Why doesn't Rumsfeld wear a wedding ring?

[Snellius]

This is a stupid topic for a post, I know. But it kept bothering me during the congressional testimony of Donald Rumsfeld yesterday. He doesn't wear a wedding ring. I know he's married because I heard his wife visited Afghanistan a few weeks back. Here's a picture of the happy couple:



Now, this is a guy who is a complete control freak, who leaves nothing to chance (except the treatment of prisoners under his protection.) Could he have forgotten to put on his wedding ring in all the excitement? Is he trying to send a message to his wife? Or maybe he uses high-profile events like this to pick up babes?

[rooboy]

1. I've been married 8 years and I don't wear one...

just uncomfortable. I don't like jewelry much.

[trumad]

2. I believe it was destroyed...

[Snellius]

5. OMG

Of course. That's why he was so meek and humble yesterday. No Ring.

But is it really destroyed?

[scrotim]

12. lol. you're a riot, trumad.

[Bronco69]

3. I had to stop wearing my ring and watch

for some reason they make my wrist, pinky, and ring fingers hurt.

[JPJones]

4. He doesn't want the Geisha to know he's married

Upper left -

[Pachamama]

6. It's because he's wearing it on his...

....sorry....couldn't resist answering this....

The guy is a control freak and its an interesting question to ponder isn't it? I'll ask a friend of mine who is also a psychologist in Berkeley - I won't evoke her full name (it's Sheila) but she had the misfortune in her youth of the 60's to be set up on a blind date with Rummy...without getting into the sordid details, she said he was creepy then and never returned his calls. Amazingly, if you met Sheila who is also someone who goes to India each year and meditates with the Sai Baba and she is incredibly spiritual and insightful, its wild to think these two had their paths ever cross....

[phaseolus]

7. Please do that!

...and welcome to DU, by the way.

I'm guessing he's just one of those guys who doesn't like to wear a ring, I've met many people like that who've been happily married, but I'd love to hear some dirt on the evil bastard....

[Pachamama]

9. Glad to be a new member of the Democratic Underground

I'll ask her for some "dirt" and the DSM on the guy....Then again, I'm not sure we are all prepared for the evil that is about him...

I'm happily married and not wearing a ring right now because w/ a newborn etc. I'm washing my hands constantly and it irritates and the moisture can cause ring-rot (athletes finger?)...anyway, I think the bottom line is that the guy is evil and if we can find anything to point out about him that is flawed or strange, we do it...

Look forward to being a new member of the sane world at the Democratic Underground....gee, how many moles do you think the fascists have "watching in" on us? I'm sure they are constantly figuring out how they are going to try to take control of the internet and our ability for free speech....

[kentuck]

8. I question the psychology of someone that would put so much significance

on a wedding band. Just what does that band symbolize to you? ??

[trumad]

10. Love, devotion...

nothing wrong with a little symbolisism...

[Snellius]

11. A wedding band is a perpetual pledge of loyalty & commitment

Not just to an abstract nonentity, like "America" or "Liberty" or "God", but to a real person you love.

Maybe it didn't bother me so much as surprise me that this guy, stern and staunch and steadfast upholder of the traditional values of god, country, family would still think of himself as divorced or above the mere bounds to mortal attachments. Like the emperor with no friends.

I note, too, he doesn't have on any jewelry, no cuff links, not even the obligatory Republican I'm-a-REAL-American flag pin. (Can't tell if he wore a watch.)

[kentuck]

13. Could someone loosen these mental shackles...?

Please?

[scrotim]

14. So he won't feel guilty while "interrogating" female Iraqi prisoners?"

[latebloomer]

15. Don't you read "People" magazine?

Didn't they vote him one of the "Sexiest Men Alive"?

You don't wear a ring when you're fending off all those hot babes!

(Pausing to choke down my rising breakfast)

[Shopaholic]

16. On the other hand. . .

My father doesn't wear his either. Then again, he's a lying, cheating, two-timing SOB. Kinda like Rumsfeld, I guess.

[Ilsa]

17. My dad never wore one. My parents were married for only

54 years before my mom died! I can't imagine anyone more committed to my mom than my ring-less father.

[greenbriar]

19. WELL

My dad wore one

My husband wears on

[Ilsa]

23. My point remains that

you don't have to wear one to be in a committed, long term relationship and marriage. It's a personal choice, and I wouldn't be any less married without one. In some states you don't even need a license to be legally married (under common law, which is a legal marriage).

I think this is much ado about mothing.

[BiggJawn]

18. Maybe he can't afford one?

Poor boy....In my first marriage, I bought her a ring, but there wasn't money to buy me one, either.

Second time around, my finger broke out because I got my hands in solvent, and it disappeared. Think it wound up piercing the "lower lip" of my replacement....

[Jacobin]

20. Silly. He's pledged his black heart to beezlebub!!

Thought you knew that!
:-)

[goddess40]

21. Arthritis

This is Goddess40's mom. Don't want to get Rummy off the hook for anything but I know he has arthritis in his hands and even had corrective surgery for this. I have the same problem and it makes it difficult to wear a ring due to periodic swelling of the hands. Goddess40 can't wear a ring as she is allergic to metal. However, with Rummy it could be more of a devious and disgusting reason (told you I didn't want to let him off the hook.)

[The Night Owl]

22. Rumsfeld doesn't do wedding rings.

Only quagmires.

[mitchum]

24. He wears it on his cock instead?

[kskiska]

25. Probably just a generational thing

Back when Rummy got married double-ring ceremonies weren't really the norm. Men weren't expected to wear one.

[joe1991]

26. Vampires don't like silver

Ever see "The Devil's Advocate" with Al Pacino ?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

27. Because he's having an affair.

He's fucking the country.

[troublemaker]

28. Nothing to do with Rumsfeld, but...

Men in blue collar towns often don't wear wedding rings. It's a terrible danger if one works with machinery. (If the ring is caught it strips all the flesh off the finger)

[Retrograde]

29. I lost mine

Really. Shortly after I got married about 30 years ago. Never bothered to get it replaced, and the only reason I had one in the first place was to keep my mother quiet.

I never did like wearing rings anyway: they always seemed to be in the way. My husband doesn't wear rings for the same reason. Someone else brought up safety issues: my father used to leave his wedding ring at home when he went to work for that reason.

As for Rumsfeld's fashion statement - there are bigger issues with him.

linda

[Cleita]

30. Neither my husband, nor I wear wedding rings.

We have them, but don't wear them. I don't think it's a big deal.

[flowomo]

31. No rings for us either.....

[West Coast Democrat]

32. My dad has one, but he doesn't wear it due to skin allergies

I don't know Dummy's reason.