Rumsfeld steps down

[JoS]

Breaking news, Donald rumsfeld steps down.

[Mr-Pope]

It's all falling apart.

LOL.

[Danielof2k6]

Yeah this is all just part of a trend. Republicans are going to be eating themselves alive for the next 2 years.

[snoballandthmonyshot]

At 11/8/06 01:02 PM, JoS wrote: Breaking news, Donald rumsfeld steps down.

hahaha, you beat me to it, just heard, best news i've heard in time... bo fuckin selector

[Dopefish]

I almost made a thread about this in General but figured I should browse here first. Pretty crazy stuff tho.

[lapis]

This was probably the lethal jab to his political throat:

However, US policy in Iraq has been heavily criticised in an editorial published in an influential military journal. The Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times said Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the architect of the Iraq campaign, had "lost credibility with the uniformed leadership". It urged President George W Bush to install a replacement at the Pentagon.

[wwwyzzerdd]

At 11/8/06 01:28 PM, lapis wrote: The Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times said Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the architect of the Iraq campaign, had "lost credibility with the uniformed leadership". It urged President George W Bush to install a replacement at the Pentagon.

I think when the fucking military is asking for you to leave, that's basically the last straw. I think it's bullshit for him to leave now though, simply because this will now be viewed as some type of "republican exodus" after the democrats gain damn-near minimal power in congress, and this leaves the door open for another partisan hack to come in and preach why we need to "stay the course, stay the course, stay the course, stay the course, stay the course, stay the course, stay the course, stay the course, stay the course, stay the course........."

[Demosthenez]

The uniformed leadership was never behind this administration. The only difference was back in 2003 the administration had the power to silence them. They cant now.

Only reason he is leaving is he doesnt want to come under investigation from Congress and Senate while still in office.

[Artman40]

However, I hate the replacement as much as Rumsfeld.

[TJ]

Good news indeed, for now.

The picture Yahoo used in the article is hilarious.

[wwwyzzerdd]

Robert Gates has been named as the replacement for Donald Rumsfeld.

A few notables about him.
* former Director of National Intelligence
* served on the Baker Commission (Iraq War Study Group)
* linked to being a part of Iran-Contra affair.
* Former President of Texas A&M (previously the dean of the George Bush School of Government and Public Service Graduate School)

His nomination will go to the Senate Armed Services Committee; comprised of the following members (given that the proceedings occur before the new congress takes session).

REPUBLICANS
John Warner (CHAIRMAN)
John McCain
James Inhofe
Pat Roberts
Jeff Sessions
Susan Collins
John Ensign
James Talent
Saxby Chambliss
Lindsey Graham
Elizabeth Dole
John Cornyn
John Thune

DEMOCRATS
Carl Levin (MINORITY LEADER)
Ted Kennedy
Robert Byrd
Joe Lieberman
Jack Reed
Daniel Akaka
Bill Nelson
Ben Nelson
Mark Dayton
Evan Bayh
Hillary Clinton

If approved, the nomination will go before the full Senate, and will be voted on. I wonder if the democrats will stall this nomination until January, when they will be in "power," and can either yay or nay him in or out. I forget if nominations require majority vote or 2/3 though.

[Jose]

Next on the chopping block, George W. Bush.

[Proteas]

At 11/8/06 03:24 PM, Jose wrote: Next on the chopping block, George W. Bush.

Good luck with that.

No wait, go ahead, impeach George W. for all I care. I just want to see the stunned look on you're dumb faces when you realize you won't have enough time impeach Chenney before the '08 elections. >:-D~

[Jose]

At 11/8/06 03:33 PM, Proteas wrote:

At 11/8/06 03:24 PM, Jose wrote: Next on the chopping block, George W. Bush.

Good luck with that.

No wait, go ahead, impeach George W. for all I care. I just want to see the stunned look on you're dumb faces when you realize you won't have enough time impeach Chenney before the '08 elections. >:-D~

Since I do not hold a house or senate seat, it would be quite hard for me to impeach bush.

Honestly, I really don't care either way if Bush gets impeached or not. It won't matter much. I'm just glad that there finally is another branch to keep him in check.

[Ravariel]

Savvy political move by the White House, if you ask me. Feeding Rummy to the wolves is a big red herring away from the investigations into possible corruption and veracity of information given to the american people that would have happened had he satayed in the position. This gives the White House some breathing room, even with the new Dem House majority and (possible) Senate majority...

Now to see if the personell change actually effects some policy change, or if it's going to be "smile and nod and do it your way anyway" for the Bush administration.

[phileeguy]

This seems to be today's hot topic, moreso than the election results in most areas. The big thing that I have been hearing lately (which I tend to agree with) is the fact that Rummy left his job too late for his Republican party.

Had this man - who was the architect for the whole Iraq situation - left office months ago, Republicans could have lost less seats and possibly still be in control of both The House and Senate. The Iraq war was a major factor in many people's votes it seems, and had he either been fired or voluntarily left office it may have seemed to the average undecided voter that the administration realized the problems and is trying to do something about it in going in a new direction.

[EnragedSephiroth]

Rumsfeld wanted to resign on two previous occasions but Bush would not let him. I wonder why he finally gave in?

[Buddhist]

Is Rummy doing the robot on the CNN article?

[phileeguy]

At 11/8/06 04:50 PM, Buddhist wrote: Is Rummy doing the robot on the CNN article?

Rummy IS a robot. Haven't you ever heard his press conferences when reporters ask him about something he previously said that contradicted what he said recently? If you turn up your volume you can hear "Does Not Compute" under his breath.

[public-enemy1]

I woke up and wondered if today was going to be just as good as yesterday. My question has been anwsered.

[Memorize]

Ironic how this happens just as the Iraqi police and military are just about to be able to hold their own in the next few months.

[SmilezRoyale]

At 11/8/06 04:50 PM, Buddhist wrote: Is Rummy doing the robot on the CNN article?

Because it's a CNN article, key word,

[Begoner]

At 11/8/06 05:21 PM, mofomojo wrote: This is just to quell criticism of the war, I can't imagine the other guy being much better or tactful.

He's not. In fact, he was implicated in the Iran-Contra scandal and had a great deal of knowledge regarding those dubious activities.

[SmilezRoyale]

At 11/8/06 06:07 PM, Begoner wrote:

At 11/8/06 05:21 PM, mofomojo wrote: This is just to quell criticism of the war, I can't imagine the other guy being much better or tactful.

He's not. In fact, he was implicated in the Iran-Contra scandal and had a great deal of knowledge regarding those dubious activities.

Because it was iraq, because it was him. Because it was *Them* and no one else.

[TehChahlesh]

At 11/8/06 01:02 PM, JoS wrote: Breaking news, Donald rumsfeld steps down.

Owned

[bcdemon]

At 11/8/06 05:41 PM, Techware wrote: Ironic how this happens just as the Iraqi police and military are just about to be able to hold their own in the next few months.

ROFL, Iraq won't be able to "hold thier own" in the next few months. Jalal Talabani figures they will need help until the end of 2007, then he says the Iraqi forces can handle any remaining violence.

And about Rummy, I noticed today it was a tight race in some areas, just then I saw Rumsfeld resign. I wonder if that tight race loosened up after the news?

[VigilanteNighthawk]

At 11/8/06 03:33 PM, Proteas wrote:

At 11/8/06 03:24 PM, Jose wrote:

No wait, go ahead, impeach George W. for all I care. I just want to see the stunned look on you're dumb faces when you realize you won't have enough time impeach Chenney before the '08 elections. >:-D~

I doubt Bush will be impeached, but there are going to be numerous investigations. Rumor has it that John Conyers is going to be head of the Judiciary, and he's been chomping at the bit to get at Bush for at least the past two years.

[IllustriousPotentate]

At 11/8/06 06:43 PM, bcdemon wrote: And about Rummy, I noticed today it was a tight race in some areas, just then I saw Rumsfeld resign. I wonder if that tight race loosened up after the news?

I don't see why it would, the votes have already been cast. Rumsfeld leaving isn't going to have any affect on the way the votes are tabulated.

[Memorize]

At 11/8/06 06:43 PM, bcdemon wrote:

ROFL, Iraq won't be able to "hold thier own" in the next few months. Jalal Talabani figures they will need help until the end of 2007, then he says the Iraqi forces can handle any remaining violence.

Yeah, that's the estimation of Baghdad (as I've stated).

ROFL LMAO AT BCDEMON'S STUPIDITY!

[JoS]

At 11/8/06 09:19 PM, IllustriousPotentate wrote:

At 11/8/06 06:43 PM, bcdemon wrote: And about Rummy, I noticed today it was a tight race in some areas, just then I saw Rumsfeld resign. I wonder if that tight race loosened up after the news?

I don't see why it would, the votes have already been cast. Rumsfeld leaving isn't going to have any affect on the way the votes are tabulated.

Perhaps Republicans will be les sliekly to ask for recounts in the close states of Montana and Vermont?