October 8, 2001

10:29 AM

Donald Rumsfeldfrom Dep of Defense biography ...."Mr. Rumsfeld served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Instrument Corporation from 1990 to 1993. A leader in broadband transmission, distribution, and access control technologies for cable, satellite and terrestrial broadcasting applications, the company pioneered the development of the first all-digital high definition television (HDTV) technology". ...boy that must feel like 100 years ago....
posted by Voyageman (8 comments total)

He is both he YOUNGEST and one of the OLDEST if not the oldest Defense Secretary to serve, at
42 and then at 68.
posted by brucec at 10:39 AM on October 8, 2001

Not the oldest SecDef yet, but by the end of his (Bush's) first term he will be. Wow -- that is one incredible biography. I think he's doing a fine job so far, FWIW, and as one who is directly affected by his decisions, I am very attentive whenever I hear him speak.
posted by davidmsc at 11:47 AM on October 8, 2001

With all respect, what's the point of this post?
posted by jpoulos at 12:07 PM on October 8, 2001

a leader in broadband transmission, distribution, and access control technologies for cable, satellite and terrestrial broadcasting applications, the company pioneered the development of the first all-digital high definition television (HDTV) technology.

take THAT, taliban weasles! bin laden will look short, fat and ineffective in letterbox format!

not to imply that rumsfeld personally knows the difference between an OC3 and a WinModem...
posted by quonsar at 12:23 PM on October 8, 2001

to jpoulous re point of post (all respect duly noted) I hesitated first, but since so much is now in his hands (and other hands like his) I think the more we know about their past, the more we can asses the prospects for our future. See his biography. Dont you think?
posted by Voyageman at 12:42 PM on October 8, 2001

I'd like to see the biography of the person who invented pancakes.
posted by hijinx at 12:48 PM on October 8, 2001

this raises an interesting question:

now, i also feel like he's doing a fine job so far... for all of 9 or 10 months.

but how the hell does a CEO of a large corporation have the time to be on all those presidential committees?

why the hell was he making the big bucks in the private sector if he's spending all his time doing public sector work?

or

why the hell was he put in such a position of power if he's spending all his time in the private sector?

there's no way he can be doing justice to his positions throughout his career if he was spending his time equally between them.

if i told work/the populace "i'm only going to work every few days...but my projects will still be finished on time...for the rest of the time, i'm going to be mayor of my town" i'm sure i'd get grief from both sides.
posted by taumeson at 12:50 PM on October 8, 2001

Mmm. Pancakes.
posted by allaboutgeorge at 12:51 PM on October 8, 2001