Spring Cleaning
By: Mark Poloncarz
Date: April 24, 2006
With his poll numbers at record lows, his former war generals questioning his administration's decisions, and his party abandoning him at every chance, last week President Bush faced a key decision on how to save his administration. Many expected heads to roll in the ultimate of spring cleanings, and some Republicans even suggested that a change in policy was necessary.
This decision would set the tone for the remainder of his term. Would he fire Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as the architect for the fiasco in Iraq? Would he finally admit running record deficits during a time of war was hurting our nation's long term economic viability? Or, perhaps, would he admit the mistakes of the past and offer a true roadmap towards a troop withdrawal from Iraq by the end of his term?
In the end, instead of proposing true substantive changes and cleaning the White House, the president dusted the curtains. Out goes Andrew Card, his chief of staff (and perhaps the only moderate in his administration that had his ear), and in goes Josh Bolten, his former budget director. Out goes press secretary Scott McClellan to be replaced by a "press secretary to be named later." Karl Rove, the president's most trusted advisor, saw his powers diminished when he was stripped of his title as the day-to-day policy coordinator.
Finally, in the most anticipated decision and contrary to all opinion, the president stood with his defense secretary and brazenly declared he's the "decider." Specifically, the president stated:
I hear the voices, and I read the front page, and I know the speculation. But I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense.
If there was ever a moment in this president's term when he could have admitted past mistakes and said it was time to move on this was it. The decision really is not surprising, this president does not admit mistakes and probably still thinks none have occurred. While firing Rumsfeld might have been an admission of failure, it at least would have signaled that the president was ready to move on from a defective war plan and a scandal that will haunt the U.S. in the Mideast for many years to come - Abu Graib.
Instead the president basically told the world that only his opinion matters, being the decider that he is, and in his opinion Rumsfeld was doing a good job. Say what you will about Rumsfeld, at least he has had the good sense to offer his resignation to the president not once, but twice. The only thing you can say about the president is he is firm in his beliefs, as "deciders" are known to be. Unfortunately those who stick to their guns and refuse to admit failure are usually destined to a worse fate.
The problem with that is the country's fate is tied to the man occupying the White House. While our nation has suffered tremendously during Bush's administration, it unfortunately could end up being much worse. The only cleaning the president seems intent on effectuating is in Tehran, not D.C. The question is what type of action is the president intending - a diplomatic resolution to Iran's nuclear gambit or one leading once again down a path towards war.
Sooner or later the "decider" is going to have to decide on a course of action for getting out of Iraq but also what to do with Iran, a country that is pursuing nuclear weapons. But as long as Donald Rumsfeld remains no one will trust the decisions of this administration.
And that is why this president must continue with his spring cleaning, fire Rumsfeld and replace him with a respected statesman or former general who can command the support of the troops. Dismissing Rumsfeld and naming another neo-con, say Richard Perle, will make no difference - it will only lead to more falure. And after five years of the Bush administration this nation deserves so much more than ongoing failure.
Mark Poloncarz, a founding member of the WNY Coalition for Progress, is comptroller of Erie County, New York.
© Mark C. Poloncarz, 2006.
The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the WNY Coalition for Progress.
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