Poor Rummy. Next week we'll probably get the "rift" stories about him and Condi. You'd think with Martha Stewart getting out of jail and a Michael Jackson trial in full swing, Newsweek could find better bird cage lining. |
Posted on 03/06/2005 7:48:17 AM PST by Brian Mosely
NEW YORK, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Though by most accounts secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld are friendly, the 72-year-old Defense chief may not be taking his partially eclipsed status very well. Though he has given no sign he might depart early, rumors have flown for weeks that Rumsfeld could leave after the quadrennial defense review expected by the end of 2005, report Senior Editor Michael Hirsh and Washington Bureau Chief Daniel Klaidman in the March 14 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, March 7). Among those said to be eying Rumsfeld's post is newly retired deputy secretary of State Richard Armitage, a bitter rival of Rumsfeld's.
Armitage recently decided not to return to his old consulting firm, Armitage Associates, but to set up a new one, Armitage International. The new firm will mainly arrange speaking engagements for him, avoiding corporate contracts that could cause him conflict-of-interest problems. "It makes things easier from a number of angles if Mr. Armitage does go back to government soon," an Armitage associate, Kristin Burke, tells Newsweek.
While Rumsfeld watches his rear, Rice is a wellspring of fresh activity, building a mini policy empire that includes considerable sway over her old domain, the National Security Council. Suddenly, write Hirsh and Klaidman, the controlled, impeccably mannered woman who spent four years ducking into Bush's shadow is drawing every spotlight, black boots and all. "She calls early- morning meetings, late-night meetings," says one senior State official. "Then there are the Saturday meetings. This is her life."
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This is just another combo hit-piece and wish-list item on the liberal's agenda. If I remember correctly, wtihin about fifteen minutes of Rumsfeld taking office in 2001, he was described as alienating the world and about to get fired. It seems for an icompetent, irrascible, rock-the- boat old man, he both has survived and done very well at his post - Bush is known for rewarding both competence and loyalty... I rather doubt he would boot Rumsfeld and replace him with someone from the old Colin Powell state dept.
Is this a satire? Uncle Fester taking over the wheel from Rummy? What a hoot!
Didn't Armitage leave in "solidarity" with Powell?
The press and some Senators want Rummy out. I've no reason to believe the rumors they created! now anymore than the previous rumors. I don't know if Rummy will be there a full four years, hope so, but I doubt Rummy will be replaced with Armitage. The president seems to be devoted to filling his cabinet with people he feels he can trust implicitly this time. No leaks. That means Armitage's chances are slim to none.
people who think RA has a chance also think GWB would like George Mitchell to the the commissioner of baseball, that Hillary is amiddle of the road demoRAT and that Bil Klinton was guilty only of a personal matter. HAH. RA has no loyalty and the is one thing that will stall a person's future in a GWB administration.
Idle, groundless speculation. Nothing more.
Only if Rummy heads over to the Dept. of Education or the EPA.
Poor Rummy. Next week we'll probably get the "rift" stories about him and Condi. You'd think with Martha Stewart getting out of jail and a Michael Jackson trial in full swing, Newsweek could find better bird cage lining. |
I don't know the future. It hasn't happened yet. But I think if Bush wanted to replace Rumsfeld, he would have done it during the 2nd-term transition. Bush appears to be a guy who decides things, and they stay decided.
Won't happen. If by some chance Donald Rumsfeld is tired, one of his right hand men will be promoted to the top spot.
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I guess they decided another round of "Bush knew about 9/11 in advance" wasn't going to play, so instead they trot out the old "Rumsfeld is on his way out" canard.