Bush Voices Support For Rummy

I would not have thought it possible, but today, as President Bush stood in the White House rose garden answering thorny questions from reporters, he publicly acknowledged experiencing symptoms of psychosis, telling a stunned press corps, “I hear the voices.� In addition, he suggested that he might suffer from ADHD, noting that his attention span is such that he can only “read the front page� of the newspaper. (But, hey, at least the man can read, right? The fact that he might mouth the words as he does so is immaterial.) The President also announced that he will henceforth be known as “The Decider,� a nickname that was chosen over such worthy monikers as The Cipher, The Derider, and The Homicider. Here is an excerpt of the President’s remarks:

Q. But what do you say to critics who believe that you’re ignoring the advice of retired generals, military commanders, who say that there needs to be a change?

THE PRESIDENT: I say, I listen to all voices, but mine is the final decision. And Don Rumsfeld is doing a fine job. He’s not only transforming the military, he’s fighting a war on terror. He’s helping us fight a war on terror. I have strong confidence in Don Rumsfeld. I hear the voices, and I read the front page, and I know the speculation. But I’m the decider, and I decide what is best. And what’s best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of Defense.

Several highly capable and decorated military leaders beg to differ, Mr. President (as humorously reported here by Jon Stewart of The Daily Show). But, hey, what do they know? It’s not like they’ve endured the harrowing experiences that you have: the frat parties at Yale, the alcohol-induced blackouts, the ruinous management of several oil companies, the hunting trips with Dick Cheney, et al. You know best, Mr. President. You are, after all, The Decider. How wrong can the voices be?

11 thoughts on “Bush Voices Support For Rummy”

  1. Have any of our elected officials joined the military leaders in calling for change? I have not heard reports of any. Sheldon Whitehouse has called for Rumsfeld to be replaced. While Whitehouse emphasizes the mistakes of the past 3 years and the need for Rumsfeld to be held accountable, I would argue that the current cries for new leadership also have a great deal to do with military leaders seeing the writing on the wall in terms of Bush and Co. getting us into another war in Iran.

    Here’s a link to Whitehouse’s blog post “Fire Don Rumsfeld.”

    http://www.whitehouseforsenate.com/?p=151

  2. Kiersten, it was a safe “move” for Shelby.

    Early last year, he was saddling up with Reed, saying we need to stay the course. His last position as the wind blows is we need a responsible exit strategy. What does that mean? Asking to have Rumsfield fired, when we’re not hearing much from the incumbents in Congress says a thing or two, no?

  4. Yes, Bush hears the voices, but the voices in his head take precedence. After all, they were there first.

    Anyway, Bush won’t be replacing Rummy until after SecDef-designate Joe Lieberman is either safely re-elected or safely down the tubes.

  5. You know, with all due respect, this strikes me as a non-starter as an issue. The problem isn’t Rumsfeld; the problem is the war. Yes, as SecDef, Rummy is “in charge” of the war effort, but the way to approach this is as a policy issue, not a personnel issue.

    First of all, it’s pointless. Rummy isn’t leaving, unless it’s feet first on a gurney. If he were going to resign, it would have been after Abu Ghraib (sp?). He didn’t go then, he won’t go now.

    The thing is that going after Donny allows Bush to stand up and show how loyal he is to a man, which can come off in a favorable light. Don’t let the Pres defend a loyal underling; that makes him a good boss. Rather, make Bush defend his policies, such as the war. That makes Bush look bad, because he can’t defend himself.

    What I’m saying is that calling for Rummy’s head cedes the moral high ground. Take it back by making bush stand on his record. Ask Bush, loudly and often, what his actual plan is. How long will our troops be there? At what levels? How many more Iraqi brigades are ready now, as opposed to 6 months ago. What is this good news he keeps talking about?

    That’s what needs to be done. Bush & his gang is in charge. Don’t put out counter-plans. Keep asking Bush to explain his. Because he can’t. All he can do is mouth platitudes like “we’ll do whatever it takes.” Does that mean we’ll be there in 10 years? Will that necessitate a draft? And where is he going to get troops to invade Iran?

    Rummy’s just the lightening rod. He doesn’t care what the great unwashed say or think. That’s why he is where he is, and why he’ll stay there, come hell or low poll numbers. He’s 72; he’s not going to get another job, so he has no motive to leave.

    So ignore the hired help. Go after the boss. Show how the emperor has no clothes.

  6. I read this today and it stopped me in my tracks! All of Rummy’s objectives in Iraq have failed.

    Separate groups of gunmen entered two primary schools in Baghdad on Wednesday and beheaded two teachers in front of their students, the Ministry of State for National Security said.

    “Two terrorist groups beheaded two teachers in front of their students in the Amna and Shaheed Hamdi primary schools in Shaab district in Baghdad,” a ministry statement said.

    A ministry official said he believed the attacks were aimed at: “intimidating pupils and disrupting learning.”

  7. Klaus, can you say the “I” word. Say it man, say it!

    Here’s the score….

    Four months ago I spoke at Brown University. Those attending had wanted to get a glimpse of the Marine veteran and US Senate candidate upstart. I cautioned within 10 years the geopolitical landscape could look wholly different than now. My caution was an expanded Middle East war and our country’s path was a non-partisan issue.

    I stressed the epicenter of the collision would be based upon oil. Venezuela with its oil reserves will influence the entirety of South and Central America. China’s consumption now rivals and will far exceed our own by 2010. This was confirmed by my recent visit there last summer where I witnessed their expanding manufacturing centers. While we’re struggling in the Middle East, China is entering into “arrangements� with many oil rich African and Asian countries. And they have tens of billions invested in Iran. China will consume in 15 years, what it took the U.S. 40 years to consume. The economic and environmental consequences are staggering. In short, there just is not enough oil.

    By late Spring, we’ll experience gas prices exceeding $3.00 a gallon while the CEO of Exxon/Mobil will have received $400 million in compensation. The oil futures price per barrel has exceeded $70, about double the pre-Iraq invasion price. Industry analysts have every reason to expect even a limited US military strike in Iran, under the pretenses of preemptive attack, will escalate the price and rock the tenuous balance in the region.

    Iran and Muslim fanatics will retailiate both directly and indirectly. They’ll target the Straits of Hormuz to block the flow of oil shipping and aggressively pursue pipelines in and around Saudi Arabia. Oil has been and still remains the US life blood in a very real sense. The current administration will justify expanded military operations in the region.

    There’s a reason that past and current generals are challenging Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, the face behind the Bush/Cheney personal ambitions. They know our U.S. military manpower needed to support an extended regional presence is more three times the number we currently have in place. They know it will require a draft. They know it will take hundreds of billions of dollars and costs tens of thousands of American lives.

    It is Bush’s expressed intent to stay in the region past 2008 that has reduced troops morale. The public is catching on to the deception. It’s a question of engaged resolve and priorities. In places like Munich, the local transit consists of an efficient blend of trains, buses and cycling. Our infrastructure has the potential to support this, but he American habits and will needs to support these options.

    The 2006 elections could decide America’s future fate. My vision is to save lives and end the hypocrisy and lack of leadership. Invest our billions in the development of alternative energy, healthcare and education and make minor modifications to our lifestyles. Rest assured, the alternative is truly our kids’ and grandkid’s blood for oil.

  8. I’m with klaus, Thomas and Carl.

    Changing sect’y of defense seems less significant than beginning the impeachement process(thank you John Conyers, Thank you Carl SHEELER).

    Would changing the Captain of the Titanic have saved any lives there?

    This ship has sailed.

    BTW, is “decider” a word found in any dictionary? Please advise.

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