Few Willing to Suggest Rumsfeld Successor

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060429/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/rumsfeld_replacement_1


WASHINGTON - In all the recent talk about whether Donald H. Rumsfeld should quit running the Pentagon, little has been said about successors who might be better able to complete the U.S. military mission in Iraq.

When lawmakers and others are pressed, the names that come up most often include several current and former members of the Senate. Some say a member of Congress taking the defense secretary's job would improve an oft-cited Rumsfeld shortcoming — impatience with the legislative branch and a reluctance to consult fully with its members.

A current or former lawmaker might also do a better job of communicating with the public — a key factor in an election year in which party control of Congress will be up for grabs.

Even a supporter, Sen. John Cornyn (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, calls Rumsfeld "not overly communicative."

Names sometimes mentioned include Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, R-Va., a former Navy secretary; Sen. Joseph Lieberman (news, bio, voting record), D-Conn.; and former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga.

[valerief]

1. PNACer Bill Kristol, maybe? Qualification is not a requirement anyway. nt

[IndianaGreen]

2. Nunn is a homophobe and Warner is a douchebag

If Bush kisses him again, Holy Joe will take the Pentagon job to the relief of many people in the defense community that hope that he will clear the decks of all neocons.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Few willing to suggest a replacement?

All they need to do is post a thread on DU. I'm sure we could come up with at least a couple of suggestions.

[Mz Pip]

5. A Senator from a Red State

with a Democratic governor will do.

Not to worry, though. Rummy will never resign. The 65% who disapprove of the way things are going are just poor misguided souls who need to be taken care of. Bush is making sure his gut is clear so he can decide with it.

If Rummy does end up leaving BushCo will be sure to have another sycophant to replace him. Nothing will change.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[CountAllVotes]

4. must be hard to find

Another giggling murderer perhaps?



:dem: :kick:

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

6. It,s Not Enough To Replace Him

Why stop there?

[daleo]

10. Yikes! n/t

[Judi Lynn]

12. Now that just doesn't look sensible! n/t

[hlthe2b]

7. re:"A current or former lawmaker might do better job ....

of communicating with the public"

Like Cheney? Actually, Rumsfeld was also a former Congressman. Get a grip, AP--the Bush* WH doesn't give a damn about communicating with the public. It is all show, after all.

[struggle4progress]

8. How about someone from the War Resisters League? Or ..

.. Food Not Bombs? Or Doctors Without Borders?

There must be plenty with a better handle than The Don on war entails ...

[anchor of hope]

9. Rumsfeld Successor

The perfect candidate is Sen. John McCain, an intellectually honest conservative. Joe Lieberman wouldn't accept the job, with a chance for his party to regain the Senate, and a Republican CT Governor likely to remain in office for the forseeable future. John Warner is 79, and likely to retire in 2008.
Otherwise, President-Elect McCain would propably appoint another Vietnam POW, Duncan Hunter as his SECDEF. Hillary Clinton would appoint Jack Reed (D-RI) as her SECDEF.

[EFerrari]

11. Are we talking about JOHN MCCAIN?

Intellectually honest?!

Last time I saw McCain he was licking birthday cake off of his sticky fingers while New Orleans drowned.

[Toucano]

13. Last time I heard, he was telling us "Americans" won't pick lettuce

for $50 an hour.

Intellectually honest my ass!

[Toucano]

14. It is the President's job to name a successor, not ours.

Why does he keep getting other people to do his job?

We shouldn't be falling into their trap of naming other people. The point is that the man he hired is doing a terrible job and he should be replaced. That's Bush's responsibility, not ours.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Judi Lynn]

16. You should share your idea with the pResident.

Cohen's being a Republican will make him all that more attractive, no doubt.

[texanshatingbush]

17. How 'bout Bill O'Lielly? n/t