Rummy created the Hollow Carter Military what did you think he'd do under Bush? I'm going to explain something to you which you may or may not have ran into.
Ever run into a Vet of the late 1975- about 1978 era? Ever notice the ones who are real vague about their service as to where they were, how long they were in, etc? Good chance they got a General Discharge under policies Rummy put into play which created the Hollow Carter Military. It was called the 30 day go UA {AWOL} get out military. I'm serious when I got to my ship Feb 77 if I had wanted out I could have walked off and waited 31 days and turned myself in at another command to get out Scott free. Don't tell me this didn't go on a lot I know better.
What finally stopped it was the new SEC of DEF made them do the time plus tacked on AWOL bad time and they got either a Dishonorable or Bad Conduct Discharge as well with usually a chance to change and prove themselves. The walk away military policy started under Rummy and he was considering it again under W. Morale in the military in 1977 was the pits.
Now so you don't mistake this as praise for Carter like another poster have done I'll explain. I credit Carter's SECNAV likely Hildigo for turning additional issues around. One was morale and another was discipline. Morale was improved in several ways. One was a return to Naval Traditions which in 1977 there was none as such. All of the sudden Bosun's Whistles were heard on all ships. Next came retention. Retention bonuses of $15k-$18K, next rank, and some shore duty for reenlistment and it attracted a considerable number. Next was another biggie. Uniforms were returned back to the traditional Navy Crackerjack uniform for E-1-E-6. We no longer were mistaken for the pilot when we boarded commercial planes LOL.
Discipline was also addressed. One of the first ways it was addressed was by calling back up volunteer senior enlisted who had retired to come back in and straighten the mess out. My last chief was such. These were guys who joined during the Korean War some maybe earlier.
They also made it harder to leave the ship. The Navy went back to the old Liberty Pass System. You had to earn your time off. All of this happened between about mid 1978-Oct 80 when I got out.
Is this AlGore? The ghost of Ann Richards?
Oh that's real funny. Now then if memory serves me right it was Junior in the 2000 debates now was it not who said that he and Mr Gore were not that far apart on many/most issues? Yet some think he was the great Conservative POTUS? That was the problem both him and his dad had too much liberalism in them.
Poppy could have easilly had two terms but Poppy abandoned the Reagan doctrines before the ink dried on the 1989 election results. He couldn't wait to bring in the wrecking crew from Ford's administration. The Bush's are not from the Conservative side they are from the Nelson Rockefeller side which is why Juniors mentor was Gerald Ford. Reagan wasn't perfect but he wasn't a Rockefeller Liberal Republican. Three presidents followed the same path and pretty well the same policies and mistakes Gerald Ford, George HW Bush and Junior. All three used the same advisers. All three pretty well held to the same policies.
Bush Jr wasted what were golden oppertunities and could not even energize a two house majority of his own party. He was too busy putting Liberals in seats Consrervatives could have easilly won like Arlen Specters seat. Boy oled Arlen sure paid him back didn't he?
Bush was by no means conservative. He was just to the right of Gore. Why? Because he divided the party he split in in half. The state of Tennessee suffered the same fate 16 years ago when a Republican governor was elected two terms. He was the DEMs best friend and the Conservatives worse nightmare who made his DEM replacement look like a conservative. His nick name was Taxquist. He caused an open tax protest at the state capitol by many Republicans actually. A dash R after a name does not instantly make a POTUS a Conservative.