Bush Alters Pentagon Line of Succession

[Newsjock]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050602/ap_on_go_pr_wh/temporary_defense_chief

By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON - Who would act as President Bush's defense secretary if Pentagon chief Donald H. Rumsfeld were to resign, become disabled, die or be temporarily absent due to an overseas trip, such as on the one he began Thursday? For years the answer was, quite naturally, the deputy defense secretary.

But the answer had to change Thursday because of a simple, inconvenient fact: There is no deputy defense secretary.

There is, however, a Navy secretary.

That post is held by Gordon England, who also happens to be Bush's nominee to replace Paul Wolfowitz as deputy defense secretary. But England's nomination has been stalled for weeks due to a dispute over whether England must buy insurance on the pension he earned before joining the government.

more

[CottonBear]

1. WTF? Why is there no deputy defense secretary?

Is Rummy going to have an "accident" overseas?

Why won't Gordon England purchase insurance on the pension he earned before joining the government?

Why does one have to purchase pension insurance?

I'm confused. :shrug:

[K-W]

3. Theres nothing terrifically sinister.

When Rumsfeld goes on vacation, leaves, or dies, the Deputy D.S. becomes the acting Defense Seceretary. Currently the Seceretary of the Navy is the acting Deputy D.S., Bush nominated him for the position but the nomination is still pending and the law says that an acting deputy cannot become acting D.S. that way, so what Bush did is change the only thing he has control over, which is the line of succession, so until he gets his pick for Deputy, he will just have the Seceretary of the Navy be next in line for D.S. position. Since the Sec. of the Navy is also acting Deputy D.S. he gets around the law.

It just so happens Rummy is going on vacation.

Its a relatively minor abuse of power.

[CottonBear]

7. Thanks. But still why no Deputy DS? No one wants the job?

I mean, who would want to be in charge of the Iraq mess?

[K-W]

8. When Paul Wolfowitz left the position,

Bush nominated the Seceretary of the Navy, the nomination has not yet been approved in the Senate, there is some insurance issue or something, so he is serving as the acting Deputy right now. Bush is just finding a loophole to allow him to replace Rummy before the Senate confirms the promotion.

[geckosfeet]

2. What a way to run a country.

[steely]

4. makes sense to me - stick all of the businessmen in charge.

<sarcasm>
or make that 'former' businessmen...

Prior to joining the administration of President George W. Bush, Mr. England served as executive vice president of General Dynamics Corporation from 1997 until 2001.

snip
No relation to Private England I assume.
snip

Previously, he served as executive vice president of the Combat Systems Group, president of General Dynamics Fort Worth aircraft company (later Lockheed), president of General Dynamics Land Systems Company and as the principal of a mergers and acquisition consulting company.

snip

and it's intersting that the under secy of the AF used to be one of the CEOs at lockheed-martin, Peter B. Teets

There are many more examples like this - and while I completely understand your shock, it shouldn't come as a surprise.

[K-W]

5. Corporatocracy EOM

[saigon68]

26. Here's the OTHER "ENGLAND" hard at Work

England is seen smiling for the camera in one picture, a cigarette in her mouth, as she leans forward and points at the genitals of a naked, hooded Iraqi. Another photo shows her holding a leash that circles the neck of a naked Iraqi man lying on his side on a cellblock floor, his face contorted.

[Junkdrawer]

6. Perhaps Rummy should be watching his back?

The Amnesty thing has made him quite the liability...

:evilgrin:

[teryang]

9. Rumsfeld is the deputy defense secretary

Cheney is the defense secretary and also the vice president. Bush senior is the declining dictator/president and director of national intelligence. The question is when the aging triumvirate gives up the gerontological ghost, who will replace them? An idiot like chimp the nominal usurper may not even play a role.

The fact that Bush senior is trying to nominate JebFRAUD is an effort to plug a very serious succession crisis because the Constitution no longer effectively exists with a totally rigged national election system. Discussion of chimps wife is a non starter because she too would only be a figurehead, who will actually protect the bush dynasty from challengers? Who will the real dictator be? Will another powerful triumvirate emerge?

Negroponte may emerge as a central figure as the successor head of national intelligence. But after the collapse of the intelligence sector before the military industrial complex warmongers, he may not secure the necessary control back from the Pentagon without some serious hanky panky.

JebFRAUD may have difficulty assuming the mantle his father is losing, because his scheming ability pales in comparison to the mega frauds his father and his cronies have carried out. I don't think Jeb has ever swindled banks or taxpayers out of more than 250,000,000 at a time. This suggests that he is unable to operate in the big leagues even though he is deceptive and ruthless. Jeb always took orders. He is more able than chimp but he is in a comfort zone. There is more to it, than drug dealing and get rich swindles under CIA/NSA protection.

[CottonBear]

10. Yikes. That is a frightening analysis.

:scared:

[catzies]

25. Your comment was worth clicking on this thread! Very trenchant analysis

...plug a very serious succession crisis because the Constitution no longer effectively exists with a totally rigged national election system.

:wow: and :scared:

[sabra]

11. Who'd Replace Rumsfeld Not So Clear Cut

<<SNIP>>
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5050018,00.html

Who'd Replace Rumsfeld Not So Clear Cut

Friday June 3, 2005

By ROBERT BURNS

AP Military Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Who would act as President Bush's defense secretary if Pentagon chief Donald H. Rumsfeld were to resign, become disabled, die or be temporarily absent due to an overseas trip, such as on the one he began Thursday? For years the answer was, quite naturally, the deputy defense secretary.

But the answer had to change Thursday because of a simple, inconvenient fact: There is no deputy defense secretary.

There is, however, a Navy secretary.

That post is held by Gordon England, who also happens to be Bush's nominee to replace Paul Wolfowitz as deputy defense secretary. But England's nomination has been stalled for weeks due to a dispute over whether England must buy insurance on the pension he earned before joining the government.

<</SNIP>>

[Atman]

12. What's wrong, is Satan booked already?`

He'd probably be a better choice.

[Jacobin]

16. They're interviewing the Marquis de Sade

Turns out he never really died, but he won't take this gig....says its just too over the top for him.

[Justitia]

21. thank you for the best laugh I've had today -eom

[Beetwasher]

13. This Guy:

[JoFerret]

23. He's already in the secure undisclosed location

operating as the vice president.

[CottonBear]

14. See this previous thread and read post #9. It is a scary analysis.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1519151#1520636

:scared:

EIDT: to add teryang's post from yesterday:

teryang (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-02-05 10:18 PM
Response to Original message

9. Rumsfeld is the deputy defense secretary

Edited on Thu Jun-02-05 10:35 PM by teryang
Cheney is the defense secretary and also the vice president. Bush senior is the declining dictator/president and director of national intelligence. The question is when the aging triumvirate gives up the gerontological ghost, who will replace them? An idiot like chimp the nominal usurper may not even play a role.

The fact that Bush senior is trying to nominate JebFRAUD is an effort to plug a very serious succession crisis because the Constitution no longer effectively exists with a totally rigged national election system. Discussion of chimps wife is a non starter because she too would only be a figurehead, who will actually protect the bush dynasty from challengers? Who will the real dictator be? Will another powerful triumvirate emerge?

Negroponte may emerge as a central figure as the successor head of national intelligence. But after the collapse of the intelligence sector before the military industrial complex warmongers, he may not secure the necessary control back from the Pentagon without some serious hanky panky.

JebFRAUD may have difficulty assuming the mantle his father is losing, because his scheming ability pales in comparison to the mega frauds his father and his cronies have carried out. I don't think Jeb has ever swindled banks or taxpayers out of more than 250,000,000 at a time. This suggests that he is unable to operate in the big leagues even though he is deceptive and ruthless. Jeb always took orders. He is more able than chimp but he is in a comfort zone. There is more to it, than drug dealing and get rich swindles under CIA/NSA protection.

[Orsino]

15. Someone worse...

...that much is clear cut.

[Gregorian]

18. Oh! You're so right! Haha.

Now, I'll just go cry by myself.
You have the Bush administration defined. Ratchet down...

[leveymg]

17. Any one of these guys has the necessary experience for that job

[Roland99]

19. Hell, someone like Idi Amin would still be better!

[leftofthedial]

20. leave the post unfilled

[damntexdem]

22. Oh, I guess they've already struck out in checking on the availability of

Darth Vader.

[LibDemAlways]

24. Too bad Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy

aren't available. They are the only two I can think off offhand (other than Cheney) who were as evil as Rummy.