The Washington Independent - Latest Comments in Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

Spencer Ackerman — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:59:15 -0000

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

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

ufred — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:28:04 -0000

What do you expect from your sister and her cats?

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

ufred — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:23:17 -0000

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

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

Blutarsky — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:03:25 -0000

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?

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

mbecker908 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:33:24 -0000

"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.

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

e forest — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:24:04 -0000

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?,

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

Disco Dan — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:19:24 -0000

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

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

Kyle — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:49:09 -0000

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.

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

Dirk Belligerent — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:53:54 -0000

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.

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

John — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:50:55 -0000

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

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

Mike Dugas — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:46:07 -0000

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.

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

Mike Dugas — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:41:32 -0000

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

John — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:07:15 -0000

idiot

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

Khalid Sheikh Mo — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:01:22 -0000

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.

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

John — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:57:16 -0000

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

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

Joel — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:46:29 -0000

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?

Re: Petraeus and Rumsfeld: Awwwwwwwkward

none — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:52:01 -0000

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"?