Is the US Government Being Led by Donald Rumsfeld?

[damgo]

Anyone else noticed that for the past month or so, it's appeared that the US government is being entirely led by Donald Rumsfeld? Not just the war... when we're threatening Iran or Syria, he's the one doing it; he states on our foreign policy towards Europe and Russia; he announces we will only accept unconditional surrender... isn't the Secretary of State supposed to handle that diplomacy stuff?

All I have heard from Bush since the war started is an occasional bit about how God is on our side -- there was a recent USA Today article indicating that Bush still spends his weekends at Camp David, working on his jogging times. (!) Dick Cheney is presumably in his undisclosed undergroud lair, er bunker, but what about the rest of the adminstration--Powell, Condi?

Just sort of odd...

 

[Zero]

I wouldn't be surprised...Bush has never been in charge of anything. He always has other people do most of the work, while he stands up front and exploits the family name. He did it in his business life, why wouldn't he continue?

 

[quantumcarl]

Originally posted by Zero
I wouldn't be surprised...Bush has never been in charge of anything. He always has other people do most of the work, while he stands up front and exploits the family name. He did it in his business life, why wouldn't he continue?

President Bush is the President. Like most Presidents, President Bush is deligating responsiblities.

Sometimes a leader will try to run every show there is in government. Poking their nose in where they have no understanding of the processes or the effects of certain policies... take Mr. Hussein, for example, and look where that got im.

However... who's running the American government? And can that be changed with democratic elections?

 

[N_Quire]

It's not Bush's job to micromanage the war and comment on its every detail. Besides, if the war goes badly, Rumsfield will have to take the blame and Bush will emerge unscathed.

 

[climbhi]

I agree it is not Bush's job to micromanage every part of the United States government. That's why he and other presidents have their cabinets and advisors, so that they can focus on what is immidiately important to their job and delegate other responsibilities to experts in their fields. Donald Rumsfelf is the Secretary of Defense, you know that guy who works at the pentagon... it only makes sense that he would be a major figure in politics right now as it is his job to be taking care of the war.

I can't believe the two sided criticisms that are being levied against President Bush right now. He can do no right according to these criticisms because they're always set up as lose-lose criticisms. Just last week here in Utah I hear people complaining that Bush is doing a terrible job because he's not listening to his advisors and screwing up the war, and now I hear that he's doing a terrible job because he is listening to his advisors and letting them do their work. Which is it? Why won't people who decide to criticize the president just pick one side and stop fence jumping everytime it becomes convenient?

 

[kyleb]

i think you are a bit confused climbhi, it is the same complaint that he is not listening; or more to the point, simply not paying attention. granted that is a matter of opinion; but as you pointed out it holds both in Utah and this forum, as well as may other places around the world.