There, Because there is no other Choice

There are two principal reasons that Rumsfeld is still Secretary of Defense. He's a good deflective punching bag, and there is nobody realistically (i.e. confirmable & "batshit insane") available to replace him.

Some of the folks traditionally trotted out as "GOP Mavericks" (i.e. those Republicans with a reputed penchant for sanity) were on the Sunday Chat Shows as a means of killing time before somebody trotted out the latest right-wing faux whine of "why cannot we say Merry Christmas!?" (where is this so-called ban anyhow?)

The usual suspects, McCain, and when he isn't available, discount store McCain, Chuck Hegel.

But Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said he had no confidence in Rumsfeld, although he stopped short of calling on the secretary to step down. "I find it astounding. ... Things are worse than they've ever been" in Iraq, Hagel said on CBS' "Face the Nation." He said it was up to President Bush whether to replace Rumsfeld.

Stalwart, old guarders (i.e. "sane") John Warner and Richard Lugar chimed in to bash Rummy, but also said he should stay.

So, what the fuck is up with that? Okay, we sort of admit that he is an incompetent, bumbling ass, but he should stay.

The fact is that bashing Rumsfeld is nothing but a nice proxy for bashing Bush, without actually doing so. Like Nixon having Agnew around, once Rummy is gone, all those shots will be squarely landing on the glass chin of the man responsible, Dear Leader.

Besides, sadly, there is no one around to succeed Rumsfeld who would do Bush's bidding. It's not like promoting from within would be easy, as disdainful as people are of Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz cannot succeed him, nor can the rest of the "only in the Bush Administration fuckups like this could keep their jobs" contingent.

There are no old-guarders from prior adminsitrations either. Cheney is already Vice President (tragic enough), Cap Weinberger and Frank Carlucci are not exactly chomping at the bit to reemerge, and let's face it, to their partial credit their M.O. under Reagan was "we love to spend money and build up the military, but we are loathe to use it". Their private attitude toward the Iraq War II was undoubtedly, from the beginning, that it was a mistake.

So that leaves somebody from the Senate or House? Nope, Bush cannot trust Warner or McCain, nor Duncan Hunter. He's not one of his "made men".

Powell? Well good luck. I suppose one could play on Powell's feelings for the Army, but Weinberger and Carlucci's philosophy of non-use wasn't called the "Powell Doctrine" for nothing. Besides, his reputation is tarnished enough, any more work for Bush would cause Powell to cut his speaking fees.

So Rummy stays.

We are SO fucked.