Another side of Rummy.Few can doubt the vigor of Donald Rumsfeld, the defense secretary who can't be made to resign. (The 74-year-old eschews a chair at his desk, for instance, preferring to stand for over eight hours a day at a raised drafting table.) Not even an unprecedented onslaught against Rummy rummy, card game played by two to six players with a standard deck. The cards usually rank from king down through ace. Seven cards are dealt to each player in the three- or four-hand game, one card is turned up on the table, and the remaining cards are left face down by retired Army and Marine generals earlier this year was enough to dent their target visibly. Bob Woodward Noun 1. Bob Woodward - United States chemist honored for synthesizing complex organic compounds (1917-1979) Robert Burns Woodward, Robert Woodward, Woodward might have destroyed his reputation in State of Denial, but it takes more than a public shaming to evict Rummy from the E-Ring. Beneath the vigorous exterior, however, dwells a delicate soul too often wounded by the mainstream press. That's why these days, Rummy prefers to grant access, plenty of it, to journalists more to his liking: right-wing talk-radio hosts. While Rummy's efforts are in part strategic (to rally support for the war in Iraq), they're also personal. The truth is that even the most resolutely vigorous ego requires a gentle, periodic stroking, and right-wing radio touches Rummy in just the right places. What follows are samples of how to pleasure a secretary of defense: Secretary Rumsfeld interviewed by Rusty Humphries Ralph "Rusty" Humphries (b. 1966) is a syndicated conservative talk-personality featured on over 250 radio stations nationwide and is syndicated by Talk Radio Network, which is sometimes jokingly re-titled as "The Rusty Network" on his program. , Talk Radio Network, Sept. 11, 2006 HUMPHRIES: Well--and [you] gave a speech a couple of days ago and got some heat over it. And I got to tell you-- SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Good speech. (Laughs.) HUMPHRIES: Historical. Historical. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: I went back and reread Verb 1. reread - read anew; read again; "He re-read her letters to him" read - interpret something that is written or printed; "read the advertisement"; "Have you read Salman Rushdie?" that a couple of times, and I liked every word. (Laughs.) HUMPHRIES: Me, too. I cannot understand why--and I'm guessing you can't understand, either--but why anybody would have a problem with this. I mean, we have appeasers in our country, and-- SECRETARY RUMSFELD: I've tried to get people to take that speech and show me which sentence they didn't agree with. HUMPHRIES: One--one sentence, please. Secretary Rumsfeld interviewed on "Bill Bennett's Morning In America "Morning in America" is the common name of an effective political campaign television commercial formally titled "Prouder, Stronger, Better" and featuring the opening line "It's morning again in America." The ad was part of the 1984 U.S. ," Aug. 22, 2006 BENNETT: Coming to my book party, you were the star of the party; you got the whole spotlight. It went off me, it was on you. All of that was fine, and then, I turn and look, and you are signing my book. I mean, what was going on there? SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Well, I've never written a book, Bill, so I--why shouldn't I sign your book? (Laughs.) BENNETT: (Laughs.) Well, it was a thrill for everybody who got one. They wanted your signature, not mine. Secretary Rumsfeld interviewed by Kirby Wilbur Kirby Wilbur is a conservative radio talk show host on KVI 570 in Seattle. He had frequently called in to the show, and a producer who liked the sound of his voice asked him to come in for an interview. , KVI KVI Kernfysisch Versneller Instituut 570 AM Seattle, WA, July 27, 2006 WILBUR: Now, as someone who has supported the effort from the very beginning, the liberation of Iraq, and still support our president as to what we're doing there, it seems to me that a lot of the American people An American people may be:
SECRETARY RUMSFELD: (Laughs.) WILBUR:--and things being solved in 23 minutes on a TV soap opera--and whether or not a free people here has the patience to see this through, given all the complications and how difficult it is. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Well, you know, you've called it ... ... WILBUR: Well, President Lincoln had to put up with the peace movement, draft riots draft riots, in the American Civil War, mob action to protest unfair Union conscription. The Union Conscription Act of Mar. 3, 1863, provided that all able-bodied males between the ages of 20 and 45 were liable to military service, but a drafted man who furnished an , people urging the war couldn't be won, wanting to surrender. He persevered and he kept the country together. I hope that spirit of perseverance is here in America today. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Right. WILBUR: Because think what would have happened back then; if it had prevailed in 1864, we would not have had one country. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Exactly.... ... WILBUR: All right. Mr. Secretary, I want to thank you for taking the time with us today and thank you for all you do for our country. And all we have to do is win, and I think we will. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Thank you, Kirby. Secretary Rumsfeld interviewed on "The Monica Crowley Monica Crowley (born September 19 1968) is a conservative radio and television political commentator based in New York City. Crowley holds a B.A. in Political Science from Colgate University and a Ph.D in international relations from Columbia University in 1996. Show," July 08, 2006 SECRETARY RUMSFELD: There's no way we can lose this battle with the terrorists in Iraq or in Afghanistan. The only place you could lose it, if you lost your will here in Washington, D.C. CROWLEY: Amen to that. Amen to that. And you and I both worked for President Nixon and we understand the damage that that did to our side during the war in Vietnam ... I know you take a lot of hits. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: (Laughs.) CROWLEY: I know that--and keep good humor Noun 1. good humor - a cheerful and agreeable mood amiability, good humour, good temper humour, mood, temper, humor - a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling; "whether he praised or cursed me depended on his temper at the time"; about it, too. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: (Laughs.) Secretary Rumsfeld interviewed on the "Hugh Hewitt Show," May 9, 2006 HEWITT: A few minutes ago, Mr. Secretary--I was watching your press conference--you blasted the media's coverage of the General Hayden nomination saying, quote, "The quality of the debate is pedestrian." SECRETARY RUMSFELD: [Laughter]. Did I say that? HEWITT: Yes, you did. I loved it. I applauded, actually. Secretary Rumsfeld interviewed on the "Brian and the Judge Brian and the Judge is a radio talk show produced by Jeff Hillery and Sean McGrane, syndicated by Fox News Radio. It is hosted by Fox News personalities Brian Kilmeade and Judge Andrew Napolitano. Show," Fox News Radio, May 10, 2006 KILMEADE: We understand that 3,500 Army soldiers will not be going to Iraq, will be staying in Germany. Some say this is a good sign--that things are stabilizing. What does the Secretary of Defense say? SECRETARY RUMSFELD: I think it would be premature to come to that conclusion ... I think that people are taking one tulip tulip [Pers.,=turban], any plant of the large genus Tulipa, hardy, bulbous-rooted members of the family Liliaceae (lily family), indigenous to north temperate regions of the Old World from the Mediterranean to Japan and growing most abundantly on the steppes and deciding it's spring. NAPOLITANO: Mr. Secretary--[Laughter]. Nicely put. One tulip and deciding it's spring. Secretary Rumsfield interviewed on the "Mike Gallagher Show," April 28, 2006 GALLAGHER: Mr. Secretary, I have been pained. It has been painful on a very personal and professional level to see some of these retired generals criticize you and your efforts. What is your response to some of the things that have been said about you? And of course, the mainstream media has taken it and run with it. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: [Laughter]. GALLAGHER: It has to be awfully difficult for you to hear some of those potshots that have been leveled your way by some of these retired generals. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Well, you know there have always been criticisms made in every war. Secretary Rumsfeld interviewed on the "Rusty Humphries Show," April 18, 2006 HUMPHRIES: I just saw you on TV a minute ago and I've got to ask you, why do you put up with it? The stupid questions. You've got nothing to prove. You've got these generals, the critics; it's got to be driving you crazy. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Listen ... I've been there before and I understand it. Change is hard for people, but by golly gol·ly interj. Used to express mild surprise or wonder. [Alteration of God.] golly interj an exclamation of mild surprise [originally a euphemism for , I'm not going to sit here and not change this place, because it needs change. HUMPHRIES: You keep hearing from these guys, Rumsfeld's a tough guy. You know what? Dang dang interj. Used to express dissatisfaction or annoyance. adv. & adj. Damn. tr.v. danged, dang·ing, dangs To damn. n. it, we're at war. I want a tough guy in that job. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: [Laughter]. That's nice, thank you. Secretary Rumsfeld interviewed on the "Bill Cunningham Show," 700 WLW WLW Weblogic Workshop (Adam Bosworth) WLW Ware Liefde Wacht WLW Wei, Lin, Weissfeld (Reliability Model) WLW Women Library Workers WLW Wild Life Warriors (World of Warcraft guild) , Cincinnati, Ohio, April 17, 2006 CUNNINGHAM: I want you to stay there, Donald, because I think you're the best, you're a hard-nosed guy, you know where the bodies are buried in Washington, DC, you know how the department works. Normal Americans who live in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana want you to stay there, and don't listen to the clowns at The Washington Post and CNN CNN or Cable News Network Subsidiary company of Turner Broadcasting Systems. It was created by Ted Turner in 1980 to present 24-hour live news broadcasts, using satellites to transmit reports from news bureaus around the world. . You know what I'm saying? SECRETARY RUMSFELD: [Laughter]. Oh, you're amazing. Secretary Rumsfeld interviewed by Mark Davis on WBAP WBAP Well Being Action Plan 820, Dallas/Ft Worth, Texas, April 11, 2006 DAVIS: Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld. Continued success, good health to you, sir, God bless you. Poll numbers are what they are, but doggone dog·gone Informal tr. & intr.v. dog·goned, dog·gon·ing, dog·gones To damn. interj. & n. Damn. adv. & adj. also dog·goned Damned. it, I'll tell you it is those of us who have kept our eye on the ball, have patience, a sense of history, and a little bit of spine and guts to us are going to prevail, and I say that not just about talk-show guys or even defense secretaries, but people in our uniform doing the noble work of this war. God bless them and you for supporting them. I really appreciate it. SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Well said, Mark Davis. |
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