Rumsfields Resignation...a good thing?
956944
I believe it is a good thing.  Actually it is something GWB should have considered when Rumsfeld let certain victory slip away in the early months of the Iraq war.\n\nThe criticism of Rumsfelds inaction started early on.  When he failed to protect borders from munitions and insurgents crossing them to wage war against our troops, this was completely unacceptable.  When he argued with military generals about having enough boots on the ground, this was unacceptable.  When he failed to secure mountains of captured arms and ammunition, this was unacceptable.  When he brought in Paul Bremer to run the show, this would have been laughable had it not been so sad.  When he dismissed the entire Iraqi army when he had potential for a trained military to help maintain calm, this was unacceptable.\n\nDonald Rumsfeld was a politican first and a defense secretary second.  All his decisions were first considered from a political view point.  Had FDR run the second world war that way, we would have never been victorious.\n\nWe need to stay in this war, because it is no longer a war to punish Saddam, or to create a democracy.  This has all been done.  Now, it is where we draw a line in the sand and tell these Islamist that we will stay as long as takes to defeat them, their Hezbollah movement, and their desire for nuclear weapons.\n\nThis whole program is now pointed at Ahmadinejad and his desire to control the whole middle east.  Other Arab country's are more concerned about Iran than they are Israel.  As a matter of interest, Saudi Arabia has had secret meetings with Israel about their mutual concern over Iran.  What does that tell you?  It tells me that Arab country's don't trust the Persians and they would rather have a defense pact with the Jews than with the Persians.   Go figure!
947684
What was with that.... I mean just 5 days ago he was saying that he was keeping  Rummy and Cheney..\nI mean if he was going to can him shouldn't he have done it even 2 weeks ago...that would have let people know he was flexible....\nI am a Democrat, but that seems like a bad strategy and... How do Republicans Feel that got ousted due to inpart .. To the way Rumsfield was going about the prosecution of the war...Any way very good question regarding strategy
942268
Many of us did have our eyes wide open all along. The longer it goes on the more that do wake up, and see what grave mistakes have been made. Finally, enough people decided they wanted a new direction, and voted for change. I'm just sorry it took six years for that to happen.\nThere is something much deeper going on than what now meets the eyes. The Iraqi leadership in place at the moment, Saddam's death sentence, and Rumsfeld's resignation, are all closely related. I don't know yet how it's all tied together. We will see how it comes out in the coming months.\nAdded November 9, 2006\noobily...What I mean by much deeper going on, is I have a feeling that something on the scale of Watergate is happening. Early and mid-seventies. Nixon resigned to avoid being impeached. Much of his staff was removed or resigned as well. I was too young at the time to know what it involved. Henry Kissinger was part of the Nixon team. The Bush Administration has been having private talks with Kissinger in the last few weeks. I wonder why. Damage control possibly. Advice on how to handle the fallout, which we have yet to see. Some of the same countries were involved back then that we are up against right now. I could be wrong, but it seems strangely similar.
857394
Sorry, but Rumsfeld resigned Wednesday, after the elections. I seriously doubt his replacement, Robert Gates, is any better. After all, he was appointed by Bush too.\nFoley (FL) resigned from his post a couple weeks before elections. \nMakes you wonder, who's next. Cheney? Bush? \nMore to come in the next few months, if the Democrats have a backbone and push for invesigations.
914674
Rumsfeld was a highly divisive figure. It's likely that a democratic legislature would have found a way to force him out of office. Rather than open himself up for that kind of fight (and, by extension, open the white house up to the fight), he resigned.\n\nI disagree with the prior poster saying leaving earlier would have hurt the Republican party. I think leaving earlier would have helped the GOP. A lot of people, not just Democrats, wanted Rumsfeld gone. If he had left prior to elections, it would have shown a white house willingness to adapt and respond to criticism -- something that it's thus far been fairly slow and unwilling to do.
715402
He did the right thing by resigning.
836616
Hmmm,  maybe this will clarify matters. After the 2004 election a bunch of Republicans started getting 'uppity,' they  defied Bush denouncing him as a lame-duck President out of touch with the Republican Party.  Bush butted heads with many of them and proclaimed a 'stay the course' policy loudly yelping that Rumsfield would stay on to the end of Bush's second term.  'Angry' voters turned against the Republicans, many of them the very same ones who had challenged Bush's power.  The 'Democrats' seized power.  But here is the amusing part.  The Democrats are not unified, many have their eyes on winning the Presidency in 2008, which truly scrambles ones loyalty.  Guess who these leaderless Democrats will have to turn to?   Yep, Geo W......    I loathe the smarmy rat and his evil puppet master Karl Rove but they are true political geniuses.  And do note, Rumsfield left on schedule, After the Election, after his presence scuttled several Republican's chances to win.   And who was one of the winners, newly independent Bush buddy Joe Lieberman....\n Bush scored big on November 7th and slowly it will dawn on political pundits.   (Actually Dan Rather has already figured it out )\n\nPeace...
652312
I didn't read the story or video or whatever it was.  I just want to comment on the respect comment someone made.  I give respect to whoever deserves respect.  It is earned.  That means I will start you off on a base level of neutrality until you give me a reason to go one way or another.  Rumsfield is a public official and therefore he opens himself up to judging before he is met.  Not fair at all, but it's true.  If he didn't want to be viewed as he is, he should get out of that position.
876784
I think it's already causing good things to happen......Rumsfeld's gone and Bush has been put on a leash.  I think the Dems will accomplish a great deal for the American people as well as the rest of the world.
908489
hmmm and Bush's and Rumsfailed's "plan" has worked so well thus far.  maybe it' time to listen to what the Military experts have to say for a change.
751308
He resigned so he could personally go look for them...\n\nJust remember, he is doing a bang up job, but not bang up enough now that the election went the way it did. (kinda like the old head of FEMA?)
838715
Rumsfield fell on his spear because Bush is failing as a President and the Republicans lost power because of it.  The election was no big suprise to the GOP they knew they were  going down in flames.
770804
This is going to be a very dramatic shift in power and it has started with the resignation of Rumsfeld yesterday. Stay tuned as this develops over the future.
862489
You just can't trust anything Bush says. \nHere's my take on the Rumsfeld resignation. With Democrats taking control of the House and Senate, they will begin investigations for the Bush administration's failures and most likely more. I am really wondering why Republicans have had private talks with Henry Kissinger very recently. Quite possibly, damage control. If you look back to the 70's, Kissinger was part of the Nixon team, when Watergate was investigated. \nBush is trying to raise his popularity rating whether he'll admit it or not.  He'll say anything to make himself look good. Bush only confuses himself not us, not all of us. Bush can't keep the story straight because, he doesn't understand the plot. I think he may finally begin to realize that it's not about him. I am wondering if anyone else saw that none of Bush's best buds were present at the press conference yesterday. No Cheney, no Laura Bush. Does Bush have children anymore?Parents? Must be lonely in the Duck Pond.
816592
Sounds good to me. He is one of the most brilliant men in politics.
810286
We can't leave but shouldn't stay.  Who knows what we should do.  Bush, Cheney, and Rummy certainly don't.  Cheney said it was almost over a year and a half ago.  Bush says he's not satisfied but he really isn't changing anything.  Rummy is just a confused self righteous old coot.
861498
Although I highly doubt that he will leave of his own will, if he did leave I think it would leave a big slot to fill for whomever stepped into it. He's made such a mess of things with the military. It would be great if he left, one way or the other, but it would be intersting to see who would step in to his place. Anyone with prior military experience I think would be better for the job.