Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
Back to Main

November 8, 2006
Rumsfeld Resigns


A memorable screenshot.

Bob Gates will become new SecDef – definitely a Bush 1 guy – no problem with confirmation

Bush press conference Q&A (live blogged):

  • no change in Iraq policy
  • (Bush is pissed, really, really pissed, aggressive …)
  • criticizing a reporter who asks question about timing of Rumsfelds firing … uuch
  • meeting with Pelosi Thursday/Friday – will not retreat on principles
  • "Cheney will stay – no question" (very aggressive)
  • about/to Pelosi: "with winning comes responsible" i.e. she has to compromise – he will not
  • "will not change priorities" or style
  • "If the goal is success [in Iraq] we will work together, if their goal is to get out, it will be hard to work together."
  • question on comparisons Vietnam vs. Iraq – (he is totally swimming in the answer, unintelligible blah, blah) – "not comparable"
  • the election was just hard, Iraq was not really the issue probably, Foley & co was … no do-overs on my side
  • Q: out of touch? A: people didn’t understand taxes and security …
  • immigration: compromise possible with dems
  • abrupt end – several stupid "swimming" or better said drowning in idiocy answers

What drug is he on? This act looked like on some kind of speed that induces a certain aggressiveness and too many spontaneous fast movement  – any idea?

(other news – Tester wins Montana)

Posted by b on November 8, 2006 at 17:52 UTC | Permalink
Comments

Links? Damn. I thought you were making an announcement.

Posted by: beq | Nov 8 2006 17:55 utc | 1

apparently he is resigning.
bush is on tv now. saying ppl cast votes for new direction… which, for him, is window dressing, no doubt.
however, it is a good thing that Rumsfeld is going. he has been a nutcase since the 1970s in terms of foreign policy, not just an incompetent fascist war criminal who deserves to be tried in Den Hague.

Posted by: fauxreal | Nov 8 2006 18:03 utc | 2

oh, and as I wrote “window dressing” Bush the insufferable prick made some comment about having an interior designer help Pelosi pick out new drapes?
Pig.
Yes, if you’re a female, that’s the top priority for your legislative agenda.

Posted by: fauxreal | Nov 8 2006 18:05 utc | 3

Perceptual rivalry and “Illusion is the first of all pleasures”
Robert Gates

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Nov 8 2006 18:12 utc | 4

link

Posted by: annie | Nov 8 2006 18:18 utc | 5

The Gates of Hell?
I assume one major reason Rumsfeld is stepping down is so that he need not have to leave the country and risk being arrested on war crimes charges…

Posted by: ralphieboy | Nov 8 2006 18:19 utc | 6

I’m wondering if the replacement of Rumsfeld with Gates signals that Bush the First is finally pulling the plug on Junior’s neocon playmates. We’ll know for sure when Bush Family Consigliere James Baker’s Iraq report comes out in a week or so.

Posted by: Michael Hawkins | Nov 8 2006 18:26 utc | 7

Although, as jj would have it, those of us who voted for democrats or against republicans or for sanders are supporting the he man woman-haters club, those who did vote for democrats and those who caucus with them helped to create these moments in history…
The first woman speaker of the house.
The second African-American governor.
The first socialist senator.

Posted by: fauxreal | Nov 8 2006 18:50 utc | 8

Short version:
“My way or the highway.”
@fauxreal #8
Here is another one to add to your list: First Muslim elected to Congress (Minnesota – Keith Ellison — 5th District — Elected to House)

Posted by: Bea | Nov 8 2006 19:05 utc | 9

Uncle $cam
maybe your help on the phones or whatever you did to help Tester made a difference in MT.
even though you and DiD and many others think it won’t make a rat’s ass of difference, I like to see it as one last chance. I believe we can bring pressure onto the Democratic reps and they should be scared and grateful for the chance they have. Someone else had a tag line that said “we can fix this mess”
maybe we can’t but we sure as hell ought to try.
thanks

Posted by: dan of steele | Nov 8 2006 19:10 utc | 10

Now that is a surprise. A big defeat for Bush, as Bush is not just Bush but Team Bush. or Cabal Bush. or Bush and co. or Bush and his manipulators.
That is a piece of Bush gone. Left part of the head, a leg, what?

Posted by: Noirette | Nov 8 2006 19:17 utc | 11

So I take it Melvin Laird wasn’t interested in the job.
“Cheney will stay – no question” : Inasmuch as this is what Bush said about Dumsfeld last week, Ole Deadeye Dick may be doin’ a right lotta’ drinkin’ an’ shootin’ down on th’range purty soon.
How strongly does this signal a decision to back off an attack on Iran? After all, they are Gates’ former business associates.

Posted by: YouFascinateMe | Nov 8 2006 19:18 utc | 12

billmon has a KILLER photoshop of ken m

Posted by: annie | Nov 8 2006 19:24 utc | 13

Josh:

Okay, I think this presser may actually set a record for open and shut contradictions. But about five minutes after saying he hadn’t had his final convos, he just said that he had. In the course of the last few minutes he’s also said both that he hadn’t decided to replace Rummy pre-election, and that he had. I think he also said he lied to the reporters in the pre-election conversation he had on Rumsfeld.

Posted by: b | Nov 8 2006 19:25 utc | 14

I meant to add: Rummy offered to resign during the Abu Ghraib scandal but Bush refused. That is a pattern one has seen for many Bush Gvmt. people, who seemingly tried to leave gracefully and slowly. No hard feellings. Family calls. All that.

Posted by: Noirette | Nov 8 2006 19:32 utc | 15

Meth…and power

Posted by: Ben | Nov 8 2006 21:06 utc | 16

Needlenose has a few pictures
http://www.needlenose.com/comment/reply/3556

Posted by: Anonymous | Nov 8 2006 22:14 utc | 17

Regardless of what Bush thinks or says about Pelosi, he’s going to have to deal with her.
She might be in with the inside game, like the rest of the Dem leadership, but she is far tougher than Bush thinks.

Posted by: jony_b_cool | Nov 9 2006 0:57 utc | 18

“Regardless of what Bush thinks or says about Pelosi, he’s going to have to deal with her.
She might be in with the inside game, like the rest of the Dem leadership, but she is far tougher than Bush thinks.”
Posted by: jony_b_cool | Nov 8, 2006 7:57:59 PM | 18
You got that right jbc. A stern faced Blitzer had her sit for an interview on CNN today and she flat out demolished him on all questions. She will be an excellent ‘Madame Speaker’. And. She is now 2nd in line for the presidency if something happened to the other two.

Posted by: pb | Nov 9 2006 1:19 utc | 19

Is “fantastic job” the new “heckuva job”?

Posted by: Brian Boru | Nov 9 2006 5:12 utc | 20

She is now 2nd in line for the presidency if something happened to the other two.
not to be underestimated

Posted by: annie | Nov 9 2006 5:41 utc | 21

Can we have the trial (with a hanging judge) now?

Posted by: Dismal Science | Nov 9 2006 12:47 utc | 22

Back to Main