Author Topic: Robert Gates for President?  (Read 4162 times)

Lee

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Robert Gates for President?
« on: June 19, 2011, 04:41:26 PM »
I think he may be the only official I trust, admire, and respect these days.  I bet he could win, if he was interested.  What's not to like about him?  I'm asking - not commenting.

MechAg94

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2011, 06:22:11 PM »
Outside of foreign policy, what are his ideas on the major domestic issues?
“It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.”  ― Calvin Coolidge

Waitone

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2011, 06:53:03 PM »
He is just one more horse in the statist's stable.  Perhaps a better administrator than most but a statist nonetheless.
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Perd Hapley

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2011, 10:39:24 PM »
Oh, great. America's first code-monkey president. Is he going to make us update our citizenship on the second Tuesday of each month? Will his administration be prone to viruses?
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longeyes

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2011, 10:55:34 PM »
He carries out orders well?  Is that his main claim to fame?
"Domari nolo."

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MechAg94

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #5 on: June 22, 2011, 09:36:18 AM »
He carries out orders well?  Is that his main claim to fame?
He was the President of Texas A&M University which is nothing to sneeze at.   =D

I respect the guy, but I need more reasons to vote for him over others.
“It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.”  ― Calvin Coolidge

longeyes

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #6 on: June 22, 2011, 11:09:00 AM »
Not questioning his ability, but he's lived his adult life within government and academia.
"Domari nolo."

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Walt Kowalski: Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have messed with? That's me.

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Perd Hapley

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #7 on: June 22, 2011, 11:10:09 AM »
Is his hair as good as Romney's?
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TechMan

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #8 on: June 22, 2011, 12:53:11 PM »
Quote
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Stupidity will always be its own reward.
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HankB

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #9 on: June 22, 2011, 02:14:18 PM »
He's made a few recent less than flattering comments about some of our NATO "partners" . . . that's a rather small item to put in the "plus" column when one considers that both Bush and Obama wanted him in their respective administrations.
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MechAg94

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #10 on: June 22, 2011, 05:41:44 PM »
He's made a few recent less than flattering comments about some of our NATO "partners" . . . that's a rather small item to put in the "plus" column when one considers that both Bush and Obama wanted him in their respective administrations.
Foreign policy-Wise, he certainly has a good resume.  The big questions in my mind are on the domestic side.  Lots of room to impress or disappoint on domestic policy.
“It is much more important to kill bad bills than to pass good ones.”  ― Calvin Coolidge

Lee

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #11 on: June 22, 2011, 07:11:20 PM »
That's why I'm asking...I don't know much about him other than both sides of the political spectrum trusted him to evaluate some complex and dangerous situations, and fix them.  I think he's less of an order taker than one would think. Every time I hear him speak, he seems to be expressing what is on his mind without much hesitation.  He knows how to get things done within the system, is a smart guy, and appears to be a realist.  I'm betting he would have a pretty high trust/liking factor among the general public...at least those who are aware of who he is.     

seeker_two

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #12 on: June 22, 2011, 11:25:49 PM »
IIRC, Gates is a lot like Colin Powell when it comes to politics....definitely not one I'm interested in....
Impressed yet befogged, they grasped at his vivid leading phrases, seeing only their surface meaning, and missing the deeper current of his thought.

longeyes

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"Domari nolo."

Thug: What you lookin' at old man?
Walt Kowalski: Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have messed with? That's me.

Molon Labe.

Lee

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #14 on: June 29, 2011, 06:06:15 PM »
Interesting read.  I also read a few of the other articles he wrote.  Not sure I agree with his multiple and often contradictory arguments. And I have to admit that I don't know enough about the various defense systems to evaluate the information.  With the economy being the way it is, I assume that some hard choices need to be made everywhere.  I may be wrong, but I'm guessing the author was probably against the Obama timeline for withdrawal from Iraq, and likely supported the "staying the course" policy of Bush and McCain....yet bashes Gates for staying the course, against BO's wishes. 

stevelyn

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Re: Robert Gates for President?
« Reply #15 on: June 29, 2011, 07:41:25 PM »
Hahahahahahahhaha..................................NO!  :mad:
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