17 comments

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  none

  9 months ago

  Spencer - A "signal of displeasure" or a "signal of dominance"? Are you the Dog Whisperer? How about the fact that Rumsfeld recently just had surgery on his right shoulder?
  
  "His arm in a blue sling (the result of elective arm surgery, say aides), former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld returned to the Pentagon today to help dedicate the nation's first major 9/11 memorial and deliver his first speech since leaving the secretary's job two years ago."
  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2...
  
  Might that explain why he can't shake his hand, instead of some half-baked theory of "awkwardness"?
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  Joel

  9 months ago

  You were obviously unaware that Mr. Rumsfeld recently had surgery on his shoulder?
  First time I've ever read one of your pieces. Likely to be the last, too.
  You have another job to fall back on, right?
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  John

  9 months ago

  Is there a way we can revoke Donald Rumsfeld's US citizenship and deport him? After what he did to the US and to many tortured prisoners makes him unfit to call himself an American
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  Khalid Sheikh Mo

  9 months ago

  How appropriate, Spencer, that you're so concerned about the welfare and waterboarding of KSM, because reading your attempt to see Poltergeist-like nuances that aren't there is pure torture. Seriously, a simple fact check can save a lot of embarrassment. Google - Learn it, Love it, Live it.
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  John

  9 months ago

  idiot
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  Mike Dugas

  9 months ago

  You shouldn't write stories about things you don't know about.....or at least show enough professionalism by doing as little bit of investigation first. That way lame theories like that
  perceived "awkwardness" you came up with won't get shot out of the air 2 minutes after its
  published. That's as classless as McCain's out of touch with the modern world because
  he can't type and doesn't use a computer. Both McCain and Rumsfeld are dealing with
  physical limitations, McCains permanent, Rumsfelds temporary. Now if we could just put
  your brain in a sling we would be able to justify your inability to practice fair and honest
  journalism.
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  Mike Dugas

  9 months ago

  You shouldn't write stories about things you don't know about.....or at least show enough professionalism by doing as little bit of investigation first. That way lame theories like that
  perceived "awkwardness" you came up with won't get shot out of the air 2 minutes after its
  published. That's as classless as McCain's out of touch with the modern world because
  he can't type and doesn't use a computer. Both McCain and Rumsfeld are dealing with
  physical limitations, McCains permanent, Rumsfelds temporary. Now if we could just put
  your brain in a sling we would be able to justify your inability to practice fair and honest
  journalism.
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  John

  9 months ago

  You moron. Get the facts right before you embarrass our party in the future.
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  Dirk Belligerent

  9 months ago

  Bob Dole couldn't shake with his right hand either (crippling war wounds) and that's why he kept a pen in his hand - to ward off attempts. I suppose he was signaling awkwardness, too, right?
  
  This was the first I've ever heard of Mr. Ackerman. It will also be the last since he imagines more than exists in his writings.
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  Kyle

  9 months ago

  Did you ever consider Secy Rumsfeld had surgery on his right shoulder and couldn't shake hands, so he had to use his left hand? It was only a "signal" to the uninformed, like Ackerman.
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  Disco Dan

  9 months ago

  It's the secret neo-con handshake, you are onto something!!!! you knucklehead, Rummy had surgery.
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  e forest

  9 months ago

  ITS hard to believe any republican would want Palin to be president if for any reason Mc cain was not around. So ...... who would run the country? Maybe someone like Rumsfield or Rove or Cheney. Its also hard to believe the repubs havnt thought of strategy in this case. Perfect scenario for the Bush cohorts to take over again, different suits same mindset.Think very hard undecideds and repubs with a brain, is this what you want?,
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  mbecker908

  9 months ago

  "But as Petraeus walked off stage, Rumseld responded with the oddest variation on a handshake I’ve ever seen, reaching over Petraeus’ arm to shake it with his left hand.
  
  Whether he meant it as a signal of displeasure or a signal of dominance — Petraeus had little choice but to go along with the elaborate maneuver — it served as an appropriate signal of awkwardness."
  
  Mr. Rumsfeld just had shoulder surgery. He has limited use of his right hand and arm for the moment.
  
  You're right up there with Biden encouraging the gentleman in the wheel chair to "STAND UP". Jerk.
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  Blutarsky

  9 months ago

  Wow...great reporting! What do you expect from a journalist wannabe who couldn't even keep a job at that perennial hack rag, The New Republic?
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  ufred

  9 months ago

  What do you expect from your sister and her cats?
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  ufred

  9 months ago

  I'm no fan of Mr. McNamara, but this is undue bedevilment.
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  Spencer Ackerman

  8 months ago

  You guys are all correct -- I messed up here, as a knowledgeable source pointed out to me this morning. For those wondering why I didn't update earlier, it was Yom Kippur yesterday and I'm just taking the time out now from the al-Qaeda conference I'm covering to update. Again, you're right, I'm wrong, and my apologies to you and to Rumsfeld. -- Spencer
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