So what do Rumsfeld and Cheney have in common?

[techs]

So before we start hearing how great Ford was as President, let's remember who elevated these two men to their first high positions of power.
Yes, what a coincidence. It was Gerry Ford!!!

From wiki:
Rumsfeld-
In August 1974, he was called back to Washington, to serve as transition chairman for the new president, Gerald R. Ford. He had been Ford's confidant since their days in the U.S. House, when Ford was House minority leader. Later in Ford's presidency, Rumsfeld became White House Chief of Staff (1974-1975); and the 13th U.S. Secretary of Defense (1975-1977

Cheney-
Under President Gerald Ford, Cheney became Assistant to the President and then the youngest White House Chief of Staff in history. Many have pointed to this time as the point where both he and Donald Rumsfeld began consolidating political power. An article in Rolling Stone said, "Having turned Ford into their instrument, Rumsfeld and Cheney staged a palace coup. They pushed Ford to fire Defense Secretary James Schlesinger, tell Vice President Nelson Rockefeller to look for another job and remove Henry Kissinger from his post as national security adviser. Rumsfeld was named secretary of defense, and Cheney became chief of staff to the president."


So in a bizarre twist, Ford only postponed our "long national nightmare" until 2001.
Geez, I guess we have to put Ford down as the President with the worst judgement of character.

 

[Craig234]

As I've mentioned before, when Ford asked Rumsfeld to be chief of staff, Rumsfeld had only one condition, that he could bring Cheney with him, his close ally. Few realize how tight these two are, how right Colin Powell's top aide Larry Wilkerson was in calling the two of them a "cabal" who manipulated the administration on Iraq, including the lies.

Bush 43 has been the disaster of Nixon continued, including Henry Kissinger being a top advisor (and remember, Bush 41 himself rose only because he was willing to be the ultra partisan for the party, taking the worst job in Washington, RNC Chairman, at the height of Watergate). We're still paying for the Nixon presidency.

 

[jackschmittusa]

I can think of no one who recognized the character traits we see in those men today back then.

Ford also did not place them in the positions of power and influence they have today. Yes, Rummy became SecDef for a short time, but we were not at war; Ford acted like a CiC, and it was necessary to be seen cleaning out Nixon's old pals at the time. Had Rummy acted like he has recently, I am sure Ford would have fired him. Had Cheney displayed the arrogance, spitefullness, and willingness to lie so easily back then, I am sure Ford would have sent him packing too.

I have trouble thinking of Ford as anybody's "instrument". He did what he thought best and took the heat for it if others did not like it.