Rumsfeld is impressive, in a dastardly way

[quinnox]

I am unhappy with Rumsfeld just like most, but he is an intelligent and impressive man. I saw a Cspan feature a few months ago where they went along with Rumsfeld on a typical day for him at the Pentagon. What I got from the piece was he is a formidable presence, he carries a certain power in his comportment. Evidently he was a Navy man, and went on to become one of the youngest congressmen at the time he entered the congress, there was even a picture of him as a young congressman in a display case in one of the Pentagon halls where Rumsfeld pointed it out, proudly and it must be said arrogantly.

I came away from the program with grudging respect for Rumsfeld's intelligence and work ethic (for instance, he has "standing desks" and prefers to stand as much as possible and works 16 hour days) but still as wishful as ever to see him go with Bush in 2004.

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. Rumsfeld

Needs one of those old evil supervillan mustaches that he can twirl around.

The man is the personification of evil. Probably moreso than anyone else in that administration.

Bush - just stupid.
Cheney - just in it for the money.
Powell - just in it for his legacy.
Aschroft - just in it becuase he thinks god told him to.
Rumsfeld - just in it for power.

[quinnox]

5. Heh, I agree

with all your assessments.

[Ouabache]

2. At his age he stands all day

one word, phlebitis, seems like he should have it...

[ewagner]

3. Glad to see this post

We, the left, have a tendency to underestimate our opponents. Don't underestimate Rumsfeld, or Cheney. They are not stupid people.

Having said that, it make you wonder about the blundering in Iraq. If it wasn't out of stupidity, then it was most certainly designed for a purpose that we can only guess at.

[leetrisck]

4. Rummy is an overbearing ass

and I have no respect for him at all. I know lots of people who work 16 hour days. Right now the little evil twit is destroying our veterans behind the scenes - and I do mean he is going all out to do it. Is he powerful enough to pull it off? He has been so far. We'll see this time - in the next few days. Veterans have a write in campaign to bush to get rid of him - active military do not like him either - and no, I do not respect anyone with that kind of power who uses it in such an evil way (Cheney included) and I'm not just talking about the veteran's and military here.

[Ilsa]

8. You make a very good point not to underestimate our opponents.

I think everyone underestimated their egos.

I blame the lack of a coherent post-war plan on their egos. They simply didn't think there was any way there would be a deviation from the plan of a quick victory and rose-strewn path. This narcissism and arrogance is costing the lives and limbs of American troops.

I don't think Iraq is proceeding the way they intended. Rumsfeld said before the war that he couldn't foresee any reason why our troops would be there any longer than six months. Of course, maybe he was lying then, also.

[pretzel4gore]

10. no...things are going well for bushinc...

they NEED time, more then anything, and Iraq bought them...a year maybe.....like 911 before that....
as far as america is concerned, busheviks hate america, the nation that reelected bill clinton......
HATE is their fuel.....they wanna bankrupt the society, and they well on their way....
bush's supporters are fools.

[CWebster]

6. loose cannon crackpot, who casually dismissed unaccounted for

trillions disappeared into the pentagon black hole.
He probably stands due to hemmoroids, but aside from that, it doesn't take much to impress some folks.

Wonder what you would have to say about boy mayor Kucinich, who stood his ground and lost in the short term by not selling out Cleveland and ended up saving a goldmine in the long-run? Interesting that yesterday while the networks mentioned Kucinich's official announcement, the bit about Cleveland defaulting was noted in passing---but not the story behind it.

[Zero Gravitas]

7. 16 Hour work days

He should think about cutting back on his hours. He is doing way to much damge to theworld as it is.

Rumsfeld is too arrogant and he won't admit it when he makes mistakes.

[Drifter]

9. Evil is rarely wimpy ...

In fact by definition, it can not be.

Never over-estimate or under-estimate your enemy.

Cheers
Drifter