# Can Rumsfeld Survive **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 11, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649 "2004-05-11T16:56:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/21 "2004-05-18T00:51:58Z")
> [@dantheman](#): > > I don’t think he’s going anywhere. After heaping such huge praise on the secretary, the president would look mighty foolish if he now let him go. It would be like admitting a mistake, you see. And as we know, he doesn’t make those. So I think Rumsfeld is staying put, at least until the election. A agree – I think there’s almost no chance he’ll leave the Bush admin prior to the election. To do so would look like an admission of guilt, and that’s just not going to happen. However, in the event that Bush is re-elected (which is looking unlikely right now 😃 ), I think that we’ll see Rumsfeld “pursuing other opportunities” really quickly. It will no doubt be spun as Rumsfeld himself making the choice. Mild hijack – notice that the coverage of Colin Powell’s intent to resign is being swept under the rug? There will be no weakness. No resignations, no firing. “All is well, we are in control,” say the Bushistas. ---
**Author:** ![Senggum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@Senggum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senggum)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/22 "2004-05-18T01:08:00Z")
I think Rummy is worth over $50+ million and, also, is over 70 years old. He has served our country with distinction for most of his life. I don’t know why he even puts up this crap. I think he will resign, I would, to placate the leftist and show what a real patriot would do so that GW will be reelected. You’ll never know what you had 'til he is gone … ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/23 "2004-05-18T01:19:29Z")
If Tenet didn’t get the ax after all the rigamarol about “bad intelligence”. Rumsfailed isn’t going anywhere. Which, to me, is a good thing. If he goes Bush will try his best to send the blame for it all with him. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/24 "2004-05-18T05:18:26Z")
Why should Rummy go? His performance, character, and wealth (as it was pointed out above) are completely consistent with those of other Bush Administration officials. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/25 "2004-05-18T05:37:38Z")
Rumsfeld may reign, but he won’t be let go. If he resigns, there’ll be an effort to give the appearances of wistfully seeing him off, as if it was preferred that he stay. The cover story suggested by **Senggüm** ’d be sufficient I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/26 "2004-05-18T11:36:17Z")
Bush is not exactly known for his willingness to throw away a losing hand. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/27 "2004-05-18T11:55:17Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > Rumsfeld may **reign** , but he won’t be let go. Best typo of the day. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/28 "2004-05-18T12:17:51Z")
> [@Brainiac4](#): > > Colin Powell’s intent to resign 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Brainiac4](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brainiac4/32/3534_2.png) [@Brainiac4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brainiac4)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/29 "2004-05-18T12:44:38Z")
[Officials: Powell not expected in second Bush term (CNN)](http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/04/powell.2nd.term/) [Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and his deputy, Richard L. Armitage, have signaled to the White House that they intend to step down even if President Bush is reelected (Washington Post)](http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A16856-2003Aug3?language=printer) From the information presented, it’s long been understood that Powell would serve no more than one term. Given the horrible damage that being used as a shill for the WMD “evidence” has done to his career, and the demonstrated fact that he’s unable to effect significant changes in policy, he has little reason to stay. Nonetheless, his leaving would be seen as a weakening of the power bloc, and so he must publicly deny that he intends to do anything other than stay by the side of the president who ignores him except when he’s convenient. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/30 "2004-05-18T12:49:03Z")
I’ve seen that reported, **Brainiac4** , but I thought you meant he was going to resign nowish, or at least before the election, which would have been big news. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/31 "2004-05-18T15:16:43Z")
What about Feith and Wolfowitz? Would their heads be sufficient for the “mob at the gates”? I’ve heard that Feith’s all bu a goner anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649/32 "2004-05-18T15:22:18Z")
> [@SimonX](#): > > Feith and Wolfowitz? > > Would their heads be sufficient for the “mob at the gates”? Yum, flame broiled head-o-Wolfowitz! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-rumsfeld-survive/244649.md?page=1)