Bush: "... timing is right for new leadership at the Pentagon."
Less than 24 hours after the polls closed. Interesting timing.
posted by jr at 01:11 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
This says 'Robert Gates' will replace him. Researching...(hoping...)
posted by katie82640 at 01:14 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
HAHHAHHAHHAHAHAHHHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHA
:: HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE ::
posted by anonymouscoward at 01:15 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Haha, I was just getting ready to post something on that. Timing is right. Perfect timing.
Here's a conspiracy theory for everyone. Bush nominates Robert Gates thinking he might not pass in the Democratic Congress, then blaming and accusing them of partisanship and and blah blah blah in hopes of emboldening Republicans for the Presidential election.
Nah, he wouldn't do that.
posted by ToledoPlusPlus at 01:17 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Wikipedia already has him listed as the potential replacement. Damn.
posted by ToledoPlusPlus at 01:18 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Damn meaning the speed of the information is incredible.
posted by ToledoPlusPlus at 01:19 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Dude, call Colin Powell up and stick him in as SecDef.
posted by anonymouscoward at 01:19 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
PBS interview re: 9/11 report
For private contractors to hire intelligence officials is not a new phenomenon. Take a look at the board of directors of any major defense or homeland security contractor and you're likely to come across some familiar names. The board at San Diego-based Science Applications International Corporation, which receives billions annually in federal contracts, has included two former CIA directors (John Deutch and Robert Gates), a former head of the National Security Agency (Bobby Ray Inman), and two former defense secretaries (William Perry and Melvin Laird).
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directors of Central Intelligence
Robert Michael Gates (1943- )
DCI, 6 Nov. 1991-20 Jan. 1993
posted by katie82640 at 01:19 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Doin' a heckuva job, Rummy!
posted by anonymouscoward at 01:21 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Colin Powell would get things cleaned up pretty quickly I would think. Great idea - I hope they have it in D.C.
posted by katie82640 at 01:31 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
One less person our new house can investigate with regards to the Iraq War. Probably a good move on the Administration's part, they are a smart bunch of chaps, aren't they?
posted by jdmsbyrd at 01:37 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
No surprise about Rumsfeld going, except that it happened so quickly.
I did read, though (on Powerline), that White House insiders have been puching for Rumsfeld to resign for weeks, and that Rummy was seen as a back-stabber.
Anyways, I am unilaterally declaring this to be "Hug a Republican Week." My partisan GOP friends have been really glum today, and looking very lost. I actually feel sorry for them.
So if you see some, give 'em a hug.
posted by historymike at 01:39 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Robert Gates: He serves as a member of the board of trustees of The Fidelity Funds, and on the board of directors of NACCO Industries, Inc., Brinker International, Inc. and Parker Drilling Company, Inc.
Do any of Bush's main men not have a major role in oil?
posted by ToledoPlusPlus at 01:41 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Info about Gates via kos:
"Owing to his senior status in the CIA, Gates was close to many figures who played significant roles in the Iran/contra affair and was in a position to have known of their activities. The evidence developed by Independent Counsel did not warrant indictment of Gates for his Iran/contra activities or his responses to official inquiries."
posted by jr at 01:42 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
CNN says Tester (D) wins Montana.
Virginia hangs in the balance, except...
(from VA website)
Office: U.S. Senate
Precincts Reporting: 2440 of 2443 (99.88%)
Registered Voters: 4,555,631 Total Voting: 2,366,317 Voter Turnout: 51.94 %
Candidates Party Vote Totals Percentage
J H Webb Jr Democratic 1,172,544 49.55%
G F Allen Republican 1,165,247 49.24%
G G Parker Independent Green 26,183 1.11%
Write Ins 2,343 0.10%
View Results by District Locality Total: 2,366,317
posted by anonymouscoward at 01:52 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Anyways, I am unilaterally declaring this to be "Hug a Republican Week." My partisan GOP friends have been really glum today, and looking very lost. I actually feel sorry for them.
Be careful who you hug though. The Republicans have been trying to ban same-sex hugging.
posted by ToledoPlusPlus at 02:37 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Where's Karl? Shouldn't he be next?
posted by holland at 02:43 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Anyways, I am unilaterally declaring this to be "Hug a Republican Week." My partisan GOP friends have been really glum today, and looking very lost. I actually feel sorry for them.
Be careful who you hug though. The Republicans have been trying to ban same-sex hugging.
uhhhhhhhhhh, I'd be afraid of catching something from them...
posted by anonymouscoward at 02:43 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Where's Karl? Shouldn't he be next?
Well, you see, he's SO overconfident that he does no contingency planning. So today Rove's sitting in the WH bunker/war room, with an IV drip of caffeine and glucose, trying to find a way to keep Bush and Cheney from being chimpeached and trying to remember where he stashed all the secrets and if he managed to shred all the incriminating documents and destroy the CD-Rs and hard drives.
posted by anonymouscoward at 02:47 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Montana goes for the Dem's. Jeffrey Toobin on CNN just explained that with the current vote totals under election law in Montana Burns does not qualify for recount. Toobin went on to explain also that even if Allen gets a recount in Virginia he most likely can't overcome Webb's current lead. Looks like its a sweep. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh this is so delicious I can't stand it.
posted by holland at 03:03 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Montana goes for the Dem's. Jeffrey Toobin on CNN just explained that with the current vote totals under election law in Montana Burns does not qualify for recount. Toobin went on to explain also that even if Allen gets a recount in Virginia he most likely can't overcome Webb's current lead. Looks like its a sweep. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh this is so delicious I can't stand it.
Toobin stated that Virginia machines have no paper trail, so the electronic count we have now isn't going to change very much (barring some D----- technician playing with the machines). Virginia law provides for a government-paid recount for a margin less than .5%, and a candidate-paid recount for .5% to 1%.
They might as well concede Virginia already.
Oh, don't forget that Bush sued first in 2000.
posted by anonymouscoward at 03:18 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
My partisan GOP friends have been really glum today, and looking very lost. I actually feel sorry for them.
So if you see some, give 'em a hug.
Sorry, HM, you might be right, but...
Rather, how about a knee to the groin? Since they haven't particularly been the most gracious of winners in the past, why should Democrats (or Independents or whatever) be so polite today?
posted by McCaskey at 06:15 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Rumsfeld's "resignation" is just a politically-arranged replacement to position the Imperial Administration a little better with a more-Dem Congress.
However, it's not as if that was done to allay any anti-war sentiment. 1/3 to 1/2 of the Congressional Dems voted in one set of terms or another to support and fund the Iraq Adventure. Getting Rumsfeld out of the way is pointless for that purpose since votes for funds for the war will continue to pass. After all, few Congressmen have the spinal cord to stand up against domestic Imperialism.
Kate said: "Colin Powell would get things cleaned up pretty quickly I would think."
Is that the same Colin Powell who did that dog-and-pony show before the UN about the justifications (i.e. bald-faced lies) to pursue military action against Iraq? Sorry, but that man lost all his credibility over that little farce. Powell (who is alleged to have called the Neo-Cons "those crazies") didn't have the moral fiber to stand up for what was right. He did as his masters demanded, and was easy to do since it was in line with public sentiment ... but it was still wrong and there's no way such a connected man as Powell didn't realize that.
In short, Powell is directly responsible for "selling" the war against Iraq.
HM said: "My partisan GOP friends have been really glum today, and looking very lost. I actually feel sorry for them."
Don't. Ask them why their party has created the largest federal government ever, and how that huge expansion possibly fits into the Republican credo of smaller or more responsible government. Ask them about the national budget deficit, and why, exactly, Bush's tax cuts weren't paired with spending cuts. Ask them ... ah, you know what? The heck with it. They couldn't see it all before, and they can't see it now.
posted by GuestZero at 06:35 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
I seriously doubt that Powell will come back to the administration. Bush has been very supportive of many of the top generals. I'd look for one that's retiring to step into the job as they wouldn't need any major briefing on the situation and they'd be warmly accepted within the Pentagon.
posted by MikeyA at 08:24 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
GZ you're right about the spending cuts. That's why many Republicans and Independants voted for the Dems this year. Rahm Emmanual rightly deserves a lot of credit for putting up conservative democrats in districts that were vulnerable.
They must now set forth an agenda to capitalize on the momentum without getting bogged down into gridlock so that they can win reelection in '08.
Also I think this election is greatly empowering Lieberman and hurt Dean. They put a lot of stock into Lamont and now Lieberman can be a crucial swing vote who was ostracized. He is in a pretty good situation if he wants to run in '08.
posted by MikeyA at 08:29 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
This article may have indicated a growing level of dissatisfaction.
http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2333360.php
http://64.236.24.12/2006/POLITICS/11/04/rumsfeld.departure/index.html
"Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large," the editorial states. "His strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised. And although the blame for our failures in Iraq rests with the secretary, it will be the troops who bear its brunt."
The DOD was constantly defending Rumsfeld.
http://www.defenselink.mil/home/dodupdate/index-b.html
posted by Bbcmjeep43 at 10:30 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Rumsfeld was the sacrificial lamb with the Democrats winning the house seats. GB is now trying to make it look like he's been trying to do the right thing. I can't agree with it.
PS - I am not now, nor have I ever been a Rumsfeld fan. I just know BS when I see it.
posted by DoknowDocare at 10:40 P.M. EST on Wed Nov 08, 2006 #
Soooo ... should Reid and Pelosi declare they now have a "mandate" and just do what ever the hell they want?
Anyhoo, sarcasm aside, the alleged 51-seat Dem majority in the Senate doesn't mean that much since 1 of those arseholes is Lieberman, who is a staunch supporter of the Emperor and Imperialism in general. Also in line with that attitude, the $300B+ that was voted for the Iraq (Mis)Adventure was strongly supported by the Dems all along. Stopping the Imperial Rape of Iraq is still quite the uphill battle. At best, the spiked strap-on will be passed over the UN, who will largely continue the thrustin'. At worst, the Dem majority will authorize even MORE troops (i.e. more spikes on the strap-on) to occupy Iraq, much in line with a number of Kerry's previous statements.
I now expect the same soldiers to make another sign, saying:
"Send Us More Troops Like You Promised, John"
posted by GuestZero at 04:42 A.M. EST on Thu Nov 09, 2006 #
Let this be a lesson.
If your boss comes up to you and drapes his arm over your shoulder and says, "You're doing a hell of a job", type out your resume and get busy lookin'!
posted by BrianInFlorida at 05:44 A.M. EST on Thu Nov 09, 2006 #
Any vote in the Senate to call for a withdrawl in Iraq will probably end up 51-49 against with 2 Dems breaking party line. They are Senators Clinton and Lieberman respectively.
posted by MikeyA at 08:35 A.M. EST on Thu Nov 09, 2006 #
Huh uh! Clinton and Lieberman can read the election tea leaves. It would be political suicide for anyone in office who doesn't understand that this sweeping turnover was more of a vote against the war than a vote for the Dems. If the Dem's want to hold onto power thay HAVE provide a plan to get us out of Iraq and get very, very centrist on other issues. They have to offer reasonable compromises and stop the insane spending. Otherwise in two years they will be gone too.
posted by holland at 08:49 A.M. EST on Thu Nov 09, 2006 #
Well then GZ - have you a name you can think of that would be a good fit to clean up this mess?
If never having made a mistake is one of the job criteria - I think the A list might be a little short :-)
But I'm concerned about the Gates guy - so who WOULD have been the ideal candidate?
posted by katie82640 at 12:05 P.M. EST on Thu Nov 09, 2006 #
I believe Gates is just another "empty" nomination just like Harriet Meyers. It's an old political tactic. Put up someone that you don't exactly want but wouldn't mind having and if they're voted down you nominate the one you really want. If they voted the second down you then complain that they're tieing up Government and preventing things from getting done. It then becomes a test of wills against public opinion.
It's the most prevalent on the Supreme Court. That's how we got Justices Thomas and Alito. It's an old political tactic that Bush knows well.
posted by MikeyA at 01:37 P.M. EST on Thu Nov 09, 2006 #
Well - I'm not going to get into criticizing any President, current or past if I can ever avoid it. I don't like it - that's just me. My belief is the only person who is qualified to really slam a President is someone who's walked in those shoes.
But I will point to something that happened, with regard to this situation, and I DO criticize the mindset and decision making process.
Last week I heard President Bush say that he hoped Rumsfeld would be with him 'till the end'. Today I heard the Whitehouse spokesman say the reason this happened, although the decision for Rumsfeld to leave was made a month ago, was that this was held until after the election.
I think once the tide flows in the Whitehouse, Governors' office or the local Mayors' office to make policy and direction decisions based on how it might affect a future election - we've lost something. I think that the people who hold those offices should make the BEST decisions they can in the matters at hand and implement them as soon as it is humanly possible. Without regard to the elections. And I think if they did that - they could spend 99.9999999% less time and energy on worrying about the elections.
posted by katie82640 at 01:56 P.M. EST on Thu Nov 09, 2006 #
Last week I heard President Bush say that he hoped Rumsfeld would be with him 'till the end'. Today I heard the Whitehouse spokesman say the reason this happened, although the decision for Rumsfeld to leave was made a month ago, was that this was held until after the election.
Wow, talk about giving Chimpy McFlightsuit a pass for being a big fat liar.
posted by anonymouscoward at 03:31 P.M. EST on Thu Nov 09, 2006 #
Not sure I understand your comment ac. Who's Chimpy and who's giving the pass?
It appears a housecleaning has begun:
Mehlman stepping down as Republican Committee Chair
posted by katie82640 at 10:18 A.M. EST on Fri Nov 10, 2006 #
*sigh*
43
All Hat No Cattle
aWol
Baby Bush
Boy George
Bu$h
Bush the Lesser
Bushit
Bushitler
C+ Augustus
Caligula Jr.
Chimp
Chimp in Charge
Chimp in Chief
Chimp in Thief
Chimpenführer
Chimpoleon
Chimperor
Chimpy
Chimpy McCokespoon
Chimpy McFlightsuit
Commander Dress-Up
Commander-in-Chimp
Commander-in-Thief
Crawford Coward
Crazy Moron
Curious George
Dauphin
Decider-in-Chief
Dictatortot
Dim Son
Dubya
Dumbya
Drinky McCokeSpoon
El Busho
El Shrubbo
Flightsuit Boy
Furious George
GDMFSOB
George Oilwellian
Gutless Wonder Boy
His Chimperial Majesty
His Squandership
idiot-in-chief
Il Bushe
Il Douche
Il Dunce
Junior
inCurious George
King George
The Little Turd from Crawford
Miserable Failure the So-Called Liberal Media
By the way, Mehlman's supposedly part of the self-hating gay Republican contingent. Bill Maher outed him on Larry King, and CNN got really happy with the censorship after that... Corporate News Network's clearly trying to kiss up to the GOP still.
And those wonderful champions of family values at the GOP, including Mehlman, knowingly took contributions from a gay porn company!
GOP stands for Gay Old Pedophiles.
posted by anonymouscoward at 01:00 P.M. EST on Fri Nov 10, 2006 #
Since the form ate the rest of the list...
Monkey Boy
Nero
Not My President
Oaf Of Office
Our Great Leader
pResident
pResident Evil
Pretzel Boy
Pretzeldent
Pretzeldunce
Rat Bastard
Resident Bush
Satan's Monkey
Short Bus President
Shrub
Shrubbenführer
Shrubbo
Shrubby
Shrubya
SmarmySmirk
Smirkelgrüber
Smirking Chimp
Smirky McChimpster
Smirky McFlightsuit
Son of a Bush
Texas Tard
That @$%#^% Lying Bastard
The Boy Blunder
The Boy King
The Boy Wonder
The Chimpenator
The Cow Whisperer
The Decider
The Great Divider
The Idiot Son of an Asshole
The Little Turd from Crawford
TMHMOE (The Most Hated Man On Earth)
Thief in Chief
Too Stupid to be President
Towel Boy of the Secret Police and Satanic Elite
Unelected Moron
Village Idiot
Wanker in Chief
War Chimp
Witless Wonder
As for a pass, you and the So-Called Liberal Media gave him one on his little lie.
posted by anonymouscoward at 01:02 P.M. EST on Fri Nov 10, 2006 #
http://select.nytimes.com/2006/11/09/opinion/09dowd.html?n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists%2fMaureen%20Dowd
posted by McCaskey at 09:51 P.M. EST on Fri Nov 10, 2006 #
Kate, don't tell me that it never occurred to you that Bush's ears stick out so far that he does have a slight proto-simian look. Practically every political cartoonist has picked up on that.
posted by GuestZero at 11:46 A.M. EST on Sun Nov 12, 2006 #
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