If you ever watched former (ugh!) Sec. of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s numerous interactions with the press, you’ll understand the humor behind this tribute. It’s right on. One of the many things I liked about Rummy was his unique ability to handle the press, sometimes treating them like the children they are.
Anyway, here’s the clip, from CBS’ Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson:
Heh.
You served this country very, very well, Sec. Rumsfeld. Your fresh approach to the military and your biting sense of humor with the press will be just two of the many things your supporters will miss now that you’re gone.
Hat tip: Kim Priestap
Fri AM Update: Captain Ed references a Times of London piece where frontline troops express concern that new leadership at the Pentagon and in Congress will pull American troops out of Iraq before the mission is complete, and contrasts that with a NYT article that attempts to portray our troops as stupid and ill-informed.
Update II: And those troops who are concerned we are going to leave before the job is completed have good reason to be, considering this:
George McGovern, the former senator and Democratic presidential candidate, said Thursday that he will meet with more than 60 members of Congress next week to recommend a strategy to remove U.S. troops from Iraq by June.
If Democrats don’t take steps to end the war in Iraq soon, they won’t be in power very long, McGovern told reporters before a speech at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
“I think the Democratic leadership is wise enough to know that if they’re going to follow the message that election sent, they’re going to have to take steps to bring the war to a conclusion,” he said.
McGovern will present his recommendations before the Congressional Progressive Caucus, a 62-member group led by Reps. Lynn Woolsey and Barbara Lee.
“The best way to reduce this insurgency is to get the American forces out of there,” McGovern said. “That’s what’s driving this insurgency.”
McGovern told the audience Thursday that the Iraq and Vietnam wars were equally “foolish enterprises” and that the current threat of terrorism developed because _ not before _ the United States went into Iraq.
Will someone inform this defeatist clown that it’s not up to the United States Congress to come up with an exit plan? That’s the job of the Commander in Chief and his Defense Dept., and last I checked, the newly elected Democrats weren’t elected to serve in any of those positions.
Prior:
As we know, there are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns — that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don’t know we don’t know.
—Feb. 12, 2002, Donald Rumsfeld, Department of Defense news briefing-
We wont see the likes of him again. I will miss him..!
Comment by HadaAbeche @ 11/9/2006 - 11:20 pm
I posted this tribute at my place earlier tonight. It was meant to belittle him but I think it perfectly illustrates his amazing ability to handle the press with no apparent effort.
I do hope he doesn’t disappear from public view. In my opinion, Rummy is one of the GREAT patriots of our history.
Anyone catch his lecture at K-State on C-Span today?
Great post.
Comment by Al-Ozarka @ 11/9/2006 - 11:40 pm
Thank you ST. I LOVED the way he handled the press also. He was absolutely magnificent. I do wish he was able to stay. He’s the man for sure.
Comment by Baklava @ 11/9/2006 - 11:49 pm
One of the great ones. Damn!
Comment by Marshall Art @ 11/10/2006 - 1:36 am
Why am I not surprised? This report: A US constitutional rights group will seek charges against outgoing Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld over detainee treatment at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay. In the 1950s, the National Lawyers Guild refused to purge its members who were also members of the Communist Party.
Comment by stackja @ 11/10/2006 - 9:27 pm
I didn’t realize that the US Constitution covered people outside the bounds of this country?? Also haven’t we prosecuted American Soldiers for the things that went on at Abu-Griabe?? Like I said before, these things will only look like a crazy vendetta, I don’t honestly believe that the Dem Congress will chase after Rummy. - Lorica
Comment by Lorica @ 11/11/2006 - 12:41 pm
Reading other blogs and monitoring the media generally, the Democrats are absolutely salivating at the prospect of launching multiple hearings, call them mini-trials, against the Bush Administration. Then this group, the ACLU and others will feel free and righteous in going after Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al.
I know you believe this will all look like a silly vendetta and work against the Democrats, I wish you were right; but never underestimate the stupidity of the lazy American voter. Because the Democrats are so good at appearing righteous, fighting for the little man, civil liberties, etcetera; I believe Democrats have a much greater than 50-50 chance of getting away with it. Sadly, I believe the American people will even put up with impeachment hearings; and when the Democrats employ sweet, nice sounding euphemisms to explain our withdrawal from Iraq, the American people will feel relieved that the war is over and unless the right gets damn loud, they will not know it means defeat and a slap in the face to American soldiers.
I know you like to be positive, which is very Reaganesque and we should all be more positive; but I don’t have a lot of faith in the American people until and unless we are attacked on the homeland and even then the outrage is too short lived.
Comment by I. M. Neiman @ 11/11/2006 - 1:58 pm
I’m afraid I agree with you IM. I have less and less confidence in the American public. They have been corrupted by too many years of prosperity and too many decades of liberal/socialist indoctrination. Hell, even in basic school anymore civics classes do not teach the truth about the US form of government, and history teaches anything but. Most people believe the platitudes of the Dems, and want the government to take care of them instead of doing things on their own and taking responsibility for their own problems.
It’s possible this will backfire on the Dems, but it’s by no means assured.
Comment by Severian @ 11/11/2006 - 5:31 pm
- The Dem core party political advisors are warning the Congressional leadership to forget the partisan hackery, and try earnestly to pass some meaningful legislation by cooperating with the Right side of the aisle, or they’ll be toast in the eyes of the electorate by the time ‘08 rolls around. If Emanuels public rejection of the moon-goon squad is just lip service, and they don’t listen to their own people, it will be their problem.
- Bang
Comment by Big Bang Hunter @ 11/11/2006 - 7:09 pm