The Gates Countdown.
The Gates Countdown.
In The New York Times Magazine, Fred Kaplan writes that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is counting down the days until the end of the Bush presidency:
When the next president takes the oath on Jan. 20, 2009, Gates will be just 65 years old, but he insists he will retire from public life, this time for good. A friend recently gave him an electronic key chain, inscribed “The Gates Countdown,” with a small screen reading out how many days remain till the end of the term. He carries it everywhere, in part as a joke but not entirely. Told that those screens can be reset, he replied, “Not this one.” When I mentioned that some lawmakers would like him to stay on in the next administration, he replied, “I am very wary of saying, ‘Never,’” but added, “The circumstances under which I would do that are inconceivable to me.”
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“The circumstances under which I would do that are inconceivable to me.â€
To us, as well.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:42 pmIn The New York Times Magazine, Fred Kaplan writes that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is counting down the days until the end of the Bush presidency……
He sure as hell isn’t alone or the only one.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:49 pm“The circumstances under which I would do that are inconceivable to me.â€
One, incredibly tempting word, Bobby: Iran.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:01 pmare we glad that he will stay THAT long?
it seems he has been a moderating force… as best he can…
the conditions must be humiliating, tiresome…
i like to think he is a saving grace… of sorts…
all things considered…
it could be even worse… much worse… they keep trying…
February 11th, 2008 at 9:03 pm…
This is just my opinion but I always thought Gates’ job was to bail out W. To save the Bush (41) legacy. Daddy basically sent him. If that guess is true, his job is over when junior is gone. He is a loyal trooper and knows which side his bread is buttered on.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:04 pmWhy would any one in the current administration want to stay on and fix that which they have FUBAR so badly? Seriously. For the past 3 years it’s been nothing but a holding pattern for them until they leave.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:05 pmWHAT m345therf453cking lawmakers want him to stay on??
republican lawmakers??
well too f@cking bad dudes…
HE IS GONE… NO MATTER WHAT.
PERIOD.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:16 pmWe’re counting down the minutes as well.
Cheney called, he wants to take you hunting for wingless quail….
February 11th, 2008 at 9:40 pmI don’t think anyone from this administration should count on “staying on” in the next.
Anyone from BushCo is indelibly tainted.
(Is that a mixed metaphor?)
February 11th, 2008 at 9:47 pmMr. Gates you seem like a reasonable man. Some might say decent. But I can’t understand why you would count the days working for the lawless president you work for. Why don’t you cut loose from the stink and the odor that will surely stay with you if you hang with this lawbreaker until the end. I wouldn’t take Cheney up on his offer either!
February 11th, 2008 at 11:36 pmI kind of agree with Katy (#4) on this one.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:06 amAfter all the rotting stink of every sycophantic slob that bush has appointed, Gates seemed to be the only one that looked congress in the eye and didn’t pull the “I don’t recall” or the “it’s an ongoing investigation” bullshit that the rest of those smug bastards did.
A picture is worth a thousand words, and he looks like he is thoroughly tired of lying for bush. It seems obvious that he is there at poppy’s bidding to clean up the shitpile that junior has, once again, created.
Remarkably, cheney hasn’t thrown him under the bus yet…. you can be sure though, that they’ll blame him for something when the time comes.
Let’s all synchronize our keychains
February 12th, 2008 at 1:17 amSee ya, Bob.
You’re just another Busch lackey.
A∞Ω
February 12th, 2008 at 3:39 amGates was certainly a step up, nevertheless!
February 12th, 2008 at 6:33 amGates *is* better than his predecessor.. That said, I’ll be glad to see him go. And would he please take Mukasey with him!
I wouldn’t mind seeing Wesley Clark as Defense Sec., and maybe Richardson as Sec. of State.
On an [off-topic] note, it’s nice to be back here where I can read some sensible comments (aside from the trolls). I’ve been blogging for BlogsNH (doing a ‘Tech’ blog) and the only political blogger there is a guy named “Bill Bunker”. I have to ignore his posts as best as I can without commenting and it’s not easy. Unfortunately there isn’t anyone willing to do an ‘intelligent’ political blog that doesn’t for instance, reflect the viewpoint of global warming deniers.
You all should read what he wrote when I posted a list of political web sites that I trust for honesty. Think Progress is a “far left extremist” site (according to Bill Bunker), as is Media Matters and others!
And guess what? His blog gets the majority of comments!
Only one commenter named Michael regularly challenges this guy.
I used to see someone named “Veritas” commenting there and wondered if it’s [this] Veritas, but I’m not sure..
Anyone care to check this nut out?
Sorry for the rant, I’ll try to visit here more often.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:36 amWar Criminal! He was also involved in the scandal Iran-Contras! Criminal! Perhaps he is also counting down to HAGUE 2009!
February 12th, 2008 at 7:05 amThe next administration needs to make a clean sweep and replace each and every one of Bush’s personnel with someone who actually knows what they are doing. We’ve seen the worst under Bush; it’s time for someone to try using the best and brightest instead.
So, enjoy your retirement Gates. We simply can’t wait.
February 12th, 2008 at 8:43 amHeh, Capt.Man, he probably can’t wait for Bush to be out of office, the same way most almost-retirement age guys can’t wait to be out of their office. As it’s said, when Bush leaves, Gates goes too. ^_-
But yes, I think this post was supposed to be in jest. More of an irony side for the left-wing….think of it as ‘the right behavior for the wrong reason’ type of post. ;)
February 12th, 2008 at 8:45 amSome words of wisdom from Mr. Gates back in 1997 (towards the end of the video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJuMX1GzD6I
February 12th, 2008 at 9:54 am