions- and are venting your frustration. Anyone can see that removing a large piece of the problems of this country (and in turn several others now) is a good thing and worthy of some "Wooo!".
As to Rummy, I love how his final speach before being resigned was to call Americans dumb with his "Americans cant understand the war" rant. Beat it pal.
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
Shik:
quote:When I say "culture," I do not mean America or Britain, or Russia, or China or the Islamic world or Judaism or New Yorkers or Sydneyites or Berliners. I mean ALL of them. It's ALL ONE SINGLE CULTURE. It's all based on the same ideas, the same concepts. That is why I can move from New York to Brussels, or Shanghai to Kinshasa, or Lahore to Reykjavik. It's all the same. Yes, there are small local variances, but the operating principles are all the same.
By contrast, a Bushman cannot up & move to Nunavut to become an Inuit. An Alawa member in Australia cannot become a Yakut, & a Kreen-Akrore cannot become a Amazonas.
Ponder upon that, & the reasons for it. Then we shall talk.
You have come very far, Mr Bond. Ze trouble is zat zis is not a frat party and vee are not drunken chicks.
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
Well if we didn't belong to the same global culture, we wouldn't be here talking to each other now would we?
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
People should appreciate bacteria...for many among us it is the only culture they will ever have.
Posted by HopefulNebula (Member # 1933) on :
But what if the frogurt is cursed? What about the cultures then?
THINK OF THE CULTURES!!!!!
Posted by Jay the Obscure (Member # 19) on :
"[W]e can�t judge other cultures....we learned that from Star Trek." - Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
And yet they violated the prime directive so many times...
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
They were asking to be violated- dressing like that, and with poor Captain Kirk being tempted each week...
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)