Secy Gates was actually beaming when Obama walked into the hall

[eleny]

First thought I had was that he likes working with Obama more than *.

Not that Gates is my favorite person. But his expression showed tremendous support.

[monmouth]

1. He looked like a proud dad beaming at his son...LOL. He really did...n/t

[eleny]

3. I expected serious faces...

But he was applauding and smiling widely. It took me by surprise.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Gates is not a Bush guy or a bad guy. nt

[eleny]

4. Then it's amazing that he got the position

[Captain Hilts]

10. Bush was desperate. And had a Dem congress to 'confirm' the appt. Rumsfeld...

was confirmed by a Republican senate.

[eleny]

14. Thanks for that reminder

[Captain Hilts]

16. Thanks for this thread. I hope to see clips later today. nt

[eleny]

18. Hubby was out doing yard work, so I'm hoping it's on C-span or YouTube

[JohnnyLib2]

5. Might be one of the most relieved men in America!?

[Jennicut]

6. I thought all along that Gates would be fine under Obama.

Shrub picked him because he was desperate after Rummy had to resign. Yes, he is a Republican. But the things he has done lately have been good, like wanting to really look closely at cutting the military budget and needless spending for things like the F-22 jet . He may not agree with Obama on everything but he will put his policies through.

[Captain Hilts]

13. Me too. GREAT idea to keep him. He earned it. nt

[Kahuna]

17. Me too. And I said so at the time.

:patriot:

[Captain Hilts]

19. Yes, I remember my partners swimming against that tide.

All of DC was just thrilled how he came in and fired all the right people at Walter Reed, after Sec. of the Army, White and Rummy fired all the wrong people.

He earned a lot of dap that day.

Keep up the Good Fight Kahuna.

[RollWithIt]

28. We do want to be careful about cutting too much out of the air force....

I completely agree, we don't want to be spending all this money on jets that will dominate this generation completely for 20 years. How many do you really need to dominate the skies for at least 10 years? If we need some more in five years, or ten years, or whatever; build them then.

BUT, we definitely want heavy spending into R&D.

Particularly prototypes.

It's entirely possible that within the next twenty years we can develop a craft that can enter space and reenter earths atmosphere at will. The implications of that are enormous. Particularly civilian travel and outer space exploration. So what to spend the money on? Heat resistent material research. We're talking about sending men to mars. As much as it is dismissed these days, the day that a video of a man walking on mars is transmuted all of mankind will finally understand that we are just a speck of dust on an infinite map. The moon wasn't quite far enough, but mars is a four to six month trip televised daily. We must awaken our imagination.

[onehandle]

7. Gates must be Very happy that his legacy doesn't end with Bush.

Anyone who was tied to that disastrous Presidency must be jealous.

[Cha]

8. Hard to fake his

feelings written all over his face:D

Who wouldn't except dick cheney and limpbaughs.

[Phx_Dem]

9. Gates has never seemed overly partisan -- unless he hides it well.

I was glad to see him looking so happy and supportive as well!

[mscuedawg]

11. All you have to do is consider who his last boss was...

Edited to say: I certainly wouldnt want Gates' job...think of the "Deficit of Trust" endured in the Shrub Administration...

[ellacott]

12. I gained respect for Gates when he eulogized a soldier

and cried during his speech.

[RollWithIt]

25. I know for a fact that Robert Gates cares very much for every lost soldier

He is a quality guy.

[Dollface]

15. He must be thrilled to no longer be talking to a wall

[BuyingThyme]

20. GATES = BAD

[camera obscura]

22. Well, that's a logical and well thought out argument.

[RollWithIt]

24. Why.. nt

[Samantha]

21. He was beaming the other night as he walked in with the cabinet

for Obama's big speech. I totally noticed because I have never seen this man this happy. It surprised me and I thought, he must have some confidence in Obama to be so obviously happy to be walking in for this speech with the rest of the Obama team.

Sam

[MadMaddie]

26. Sam I agree before President Obama he seemed

sad and stressed. He actually looks optimistic, I would guess because President Obama is actually listening to him.

[RollWithIt]

23. Gates was very much the Democratic choice, Bush was forced into a moderate....

Without strong Democratic support Gates would have never been selected in the first place. They wanted someone who had taken part in high level examinations concerning neutral party loyalty.

[angee_is_mad]

27. Better to be part of History

than part of the bush regime debacle.

[Thrill]

29. After watching this over. You're right. He was like a little kid. wow

[FrenchieCat]

30. And all of those young soldiers shaking their CIC's hands and taking pics!

What a lovely sight!

[Jeneral]

31. Gates

Cheney wanted Rumsfeld to stay on good thing he didn't

[PretzelWarrior]

32. He's totally in the tank for Obama

don't throw me under the bus for uttering such hackneyed expressions.

[genna]

33. It is surprising because he is a hold over. Is Obama that charming?