# Don Rumsfeld: In praise of old, smart, rich guys who speak their minds **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 29, 2003, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868 "2003-04-29T07:36:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/21 "2003-04-30T15:05:37Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by burntsand_ > Does anyone else (regardless of their position on the war) find Donald Rumsfeld a breath of fresh air? I enjoy watching him speak his mind without all the usual layers of spin, filtering, and reluctance to offend anyone. He’s sometimes too smug ignoring or shutting down questions he doesn’t like, but compared to the evasive, dithering weasels we have in Parliament up here, I’ll take Rumsfeld anyday. No. He’s a smug fucking arsehole and I’d love it if someone gave him a good kick in the teeth. Why the fuck is it so great to see a rich old white Republican arrogantly telling the world it can fuck off? If it was someone poor, or female, or black, or gay it’d be a triumph, but in the case of Rumsfeld, it’s just a dickhead who knows that he’s number one in society and he’s happy to flaunt it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/22 "2003-04-30T15:11:11Z")
> [@](#): > > So did Rumsfeld sell biological weapons to Iraq? No. True. To be more precise about Rummy’s role, as the caption of the picture says, he was Reagan’s special envoy to Iraq and was instrumental in normalizing relations between the two countries. The Iran-Iraq war had been going on for a couple of years at that point, and Saddam’s atrocities against Iran and others (including chemical weapons) were well-known. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/23 "2003-04-30T16:05:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gex gex \* > \*\*No. He’s a smug fucking arsehole and I’d love it if someone gave him a good kick in the teeth. > > Why the fuck is it so great to see a rich old white Republican arrogantly telling the world it can fuck off? If it was someone poor, or female, or black, or gay it’d be a triumph, but in the case of Rumsfeld, it’s just a dickhead who knows that he’s number one in society and he’s happy to flaunt it. \*\* Criticism is fine, but please remember what forum you’re in. If you want to call the man names, there’s a better forum for it. ---
**Author:** ![Soup\_du\_jour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Soup\_du\_jour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soup_du_jour)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/24 "2003-04-30T16:45:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gex gex \* > \*\*No. He’s a smug fucking arsehole and I’d love it if someone gave him a good kick in the teeth. > > Why the fuck is it so great to see a rich old white Republican arrogantly telling the world it can fuck off? If it was someone poor, or female, or black, or gay it’d be a triumph, but in the case of Rumsfeld, it’s just a dickhead who knows that he’s number one in society and he’s happy to flaunt it. \*\* Excuse you me? Being poor, female, black, or gay gives someone the right to be a jerk? Giveth me a breaketh. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/25 "2003-04-30T19:20:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TwistofFate \* > \*\*anyone have that picture of Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam? \*\* I’ll go a bit further and give you this: (bolding mine) > [@](#): > > Rummy’s North Korea Connection > > Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld rarely keeps his opinions to himself. He tends not to compromise with his enemies. And he clearly disdains the communist regime in North Korea. So it’s surprising that there is no clear public record of his views on the controversial 1994 deal in which the U.S. agreed to provide North Korea with two light-water nuclear reactors in exchange for Pyongyang ending its nuclear weapons program. \*\*What’s even more surprising about Rumsfeld’s silence is that he sat on the board of the company that won a $200 million contract to provide the design and key components for the reactors. \*\* many \*\*‘don’t recall’\*\*s and \*\*‘never knew’\*\*s ensue. > [@](#): > > The North Korean reactors are being primarily funded by South Korean and Japanese export-import banks and supervised by KEDO, a consortium based in New York. “It was not a matter of favoritism,” says Desaix Anderson, who ran KEDO from 1997 to 2001. “It was just a practical matter.” > > Even so, ABB tried to keep its involvement hush-hush. In a 1995 letter from ABB to the Department of Energy obtained by FORTUNE, the firm requested authorization to release technology to the North Koreans, then asked that the seemingly innocuous one-page letter be withheld from public disclosure. > \ > In his final days in office, Clinton had been preparing a bold deal in which North Korea would give up its missile and nuclear programs in return for aid and normalized relations. But President Bush was skeptical of Pyongyang’s intentions and called for a policy review in March 2001.\*\* Two months later the DOE, after consulting with Rumsfeld’s Pentagon, renewed the authorization to send nuclear technology to North Korea. \*\* > \ > The Bush administration still hasn’t abandoned the project. Representative Edward Markey and other Congressmen have been sending letters to Bush and Rumsfeld, asking them to pull the plug on the reactors, which Markey calls “nuclear bomb factories.” \*\*Nevertheless, a concrete-pouring ceremony was held last August, and Westinghouse sponsored a training course for the North Koreans that concluded in October–shortly before Pyongyang confessed to having a secret uranium program, kicked inspectors out, and said it would start making plutonium. The Bush administration has suspended further transfers of nuclear technology, but in January it authorized $3.5 million to keep the project going. \*\* [http://www.fortune.com/fortune/print/0,15935,447429,00.html](http://www.fortune.com/fortune/print/0,15935,447429,00.html)? Ya! that Rummy’s a hoot! ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/26 "2003-04-30T19:30:35Z")
I’ve been wondering if the man is the antichrist for some time now. So I guess that no, I don’t find him to be a breath of fresh air. ---
**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:** [April 30, 2003, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/27 "2003-04-30T20:13:49Z")
Why is there lately a rash of people praising those in our government (especially Bush and Rumsfeld) for “not caring what people think”? That’s a _terrible_ quality in a leader. Saddam Hussein didn’t care what people thought, and we leveled his country over it. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/28 "2003-04-30T21:18:10Z")
I was really hoping the thread title was sarcastic… ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/29 "2003-04-30T21:48:19Z")
Same here, I had to rub my eyes and reread the OP. ---
**Author:** ![nuthinboutnuthin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/96bed5/32.png) [@nuthinboutnuthin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nuthinboutnuthin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/30 "2003-05-01T02:28:33Z")
Pretty funny how the posters anti Rumsfield replies are so typically Democratic… same old, same old. He’s smart and I think he’s a doll ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/31 "2003-05-01T02:51:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Pretty funny how the posters anti Rumsfield replies are so typically Democratic… same old, same old. Um, I could say the same about the opposite. 😉 “Sure he helped arm Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong Il - but he’s a doll.” 😛 Matter of priorities, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/32 "2003-05-01T03:10:32Z")
This board really needs a “barf” smiley. ---
**Author:** ![tag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f14d63/32.png) [@tag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tag)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/33 "2003-05-01T04:15:09Z")
I think he’s a salt-of-the-earth type of guy, and an absolute doll to boot. He’s cute. I love how he can crack a joke during a press conference, or ream a reporter for a stupid-ass question (and there are a few), and not tolerate their b.s. Hey! He’s more fun to listen to than Ari! ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/34 "2003-05-01T13:21:34Z")
Has anyone on Saturday Night Live done a good impression of him recently? ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/35 "2003-05-01T13:46:45Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by Soup\_du\_Jour_ > Excuse you me? Being poor, female, black, or gay gives someone the right to be a jerk? Giveth me a breaketh. Hmm. You’re right, of course. I don’t know what I was thinking with that. Anyone who acted like Rumsfeld would be considered a jerk, regardless of any characteristics they may have. Don’t know what I was thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Sengkelat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Sengkelat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sengkelat)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/36 "2003-05-01T14:26:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DoctorJ \* > **Why is there lately a rash of people praising those in our government (especially Bush and Rumsfeld) for “not caring what people think”?** I think it has to to with how weasely many politicians are. They try to please everyone, all the time, and end up doing nothing but bending back and forth whichever way the wind blows. It’s hard to get anything done that way. I have great respect for a politician who will do the right thing, even if it’s unpopular. It can be refreshing to see a leader actually _lead_. Unfortunately, seeing a leader do the wrong thing, lie about it, and not care what anyone thinks is pretty unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Sengkelat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Sengkelat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sengkelat)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/37 "2003-05-01T14:44:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DoctorJ \* > **Why is there lately a rash of people praising those in our government (especially Bush and Rumsfeld) for “not caring what people think”?** I think it has to to with how weasely many politicians are. They try to please everyone, all the time, and end up doing nothing but bending back and forth whichever way the wind blows. It’s hard to get anything done that way. I have great respect for a politician who will do the right thing, even if it’s unpopular. It can be refreshing to see a leader actually _lead_. Unfortunately, seeing a leader do the wrong thing, lie about it, and not care what anyone thinks is pretty unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868/38 "2003-05-01T15:40:08Z")
> [@](#): > > I think he’s a salt-of-the-earth type of guy I think “scorch the earth” would be more accurate. 😉 Weasling in politicians is a bad thing, but then again, one of the best ways to get ahead in politics is to say “look at everything he’s doing wrong, I’m the opposite” and then go behaving the same way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/don-rumsfeld-in-praise-of-old-smart-rich-guys-who-speak-their-minds/171868.md?page=1)