Posted on 05/01/2006 9:30:19 AM PDT by Crackingham
Almost as much as President Bush's loyalty, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld may owe his job security to the prospect of what would happen if he resigned. Sure, it's a distraction from the war in Iraq and the rest of the war on terror to have a half dozen ex-generals calling for Rumsfeld's ouster. But suppose the president named a replacement. The scene would shift to the Senate Armed Services Committee, where a confirmation hearing would give 24 U.S. senators live TV time to air all their misgivings about a war that fewer and fewer Americans continue to support. You can see where Bush might prefer the four-star revolt to a three-ring circus.
There is, however, one man whom the American people and all senators know well enough that the president could, in effect, request a confirmation by acclamation. He happens to be a war hero. He would boost the morale of the men and women in uniform. And he would have bipartisan backing (ranging from his good pals John Kerry and Joe Lieberman to his would-be White House rivals Bill Frist and George Allen). This not-a-mystery man is, of course, John McCain.
We know President Bush isn't big on admitting mistakes, and he surely doesn't relish the prospect of accepting Rumsfeld's resignation only to see days of media coverage rehashing all the old questions about why we went to war. But this needn't be a multi-stage drama or a mea culpa. In the same prime-time speech that he announces Rumsfeld is leaving, Bush can announce he's chosen McCain to replace him, call on the Senate to act promptly and explain the logic of his decision. Which, in a nutshell, is that nothing is more important to the future security and foreign policy interests of the United States than that the mission in Iraq succeed.
The president can make clear he continues to value the work Rumsfeld has done in transforming the military for the challenges of the future. He can even say history will remember the willingness to be unpopular that allowed the Defense secretary to make much-needed tough decisions.
Then the president can turn to the reasons he is asking McCain to serve his country once again: to make the Pentagon a full partner in the building of a stable, self-governing Iraq and to re-engage the American people in the importance of the pursuit.
No one can match McCain's eloquence when it comes to talking about being a part of a cause larger than oneself. That's the message Americans need to hear — and believe — if there's any hope of regaining widespread public support for the difficult work ahead in Iraq.
Hey, he might be as good as Les Aspin...........
That's NOT the message the Pentagon needs to hear. They need to hear more about transformation and Rumsfield has been taking it to them nicely.
McCain? Defense? Are you kidding me, who writes this BS.
Isn't that the truth?
Rubbish...I had to read again to see if Bill Kristol was pushing this again
Wow, this is your brain on crack.
What on earth is this inside the beltway obsession with McCain?
Ummm...No.
McCain for SecDef?
That would create a backlash that would make the Miers nomination seem like a Sunday picnic.
Surely, the Administration is not that out of touch.
NO
remember the terrorist 'Bill of Rights'.
McCain for Dog Catcher.
Bush naming McCain as SecDef = massive numbers of voters abandoning the Republicans.
Too late, someone already picked this answer to all or problems yesterday.
I may be inclined to go for this if he quits his day job.
No, actually, I'm thinking of another planet
No to Rumsfeld Resignation
Yes to McCain Resignation
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