During the waning days of his first term, George W. Bush was experiencing unprecedented shake-ups within his administration. People were leaving, some voluntarily - others involuntarily. Cabinet members were being replaced. Department heads were resigning to accept positions in private industry or retire on a lavish government pension.
The trend continued unabated into his second term. Although the administration tried to put a positive spin on every staff change, it was obvious to insiders that there was turmoil within the Bush camp. Even the press took notice of what appeared to be discontent among many loyal Bush employees and appointees.
One of the most notable resignations was that of Colin Powell, who had served admirably as Secretary of State until suddenly - with little outside observation - Powell submitted his resignation. There had been rumors of contentious conflict between Powell and Cheney, as well as Powell and Rumsfeld. It was no secret that most Bush loyalists considered Rumsfeld to be the "Mr Magoo" of the administration with his constantly-grumpy demeanor and thick Coke-bottle spectacles. One of his most insane abberations (of many more that followed) occurred at a press conference shortly after the fighting in Iraq had started to escalate. A reporter had questioned Rumsfeld on the consequences of war, the death toll, and the climbing tally of soldiers maimed and injured as a result of the war. Rumsfeld - or 'DummyRummy' as many in the press referred to him - responded to the reporter's question with what turned out to be one of the most-remembered of all his crude and unrefined remarks in front of the TV cameras: "STUFF HAPPENS". Appalled by such insensitivity, the general public began to take an adverse dislike to this oviously incompetent and fallacious member of the Bush inner-circle. In time, even retired military generals would publicly call for Rumsfeld's resignation, claiming his inadequate leadership was detrimental to the commanders in the field, and demoralizing for the troops.
Prior to those controversies, Colin Powell had quietly, respectfully submitted his resignation to President Bush. Since that time, he had remained a true soldier and had never spoken publicly about his service to the President. Born in New York and thoroughly trained in the disciplines of military decorum, Powell had stood up for his convictions, but always eventually acquiesced to his superiors, especially his Commander-In-Chief. More than once he had been used by the administration, unwittingly helping to spread its lies and deceit. More than once he put his personal principles on the line only to be bitten in the behind by people lacking ethics or morality.
Now Colin Powell broke his silence by offering to lead the charge against any potential provocation that might come from the North Korean junta. He immediately began rallying support among those military leaders that were still alive, making phone calls and sending e-mails or telegrams to enlist their agreement. It was imperative that such civility be solicited; without mid-level commanders' full consent, Powell's actions could be conceived as its own 'takeover' and might result in a secession of some military components. Powell needed a strong alliance and absolute endorsement if this was going to work. It not only had to be concluded quickly, it had to be implemented efficiently and without the possibility of division among all the various military chieftans. The Pentagon already had its hands full trying to control the troops still remaining in Iraq - and the troops that Bush had just recently started to divert into Iran. With so many of its top-level leaders now deceased, trying to hold a war together was like trying to keep water from leaking through a sieve. Reports from the front indicated that troops were in chaos, and the Iraqi coalition government was crumbling. The military complex, as it now existed, was not capable of dealing with a threat from a rag-tag bunch of crackpots in North Korea. Powell needed to be installed quickly so that any possible threat to the West coasts of America could be defended without Pentagon officials minimizing their focus on the problems at hand in Iraq and Iran. Within a matter of hours, military personnel were responding with hearty endorsements of accepting Colin Powell as their new commander.
The O.U.T.R.A.G.E. telecasts were now on the air well into the evening. Although the videoconferences had always started at 4:55 P.M. EST, they usually would last only long enough for a new resolution to be introduced and the thousands of audiences across the country to cast their votes. Seldom did a teleconference last more than three or four hours; now there were impromptu news updates and visual recordings of activity within the huge O.U.T.R.A.G.E. hall being broadcast until midnight, and beyond. As word spread about the potential North Korean attack, more people began coming into the sites where they could watch what was going on. The country was still trying to recover from an unimagineable series of mass bombings, wholesale destruction, and abominable killings within its own shores. Now it was about to face a possible missle attack instigated by a band of renegade insurgents from another nation.
At three minutes before 10:00 P.M. EST, Powell showed up at the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. 'headquarters' to address those million-and-a-half viewers huddled around big-screen TVs in bars, libraries, military bases, school gymnasiums, and airport hangars. "While I adamantly condemn what the members of O.U.T.R.A.G.E. have perpetrated on the American people," he stated, "it leaves me little choice but to join their cause as we now face imminent danger from an outside force. God forbid that any more carnage is levied upon the American people. This is a time that will try our countrymen's souls and will test our will as a democracy. If this can be survived, we will need a national unity that will require the strength of a Samson and the wisdom of a Solomon. I urge you to encourage your neighbors, friends, and relatives to get involved in this undertaking as it evolves, regardless of their personal feelings toward what we have suffered. What's done is done. We cannot bring back our national leaders and eminent members of our society. We must now band together to rebuild our society and - with the help of Almighty God - propitiously return our nation to a world power and a civilized community. We must mutually agree to the terms of law and our U.S. Constitution, even though we might believe that what has happened over the past three-and-a-half weeks was godless and despicable. God be with us as we attempt such a monumental objective. Only God can render punishment upon those who committed these dastardly acts."
As the teleview dragged on, cameramen tried to follow directors' instructions as to which groups to pan in on, and which groups to avoid. Apparently, it was an attempt at trying to pump up the positive aspects of the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. organization and diminish the negative affects - in eerie similarity to the Bush administration's cold efforts at trying to manipulate the press. People who were beginning to show remorse for their participation in such massive rebellion were evidently not to be put in front of a camera. The cameras followed Powell around the room as he talked with various groups or individuals, and as he constantly took messages or made calls on his cellphone. In some regions of the country, incoming and outgoing calls could not be transmitted due to communications towers and equipment having been destroyed. Powell did what he could, trying to talk with as many officials and authorities as possible. Finally, it was just after 1:00 A.M. EST on Thursday, February 14, when things started to die down. Someone had drawn a red heart on a piece of hi-brite pink paper with an arrow drawn through its center. Was it a Valentine's Day message, or was it the symbol for a heart-broken America? It was the very last thing viewers saw on their screens before the familair two-line message appeared announcing tomorrow's meeting scheduled to begin at 4:55 P.M. EST; the the television monitors all went dark.
The trend continued unabated into his second term. Although the administration tried to put a positive spin on every staff change, it was obvious to insiders that there was turmoil within the Bush camp. Even the press took notice of what appeared to be discontent among many loyal Bush employees and appointees.
One of the most notable resignations was that of Colin Powell, who had served admirably as Secretary of State until suddenly - with little outside observation - Powell submitted his resignation. There had been rumors of contentious conflict between Powell and Cheney, as well as Powell and Rumsfeld. It was no secret that most Bush loyalists considered Rumsfeld to be the "Mr Magoo" of the administration with his constantly-grumpy demeanor and thick Coke-bottle spectacles. One of his most insane abberations (of many more that followed) occurred at a press conference shortly after the fighting in Iraq had started to escalate. A reporter had questioned Rumsfeld on the consequences of war, the death toll, and the climbing tally of soldiers maimed and injured as a result of the war. Rumsfeld - or 'DummyRummy' as many in the press referred to him - responded to the reporter's question with what turned out to be one of the most-remembered of all his crude and unrefined remarks in front of the TV cameras: "STUFF HAPPENS". Appalled by such insensitivity, the general public began to take an adverse dislike to this oviously incompetent and fallacious member of the Bush inner-circle. In time, even retired military generals would publicly call for Rumsfeld's resignation, claiming his inadequate leadership was detrimental to the commanders in the field, and demoralizing for the troops.
Prior to those controversies, Colin Powell had quietly, respectfully submitted his resignation to President Bush. Since that time, he had remained a true soldier and had never spoken publicly about his service to the President. Born in New York and thoroughly trained in the disciplines of military decorum, Powell had stood up for his convictions, but always eventually acquiesced to his superiors, especially his Commander-In-Chief. More than once he had been used by the administration, unwittingly helping to spread its lies and deceit. More than once he put his personal principles on the line only to be bitten in the behind by people lacking ethics or morality.
Now Colin Powell broke his silence by offering to lead the charge against any potential provocation that might come from the North Korean junta. He immediately began rallying support among those military leaders that were still alive, making phone calls and sending e-mails or telegrams to enlist their agreement. It was imperative that such civility be solicited; without mid-level commanders' full consent, Powell's actions could be conceived as its own 'takeover' and might result in a secession of some military components. Powell needed a strong alliance and absolute endorsement if this was going to work. It not only had to be concluded quickly, it had to be implemented efficiently and without the possibility of division among all the various military chieftans. The Pentagon already had its hands full trying to control the troops still remaining in Iraq - and the troops that Bush had just recently started to divert into Iran. With so many of its top-level leaders now deceased, trying to hold a war together was like trying to keep water from leaking through a sieve. Reports from the front indicated that troops were in chaos, and the Iraqi coalition government was crumbling. The military complex, as it now existed, was not capable of dealing with a threat from a rag-tag bunch of crackpots in North Korea. Powell needed to be installed quickly so that any possible threat to the West coasts of America could be defended without Pentagon officials minimizing their focus on the problems at hand in Iraq and Iran. Within a matter of hours, military personnel were responding with hearty endorsements of accepting Colin Powell as their new commander.
The O.U.T.R.A.G.E. telecasts were now on the air well into the evening. Although the videoconferences had always started at 4:55 P.M. EST, they usually would last only long enough for a new resolution to be introduced and the thousands of audiences across the country to cast their votes. Seldom did a teleconference last more than three or four hours; now there were impromptu news updates and visual recordings of activity within the huge O.U.T.R.A.G.E. hall being broadcast until midnight, and beyond. As word spread about the potential North Korean attack, more people began coming into the sites where they could watch what was going on. The country was still trying to recover from an unimagineable series of mass bombings, wholesale destruction, and abominable killings within its own shores. Now it was about to face a possible missle attack instigated by a band of renegade insurgents from another nation.
At three minutes before 10:00 P.M. EST, Powell showed up at the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. 'headquarters' to address those million-and-a-half viewers huddled around big-screen TVs in bars, libraries, military bases, school gymnasiums, and airport hangars. "While I adamantly condemn what the members of O.U.T.R.A.G.E. have perpetrated on the American people," he stated, "it leaves me little choice but to join their cause as we now face imminent danger from an outside force. God forbid that any more carnage is levied upon the American people. This is a time that will try our countrymen's souls and will test our will as a democracy. If this can be survived, we will need a national unity that will require the strength of a Samson and the wisdom of a Solomon. I urge you to encourage your neighbors, friends, and relatives to get involved in this undertaking as it evolves, regardless of their personal feelings toward what we have suffered. What's done is done. We cannot bring back our national leaders and eminent members of our society. We must now band together to rebuild our society and - with the help of Almighty God - propitiously return our nation to a world power and a civilized community. We must mutually agree to the terms of law and our U.S. Constitution, even though we might believe that what has happened over the past three-and-a-half weeks was godless and despicable. God be with us as we attempt such a monumental objective. Only God can render punishment upon those who committed these dastardly acts."
As the teleview dragged on, cameramen tried to follow directors' instructions as to which groups to pan in on, and which groups to avoid. Apparently, it was an attempt at trying to pump up the positive aspects of the O.U.T.R.A.G.E. organization and diminish the negative affects - in eerie similarity to the Bush administration's cold efforts at trying to manipulate the press. People who were beginning to show remorse for their participation in such massive rebellion were evidently not to be put in front of a camera. The cameras followed Powell around the room as he talked with various groups or individuals, and as he constantly took messages or made calls on his cellphone. In some regions of the country, incoming and outgoing calls could not be transmitted due to communications towers and equipment having been destroyed. Powell did what he could, trying to talk with as many officials and authorities as possible. Finally, it was just after 1:00 A.M. EST on Thursday, February 14, when things started to die down. Someone had drawn a red heart on a piece of hi-brite pink paper with an arrow drawn through its center. Was it a Valentine's Day message, or was it the symbol for a heart-broken America? It was the very last thing viewers saw on their screens before the familair two-line message appeared announcing tomorrow's meeting scheduled to begin at 4:55 P.M. EST; the the television monitors all went dark.
posted by Bushwacker! at 7:17 AM
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