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Talk nice amongst yourselves.

I am not surprised at this one. I did enjoy his press conferences. Too bad this move wasn't made as an "October Surprise" it might have made a difference in some of the close races.

I was surprised he didn't in the middle of all the controversy previously.

Skibo wrote:I am not surprised at this one. I did enjoy his press conferences. Too bad this move wasn't made as an "October Surprise" it might have made a difference in some of the close races.

No surprise to me, either.

Seems like a good move to acknowledge the will of the people and perhaps put out this particular fire, at least for a while...

(Part of me hoped he'd name a Democrat Senator from a state with a Republican governor.... governor names a Republican replacement, Senate stays in Republican hands. Divided Congress is not necessarily a bad thing. )

Hey! Whatever happened to "stay the course"?

Just last week Dick Cheney stated that the election would not have an impact on the administration's conduct of the conflict in Iraq.

Previously, any outsider (Democrats, generals, etc) suggesting that the administration consider changing course in Iraq was accused of having a "cut and run" mentality.

Does Rumsfeld's sudden departure indicate that the administration is now willing to consider a change of course in Iraq? Will they still call it "cut and run"?

Or (I'm a cynic) is this just an attempt to get rid of one of this administration's bad odors (Rumsfeld) prior to the 2008 Presidential election?

Bon voyage, Rummy. Try to enjoy your retirement and don't fill your time up with TOO many corporate directorships or defense lobbying positions. Play some golf! Whatever you do, don't worry about the mess you made - we'll try to figure out how to clean it up.

flyboy55 wrote:Hey! Whatever happened to "stay the course"?

Just last week Dick Cheney stated that the election would not have an impact on the administration's conduct of the conflict in Iraq.

Previously, any outsider (Democrats, generals, etc) suggesting that the administration consider changing course in Iraq was accused of having a "cut and run" mentality.

Does Rumsfeld's sudden departure indicate that the administration is now willing to consider a change of course in Iraq? Will they still call it "cut and run"?

Or (I'm a cynic) is this just an attempt to get rid of one of this administration's bad odors (Rumsfeld) prior to the 2008 Presidential election?

Bon voyage, Rummy. Try to enjoy your retirement and don't fill your time up with TOO many corporate directorships or defense lobbying positions. Play some golf! Whatever you do, don't worry about the mess you made - we'll try to figure out how to clean it up.

Just last week The Big Rummy was going to be until the end according to Shrub... Guess Heartless Dick cut and ran on his buddy when he had the chance.

He had two choices. Resign or go hunting with Cheney

Cubbie Bear wrote:He had two choices. Resign or go hunting with Cheney

and this time Heartless Dick wasn't going to be using birdshot..

This is from the MSNBC/NBC blog-The Daily Nightly:

A source inside the Joint Chiefs of Staff tells our NBC News military analyst Bill Arkin that there was a fight between Vice President Dick Cheney and President Bush's political team prior to the election. Cheney said Rumsfeld should stay. Political types, led by White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, wanted him gone.

The decision was made to delay the decision until after the election. Then, based on how the GOP did, it would be the president's decision. After the Republicans lost the House and may lose the Senate, President Bush agreed that Rumsfeld should go. According to Arkin's source, Cheney fought a second battle on the replacement. He thought they needed someone strong, someone ideological. He lost again.

flyboy55 wrote: Does Rumsfeld's sudden departure indicate that the administration is now willing to consider a change of course in Iraq? Will they still call it "cut and run"?

Or (I'm a cynic) is this just an attempt to get rid of one of this administration's bad odors (Rumsfeld) prior to the 2008 Presidential election?

I don't think this is an indication of changing course yet. I do believe it is a preemptive move by the administration to screw up democrat plans to conduct hearings and drag rummy through the mill. Rumsfield is a lightning rod, both sides had enough of him.

Rummy was amazingly entertaining at times. His unflapability and dogged determination - ignoring everything and everyone (almost) around him - were something to behold. His command of language was something to celebrate in an Administration captained by the tongue-tied W. But, but, but what a tragedy to put him in charge of real lives. He seemed to have no empathy at all.
His ouster is a huge step forward both because he is gone and because the Administration is finally saying, Oh, could we possibly have done something wrong?
He will undoubtedly be honored for his service with lots of medals.

It's not uncommon for cbinet shakeups after elections--I suspect he won't be the last one to jump ship in the next few weeks/months.

Just too bad it didn't come a few years earlier.

Big Red Parrothead wrote:It's not uncommon for cbinet shakeups after elections--I suspect he won't be the last one to jump ship in the next few weeks/months.

Just too bad it didn't come a few years earlier.

I don't think he jumped so much as he was tossed over the rail........

i have to go back and look at my latest issue of Texas Monthly. there is a big article on Gates and his being at A&M.

I think I read in TM that he said he had no intention of going to Washington. He has had offers and he wanted to stay at A&M because he loved what he was doing.

SchoolGirlHeart wrote:

Big Red Parrothead wrote:It's not uncommon for cbinet shakeups after elections--I suspect he won't be the last one to jump ship in the next few weeks/months.

Just too bad it didn't come a few years earlier.

I don't think he jumped so much as he was tossed over the rail........

or under the bus...

All these hard core neo-cons that talked Bush into this war are leaving him, ie. Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Richard Clark? etc., it didn't work and they are rats abandoning the sinking ship. Even Rush said that this admin. hasn't been truly conservative for the last 4 years and that's why they lost. I almost felt sorry for Bush at his "We took a thumping" press conference, but the buck has to stop somewhere. I'm sure he's had to give these kind of speeches before at the 4 companies he bankrupted in the past. I did like his tone in the speech, he looked respectful and seems willing to try to salvage a working relationship with the democrats. We definately need checks and balances for our system to work and we haven't had that with this admin. and a lot of the messes we are in reflect that.

flyboy55 wrote:Hey! Whatever happened to "stay the course"?

Just last week Dick Cheney stated that the election would not have an impact on the administration's conduct of the conflict in Iraq.

Mr Cheney undoubtedly had a part in this decision...maybe he even made it!!

flyboy55 wrote:Bon voyage, Rummy. Try to enjoy your retirement ....

...just dont go hunting with your buddy Cheney!!

BrianM wrote:All these hard core neo-cons that talked Bush into this war are leaving him, ie. Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Richard Clark? etc., it didn't work and they are rats abandoning the sinking ship. Even Rush said that this admin. hasn't been truly conservative for the last 4 years and that's why they lost. I almost felt sorry for Bush at his "We took a thumping" press conference, but the buck has to stop somewhere. I'm sure he's had to give these kind of speeches before at the 4 companies he bankrupted in the past. I did like his tone in the speech, he looked respectful and seems willing to try to salvage a working relationship with the democrats. We definately need checks and balances for our system to work and we haven't had that with this admin. and a lot of the messes we are in reflect that.

this must be where they came up with the "cut and run" line...

and thank God Shrub has experience giving these speeches; imagine how badly he'd have hosed it up going into it cold... like he did trying to run the oil company or the Texas Rangers..

Skibo wrote:

flyboy55 wrote: Does Rumsfeld's sudden departure indicate that the administration is now willing to consider a change of course in Iraq? Will they still call it "cut and run"?

Or (I'm a cynic) is this just an attempt to get rid of one of this administration's bad odors (Rumsfeld) prior to the 2008 Presidential election?

I don't think this is an indication of changing course yet. I do believe it is a preemptive move by the administration to screw up democrat plans to conduct hearings and drag rummy through the mill. Rumsfield is a lightning rod, both sides had enough of him.

Bingo. I think you've pegged it. Like I said, it puts out that particular fire for the time being.

As a bonus, tossing Rummy also helps show voters that Bush has now been appropriately humbled.

What happens next...?

Pleasin & Teasin wrote: Mr Cheney undoubtedly had a part in this decision...maybe he even made it!!

Rumor has it that Bush wanted to boot Rummy earlier Cheney was against it pending the outcome of the election.