GOP Lawmaker Calls for Rumsfeld to Quit [ Shays ]

AP ^ | 10/4/6 | JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN

[SmithL]

Rep. Chris Shays, a Republican facing a tough challenge from an anti-war Democrat, on Wednesday called for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to resign.

The Connecticut lawmaker also accused officials at the Defense Department of withholding information about the Iraq war from Congress.

"I am losing faith in how we are fighting this war," Shays, a longtime supporter of the conflict, said in an interview. "I believe we have to motivate the Iraqis to do more."

Shays said defense officials stopped cooperating with his congressional subcommittee after he proposed setting a timeline for troop withdrawals. Shays, who had previously opposed such a timeline, offered the plan in August following his 14th trip to Iraq since the war began.

Rumsfeld "simply is refusing to cooperate with a committee that oversees the Department of Defense," Shays said. "To me he has crossed the line."

"I think Donald Rumsfeld needs to step down," Shays said.

Several congressional Democrats have clamored for Rumsfeld's resignation, but it's rare for a lawmaker in President Bush's political party to argue that the Pentagon chief should step down. Republican candidate Tom Kean Jr., who is seeking a Senate seat in New Jersey, also has called for Rumsfeld's resignation.

[drubyfive]

Does the Right really need this guy?

Does the Right hope to hold control of the House?

[RasterMaster]

I call for Shays to resign...all of the RINOs can follow him.

[jmc1969]

I agree Rumsfeld that Rumsfield should have resigned in 2004. He didn't make the worst decisions in Iraq that was Bremer, but he still make some very bad ones.

Now there is no point to him leaving.

[oxcart]

Read this from yesterday;

We always win in the end, remember that.

Posted on 10/03/2006 1:53:02 PM PDT by Pukin Dog

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1713028/posts

[Dixie Yooper]

Rep. Chris Shays, a Republican facing a tough challenge from an anti-war Democrat, on Wednesday called for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to resign

Rep. Chirs Shays, Republican, Connecticut. Dead Man Walking

[liberty_lvr]

What cracks me up is these legislators who think it is their "duty" and "mandate" to conduct this war by usurping the power from the Executive.

Their duty is to pay for this war. If they don't like the way it is being conducted then close the bank account. And if that's the case, let's see some courage of their convictions and they can take their chances at re-election time when they have to explain to the constituents why they wouldn't appropriate the necessary funds.

Cowards and idiots, every last one 'em (except my Senator, of course!) ;o)

[Perdogg]

Maybe Shays is on "the list" with Goober Graham and Chuckie H from Nebraska.

[Alter Kaker]

Does the Right hope to hold control of the House?

So long as we're depending on Congressmen like Chris Shays, will the Right ever control the House?

[kiriath_jearim]

"Now there is no point to him leaving."

***

You're right. Too bad James Webb is running for office as a Dem. I liked him when he was a Repub cabinet member (Navy). He's also a combat vet who knows what the fighting man is going through.

[in hoc signo vinces]

He's taken the dems theme....better to get elected, and be in power, than be right on anything and stand for a facts based just cause.

[Prokopton]

More Republican disarray. It's offically over - Democrats will win the House & Senate and the terrorists will ultimately win when the weak-kneed liberals take over. Thanks Chrissie boy!

This is what you get when, despite overwhelming evidence a candidate is a liberal POS, you vote for him because he tells you he is a Republican. People who voted for Shays (and Chafee et al) are getting what they deserve.

[taxesareforever]

When the going gets tough, stab your fellow politicians in the back.

[60Gunner]

I believe that the proper stance for Shays would be to call attention to the Democrats' lack of a plan and highlight the victories in the war thanks to Republican leadership. Instead, Shays loses his bowel function and becomes a Democrat in order to look more marketable. That's not an alternative, that's capitulation.

What a coward. Republicans don't need that right now. We need leaders with some backbone. Can we write this loser off and stick someone else in there?

[MNJohnnie]

Gee for about the 10th time. Meanwhile the Dow is about to closes at a New Record around 11,850 for the 1st time, President Bush just signed the Homeland Security bill which includes the $1.2 billion in funding for the Fence and STILL the news is about a RINO media whore repeating for the nth time his utter stupid Junk Media pandering nonsense.

Conservative better learn to get back on offense pretty soon.

[Jim Noble]

After he said, on the record, that we would be down to 30 000 troops in Iraq by Xmas 2003, he should have either a) made a plan to expand the active duty Army and Marine Corps to a strength sufficient to support a 5X greater than planned deployment indefinitely, or b) resigned.

The honorable thing to do was b).

[Mr. Noodle]

Is this new? I thought he had said this a week or two ago.

[MNJohnnie]

He's also a combat vet who knows what the fighting man is going through Maybe he did once upon a time, his conduct in this campaign shows he has forgot everything he might of known about military service. Webb is just another political whore using his uniform as a campaign prop like JF Kerry.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

What good is it if he did resign? The left would only go after all of the others in the entire Bush administration including the new Secretary of Defense.

[tsmith130]

People who voted for Shays (and Chafee et al) are getting what they deserve.

and our options are?

[Mr. Noodle]

One of the things I have always loved about Rumsfeld was that he was NOT a politician. It always seems he could not care less about all that stuff. I have also always thought that if the left hates him so much that he must be doing something right.