I'm willing to take a chance on Gates

[jmowreader]

Backing Robert Gates for Secretary of Defense is, on this board, anathema. I don't exactly BACK the guy--there are lots of people who could do better, and I could reel off the names of half a dozen people who would be exceptional without even thinking--but I'll take a chance on him.

So far, it appears that he's on a fast track to be the first SecDef to ever be canned by the man who selected him between confirmation and installation. He thinks we're losing in Iraq. He thinks we should have listened to General Shinseki and sent more troops. So far, everything Gates believes about the war is diametrically opposite to what Bush does.

I could be very wrong but I think this nominee is going to be a thorn in Shrub's side every day he serves.

[Hobarticus]

1. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, as well...

He's starting strong out of the gate, perhaps the adults are indeed back in charge.

[Annces]

3. Your picture of that guy is so funny

I wonder he if has left yet?

[Hobarticus]

8. I think he's going to go back in time and try to get the Sec of Defense job...

Buy canned goods, and seek high ground.

[QuestionAll...]

4. you do know his history?

oh pleeeze, this deju vu all over again sucks the life out of me.

[jannyk]

6. Unfortunately, they ALL have 'history'

it's the nature of the beast. I don't really see any alternatives being offered though.

[Hobarticus]

7. Yes, I do...

Of course they're going to tap some ethically- and morally-impaired right-wing professional bureaucrat to do this job. But kee-rist, it could have been a lot worse. If you'd expect some rational liberal to get the nod, keep dreaming.

At least he can read the writing on the wall, and read it aloud. Granted, my expectations are pretty low, but after Rumsy, I'll take that, at this point.

[jmowreader]

9. I know his history

Name ONE person in Bush's inner circle that doesn't have a similar, or worse, one.

Here's the thing, and you may believe as you wish: We are never going to see Bush appoint anyone we like. This is the fuckwit who put Dr "Birth Control Demeans Women" in charge of the federal low-income contraception program. His running mate in 2000 had to be told to run back up to Wyoming and get a driver's license so the electors from Texas could vote for him, his first SecDef is the guy who sold Saddam his chemical weapons program, his attorney general is on record as sanctioning atrocities, and his first AG couldn't win an election against a dead opponent. And we're not even talking about his OWN background, including the fact that all of his accomplishments as governor of Texas are buried in unmarked graves behind Brownsville Penitentiary.

Is Gates great? No. Is he even palatable? Depends on your opinion of cod liver oil. Is he going to parrot the Bush line? I don't think he will, and at this time that's the most crucial thing.

[BurtWorm]

2. We have no choice.

[blm]

5. I wasn't backing him, but do agree that SOMETHING good can come from the situation.

I believe the reason Gates was chosen is that he can deal with Bush-Cheney while implementing what Poppy Bush and House of Saud agreed to a few weeks ago, and that Baker helped outline in the report. They won't BE specifically for a timetable for withdrawal in a public way, but there is no doubt that is what they will put in place amongst themselves.

Bushboy's stubborn incompetence set back the fascist course they had carefully structured over the last 40 plus years and nearly exposed it all.

They need cover of Iraq withdrawal just to get back on course and drum up some goodwill - no surprise to me that Clinton has stuck by Poppy's side for all these years.

Oh well - let's get our military out of Iraq and THEN work to get an anti-corruption, open government Democrat in the WH come Jan 2009.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2867222

[H2O Man]

10. One of my concerns

(certainly not the only one) was his extremely close relationship with Cheney in the Bush1 days. However, I am keeping in mind that others who were close to Cheney in the past have said that he has changed. Scowcroft, I believe, has said he doesn't recognize this Dick Cheney. Perhaps there are some in the Bush1 group who are recognizing the insanity of the course that Bush-Cheney have set us upon.

[blm]

12. I am sure they're acting more for their own goals than for Iraq and ours, but

if we can use their cravenness for something GOOD for once, we must, and then make sure the next administration isn't just another coverup effort.

Saw this documentary last night on BET about ContraCocaine-CIA drugrunning, and couldn't believe I was actually hearing some truth about it. How often do you see any indepth story about that time?

It was part of BET's American Gangster documentary series. Just a lucky find for me last night. I hope they rerun it, and I called and congratulated them for even taking up the issue.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2867222

[walldude]

11. I hope you are right, CNN announcing he was just confirmed.

95-2.

[0rganism]

13. Gates is there to handle the coverup, nothing more, nothing less

The administration's criminal policy wrt Iraq and TWOT is in a post-architecture and late-execution phase, now someone in the bush circle yet apparently detatched from the scandals has to play janitor/gatekeeper, limit exposure, and maintain plausible deniability.

Cheney's bag man, ex-sod Rumsfeld, may yet find his hide hung out to dry as a last resort, but the chances of him turning under pressure are such that it will likely be posthumous scapegoating.