Rumor: Bush to announce Rumsfeld’s resignation? Update: AP — RUMSFELD QUITS, to be replaced by Robert Gates
posted at 12:46 pm on November 8, 2006 by Allahpundit
Send to a Friend |
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
A friend just phoned to say that Rush Limbaugh was talking about this at the beginning of today’s show. Supposedly there are “whispers” that today’s press conference isn’t going to be the standard “we look forward to working with the opposition” shinola that we’re expecting.
Texas Rainmaker is hearing there’ll be a “significant announcement” too.
Video of the press conference will be posted here.
The prospect of Bush sending Rumsfeld packing the morning after a hugely disspiriting loss, while Pelosi’s still giving press conferences, is excruciatingly depressing and ominous. Can him if you want, but for god’s sake, wait a week. This would be like presenting the left with his head on a platter.
If it does happen, who replaces him? Joementum?
Update: The rumors are true. Fox says the AP is reporting that Rumsfeld is “stepping down.”
Update: News moves quickly.
Update: Her wish is our command. Comments made an hour ago:
Pressed by another reporter on Iraq, Pelosi said President Bush must “signal a change of direction.” She said one good place to start would be to “change the civilian leadership at the Pentagon” - get rid of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in other words.
“That would signal an openness to new, fresh ideas on the subject,” she said. She indicated she’ll discuss that with Bush in future meetings.
Update: Fox is reporting that Rumsfeld will be replaced by former DCIA Robert Gates.
Update: Bush says after a series of “thoughtful discussions” both he and Rumsfeld agreed that the “time is right” for new leadership.
Update: A reporter asked him why he said a week ago that he wanted Rumsfeld to stay on. Bush’s answer (in so many words): because he didn’t want to spring an October surprise.
Update: Slublog speculates in the comments:
I think this had to be done, and quickly. I think Bush wants to get Gates confirmed before the new Senate is seated, because the WH knows we’ve lost Congress. Rumsfeld is a lightning rod for criticism, and would have been used as justification to pull funding for the war and for the Dems to pick away at the administration.
I don’t like it, but I can see why they did it.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages: « 1 2 [3]
There is no war in Iraq. There hasn’t been one for 2 years ever since the Iraqi’s elected their own goverment. There has been a tremendous rebuilding effort with serious security issues and there has been flare ups in the ongoing war on Islamofascists which used Iraq as the battleground.
The war against the Islamic fascist will not be won by our side, this election pretty much sent a message to the terrorists, that just like Spain, Italy, Denmark, Thailand, etc. that with enough patience, enough violence they will succeed. They used an opposite tactic on Americans in that they did not carry out an attack just prior to the election and instead relied on the Americans track record of not completing any sort of hard task in its’ recent history. They were right. Now it is only a matter of time before they do attack. The Dems removed most of the obstacles such as monitoring communications, rough interogation, unlawful detention, tracking financial transactions and by instilling a general fear in the populace that anything that they said (the Dems) was not PC was forbidden they laid the perfect scenario for undercover agents of the jihadists to get in place and wait. I am not sure their wait is over yet, but once this Democratic controlled congress is in place in Jan we could very well be reaping the effects of our liberal secret leaking media and jihadi appeasing politicians.
LakeRuins on November 8, 2006 at 2:34 PM
That’s what the Republican Party has been doing since 1992. Ever since Bush Sr. said … “watch your wallets” they’ve just sat by and watched the lies.
What exactly is so taboo about calling a liar a liar?
Gregor on November 8, 2006 at 2:34 PM
I blame GWB for most of what happened last night:
Allowing the War in Iraq being fought with PC instead of overwhelming force.
Allowing Solders to be prosecuted for murder when they were just doing their jobs.
Allowing BP agents to be prosecuted while dong their jobs and that Idiot Tony Snow mocking Les Kinsolving for asking if GWB for a Pardon.
Allowing the media to disclose Intelligence Secrets with no response.
Allowing the media to say there were no WMD’s with no response.
Mocking Minuteman as Vigilantes and saying Illegals do the jobs Americans won’t do.
GWB lying about Amnesty is not Amnesty
GWB ignoring the conservatives that put him in office
I could go on and on but GWB bares a large part of the responsibility for the Backlash witnessed last night.
And now he is throwing Rumsfeld under the bus
What I fear the most is GWB will finally get his Amnesty for 30 million Illegals after he teams up with Pelosi.
My God and I thought Jimmy Carter was bad.
ScottyDog on November 8, 2006 at 2:35 PM
I’m glad Rush hopefully is correcting his style.
He lost a huge audience.
Bush screwed him.
Get tough Rush…..your audience will come back.
LZVandy on November 8, 2006 at 2:36 PM
My HUNKY HUB, (Marine Officer), is resiging with him. He’s going to go hand out shopping carts at Mega Hel Mart.
Yeah…I can’t wait to see that frozen witch in a burqua either….
seejanemom on November 8, 2006 at 2:37 PM
Oh by the way ….Bush screws all conservatives.
LZVandy on November 8, 2006 at 2:37 PM
The next time you hear new tone or compassionate conservative RUN!
Valiant on November 8, 2006 at 2:37 PM
What would Reagan do?
StuLongIsland on November 8, 2006 at 2:37 PM
CrazyFool you hit it right on the head!!
Bush and Co. threw this one a long time ago and failed at every opportunity to fight for US. As much as I hate to say it, the Republican Strategy (I am being overkind giving them the benefit of an actual strategy) mirrored that in Iraq, namely, try to win it with as little as possible.
You would think the results in Iraq would give them a clue to how that would play out here at home.
IMO Bush wanted exactly this outcome. He will get the AMNESTY he wants now, fast tracking us to the North American Union and he gets an out on Iraq and can try to blame our eventual withdraw with honor/defeat on the Dem’s. Then, after two years of acrimonious stalemate, they Republicans might just win by default, but we the people will be the real losers!
I could not be more disgusted with the Republican Party.
America1st on November 8, 2006 at 2:39 PM
Yes Sir.
*mumbles*
May I ask why?
Theworldisnotenough on November 8, 2006 at 2:40 PM
What would Reagan do?
Grin.
Stand up and shake the dust off.
Continue to fight.
Slublog on November 8, 2006 at 2:40 PM
WWRD? heh
DakRoland on November 8, 2006 at 2:42 PM
I’m jumping into this thread cold, but considering all the political calculating in making this change at this time, could this also be a move towards Gates as a presidential candidiate? His bio seems OK, maybe an eventual annointment if Iraq does improve?
shuzilla on November 8, 2006 at 2:44 PM
No, you’re right Pablo, as always. No sir, I was just venting. Now it’s time to suck it up and press on to ‘08.
Tony737 on November 8, 2006 at 2:49 PM
Bush absolutely must be stopped in the North American Union formation. Jerome Corsi in Human Events has been writing on this extensively. It is not a kook conspiracy. The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (spp.gov) was signed by Canada, Mexico, and Bush in Waco. This is where Vincente Fox gave us the finger. There was no Senate oversight of this unholy alliance and the NAFTA superhighways are well underway in Texas.
Valiant on November 8, 2006 at 2:53 PM
Bush wants the oil. Think about the long term strategy. Mexico’s output could bump the world supply by 30%. And we could replace all Middle Eastern imports with Mexican oil. What is the resulting economic impact on the Middle East when the petro dollar collapses and their exports shrivel?
China right now is getting into Africa to look for it long term oil needs. A Middle East without oil profits and economically isolated, they would be in the 7th century literally.
Theworldisnotenough on November 8, 2006 at 3:00 PM
You needed this decision to tell you that?
Benaiah on November 8, 2006 at 3:05 PM
Bush absolutely must be stopped in the North American Union formation. Jerome Corsi in Human Events has been writing on this extensively. It is not a kook conspiracy. The Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (spp.gov) was signed by Canada, Mexico, and Bush in Waco. This is where Vincente Fox gave us the finger. There was no Senate oversight of this unholy alliance and the NAFTA superhighways are well underway in Texas.
ScottyDog on November 8, 2006 at 3:08 PM
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe now people will understand that the idea of “compassionate conservative” is preposterous.
I, myself, consider myself an unqualified conservative.
Mr. Bush, You can’t out-pander the Democrats!
urbancenturion on November 8, 2006 at 3:13 PM
Uh, that came out wrong. I’m qualified to do my job.
I’m a conservative without qualification.
Uh, no. Same problem. How does one say this? Maybe…
My conservative ideology is without qualification.
urbancenturion on November 8, 2006 at 3:18 PM
Theworldisnotenough
We have more oil than we know what to do with on the North Slope of Alaska but our own Congress has stopped any Domestic production.
This is all about the NAU or SPP and always has been. Bush has sold us out to the elitists that want a one world government.
Read Jerome Corsi, Joseph Farah, or Phyllis Schlafly
ScottyDog on November 8, 2006 at 3:21 PM
…give this man a front-row seat and a Dan’l Webster see-gar! Got it in one!
Last night wasn’t a loss. Today Bush lost.
Last night, the House and Senate went to the Party of Treason and Compromise. Bush didn’t do that, at least not directly. His spineless, RINO, confused and willing-to-cut-a-deal-with-the-devil party lost the House and Senate. Today, Bush lost. He lost, finally and irretrievably I firmly believe, the last few people who’d go to bat for him.
Let me say this loudly and clearly: you don’t seek bipartisanship with treason, compromise and surrender. You fight.
This guy hasn’t put up any sort of a defense, not of his judicial nominees, nor of his “values”, nor of his political allies. He’s proven himself more than willing to compromise *everything and anything* in the interest of bipartisanship. Well…the Left doesn’t need bipartisanship anymore. They own the store.
As Mr. Limbaugh correctly spotted on his show today, you don’t placate the Left by giving it the odd scalp. It only whets their appetite. The thing to’ve done with Rumsfeld, if you thought him an issue in the election, would’ve been to give him his walking papers *BEFORE* the election! Now, after the election is over and your precious party is licking its self-inflicted wounds, what does throwing Rummy under the bus buy you? The last few friends you have, that’s what.
…either way, before the election or now after, sacrificing Rummy on the alter of Coatlicue — with Pelosi standing in as “the mother of gods” herself — is spineless appeasement.
(For a laugh, look up who Coatlicue was, and you’ll see it an apt parallel to the lady of the hour, minus the botox.)
No more bipartisanship. They’ll go after Bolton, some will try to rake Rummy over the coals post-DOD, and collectively the Left will begin to beat its sparrow-like chest for more sacrificial victims, all impressed with itself.
Fight. Find where they lie and fight. Make their lies glaringly public. Fight. Find who leaks and put ‘em in jail. Fight. Be there to catch ‘em when they slip. Fight. Don’t glory in their ruin, any more than you’d glory in squashing the cockroach who lives in the rancid grease under that stove you’ve never moved. Fight. Take their pet, the press, to task for even the hint of doing their masters bidding. Fight.
Organize and fight. If you’re worried how it will look, consider how the supine posture of the Bush Administration looks right now.
Fight.
Puritan1648 on November 8, 2006 at 3:40 PM
While I agree with your criticisms of Bush, we also have to be realiistic and realize that congressional Republicans did enough on their own to squander the majority with or without Bush’s mistakes.
From excessive earmarks, to cutting Bush’s legs out from under him on the Gang of 14, to the senate voting for a bill to make our borders even more pourous, from Bill Frist allowing himself and senate republicans to get owned by ‘Pinky’ on a number of issues, failure to act on lobbying reform or SS reform … and on and on.
There’s plenty of blame to go around and we need to look at all of our mistakes if we are going to prevent another debacle like this from repeating itself.
Again, not letting Bush off the hook by any means … but we need to make sure that house and senate republicans don’t get off the hook for their own mistakes either.
thirteen28 on November 8, 2006 at 3:54 PM
Before you all go drink the cyanide, take a deep breath. Some of you all seem to forget that it was the same GWB who brought the white house back to Republican hands in 00 and finally declared war on Islamofacsism in 01 after the Dems seemed find playing cops and robbers with the terrorists. He was also the same GWB who held Congress in 02, he also prevent sKerry from taking the white house winning a majority and again securing the Congress. GWB didn’t lost the Congress for Republicans. He’s had to battle the most biased and vitriolic main stream media in history. Everywhere he turns thier criticizing him, leaking classified reports to damage the administration etc. Not to mention the fact that the media gave glowing coverage of Dems. This despite America winning two wars, although securing the peace has been more difficult in Iraq, but nevertheless the MSM refuses to cover anything positive out of there. Despite an economy on fire, low intrest rates, booming stock market, record low unemployment, tax relief.
noble_eagle on November 8, 2006 at 4:09 PM
…don’t hold your breath waiting for him to defend himself, the war, his key cabinet secretaries or anything else. Today, he’s proven that *everything* is negotiable.
…he’s Clinton without the charm.
We don’t need yet another Republican. That party’s ship has sailed.
We need another Goldwater. We need another Reagan. We need someone who knows how to fight, and who isn’t afraid to do so…not for his party or his friends, but for the majority of Americans, unrepresented last night.
The only one who came out of yesterday’s fiasco with anything approaching dignity was Joe Liebermann…and good on ya, Joe….
Puritan1648 on November 8, 2006 at 4:20 PM
Puritan1648
I could not agree with you more on your latest missive about GWB and the spineless republicans.
By throwing Rummy under the Bus he has prove he is a spineless wimp that will stoop to betraying his most loyal supporters in the name of Bi-Partisanship.
noble_eagle
Bush did not beat John Kerry it was the voters that GWB another chance at another term and he has blown it today.
IMHO
ScottyDog on November 8, 2006 at 5:10 PM
Puritan, I hereby declare you the Wayne Gretzky of Hotair!
Scotty, I dunno, I think this’ll be forgotten and Bush will be remembered as the guy who began the push back against islamofascism, took out the Taliban and Saddam and liberated 50 million people. Did he do it perfectly? No, but no war has ever been fought perfectly, not even Gulf War 1.
Tony737 on November 8, 2006 at 5:29 PM
Where? When?
Thats my point he hasn’t battled the most biased and vitriolic main stream media in history. He quit the field of battle, often without even offering a token resistance, time and time again.
Time and time again he has allowed the Democrats and their media puppets make charge after baseless charge.
DNC & MSM: “Bush lied about the leadup to the war”
Bush and RNC: … crickets ….
DNC & MSM: Those soldiers committed cold blooded murder in Haditha Iraq! (without proof)
Bush and RNC: …. crickets …
DNC & MSM: What is happening in GITMO is a crime against humanity!
Bush and RNC: …. crickets …
and on and on and on….
DNC & MSM: Whoopie! Thousands of americans dead! Bush’es fault! Bring on the body bags!
Bush and RNC: … crickets …
We are in a war against terrorist who want to kill us. We are winning the war in the physical battlefield - and losing it in the political and media battlefield. If ‘freedom fighers’ are hiding behind women and children SHOW IT! Make it news. Ram it down the press if you have to physically jam video tape down the gullet of every memeber of the white house press corp. Dean or Murtha makes a accusation demand PROOF OR RESIGNATION. Challange them on it and make it news.
CrazyFool on November 8, 2006 at 5:40 PM
…Tony, man…baseball fan…don’t get the Gretzky reference….
When he played, was he dashing and rakish? A threat to the ladies? The working man’s friend?
…or was he a bitter, verbose, nearly unhinged post 2006 tooth-grinding bandwidth thief with delusions….
…or are you calling me a Canadian.
…them’s fightin’ words….
…just don’t know the man.
Puritan1648 on November 8, 2006 at 6:00 PM
They spent too much time being civil and getting along with their Beltway Cronies, as if it is the boys and girls club, slapping each other on the back. Tradions of the Senate and the House. Heck with that, it is not in OUR interest. Boys and Girls Club on Capitol Hill is Closed!
Meanwhile the other party didn’t try to get along with us. I can’t forget the Fillabuster incidences with the judges, “no we not going to do the constitutional option, we want to get along.” Get along B.S> we dont need to get along we need to be punching out the enemy, get in their faces close enough to shoot spit.
Noooooo they need to get along, need to “not upset people” We don’t want them to think we are uncompasionate Conservatives.
I have no compassion for the enemy but Compasion for the American People who want to help themselves.
I have compassion for the troops in Iraq and all over the world.
No compassion for Democratic Politicians who say nasty things about the Comander and Chief.
Maybe the Prez will have movie nights with Nancy Pelosi, geez Hope not. Need to have Nancy P. Effigy burning nights, more like it.
Compassion out the window, this is war for our civiilization. Fight for our service folks, fight for our future civil rights, as not to wear a berqua.
(just had to type this fast while passion is in my heart)
StuLongIsland on November 8, 2006 at 6:08 PM
It will be interesting to see if the Dems stick to their word about getting rid of the rencor in today’s politics. Let’s see if the confirmation hearings go bitter or not. I can’t imagine that letting Rummy go was decided quickly. This has to be a clever gambit, after all, someone in the WH had to mention that this just looks like a concession to the dems. What could be the upside other than to show later that the dems are a spiteful, rancorous party that lied about bipartisan cooperation, that the new direction goes nowhere new?
bernieg1 on November 8, 2006 at 6:26 PM
From sexiest man alive in ‘03 to out the door.
M. Savage was brutal on Sec. Rumsfelt tonight.
Sometimes I don’t get MS’s process. He’s bright and
make’s many thought provoking statements. But tonight he
just blew any and all Repubs to pieces. G.W. Rummy, Rush,
ect. And that was his light side . When he got to the
dems, Well he just went nuts. I still like him. He does
not hold back. . . .
Texyank on November 8, 2006 at 9:46 PM
Goodpoint. Maybe this paves the way for Janice R. Brown to replace Stevens, (who I hope is doing very well Allah)
Theworldisnotenough on November 8, 2006 at 9:49 PM
Comment pages: « 1 2 [3]