Bolten’s First Act As Chief of Staff Is To Defend Rumsfeld
Bolten’s First Act As Chief of Staff Is To Defend Rumsfeld
When it was announced last month that Josh Bolten would be replacing Andrew Card as the White House chief of staff, the media interpreted the move as “a modest attempt at a fresh start for a White House that had stumbled recently.” Lately, the media has been pronouncing that Bolten would be aiming for “sweeping staff changes.”
Bolten’s first day on the job yesterday served to dismiss the media’s theories. Bolten’s “fresh start” began with defending the administration’s old mistakes:
The defense of Rumsfeld in effect was the first act of new White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten, who took over as Andrew H. Card Jr. left the West Wing yesterday afternoon for the final time as Bush’s top aide. White House aides decided that press secretary Scott McClellan’s statement of support Thursday was inadequate to stem the growing chorus of resignation calls from the military.
Meanwhile, a seventh general has added his name to the growing chorus:
“I admire those who have stepped forward, and I agree with the arguments they are making,” retired Marine Lt. Gen. Paul K. Van Riper said in an interview yesterday. “I count myself in the same camp.”
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43 Responses to “Bolten’s First Act As Chief of Staff Is To Defend Rumsfeld”
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Frist? Bring-em on!
April 15th, 2006 at 10:48 amBolten is just begging to take a beating on this.
April 15th, 2006 at 10:49 amHaha, fortunately, if the media pusses out, there’s military backing it.
Kinda scary when you think about it though…
military on the both sides of the issue…
kinda spooky
There is a song called The Promise by Tracy Chapman that makes me remember an old true love and how much we wanted to be together but couldn’t. The song is sweet and tragic at the same time.
I went to peacetakescourage.com and found it being played with a heart breaking video of family and loved ones that have forever lost a part of them and will suffer never ending pain because of the careless, arrogant actions and tremendous lies of the Bush administration.
We are all angry at what the Bush administration’s lies have resulted in particularly in Iraq. We can all make fun of how incredibly stupid and incompetent George Bush is. But something is getting lost in our message of outrage. Please watch this to understand the most important impact of what Bush’s actions/lies have done.
It’s hard to watch but SO necessary. If you’re not moved by this or don’t feel a pain in your heart, you should apply for a job in the Bush White House or go to help re-elect any member of Congress that justifies this War in Iraq (or any War for that matter).
Please watch and listen, then pass it around to help people remember that the injustice of Bush’s lies and actions are causing more than anger and ridicule:
http:// peacetakescourage.cf.huff…enpromises.html
April 15th, 2006 at 10:53 amI wish we had a fresh start on the last presidential election. There are millions of people who regret voting for this guy.
April 15th, 2006 at 10:53 amWHY DONT YOU GET OFF RUMSFELDS BACK. HES NOT GOING ANYWHERE UNTIL 2009. HES NEEDS ALL THE SUPPORT HE CAN GET FOR THE UPCOMING INVASION / TACTICAL STRIKE OF IRAN .
IN CASE YOU DONT REALIZE IT, THE USA IS THE ONLY SUPERPOWER. WE MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BY IMPOSING OUR WILL ON WEAKER OIL RICH NATIONS SO THAT WHEN OIL RUNS OUT WE CAN STILL DRIVE OUR CARS. ITS THAT SIMPLE.
THE WARS IN THE MID-EAST ARE FOUGHT FOR EVERY AMERICANS ENERGY SECURITY, THAT INCLUDES ALL THE PEACENIKS TOO. SO GET ON BOARD AND LETS ALL SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT AS HE PLOWS THROUGH IRAN AND THEN SYRIA. THESE ARE GREAT TIMES. THE REWARD FOR WINNING THE COLD WAR IS THE ENTIRE MID-EAST. WHEN WE CONTROL THE OIL WE CONTROL THE ENTIRE WORLD.
OUR NEW BASES IN IRAN WILL BE FORTRESSES BUILT TO LAST 200 YEARS. WE CAN PULL OUR TROOPS OUT OF SOUTH KOREA AND GERMANY AND EVEN JAPAN. WE SHOULD PROTECT IRANS OIL AND LET THE COUNTRY BURN. SAME WITH IRAQ. OIL OIL OIL. THATS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS AND WEVE GOT THE MILITARY TO CONTROL ALL OF IT. IT WOULD BE A SIN NOT TO USE IT.
April 15th, 2006 at 11:05 amRummy’s not going anywhere soon. A better strategy would be to praise him over and over again in the media and hope W allows him to retire for a job well done.
The only good part about this is the negative press the admin receives, and the fact that it won’t let them achieve as much of their damaging agenda.
April 15th, 2006 at 11:13 amAnd how will we power them without oil? After all, if we go to alternative fuels there’s no longer any need to “impose our will on weaker oil rich nations”.
Again, that pesky alternative fuel thing. Wouldn’t need the war then, I guess.
As George Carlin once said, “What, they have bigger d**ks than us? Bomb them!!”
April 15th, 2006 at 11:32 amRumsfeld is a war criminal, so he must be forced to resign, and be turned over to the Hague to be tried for crimes violating the Geneva Conventions! Rummy can save himself by turning evidence over on Bush and Cheney, or otherwise he alone takes the fall for Iraq fiasco!
April 15th, 2006 at 11:34 amAt least post 5 is honest > it is all about OIL, but not for Americans to be able to drive their cars with cheap gasoline! The Oil Cartels only care about obscene profits for themselves and could care less who buys the oil > if China would pay more for it then they get it, so be prepared to ride horses again, because Bush is bankrupting America and there will be no money to purchase gasoline soon!
April 15th, 2006 at 11:40 amanvilhead,
You know there are lots of people who won’t read your posts, like me, because they are in ALL CAPS. If you are trying to say something, but nobody is reading it, you aren’t really making a statement.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:04 pmHang on one minute…
Anvilhead, I’m sorry, I thought you were just another dumbass troll and it turns out you are just extremely sarcastic. My bad, I didn’t catch.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:19 pmyou aren’t really making a statement.
Comment by Spudge_Boy — April 15, 2006 @ 12:04 pm
OH IM SO HURT YOU DONT READ ME. CRY CRY CRY.
Rumsfeld is a war criminal, so he must be forced to resign, and be turned over to the Hague to be tried for crimes fiasco!
Comment by Jay Randal — April 15, 2006 @ 11:34 am
KEEP DREAMING. RUMSFELD WILL BOMB THE HAGUE BEFORE STANDING TRIAL IN IT.
MIGHT MAKES RIGHT. END OF STORY. REMEMBER WHEN ENGLAND CONTROLLED INDIA—AND HONG KONG
REMEMBER WHEN FRANCE CONTROLLED ALL OF NORTH AFRICA AND VIETNAM?
WELL NOW IT OUR TURN. IMPERIALISM LIVES! AND IT RUNS ON OIL.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:20 pmSuch an appropriate moniker, Anvilhead. You forgot one other regime that thought might makes right, the Nazis; and you see where it got them.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:27 pmPost 11 > It would be nice if Anvilhead was being sarcastic, but I think he really believes the crap he posted?! Maybe Anvil is Rummy because that is exactly what the Bush Regime intends to do > conquer Iran and Syria and try to remain there for hundreds of years > lol. Sounds like Hitler’s thousand year Reich to me > lol. Anyway if Anvil thinks the Oil Cartels care about gas for his car, then I will sell him tar sands in Borneo > lol.
April 15th, 2006 at 12:28 pmThe Republicans have yet to hold Rumsfeld to their “Les Aspin Standard.” That is, decisions that needlessly cost American lives in battle cost defense secretaries their jobs, but apparently only if Bill Clinton is president.
For the details, see:
April 15th, 2006 at 12:43 pm“Rumsfeld Fails the Aspin Test.”
I don’t think anvilhead is serious. He looks like a parody troll to me.
Apropos of nothing…
Seldes on propaganda during World War One
April 15th, 2006 at 1:12 pmThis whole “fire Rumsfeld” uproar is nothing but a deliberate distration. It makes it appear that outside forces are putting some heat on the criminal cabal, but I’ll bet it isn’t so. Even if Rummy was forced to fall on his sword, what difference would it make? Would it cause policy to change in the slightest? No. They would just slide an equally loathsome reptile, like Lieberman into the slot and the beat would go on.
People on this site are making far to much of - and expecting way too much - of these retired military generals taking off after Rumsfeld. There are far bigger problems that are not being addressed, and will not be addressed.
The end of the empire is nigh!
April 15th, 2006 at 1:21 pmIf you want to knowwho Gen. Van Riper is, this might help. He was the red forces commander in 2002 war game sims which he quit in frustration. Read
http://www.rumormillnews.com/ cgi-bin/ archive.cgi?noframes;read=72165 or http://www.globalsecurity.org/ org/ news/ 2002/ 020906-iraq1.htm
Anvilhead, be carefull what you wish for, even if it’s sarcasm.
April 15th, 2006 at 1:42 pmMaureen Dowd has a good editorial about Rummy’s problems.
April 15th, 2006 at 1:43 pmA new broom sweeps clean - but it’s still the same old dust. I’m curious as to how the news that Rummie was personally involved with the abuse at Abu Graib is playing overseas. Come monday, this could be very damaging.
–
April 15th, 2006 at 1:58 pmhttp://griperblade.blogspot.com - grumblings from the heartland
Retired colonel claims U.S. military operations are already ‘underway’ in Iran
“I would say — and this may shock some — I think the decision has been made and military operations are under way,” Col. Gardiner
“The secretary point is, the Iranians have been saying American military troops are in there, have been saying it for almost a year,” Gardiner said
deal with it. the iran war is here
April 15th, 2006 at 2:00 pmJosh Bolten, John Bolton, what’s the fucking difference?
In The Rummy Mutiny, Maureen says that one of Rummy’s guiding principles is to make new mistakes so that you don’t make old ones. That’s not what I see and I’d made that point in one of my latest original posts, Lightning Does Strike Twice.
However, it’s fascinating to me as a writer that Dowd would choose to compare Rumsfeld with MacNamara as I did. I suppose the comparison was inevitable.
But even MacNamara had the sense to know (eventually) when he and his dirty little SE Asian war was beaten. Now, as then, the ones paying the ultimate price for this hubris are the soldiers and their families.
April 15th, 2006 at 2:02 pm“When it was announced last month that Josh Bolten would be replacing Andrew Card as the White House chief of staff, the media interpreted the move as…blah, blah, blah…” - Faiz
****An excellent example that “the media” can’t interpret $h*t. Moronic progs might someday come to realize that pandering to progs is not going “to win friends and influence people”… I think GWB learned that lesson when Daddy made a tax increase deal with that smarmy former Speaker of the House, Tom Foley (D-WA)… THAT two-faced liar showed that progs could not be trusted when their lips were moving….
April 15th, 2006 at 2:04 pm“****An excellent example that “the media†can’t interpret $h*t. Mighty Moron”
You mean like how O’Reilly always INTERPRETS a war on Christianity as Christianity wages a war on america? Wow you’re STUPID.
“Moronic progs might someday come to realize that pandering to progs is not going “to win friends and influence peopleâ€â€¦ Mighty Moron”
What you should have written is Moderate Republicans might someday realize that pandering to Reichwingers is not going “to win friends and influence people”, but as McCain found out this week, it will drop you in opinion polls against Hillary.
“I think GWB learned that lesson when Daddy made a tax increase deal with that smarmy former Speaker of the House, Tom Foley (D-WA)… Mighty Moron”
Too bad it that SMARMY George learned the wrong lesson - much like yourself. That’s what happens when someone with a learning disability (both cases) tries to think for themselves and ‘reason’. The come to a non-sequitur and call themselves ‘right’ in face of all facts and truths that contradict.
“THAT two-faced liar showed that progs could not be trusted when their lips were moving…. Comment by mighty aphrodite ”
That two-faced liar was GHBush who promised to VETO a tax increase. Always blaming everyone but the Reichwinger who fails - you’re DEFINITELY a CRAZY SOCIOPATH Mighty Liar.
How is that busy career and HUGE family of yours doing, you always seem the time to have promoting yourself and George here, but you appear to be neglecting your own family. Those sure are fine family values you exhibit. How does your brother/husband feel about that?
April 15th, 2006 at 2:29 pm#24 - Did someone say anything important??? I didn’t think so….
April 15th, 2006 at 2:43 pm“#24 - Did someone say anything important??? I didn’t think so…. Comment by mighty aphrodite ”
You never say anything important - that’s a given. You do make glib, superficial and sociopathic postings almost every day however.
And you also act as an apologist HO for this administration, while refusing to accept ANY responsibilities as a party for your failures. How else can you explain how bush blamed democrats for a failed immigration bill, despite controlling both houses of congress? Lack of accountability. Or even the spanish language stories that were pushed out by GOP operatives that claimed the criminal penalties came from Democrats, and that the GOP had fought them off.
You guys are a bunch of PSYCHOTIC LIARS wno never say anything important. And that’s a given to anyone with a functioning cranium - which excludes you immediately.
And Happy Oestre Mighty Moron, enjoy the fertility celebration of the ‘goddess’, along with the rest of your pagan rituals - like lying about yourself, your family, and your party. Propaganda is the pagan ritual of choice isn’t it Mighty Sociopath?
April 15th, 2006 at 2:57 pmAnd Mighty Moron, the tax increases were forced by the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Act, a law passed largely by REPUBLICANS.
That’s called KARMA you moronic DINGBAT - and it sure is fun to see it happen to you whackos. Your KARMA always makes you pay, but like then, you’re now still to DUMB to recognize this. In the end KARMA always gets you - and just between us ‘girls’ (a military expression you know), we both know it’s already gotten you. It’s why you’re so stupid and hateful - hehehe, I love KARMA.
April 15th, 2006 at 3:03 pmI think GWB learned that lesson when Daddy made a tax increase deal with that smarmy former Speaker of the House, Tom Foley (D-WA)… THAT two-faced liar showed that progs could not be trusted when their lips were moving….
Comment by mighty aphrodite — April 15, 2006 @ 2:04 pm
Conservatives said that it was Bush’s tax increase that set the stage for the “Clinton boom” years - so which is it? You can’t claim credit for both tax cuts and tax increases - unless you’re a loopy wingnut.
April 15th, 2006 at 3:40 pmYou can’t claim credit for both tax cuts and tax increases - unless you’re a loopy wingnut.
Comment by Barfly — April 15, 2006 @ 3:40 pm
He is worse. He’s a delusional psychopath. And that is being kind. Just ignore him, he only comes here to get attention. He’s now making jokes about a child he claims died, which, he never mentioned until yesterday when he had been seriously defeated in a series of debates with Ryan. Was just trying to get sympathy, then he needs serious therapy.
Bush senior lost the election to Clinton because Clinton was the better man for the job. Fanatical right-wingers can’t handle it, so they blame Clinton for everything, give credit for nothing, and whine like they get paid for it (we think most of them do).
April 15th, 2006 at 3:52 pm#28 - “Conservatives said that it was Bush’s tax increase that set the stage for the “Clinton boom†years - so which is it?” - Comment from barfly
***Dear Mr./Ms. Fly - No conservative worth their salt would say “tax increases” set the stage for a period of “economic expansion” - that BS is PURE “libspeak” ecoonomics - often referred to as Keynesian economics.
Are you familiar with the term “business cycles”??? I know being from the ideological minority which thrives on punishing achievement and rewarding crappy choices or disgusting habits,this may be a foreign concept - but even conservative Democrat JFK understood the economic boon stimulated by tax cuts. Lets dump the IRS (with it’s career bureacraps and lobbyists)- which spends $250 BILLION a year collecting taxes and advocate for a flat tax system.
April 15th, 2006 at 5:07 pmIt will be fun watching Mr. Champagne Unit, De Facto War Dodger Dubya and Mr. Five Deferements, Mad Man shooter Cheney try to swiftboat all of these honorable former Field Commanders. Dubya, Dick, Gigs up boys, yer done. Let the grownups see if they can fix this fuckawful mess you have created
April 15th, 2006 at 6:57 pmPeople on this site are making far to much of - and expecting way too much - of these retired military generals taking off after Rumsfeld. There are far bigger problems that are not being addressed, and will not be addressed.
The end of the empire is nigh!
Comment by Shep — April 15, 2006 @ 1:21 pm
Actually this used to be true when the old dinosaur generals retired from service, today they return as privatised contractors and still associate with former comrades. Halliburton, and Cheney have been a huge driving force in that DOD Pentagon ‘Privatization’ Plan. As Long as Cheney is around I don’t think Rummy is going Anywhere.
April 15th, 2006 at 9:05 pmI know being from the ideological minority which thrives on punishing achievement and rewarding crappy choices or disgusting habits, –IRI
George Bush; Drugs, Drunk Driving, Alcoholic, Liar, Chickenhawk,
Yupp thats George Allrite IRI. Dick Cheney 2 DWIs, Drunk Hunting, Liar, and kicked out of the ‘Ivey League’ liberal society for basically being too drunk! WoW. A Conservative that Drank more than the liberals [blatant hypocrite] whom raised a lesbiian daughter with his “Ideological Morals” Glad to see you Finally Recognize the ‘Ideological Moral Minority’ you elected. Oh BTW the Bush Kids are still smoking weed.
Can you IRI say Hypocrite?
April 15th, 2006 at 9:15 pm#30 Hehe, you are truly a moron. You know what the business cycle is? Republicans come to power and screw everything up and later the Dems have to clean it up. Rinse and repeat.
April 15th, 2006 at 10:43 pmI wish everyone who posted on this thread a joyfull Easter Sunday! Hopefully Bush will not attack Iran next week before the Congress returns on Monday, April 24?! If he does then this Easter might be our last one?!
April 16th, 2006 at 12:32 amHey, Jay, thanks, hope you have a Happy Easter, too! Forget about Bush for the day (if you can!)
April 16th, 2006 at 12:36 amLook, Rumsfelds problem is that he is too old to reason properly.
Ronald Reagan was showing signs of Alzheimers before he left office. Rummy’s problem is similar in that he cannot consider different opinions or any other input rationally. It’s the same arrogance and adamancy that my aging barber shows toward the world….he has all the answers, AND cannot use any factual data or other input to alter his hypotheses. His ideas are set in stone and cannot change. This is also similar to Kissinger defending his carpet bombing campaigns in Southeast Asia…. their minds cannot be allowed to change on basis of new or mounting evidence to the contrary.
The show of support and loyalty to the man is misplaced when the risk of US servicemen (not to mention countless people in Iraq/Iran) are at stake. Loyalty is a big blind spot for this President. He cannot see the big picture or assess true risk to the troops or long term to this country; he only sees the people around him as loyal friends.
April 16th, 2006 at 2:04 amWe all know why the Bushies won’t fire or say anything bad about Rummy, that would be admitting mistakes. When Abu Ghraib broke, the first thing Cheney did was call Rummy and tell him “no one gets fired, no one resigns”. When you can’t admit to mistakes, how do you think you can fix problems?
April 16th, 2006 at 8:03 amIf there is ever a rational lull in this madness, our country will have to perform a serious post mortem on our system of democracy with its checks and balances to determine how not to let the taint of corruption undermine what the Founders intended.
April 16th, 2006 at 2:54 pmA new liar telling the same lies. Wow, now THAT is clever of them!
April 17th, 2006 at 5:36 am[…] As seven retired generals are calling for Rumsfeld’s resignation, the Secretary’s “firm grip on the Defense Department is slipping.” Officers are increasingly questioning Rumsfeld’s judgement, “publicly questioning or quietly trying to undo some of [his] initiatives.” […]
April 17th, 2006 at 9:02 amVery interesting discussion :)
April 17th, 2006 at 9:09 amActually the entire incident is fascinating. When Bush was elected, he brought two camps to the White House. One was Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, etc. These were the same people who advocated taking a 500 mile left turn off the border of Kuwait and getting Sadham out of Bagdad with Bush I. The elder Bush resisted because that was not the mandate of the authority they were working under. Colin Powell was running things then and his doctrine was simply this; put the necessary bodies and resources in to do the job. FF to 2002. We’re in Afghanistan hard and winning. We had diplomatic success in getting the rest of the world to sign off on this, even Pakhistan, which was nothing short of a diplomatic miracle. However, when the talk began of going into Iraq, Powell was quite hesitant, for two reasons. One it violated his personal doctrine of warfare because we could not put the forces on the ground to accomplish it and two, he knew damned well that the evidence supporting such an invasion was weak. No surprise he is no longer with the current administration. Another factor is that our administration believed, naively, that the Iraqis would respond like the French and Ducth did in WW2. Surprise (not really). This thing will continue to be a bloody mess for years to come.
April 18th, 2006 at 1:21 am