I can’t take it. I just can’t take it:
In a rare foray into public debate since stepping down as defense secretary late last year, Donald H. Rumsfeld blasted the recent advertisement by MoveOn.org against Army Gen. David H. Petraeus and decried the current state of political discourse in Washington for its “tendency to try to criminalize public service.”
“It seems that the default position for opponents of anyone is to call them liars and betrayers,” he said in an interview last week, referring to MoveOn.org’s portrayal of Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, as “General Betray Us.” Rumsfeld expressed concern that such attacks will discourage public service, especially among young people.
He also blamed “the press and the Congress,” two groups with which he often tangled while running the Pentagon, for “creating an environment that is not particularly hospitable to public service.” During Rumsfeld’s years at the Pentagon, critics often assailed his famously combative style for contributing to Washington’s tough political atmosphere. But even then Rumsfeld could be heard expressing dismay at the negative tone of public discussion and the possibility that it would undermine interest in government jobs.
Now that he is out of office, he has devised a foundation with this concern in mind. The foundation’s general goal, he said, is to “encourage reasoned and civil debate” about a range of global challenges. A major feature will be student fellowships to promote study after college in fields related to public policy, with the hope of encouraging young people to go into government.
Reading crap like that makes suicide seem rational. I need some anti-nausea medication.
now you know why I’m such a fruitcake.
the mendacity drove me round the bend. it’s all i can do not to drink hemlock.
What a fucking whiner!
But it is par for the course for neocons and wingnuts – pathetic, spineless characters. It takes some courage to face the truth, it’s obviously lacking in those quarters in so many ways.
The chickenhawks are not willing to actually fight in the war, nor can they handle being called on their crap.
They’re all for civil discourse whenever they’re the ones in the hot seat. Otherwise, it’s no holds barred, no shot too low.
BTW, Martin – please fix your link.
TY- it’s fixed.
Who will head this new foundation?….Ann Coulter?!
Eye.
hey Boo- this should help you out.Just look at all the retreads that keep popping back up like those knock down inflatable toys for kids! Then think about Rummy!
That should just about send you over the brink! Tee Hee!
billjpa
I am the guy who pissed off the entire New England contingient of Army recruiters when one of these shitheads phoned my daughter on her brand new cell phone. He knew what she was doing, what classes she was taking and above all, well, her brand new number. I call it the no child left unrecruited act and the local principle knows all about my stance.
You know my moveon was too kind also.
True story. I have received email returns addressed to my work address as “undeliverable”. They are geniune .mil addresses. Private is far from private in this country.
Civil? I’m far, far beyond that.
RumDum knows where civil is. It’s to the east, over there to the north, a little south and just to the west of only god knows where. To hear anyone in the party of Rush, ManCoulter, Gingrich, DeLay, et al, speak in these terms is revolting.
Here’s the thing. In a decent world, it would be appropriate to give public servants the benefit of the doubt, and assume that even if they make mistakes, they are honest mistakes. However, the flip side of this is that we should expect public servant to be their own harshest critics, and show contrition and shame when they fail. No matter how you slice it, Rumsfeld’s war was a failure. If he had any honor, any at all, he would commit hari-kari, or at least retire to a monastary. Instead, he seems to think that he is the victim. If you read the end of Woodward’s last book, he’s all “goodness gracious, I can’t imagine that anyone would blame me for the failure of the war, I mean, I’m only the Secretary of Defense and the author of the war plan… why should I be responsible?” There is something psychopathic about Rumsfeld, Bush, and the whole crew.
Apparently you didn’t get the memo that up is down. Please make a note of it.