Gen. Alexander Haig, 1924-2010

[Burgundy Burner]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obit_haig

Thank you for your service Gen. Haig.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

You know, people remember him for Watergate (where, imo, he actually played a positive role considering) but if you look at his entire life, he was a remarkable man. The guy did EVERYTHING.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Haig

RIP

[ixcuincle]

Rest in Peace

[Bang]

A great American. When Reagan was shot people pretty much hung him out to dry for a poor choice of words, but I knew what he meant.

RIP

~Bang

[Barney B]

A great American. When Reagan was shot people pretty much hung him out to dry for a poor choice of words, but I knew what he meant.

RIP

~Bang

Hell yes.

Has any more promising career ever been scuttled by a less significant misstatement?

How different would the world be today if W had chosen him for VP instead of choosing Cheney?

.

[Bang]

If Haig had been our VP during the last presidency, at the very least there would have been a measure of true patriotic integrity that we could have counted upon, rather than the questions that Cheney's possible individual motives created.

~Bang

[Larry]

A great American. When Reagan was shot people pretty much hung him out to dry for a poor choice of words, but I knew what he meant.

RIP

~Bang

I don't even think it was a poor choice of words. I think he spoke correctly, and was (probably intentionally) spun into people believing he said something he didn't.

(I list him as the counter-example to the folks who claim that Gore claimed to invent the Internet. Neither person actually said what the media tried to twist it into, but so many people have heard the spin that they believe it.)

I think that, to a great many people, he will forever be remembered for saying something that he didn't say.

[zoony]

Well, he was incorrect about the order behind VP

RIP to a great American

[Larry]

Well, he was incorrect about the order behind VP

I heard his entire speech, live, and that's certainly not what I heard.

He never mentioned the order of Presidential succession. Not once.

He stated that he was keeping things organized within the White House.

[PeterMP]

I heard his entire speech, live, and that's certainly not what I heard.

He never mentioned the order of Presidential succession. Not once.

He stated that he was keeping things organized within the White House.

While consulting with the VP, and until the VP got there.

[zoony]

I heard his entire speech, live, and that's certainly not what I heard.

He never mentioned the order of Presidential succession. Not once.

He stated that he was keeping things organized within the White House.

They did a piece about this on the NBC Nightly News tonight. Even they said he got it wrong. (which goes a long way to erase any interpretation-type arguments- in case you want to argue that he's referring to the order in the executive branch)

Here is the exact quote:

"Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of State in that order, and should the President decide he wants to transfer the helm to the Vice President, he will do so. He has not done that. As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending return of the Vice President and in close touch with him. If something came up, I would check with him, of course."

I don't really have any problem with it though- and I really don't see what the big deal is. George Bush said 50x's dumber stuff.

"fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, you suck" or something

[Bang]

I don't even think it was a poor choice of words. I think he spoke correctly, and was (probably intentionally) spun into people believing he said something he didn't.

(I list him as the counter-example to the folks who claim that Gore claimed to invent the Internet. Neither person actually said what the media tried to twist it into, but so many people have heard the spin that they believe it.)

I think that, to a great many people, he will forever be remembered for saying something that he didn't say.

I agree, I saw it more on the lines of him trying to calm fears that no one was in the White House and no one had made a statement as to the situation.

~Bang

[chipwhich]

(I list him as the counter-example to the folks who claim that Gore claimed to invent the Internet. Neither person actually said what the media tried to twist it into, but so many people have heard the spin that they believe it.)

Well in Al Gores case he said:

During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.

Not sure what spin you are talking about. It is implied that he created the internet. Even if you spin it 1000 ways...thats what he said.

[cjcdaman]

Wasn't old enough to know at the time, but this... "As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending return of the Vice President..." was how a lot of people will remember him. Shame.

RIP Sir

[Corcaigh]

Well in Al Gores case he said:

During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.

Not sure what spin you are talking about. It is implied that he created the internet. Even if you spin it 1000 ways...thats what he said.

Well Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn, who you might argue did invent key technologies which enabled the Internet, think Gore's statement is not far fetched.

/hijack

[dreamingwolf]

Im perfectly fine with his "error". He was presented with the media presenting the USA leadership being a befuddled confused mess with no leader and stood up and corrected that by saying he is in controll. That had to confuse our enemies more than our own acedemics, cause they had to do the math of what if he can actually take controll. He did what any man of action would do presented with the situation that his group is weak cause they have no leader, he showed the accusers that there is a leader infront of them.

Perfectly ok with the man on this account.

[Larry]

Here is the exact quote:

"Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of State in that order, and should the President decide he wants to transfer the helm to the Vice President, he will do so. He has not done that. As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending return of the Vice President and in close touch with him. If something came up, I would check with him, of course."

Wow. Looks like my memory had edited out a part of his speech.

The statement I remembered was "I'm in charge, here at the White House". Which the media turned into "I'm in charge", and claimed that he was declaring himself President.

But I'll freely admit that I don't at all remember the "Constitutionally, . . . " sentence.

I guess he really did say it.