Donald H. Rumsfeld

"If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much."

And so he goes out 10 days shy of being the longest serving Secretary of Defense, I for one will miss him.

Here's what President Bush had to say yesterday about Rummy...

"One of America's most skilled, energetic and dedicated public servants."

"This man knows how to lead and he did," the president said. "And the country is better off for it."

"Every decision Don Rumsfeld made over the past six years, he always put the troops first, and the troops knew it," Bush said.

Vice President Cheney said..."Donald Rumsfeld is the finest secretary of defense this nation has ever had."

He should know since he served in that capacity under President Bush's father.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace said the 2.4 million members of the U.S. military joined in saluting "this incredible American, for his leadership and service to our country."

"He's a man of enormous commitment," Pace said. "He pushed us hard. The only person he pushed harder was himself."

When previously asked how he'd like to be remembered by history, Rummy said...."Better than the local press."

I'm sure by local press he means those fools he had to suffer that cover the Pentagon.

Here's probably the key reason they didn't like him....

"If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't, I'll just respond, cleverly."

His clever responses didn't win him friends in Congress either.

It was quite a slap in the face how quickly the Senate confirmed his successor, Robert Gates, who doesn't give me a great deal of comfort.

Here's another reason I love Rummy...

"Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was - by a taxpayer. "

I think he truly believed that and too many in Washington have forgotten that.

Here's this Pattonesque quote regarding Iraqi resistance fighters...

"If a person is determined to fight to the death, then they may very well have that opportunity."

Thank you for your service to this country!