Powerline: ‘So Inane As to Defy Categorization’
Powerline: ‘So Inane As to Defy Categorization’
Powerline’s Paul Mirengoff has declared an op-ed that Lawrence Korb and I wrote on Donald Rumsfeld to be “so inane as to defy categorization†because of our radical notion that a Secretary of Defense should be willing to hold himself accountable when he fails to do his job. This sometimes -– but not always -– means resigning. While the “resignation threshold†can be debated, anyone who called for Secretary of Defense William Perry to resign over the Khobar Towers blast in 1996 (such as then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich), for instance, should clearly be in favor of Rumsfeld’s doing the same.
Disagreeing with us (and Newt) about where the resignation threshold lies is reasonable; but what is so inane as to defy categorization is that Powerline doesn’t believe that Rumsfeld should hold himself accountable at all for what happened at Abu Ghraib. Mirengoff writes:
Public officials must be judged by the totality of their work not by one event, particularly an event like Abu Ghraib that cannot reasonably be attributed to anything the official did or didn’t do.
Even Rumsfeld himself acknowledges this isn’t true. As the Defense Secretary testifed in May 2004 before the House Armed Services Committee:
There has been a good deal of discussion about who bears responsibility for the terrible activities that took place at Abu Ghraib. These events occurred on my watch. As Secretary of Defense, I am accountable for them. I take full responsibility.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
pass the buck…here….pass the buck…here…put on shelf….stall….deny….ignor.
April 24th, 2006 at 4:29 pmI love these Bush, Cheney and Rummy aplogists. They just don’t understand that if you try to cover crap with a towel. The crap is still there and it still stinks up the place.
April 24th, 2006 at 4:31 pmNot to mention that Rumsfeld himself contradicts Mirengoff. He offered his own resignation–TWICE–during the height of the Abu Ghraib mess. How stupid does that make Powerline look?
April 24th, 2006 at 4:35 pmSo, every public official is allowed, what, one murder because we can’t judge them based on just one event?
Rumsfeld’s new byline:
April 24th, 2006 at 4:36 pm“If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.” -John Kenneth Galbraith
inane, meet kettle
April 24th, 2006 at 4:39 pmThe fish rots from the head. W, Cheney, Rummy, Condi are the head.
April 24th, 2006 at 4:41 pm“I take full responsibility….but am unwilling to face any reprecussions from these events.”
April 24th, 2006 at 4:41 pm“So Inane as to Defy Categorization”
Mirengoff is confusing your op-ed with Powerline’s mission statement.
April 24th, 2006 at 4:42 pmPublic officials
like Bill Clinton…
must be judged by the totality of their work
like 8 years of peace, prosperity, full employment, and budget surpluses…
not by one event
like lying about a blow job in a matter that was not material to his performance as President…
Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Mirengoff, I was interrupting you. You were saying… ???
April 24th, 2006 at 4:46 pmEvidently *saying* that you take responsibility is equivilant to actually being responisible.
I’ve known lots of managers in the restaurant biz who acted the same way. They would fire low-ranking subordinates willy-nilly whenever something would go wrong, but never would it ever be their own fault. Eventually, just about all of these folks drove their respective operations into the ground. Unfortunately this, too, appears to what is happening under Rumsfeld.
April 24th, 2006 at 4:51 pmMr. Ogden – Your explanation of your op-ed piece is telling. “…. because of our radical notion that a Secretary of Defense should be willing to hold himself accountable when he fails to do his job. This sometimes -– but not always -– means resigning.”
It is interesting that you view a “difference” of opinion or implemntation of a decision contrary to yours, as a failure to do a job. Re-vamping the military is often fought by the powers that be. And YOUR side thinks Donald Rumfeld is the poster man for arrogance??? Take a look in the mirror…
April 24th, 2006 at 4:54 pmIt reminds me of an old routine on impressionist David Frye’s “Richard Nixon: A Fantasy” record back in the early seventies. Frye as Nixon at a press conference announces:
“I accept responsibility . . . but not the blame. Let me, let me explain the difference. Responsible people keep their jobs. People who are to blame lose them.”
There you go in a nutshell – only it’s no longer fantasy.
April 24th, 2006 at 4:58 pmRe-vamping the military is often fought by the powers that be.
Comment by mighty aphrodite — April 24, 2006 @ 4:54 pm
That would be the major weapons manufactors and the congressional delegations that represent them and the bases in home districts …Right
April 24th, 2006 at 4:58 pmhey mighty, why not learn how to write a coherent sentence and then work your way up to paragraphs.
April 24th, 2006 at 5:00 pmThe fact that Rumsfeld is still in office and this discussion is even taking place defiers belief. The SIGIR report of 10/05 about the Human Resources conference last summer clearly indicted the SecDef’s performance. After winning the Cabinet battle with State over control of the post-war period,the Defense Dept.’s Gen Garner said:”We were charged with planning for a March event in February.” When the CPA took charge,only half the billets were filled because the other Cabunet officers refused to cooperate with the SecDef in offering up personnel.
April 24th, 2006 at 5:00 pmThe SIGIR also noted that an on-going audit (still not complete) was looking at the failures of the logistics system to “adequately supply the warfighters” need for up-armored vehicles and body armor.
How many failures does it take? Rumsfeld could have insisted on resigning although he knew GWB well enough to know his offer of resignation would be declined.
You go with the SecDef you have,not the one you want.
LOL
a difference of opinion or a decision? MA do you watch the news? are you aware of the world around you beyond whatever lunatic bin you are confined in? Rumsfeld has botched the whole thing. He along with Bush have come close to bankrupting our country, and over extended our military over lies and deception to achieve a US global dominance as laid out in a by the PNAC. Rumsfeld and many of the powers that be are signatories of the above mentioned PNAC. It isn’t that he has had a “difference of opinion”. It is that the man has failed. The military is not happy being under his thumb as evidenced by now 8 former generals speaking out about the Iraq war planning and execution. You often speak of personal responsibilty. However that seems to only apply to “prog”.
April 24th, 2006 at 5:02 pmHi, Aphrodite, hope you enjoyed your trip to the San Diego Zoo!
In your comment, by “re-vamping the military”, do you mean “not allowing them body armor” or “no armored Humvees”, or “not providing enough troops to do the job”? That kind of re-vamping? Then I wouldn’t blame anyone for fighting against that kind of re-vamping.
April 24th, 2006 at 5:13 pmConservatives didn’t seem to have any problem calling for Les Aspin’s head after the Blackhawk Down debacle in Somalia in 1993. Apparently, decisions that needlessly cost American lives in battle cost defense secretaries their jobs, but only if Bill Clinton is president.
For the details, see:
April 24th, 2006 at 5:13 pm“Rumsfeld Fails the Aspin Test.”
We should definitely take into consideration the totality of Rummy’s work, and not just Abu Ghraib.
Oops…sorry Powerline. Then we’d also have to bring up “we know exactly where they are. They are east, west, north and south of Bagdad.” We’d have to bring up the ‘henny penny” which John Stewarf royally burned him on since the last time he blamed them media for being “henny penny” was when the media said the admin was for sure going to Iraq and RUmmy wanted to deny it. We’d have to mention his constant claims that they are providing as much armour as they possibly can. We’d have to bring up the “certainly no more than 6 months” comnment and any comments he made that say Sadam was behind 9/11 and absolutely had WMDs.
I guess pretty much EVERY decision Rummy has made has been totally wrong. Sorry Powerline but once again your opinions are competely, %100 at odds with reality. Because to suggest that Abu Graib was his one and only mistake is not only downplaying a serious issue, but it is just mindblowingly ignorant to a stagegring degree.
April 24th, 2006 at 5:16 pmLet me begin by saying that I think Rumsfeld should resign.
That said, I must admit that your op-ed is very poorly written. You do seem to suggest that all of the Sect. of Defense you mention should have resigned — but it isn’t clear.
As far as resigned in order to make a “public acknowledgment that something profoundly unacceptable has taken place, in spite of one’s best efforts.” — Is a silly reason to resign.
I believe Rumesfeld should resign for a very simple reason. He has not done a very good job. And there is no reason to believe he will start doing a better job over the next 2 and a half years.
April 24th, 2006 at 5:27 pmHi Jane – Thanks for asking – the zoo was GREAT – the weather was perfect for the animals! I hope you and Wayne had a nice weekend.
I have to agree with you on body and Humvee armour. On the number of forces, I would disagree with you. Supposedly, the generals are getting all of the personnel they request. No, by revamping the military, I’m talking about tactical training which changes with “new and improved” weaponry. I didn’t blame the Dense Secretary when the African embassy attacks occurred – why aren’t TP and the progs discussing the new Prime Minister alMaliki – he could be an improvement. But remember ideologies trimph here and ANYTHING which spins any favour on Repubs will NOT be discussed here.
On a California issue, I noticed that our Blue Thug State Assembly wasted NO time in figuring out how they could profit from the high gas prices. Their answer?? A windfall tax! Not a repeal of our atrocious state tax – that might translate into concern for the worker bees.
Take care!!
April 24th, 2006 at 5:39 pmPublic officials must be judged by the totality of their work not by one event, particularly an event like Abu Ghraib that cannot reasonably be attributed to anything the official did or didn’t do.
This is so totally wrong as to be incomprehensible! If we were to do as Powerline suggests, then I guess we should just ignore that Homeland Security official who was caught trying to hook up with someone he thought was a 14-year-old and concentrate on allthe good things he might have done correctly. Is that it? (By the way, no 14-year-old actually existed, but that’s a different topic.) While we’re at it, should we also ignore the shoplifting charge of the Bush adviser? This is stupid reasoning!
Tell me, Powerline, how serious an offense does it have to be before it outweighs any good the person did while in the goivernment?
April 24th, 2006 at 5:40 pmsodomizing a puppy on an american flag in front of the senate might do it Wayne
April 24th, 2006 at 5:44 pmRummy is a dummy! He must resign > PERIOD.
April 24th, 2006 at 5:47 pmOr a blowjob from an intern Krazny
April 24th, 2006 at 5:57 pmKrazny, LOL! Although, you know that there are some in the Senate who might enjoy that!
April 24th, 2006 at 5:58 pmDavid Frye! Now there’s a blast from the past.
April 24th, 2006 at 5:59 pmMighty – Man, you’re taking the heat today. Seems you are the only one consistently comming through.
Glad you liked the SD Zoo, it’s a killer one. Much better than any of the ones we have up here.
Two things –
We here who post, aren’t privy to the turf battles that go on every day inside the Pentagon. We don’t really even WANT to be. I don’t at least. That isn’t what we don’t like about Rummy’s leadership. What we don’t like is that he’s been a key player in making the PNAC tenants come to pass. Mind you, I and several others find them a completely insidious group. Not democratic, not progressive. More like a laundry list for making the world one big Oligarch.
and 2 – the oil windfal profits tax has been bantered around on a national basis since last week. It isn’t all that unusual for a local politician to pick up a good idea and run with it. My point being, it isn’t something that started here in CA, but it would PASS here in CA if it gets a chance. Understand, if you will, we want oil companies to make a profit, we just don’t want ANY COMPANIES to reap such excessive profits while adding to the costs and hardships of every other sector of the marketplace. Plus, you’ve supported a guy who’s added almost 3 TRILLION DOLLARS to the national debt that you, I and everyone else collectively owes. So if we can find a way to fund that debt and pay it down, more power to us. I mean, we could put a massive tax on American Flags, but i don’t think that’d be a good idea. Taxing Oil companies OBSCENE PROFITS? Go to town dudes & dudettes….
April 24th, 2006 at 6:00 pm#26 Krazny,
LOL, good one. But you know them. They’ll just turn around and claim the puppy was defiling the American flag and “needed to be taught a lesson,” and that we should all be grateful that your Senator cared enough about his flag to save it from a puppy’s transgressions. “What’s the matter? Don’t you love your flag? And besides, this was a chihuahua, and you know where they’re from! Probably not even here legally.”
I can hear them now.
April 24th, 2006 at 6:04 pmYou know, Krazny, I was going to add, “…but don’t give Wayne any ideas!”
April 24th, 2006 at 6:06 pmLOL Nice spin Wayne. You are right though, they will find a way to make any transgression seem okay.
April 24th, 2006 at 6:07 pmThere’s a difference between taking responsibility and being responsible.
April 24th, 2006 at 6:07 pmThere’s a difference between taking responsibility and being responsible.
Comment by Seixon — April 24, 2006 @ 6:07 pm
Would you mind going to 1600 pennsylvania Avenue and explaining it to a lost child-man who resides there, and on your way out of town stop by the Pentagon and explain it to the senile old fool who claims to run the place?
April 24th, 2006 at 6:14 pm#35 No, there’s a difference between being responsible and being to blame. Being reponsible means taking responsibility. It’s still an open question as to how much blame we can assign Mr. Rumsfeld for Abu Ghraib, but as the man who was in charge of policy and who (evidence suggests) knew what was happening, the responsible thing to do would be resign (and insist to the president that he accept it.)
April 24th, 2006 at 6:16 pmAh, but you’re forgetting – all Rumsfeld has to do is SAY he’s responsible. He doesn’t actually have to BE responsible. Everybody knows that! When they hear Rumsfeld – or anyone else in that crowd – say they “take responsibility”, it’s wink wink nudge nudge all the way ’round.
April 24th, 2006 at 6:22 pmthat cannot reasonably be attributed to anything the official did or didn’t do.
talk about covering all your bases!
April 24th, 2006 at 6:26 pmMirengoff’s rear is fire engine red after that ass-slapper of refuting evidence.
April 24th, 2006 at 6:26 pmIt’s like they comment in a vacuum. We need to forget all the things they said in the 90’s when Clinton was President because everything is different now. Just like it will be different as soon as the Democrats take back Congress, then the Presidency. At that point, they will declare 2000-2008 null and void and then they will show how consistant they have been on their opinions.
April 24th, 2006 at 6:57 pmInane sounds like a good category.
April 24th, 2006 at 7:15 pm“These events occurred on my watch. As Secretary of Defense, I am accountable for them. I take full responsibility.”
April 24th, 2006 at 8:21 pmBut, of course, he walked off the stage and went about his biz, because that phrase means nothing and he knows it. Most of what they say means nothing. Just air. That’s the value of the words of liars.
That’s why Bush is having some “credibility” problems of his own. The “decider” isn’t.
The “delegator” is. He decides who to delegate to. Witness that excellent decision to nominate Harriot to the Supreme Court. Just another day of “decide’n” who to delegate to. Hey, one lawyer is as good as another, I guess.
Rummy is doing just what he is expected to do, handle it, don’t bother the president with it. Bush is keepin cool so he can be the decider again when he’s needed. It’s hard work. If he doesn’t fire Rummy then he won’t have to replace him! Problem solved.
Shut up liberals full of hate you will never defeat proud Americans and our military with envy and class warfare. With a few more tax cuts and a few more curbs on your so-called “constitutional rights” (liberal hoohaa), we will WIN against those trying to kill us. Stop getting in the way.
April 24th, 2006 at 9:29 pmI hold Bush responsible. From early on he has doggedly pursued any absurd legal tack for unchecked presidential power and has attempted to have all actions taken out of the definition of torture. It is truly amazing how the repugnantcans claim to be the “adults” and claim to be “tough” while their leader runs the most obvious the-buck-stops-nowhere administration in modern history.
April 24th, 2006 at 9:46 pmAs Clinton’s SOD, Les Aspin authorized the “Black Hawk Down” operation in which 18 soldiers died. Many blamed this on Aspin countermanding a request for heavier armament.
Within weeks, Aspin was fired.
Why doesn’t anyone remember this?
(It should also be remembered that, although the Somalia action is often cited as an example of Clinton’s naivete, it was Bush 41 who actually ordered the troops there.)
April 24th, 2006 at 10:57 pmCNN announced the new Bush Regime plan to win back approval from American voters > “Brag more about accomplishments” > lol. They have done ZERO for average Americans, so boasting about NOTHING means ZERO! This administration is the most VILE in United States history!
April 24th, 2006 at 11:44 pmMA:
It is interesting that you view a “difference†of opinion or implemntation of a decision contrary to yours, as a failure to do a job.
Nah. We view the fustercluck, cesspool of corruption and cronyism, and sanguinary hellhole of Iraq, as “a failure to do a job”. And that’s not counting the liitle things like the looting of the antiquities, the weapons sites left unsecured, the lack of flowers and kisses, and the other minor annoyances of life, not to mention it was all based on a lie. But we got off a hell of a lot easier than some 2400 or so folks did…..
Clear now?
Cheers,
April 25th, 2006 at 12:29 amMA:
Re-vamping the military is often fought by the powers that be.
“Re-vamping the military” is a curious euphemism for getting 2400 soldiers killed and kicking the crap out of the state of the U.S. military equipment and ordnance suuplies.
And, just between you and me, MA, I think I’d prefer if the “powers that be” actually did go and actually fight themselves, unlike what they did during the Vietnam conflict. Would have been interesting to see Saddam and “GFY” Cheney at ten paces with the shotguns they love to brandish. Although, I suspect, Cheney’s markmanship isn’t quite up to par.
Cheers,
April 25th, 2006 at 12:36 amWhy is it these guys only seem to believe in personal responsibility for people as long as their trust funds are in tact.
April 25th, 2006 at 1:33 am#44 Feel better now, Debbie?
Your illiterate, ignorant, incoherent rant is just one example of why we liberals value education so much. It increases your credibility, and makes it more likely that people will understand you and your point of view. In your case, however, a lot more education is needed before expressing your views in public again. Very little of what you wrote has any connection to reality and the facts. Oh, and remember, if you heard it on Fox News Channel, you probably should get it verified by a more relaiable source.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:35 amRummy had his fingers crossed, so it didn’t count.
April 25th, 2006 at 7:57 amIf only the Left Wingers would take the medicine they prescribe and fall on their own swords for every failed objective and misstep of those under their organizational umbrella this would be a nice place to live.
April 25th, 2006 at 10:47 amIf only the Left Wingers would take the medicine they prescribe
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — April 25, 2006 @ 10:47 am
Yes, just look at the wonders bourbon and Prozac have worked on you. Oh, that’s right, you can’t, that particular post was deleted by Admin. :)
This already is a nice place to live. Just less nice since you Uncle George took control.
–And don’t anyone else tell me to stop talking to him. I’ve already had my fill of patronization the rest of the year.
April 25th, 2006 at 11:10 am“These events occurred on my watch. As Secretary of Defense, I am accountable for them. I take full responsibility.”
Yes, but that’s different – he was happy they were happening!
April 25th, 2006 at 2:06 pmOur nation’s public school teachers are held accountable for the test scores of the children they teach. I’d think our government could at least also hold the Secretary of Defense accountable for his job results.
April 25th, 2006 at 3:22 pm