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...Hunt asked me the question one week before the campaign, and basically it was, are you going to do something about Rumsfeld and the Vice President? And my answer was, they're going to stay on. And the reason why is I didn't want to inject a major decision about this war in the final days of a campaign. And so the only way to answer that question and to get you on to another question was to give you that answer.

George W. Bush#229

PoliticsTimeElectionCampaign

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker explains keeping certain officials to avoid political disruption during a campaign.
In plain terms
I kept key people to avoid drama during the election.
What can you take from it?
Delay major decisions to avoid political distraction.

Where it applies

  • election season
  • cabinet selection
  • crisis management

Putting it to work

  • defer decisions
  • manage transitions
  • avoid distractions

Questions to consider

  • When is timing more important than change?
  • How to balance stability and reform?

Another view

Postponing decisions may delay necessary changes.

More from George W. Bush

  1. So if you happen to bump into a Democrat candidate, you might want to ask this simple question: What's your plan? If they say they want to protect the homeland…

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  2. Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die.

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  3. Both those men are doing fantastic jobs and I strongly support them.

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