Rummy Steps Down

[PlannerGirl]

ABC News is reporting Rummy is stepping down with Bush speaking in a few moments.

WOW Thats news for the day


WASHINGTON Nov 8, 2006 (AP)— Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, intends to resign after six stormy years at the Pentagon, Republican officials said Wednesday.

Word came a day after the Democratic gains in the election, in which Rumsfeld was a focus of much of the criticism of the Iraq war. Officials said Robert Gates, former head of the CIA, would replace Rumsfeld.

Earlier today, a spokesman for Rumsfeld said he'd given no indication that he would step down in the wake of Democratic election gains. The spokesman said Rumsfeld would work with Congress on Iraq but added that the focus on stabilizing the country will remain the same.

In the days leading up to the election, President Bush said he wanted Rumsfeld to stay on as defense chief until the end of Bush's second term.

[Planderella]

Link from MSNBC

[The One]

What a load..of......URRP.....gag...........just threw up a little in my mouth.....gag......pop tart......and .....a little bacon in there.....just a second......
GULP.....AHH....

There....

WHAT A LOAD OF HYPOCRITIC CRAP.

Arrggg..........BARF!!!!

[Suburb Repairman]

ABC News is reporting Rummy is stepping down with Bush speaking in a few moments.

WOW Thats news for the day

If that's true, can I just say that its about damn time? I wonder when he gets his medal...

This has me very curious as to who his replacement would be. Odds are it'll be someone more moderate given the election outcome and Bush's need to smooth things over with the dems to get anything remotely close to his agenda accomplished.

EDIT: just saw the rest of the article added mentioning Gates... Don't know much about him aside that he's the President of Texas A&M and was former CIA head. Off to go google I guess...

[dandy_warhol]

If that's true, can I just say that its about damn time? I wonder when he gets his medal...

This has me very curious as to who his replacement would be. Odds are it'll be someone more moderate given the election outcome and Bush's need to smooth things over with the dems to get anything remotely close to his agenda accomplished.

from Planderella's link, "Officials said Robert Gates, former head of the CIA under the first President Bush" would replace Rummy.

[cololi]

It's about time. I wonder how much of a puppet Gates will be, or if he will actually be able to intiate something other than "stay the course"

[jmello]

Ding dong, the witch is dead! Rumsfeld is OUT!

[kjel]

I'd say between yesterday and today....Dems sent it out of the ballpark!

[Cardinal]

Huh. Just a week ago Doubya told us how critical Rumsfeld and Cheney were to his presidency and this country, and promised they would stay. Rummy is gone. I guess Bush is in real trouble now. This must have come as a real shock to him. He could not have known, as he would never mislead this country. Thank god we still have Cheney.

[AubieTurtle]

Waiting until after the election to resign goes along with releasing bad news on Friday. I hate how politicians do things like this to manipulate public opinion to best serve their interests instead of those of the people.

[kjel]

Ding dong, the witch is dead! Rumsfeld is OUT!

Is it too much to ask that Rove goes with him?

[otterpop]

Why did he resign? As Dubya would say, "Rummy, you're doing a heck of a job."

[SGB]

I've got to read these thread titles more slowly. I thought it said Rumpy Steps Down.

[pete-rock]

Huh. Just a week ago Doubya told us how critical Rumsfeld and Cheney were to his presidency and this country, and promised they would stay. Rummy is gone. I guess Bush is in real trouble now. This must have come as a real shock to him. He could not have known, as he would never mislead this country. Thank god we still have Cheney.

You know, I think Bush was honestly shocked at the results from last night, and has spent the last 18 hours or so wondering, "how exactly do I do this 'reach out' thing to the Democrats?" Of course, the more cynical side of me says that if Rumsfeld is out of office, he doesn't bring the whole Administration down if/when investigations by the new Congress start happening.

[Tide]

Wow that's horrible timing. If he was going to step down he could have a week ago and actually impacted these GOP seats that were up for grabs. Him stepping down is like a kick in the nuts to the GOP candidates that lost narrow races. I believe if Rummy stepped down last week the races would have been a lot closer.

[The District]

so much for staying the course. thanks donald.

[imaplanner]

Approximately 5 years too late.

[veleez]

With Rumsfeld out and the House and possibly the Senate controlled by Democrats (many of whom in the seconds between mudslinging in their ads pointed out they were against the war in Iraq), what if anything will change with regard to the war in Iraq? (sorry for the kind of run on sentance)

[biscuit]

Wow that's horrible timing. If he was going to step down he could have a week ago and actually impacted these GOP seats that were up for grabs. Him stepping down is like a kick in the nuts to the GOP candidates that lost narrow races. I believe if Rummy stepped down last week the races would have been a lot closer.

You're probably right, but arrogance and sheer mule-headedness kept anyone in the White House from making such an unselfish action. They didn't foresee such a huge Democratic win and therefore saw no reason to change the leadership of the war effort.

My guess is Rummy's resignation was more of a "Get him out before the Congressional hearings begin" maneuverer.

[hilldweller]

It's about time. I wonder how much of a puppet Gates will be, or if he will actually be able to intiate something other than "stay the course"

Actually the new saying is "full speed ahead", according to Dick Cheney.

[Brocktoon]

With Rumsfeld out and the House and possibly the Senate controlled by Democrats (many of whom in the seconds between mudslinging in their ads pointed out they were against the war in Iraq), what if anything will change with regard to the war in Iraq? (sorry for the kind of run on sentance)

Its up to the President, he is the decider! Congress provides oversight and approves appropriations for the war but the President sets policy.

[The One]

Huh. Just a week ago Doubya told us how critical Rumsfeld and Cheney were to his presidency and this country, and promised they would stay. Rummy is gone. I guess Bush is in real trouble now. This must have come as a real shock to him. He could not have known, as he would never mislead this country. Thank god we still have Cheney.

BARF......Gag........gork............

GOP should now be GH(hypocritical)OP Cardinal....keep posting these and I'll have to go to the hospital for an IV cause I can't keep anything down.......

[michiganplanner]

Actually the new saying is "full speed ahead", according to Dick Cheney.

Those may be his words. Yet with still Cheney around, "duck and cover" seems to be more appropriate for the rest of us.

[michaelskis]

Wow that's horrible timing. If he was going to step down he could have a week ago and actually impacted these GOP seats that were up for grabs. Him stepping down is like a kick in the nuts to the GOP candidates that lost narrow races. I believe if Rummy stepped down last week the races would have been a lot closer.

I agree completely.

Let’s not forget that while the past few years have not been a cake walk, here is a guy who has been a popular political figure since the 60’s. It is a shame that he has to go out this way, but I agree it is time for him to step out. He has been the Youngest and Oldest Secretary of Defense, and works harder than most of us combined. It is nothing for this man to put in 80 hour weeks, almost every week. On top of that all of this time he has had a desk that he stands at... the man does not sit down for anything.

As I said, I agree it is time for him to leave (well last week would have been better) but I think that it is juvenile and hypocritical to bash him. But those are just my thoughts on the matter.

[veleez]

Its up to the President, he is the decider! Congress provides oversight and approves appropriations for the war but the President sets policy.

I realize this. I'm more curious as to how people will react when nothing changes. The war was definitly one of the biggest issues in this election year. People voted Democrat, presumably because they want change. Did people vote Democrat because they want to see a change, or because they want to show that they want a change? How will Democrats do in 2008 when we are still in Iraq?