Posted on 12/06/2006 2:06:31 PM PST by Sabramerican
JOHN Bolton's resignation as the American ambassador to the United Nations makes it official: The Bush administration is now drifting idly toward a mixture of centrism and impotence.
In less than a month, two of President Bush's stronger and more independent aides - Donald Rumsfeld and Bolton - have been dispatched. Rumsfeld's designated successor, former CIA head Robert Gates, is a leading member of the Beltway's permanent bureaucracy.
The administration seems to be waiting for the Baker-Hamilton commission of old Washington hands to dictate U.S. policy on Iraq. Leaks from the commission suggest it will recommend a gradual U.S. withdrawal camouflaged by negotiations with Iran and Syria over a new Mideast grand bargain.
All of this feeds an exaggerated defeatism in the United States over Iraq.
.....
Rumsfeld's abrupt firing was an act of flagrant disloyalty to a loyal subordinate. The defense secretary had made his share of mistakes - notably, his failure to crush looting immediately after the fall of Baghdad - but he had followed the president's policy faithfully.
.......
We don't know for certain the reasons for Bolton's departure: Either the White House wasn't prepared to fight for him, or he was no longer prepared to lend his voice to the diplomatic charade over Iran and North Korea. Either way, his departure demonstrates timidity on the administration's part. The net result will be that Bush has one less loyal subordinate in the shrinking ranks of his own administration.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
LOL...I notice this has been put in the Smokey Backroom..
I don't even have to read the thread to know why that happened.
I saw the headline of this thread yesterday, and didn't even read it---because the premise of the headline is outrageous.
Impotent...HA!!!!
These people, the dems, the media do NOT know what is going on behind the scenes, or in President Bush's head....or in Rummy's for that matter.
I believe your anti-Bush rhetoric dovetails nicely with the leftist media. And I am right.
I could read your exact words in Time Magazine. But I'd have to buy it.
Unfortunately, you force me to read your leftist tripe because you post it on a conservative forum.
It's still leftist tripe. It was before the war, and it is now.
I believe that. What better regard could you have for someone than to relieve them of the agony of continuous interrogation, persecution and attack? How could he have ever done his job, complying with constant document requests and hearings from the bloodthirsty Rats? If W had insisted, you know Rummy would have stayed, purely from the core of his own high character and out of his deep respect and honor for his President, but there was no denying the reality of the changing groundgame.
I'm still devastated at his leaving.
How silly of me. There was no plan. GWB is a doer, not a planner.
"To: ARealMothersSonForever; ohioWfan; Texasforever; onyx; Peach
Absolutely no mention of ANYBODY by name.
But you're leaving out the part where Sawdring PINGED me to the post you were replying to.
That's how I knew you were talking about me.
The really interesting thing you're exposed -- and I'm sure you didn't realize you did it -- is that you're STALKING me.
You replied to Sawdring and also added uncbob to the ping; now uncbob wasn't on this thread, BUT........within minutes of answering Sawdring, I had told uncbob to get off the Daily Dose thread.
You've been exposed as a stalker...........and by a DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE..................duh on you!
You just keep working at it, Butch.
293 posted on 12/06/2006 9:54:59 PM CST by Howlin (44 days to Destin!)"
Somebody else pinged you to the thread, while chastizing for the failure to ping others. Sorry that I put everybody in the reply line. It will not happen again.
I am devastated as well...but, I truly believe that Pres. Bush did it FOR Rummy's sake...NOT because he lost faith in Rummy.
Yes it was, just as the 2000, 2002 and 2004 elections were, as led by the President. But you dismiss those accomplishments to argue that the President failed to maintain and build on the momentum events provided him. Yet Newt's record after his big win, despite his obvious smarts and regardless of the merit of his critics, is not the work of a political genius or great leader.
Baker now "clarifying" the report. He really doesn't think Iran will come to the table, but we'll make the offer and their refusal will show their obstructionism.
I was always a big fan of Baker but with this report I'm beginning to think he's losing it.
Press conference with Bush and Blair up any minute.
I sure believe that was near the top of his list.
I think it's more like 'lost it.'
God Bless President Bush,
God Bless our fighting heroes.
God Bless America
Worth repeating over and over and a respectful bump.
Denial cuts both ways.
No contrition is evident.
Just more cult worship and incredibly, blaming the President, his administration, half the world and the majority of Americans for their predicament.
Amazing.
I've asked you not to ping me to threads that I have not commented on, since I don't give a rip what your ADD brain comes up with here, but if you call me names (especially idiotic ones like 'desperate housewife'.....which reminds me I've GOT to tell my husband about you. He will laugh himself silly).... please engage in the FR courtesy of pinging me to your slander.
Thanks, ever so much, sonny....
Some good observations, OF.
I think Venezuela offered a place for the UN.
You're right, ohioWfan. I had the same feeling when Barry Goldwater said he thought Clinton was a wonderful President. I'll bet you were at the Bush Halloween night rally in Cincinnati--it was phenomenal.
Good grief! That's disgusting, but you did say Illinois?
And I share your disappointment in Goldwater. He needed to retire when he still acted like a conservative.
This is what has turned me so sour...I hope my sour mood hasn't cost me FRiends....but the way Rummy was pushed out....was finally to much for me to take.
Dog, when I turned-in last night I figured this thread was pretty much over. Imagine my surprise to see still today that, like Frankenstein's creation, "it's alive!" /grin
Don't worry about it, the anger and vituperation will fade, and those of us familiar with your solid, level-headed and balanced perspectives are still here with you.
Your assessment of Rumsfeld's dismissal is correct, but most of those here who have assailed you for it simply didn't get your point. It wasn't the simple fact of his leaving that you were objecting to. It was the poor timing, and the classless, embarrassing, and worst of all, knee-jerk weakness the Administration exhibited by doing it the day after the election.
Even if you agreed with the political arguments that Rumsfeld needed to go, which I don't, or even if it really was his own choice, which is possible, and if so I respect it, announcing it so abruptly the day after the election was perceived by the public and spun by the MSM as a complete capitulation by President Bush.
It was another devastating example of the "tin ear" for the vital media/PR/propaganda components of public policy the Bush Administration has exhibited throughout its tenure. If Rumsfeld really wanted out, or even if he preferred to stay but agreed that the shifting political reality necessitated his leaving, delaying the announcement for a week or two would have made no difference, except that of a public acknowledgement and insistence on granting him a little bit of the dignity and honor in the manner of his leaving which he so richly deserves.
I agree with you. The whole thing could have been handled with class and dignity, and there was absolutely no necessity for the stupidly-timed, disrespectful and classless way it was done.
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