Ramblings' Journal

Upset about Rummy's autopen? But why?

While everyone is getting into a lather about Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's use of an "autopen" to sign condolence letters to the families of deceased soldiers, Ann Coulter puts the "scandal" entirely in perspective.

It occurred to someone (who obviously has the best interests of America at heart!) that among the letters Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sends out there must be condolence letters to the families of servicemen who died for their country. So liberals are in a lather that those letters were signed by autopen.

On the bright side, this is the first war America has been in where the number of casualties is small enough that it would even be theoretically possible for a Defense secretary to sign each condolence letter personally. When Democrats were running the Vietnam War, letters of condolence often began, "To whom it may concern" and were addressed to "occupant."

I've been so damn upset that Rumsfeld uses an autopen that I've barely had time to enjoy the "Giving Tree" season. Actually, I think it's time to come clean with my readers and admit that I belong to a small religious cult that celebrates the birth of Jesus this week. So things have been a little hectic.

And if the best liberals are going to give me to argue about this week is Autopen-gate, then I shall sleep well knowing that the secretary of defense has made so few mistakes for the past four years that liberals are reduced to carping about his autopen.

My wife (She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed) and kids gave me a new journal and a pen set for my birthday last week.

Alas, it wasn't an autopen, so I'm forced to continue to sign the checks to pay the bills the old fashioned way. But maybe I'll get one before next Christmas to sign my Christmas cards with.

Posted by mhking at December 23, 2004 07:28 AM