I Cogitate

Wow. The butter knives and pocket knives are hacking and hewing. The wine bottle openers must be on the way.

Just look at who is coming after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Republican Senators Susan Collins ("increasing concerns about the secretary's leadership of the war"), John McCain ("no confidence"), Chuck Hagel ("irresponsible" Rumsfeld had "dismissed his generals…[and] all outside influence,"), hell, even Trent Lott ("not a fan" of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, adding, "we do need a change at some point") has changed out of his Ole Miss cheerleading outfit and started mouthing off. Minnesota's Norm Coleman, wiping the foam from his muzzle over his U.N. 'Kofi Must Go' fixation, provided American soldiers "deserve a better defense secretary than the one we have.

Add retired Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf ("angry" at Rumsfeld for acting like he "didn't have anything to do with the Army and the Army was over there doing it themselves, screwing up") and uber-neoconservative Bill Kristol ("American soldiers "deserve a better defense secretary than the one we have) and the situation ain't looking pretty for Rummy.

Now (finally!) Indiana Democratic Senator Evan Bayh has joined the growing chorus (told several interviewers that Rumsfeld has not shown he can learn from his mistakes in handling the Iraq war).

But just where is the voice that really counts--President George Bush?

Is he spit polishing a Medal of Freedom for Rummy a la Tommy Franks, Paul Bremer and George (Slam Dunk) Tenet. Keeping it ready but in that mysterious drawer W can never find. You know the one. In the desk George kept looking through at the White House correspondents dinner during THAT skit about his search for WMDs. 

Well, President Bush will never fire anyone who is loyal. You can be asinine, you can insensitive, you can be absolutely wrong, but as long as you remain a lick-the-face lap dog, then you're safe and secure.

Plus, firing someone like in the Rumsfeld situation would be tantamount to admitting there is a problem. And that is anathema to the foundation of the Bush administration. Remember, they create their own reality. It would be admitting weakness.

The undelicious irony of the entire Bush administration is its greatest weakness is the inability to admit any.

If Rumsfeld goes, it will be at a time of his and President Bush's choosing. A face-saving time for all parties involved.

Check that, not for the soldiers in Iraq. But that's not what is most important. Unfortunately.

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