Not This Way
In the President's press conference, he threw Secretary Rumsfeld to the lions -- er, donkeys.
Perhaps it was time for Secretary Rumsfeld to go. But not this way -- tossed over the side in what appears to be a frenzied obeisance to new Democratic masters. Whatever the problems of the war in Iraq, Secretary Rumsfeld deserved better for his patriotic service, staunch loyalty, and unfailing tough-mindedness.
Here's hoping that the President isn't learning all the wrong lessons from last night's election. Efforts to appease the Democrats will ultimately be futile -- and the taste of Rumsfeld's blood only whets their thirst for more. Fred Barnes is right about why the election was lost so convincingly -- it has little to do with Rumsfeld in particular (except as the figurehead of an increasingly unpopular war), much more about failure to implement any conservative agenda in general.
Perhaps it was time for Secretary Rumsfeld to go. But not this way -- tossed over the side in what appears to be a frenzied obeisance to new Democratic masters. Whatever the problems of the war in Iraq, Secretary Rumsfeld deserved better for his patriotic service, staunch loyalty, and unfailing tough-mindedness.
Here's hoping that the President isn't learning all the wrong lessons from last night's election. Efforts to appease the Democrats will ultimately be futile -- and the taste of Rumsfeld's blood only whets their thirst for more. Fred Barnes is right about why the election was lost so convincingly -- it has little to do with Rumsfeld in particular (except as the figurehead of an increasingly unpopular war), much more about failure to implement any conservative agenda in general.
posted by LadybugUSA at 11:16 AM
6 Comments:
Hugh Hewitt just told us not to be too bothered by this: the President is just playing 'Rope a dope.'
That's reassuring, isn't it?
If the president is going to accomplish anything over the new two years, he needs a fresh start, not with the democrats, but with the American people. Iraq was the single biggest reason the GOP lost. Rumsfeld leaving, right after the election, sends a bold signal of change to the American people and therefore was the right thing to do.
It was also right for another reason. I respect and admire Rumsfeld, but it's time for a fresh perspective at the Pentagon.
Maybe the timing has more to do with taking the wind out of the Democrat's sails than with placating them. After all, we're talking about Rumsfeld right now instead of the Democrat victory aren't we?
Carol, check out the Sports page.
A baseball team loses, badly, in a highly visible venue like the playoffs. What happens next? The manager is fired.
That's precisely what happened here, and Rumsfeld appeared to take it precisely that way - not (too) personally, just an occupationl hazard from botched occupations.
And incidentally, the more I think of Rumsfeld-as-MLB-manager, the more it makes sense. Owners traditionally endorse the rock-solid tenure of their managers all the way up to the day when they get the boot. And hey, Bush did own the Rangers.
What Bush should understand is that war isn't baseball. You like someone, or you don't, and the voters probably believed Bush's endorsement of Rummy when they voted.
The War had less to do with the GOP defeat than the GOP acting less than conservative did. Rummy's departure was a cosmetic move to quiet those who perpetuate the myth of a bungled war. Bush is in the unenviable position of trying to take care of business while the Dems insist on obstruction. Here's a better analogy than the baseball example: Bush is a parent trying to do the chores while the children are getting in his way.
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