About Trial Balloons

I had a sneaking suspicion that there were trial balloons being floated in the press before the election. It appears I was correct in my thinking. Greyhawk found the evidence. He also has his take on why Rumsfeld is stepping down. I rather think he's right.

One thing regarding the Democrat's victory I expected: hearings. A lot of folks were just sent to Washington on the promise of willingness to "ask the tough questions" on Iraq. (A nice way to deflect any concerns that you have no answers, of course, but I digress…) But what that translates to is hearings – probably hearings ad nauseum, and doubtless with multiple planned appearances from one Donald Rumsfeld. My guess – and I state this with sincerity – is that barring appointment of a Special Assistant to the Secretary for Listening to the Tough Questions, Mr Rumsfeld's ability to run the Defense Department would effectively come to a close in late January, 2007.

He may still be spending that time at the show trials, of course – he himself may in fact become the unpaid Special Assistant to the Secretary for Listening to the Tough Questions. But now it won't compromise his ability to lead a military in time of war.

I'll let you read for yourself what the trial balloons are over at the Mudville Gazette.