Rumsfeld stepping down is a calculated move...and may be a smart one

November 8th, 2006 | Ice Flyer

[ICE-FLYER]

A lot will be made of Rumsfeld stepping down. The Democrats will be the ones to miss him most. After all, it is Donald Rumsfeld the left made the point man for their hatered of all things Bush. He was vilified because he was effective, says the right. And to those of us in the military he was very effective for a lot of things, and yes, made mistakes in others.

But here's the calculation...Bush disarms the left and the Pelosi steamroller by taking the target off the screen. The democrats roll into power without the ability to strut around ranting about a supposed "mandate" and demand Rumsfeld on a platter. Of course they would hope that the process would take 6-8 weeks. THATS....what they wanted.

The next target will be Cheney and Rove. So, we will see what transpires in the coming weeks. But here's the great news. They really think, because of their inability to hide their unbelieveable arrogance, that Bush is the inferior idiot. They will make the mistake again.

[LetsRok]

Cheney is an elected official. He is not going anywhere until 2009. Pelosi cannot touch the executive branch.

[Paloma_55]

The next shoe to drop

Cheney Resigns!

And then the real finale...

George Allen nominated for VP.

[IamConservative]

Rice has stated over and over and over...this week, that she does not want to run for President...she wants to go back to Stanford.

As she most likely will in the next 12 months. Won't be anyone left at the White House but the head cook by the summer of '08. On the brightside, I am hoping for 2 years of gridlock so the economy keeps roaring.

[photodawg]

But here's the calculation...Bush disarms the left and the Pelosi steamroller by taking the target off the screen. The democrats roll into power without the ability to strut around ranting about a supposed "mandate" and demand Rumsfeld on a platter. Of course they would hope that the process would take 6-8 weeks. THATS....what they wanted.

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Victory through surrender and appeasement. The left will not be disarmed by giving them what the want but by fighting them tooth and nail. Rummy did his job, I'm sure he left because he had no stomach for submitting to the leftist castration of GWB that will ensue for the next two years. He courageously stood up to the litany of detractors for 6 years, He is an American hero and we shouldn't have let him go out like this.The next two years will not be pretty and it will not be productive for our side. America lost last night there is no other way to spin this.

[Soul Seeker]

Bush has partnered with Pelosi. Deal with it.

[twigs]

I don't know about the smartest, but he's certainly not a stupid man.

[Ebenezer]

If the war in Iraq is going so well, why did Rumsfeld see the need to step down now?

This move can only embolden the Democrats who can invoke "we told you so" to the American people. They would like to see more administration heads roll after last night; even John Bolton at the U.N. is in a precarious situation.

[newnhdad]

this would have been a good move TWO MONTHS AGO... Now it looks like a lame attempt to placate the left and it'll do nothing but give them a taste of blood..

[Paraclete]

the dems aren't the target. It's the American people. We still have a war to fight and WIN. Building consensus moving forward is critical right now. Nobody knows that better than Don Rumsfeld. He has more smarts, spine, and loyalty to this country than most will ever imagine in their best moments.

[photodawg]

But here's the great news. They really think, because of their inability to hide their unbelieveable arrogance, that Bush is the inferior idiot. They will make the mistake again.

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This is not great news. The president is a lame duck with dem majorities in both chambers. The republican party is in disarray while conservatives rejoice in the purity of their ideological position. The left will make America pay for this. Its like giving the 12 year old the keys to the corvette and a sixpack and telling him to go take it for a spin hoping he wrecks the car so you can get back at the wheel. Fine trick, but there may be nothing left to drive when you get it back.

[claudiustg]

Bush is no longer in charge of the war. That's what this means.

[photodawg]

No, I don't buy it. It's just a sign of weakness. The Dems will not be disarmed by this. This is just appeasement. It won't buy Bush or the Republicans anything. It just frees the Dems to focus on other things.



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I agree with you wholeheartedly

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Please forgive me .... but this thread is delusional.

THANK YOU for injecting some sense into this thread. (even if you are a ND fan)

ALL that I am hearing from my lib co-workers is how Rumsfeld was let go after Bush inferred last week that he was "here to stay". And how NOW an ex-CIA guy is going to be "running the military" and "prosecuting the war".

Those are the sound bites you'll be hearing on the evening news and morning news tomorrow, as well as reading in the print media. Whether its factually true or not (thanks to the MSM) the media will gleefully use this occasion to tarnish the administration.

As usual...bad timing and a bad PR move from this WH and the Republican Party. No "strategery points" or "Rove you magnificent bastage points" here.

This is called cutting your losses.

[photodawg]

Rummy, just like Brownie, you did "a heck of a job!"

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That's absurd. Monday morning quarterbacks and second guessers talk is cheap. Rummy was part of one of the most successful battles in American history. The press and the left sabotaged that perspective. But I guess you bought it. Historical perspective will show the truth. Your statement is an ill considered cheap shot.

[Les_Miserables]

Yep makes great sense..."I lied to you" before so I wouldn't do something that would have helped win the elections...but now "I'm telling the truth"....after we have lost and the Rats can claim they caused me to make the change...Brilliant...just Brilliant.

[Fighting Irish]

I don't know about the smartest, but he's certainly not a stupid man.

Ok .... the poster in #26 is a moron .... and I realize the prez is not an idiot. But to avoid the fact that the prez and rummy have not screwed the pooch is akin to drinking the koolaid.

Can't wait to hear what a genious Rumsfeld is.

Where are the Patton's when you need 'em?

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Didn't anyone hear him say he had talked to Gates on Sunday and that they were in agreement on the issues? That means that this action was already being planned, and it had nothing to do with the outcome of the election.

I agree with the not wanting to undermine the troops part...but if you really believe the italicized paragraph above...I have a bridge to sell you.

[linn37]

No thanks, Allen is a nice man but incompetent.

[HaveHadEnough]

His military operations have been successful.

I disagree. He believed, in good faith, that we could win this war with far less troops than his military people were telling him they needed. He was wrong, and the success of our military operations suffered because of his error.

[claudiustg]

Rummy was the best. This whole mess didn't really depress me until i saw that he'd been thrown overboard. The day after the election too! No guts, no class, no nothing.