Rumsfailed

I just have to add that Bush's effusive praise of Rumsfeld is somewhat shocking to me. The cheezy performance the two put on, with Bush "privately" "chiding" Rumsfeld because, oh gosh, some Iraqi detainees were tortured, killed, and raped, and then turning around and saying he was doing a superb job, and that we all owe him a debt of gratitude (for what? for screwing up two wars?) follows a pattern of behavior for Republican politicians. Why, it wasn't so long ago that the mutant son of Bob's Big Boy, Mississippi senator Trent Lott, was in hot water for making what amounted to pro-segregationist remarks at Strom Thurmond's birthday party. The Republican establishment came down pretty hard on the helmet-haired bigot. But in the end, he was given basically a slap on the wrist, moved down a slot, and replaced by someone who makes Southern Conservatism seem a little bit less barbaric, the cat-torturing megalomaniac Bill Frist.

This was all a bit like an old Mickey Mouse cartoon. Mickey lets Pluto babysit his nephews, Ferdy and Morty. Pluto mauls both of them, leaving Ferdy comotose and Morty paralyzed from the neck down. Mickey admonishes Pluto. Pluto gives Mickey sad eyes and whimpers. Mickey feels sorry for the poor dog and forgives him, saying, "Gosh, Pluto, I can't stay mad at you." Pluto licks Mickey's face and they all live happily ever after except for the two mauled anthropomorphic mice.

So, in that way, it's not that shocking. But in another, it just seems really, really stupid. This is probably the biggest scandal to hit this White House, and it's not going away. Bush, by telling the world he thinks Rummy is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being he's ever known in his life, has poured gasoline on a fire that may have made the war in Iraq unwinnable and the War on Terrorism much, much harder.

If I were a tin-foil hat type, I might say Bush has decided that he can't win re-election, and has decided to ruin Kerry's presidency.