Is "decider" a real word?

[skcin]

Seriously. Decider? Dumbass.

EDIT - OK, I looked it up, apparently it is. I don't care. It shouldn't be.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/...eld/index.html

Bush: 'I'm the decider' on Rumsfeld
Defense chief set to meet with so-called 'TV generals'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Tuesday emphasized once again his support for his defense secretary, saying Donald Rumsfeld "is doing a fine job."

At a Rose Garden ceremony announcing his nominees for budget director and trade representative, Bush referred to the controversy in which six retired generals recently have called for Rumsfeld's resignation.

"I hear the voices, and I read the front page and I know the speculation," the president said. "But I'm the decider, and I decide what's best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."

Also Tuesday, Rumsfeld planned to meet with a group of retired generals who regularly appear as analysts on television and in newspapers.

Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Donald Shepperd, a CNN military analyst who will attend the session, said more than a dozen similar meetings have been held in the past. But he said that Tuesday's meeting was called late last week, apparently in response to recent events.

Shepperd said such meetings give the generals an opportunity to ask tough questions and that they are not limited to those who agree with the Pentagon on every issue.

Recently, six retired generals -- including former commanders of two Army divisions that saw combat in Iraq -- have called for Rumsfeld to resign.

They accuse him of ignoring advice from senior officers about how to prosecute the war and sending too few troops into Iraq to manage the occupation after the March 2003 invasion.

In defense of Rumsfeld, four retired generals wrote an op-ed piece Monday in The Wall Street Journal suggesting that some of his critics don't understand the war on terrorism.

"Much of the acrimony expressed by Secretary Rumsfeld's military critics appears to stem from his efforts to 'transform' the military by moving to a joint expeditionary force that is lighter and more mobile in nature to meet the nation's current and future threats," the commentary said.

"Many senior officers and bureaucrats did not support his transformation goals -- preferring conventional weapons of the past ... which prove practically useless against lawless and uncivilized enemies engaged in asymmetric warfare," the writers continued. (Watch Rumsfeld fight fire with fire -- 2:18)

The op-ed piece was written by retired Lt. Gen. John Crosby, former deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command; retired Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, former assistant vice chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force; retired Maj. Gen. Buron Moore, U.S. Air Force, who was director of Central Command during Operation Desert Storm; and retired Maj. Gen Paul Vallely, former deputy commander of the U.S. Army, Pacific.

Of the two Rumsfeld critics the piece singled out, retired Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni is a former chief of U.S. Central Command and retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Greg Newbold is a former director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"It unfortunately appears that two of the retired generals (Messrs. Zinni and Newbold) do not understand the true nature of this radical ideology, Islamic extremism, and why we fight in Iraq. We suggest they listen to the tapes of United 93," the piece continued, referring to the hijacked plane that went down in Pennysylvania on 9/11.

The four retired generals also said it was inappropriate for senior military officers -- active or retired -- to criticize the civilian leadership during war.

At the White House briefing Monday, press secretary Scott McClellan pointed to the Wall Street Journal op-ed as evidence that retired generals stand behind the defense secretary.

Also Monday, U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., a Tennessee Democrat running for his state's Senate seat, suggested replacing Rumsfeld with former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"Gen. Powell's experience resolving complicated and sensitive national security challenges is needed now more than ever," Ford said in a statement. "He will bring a respect for our military, a willingness to listen, a capacity to admit and correct mistakes and an attention to detail that is absent now in the top job at the Pentagon."

[Richard B]

I read this this morning. Lost my toast.

[David]

Originally Posted by skcin

Seriously. Decider?

Maybe he meant the French verb.

[madformac]

It is a word but it shouldn't be used in such a way and by a chimp either.

I think he needs to be told what the word decision means.

What a prat..

I will say one thing. I do believe him when he says "I hear the voices" . Indeed he does hear voices...

[ragandbone]

He peaked in his language development back in kindergarten. that's why his fave book is "The Hungry Caterpillar" (or, "The Very Hungry Capitalist")

[strandinthewind]

Main Entry: de·cide
Pronunciation: di-'sId, dE-
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): de·cid·ed; de·cid·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French decider, from Latin decidere, literally, to cut off, from de- + caedere to cut
transitive senses
1 a : to arrive at a solution that ends uncertainty or dispute about b : to select as a course of action -- used with an infinitive
2 : to bring to a definitive end
3 : to induce to come to a choice
intransitive senses : to make a choice or judgment
- de·cid·abil·i·ty /di-"sI-d&-'bi-l&-tE/ noun
- de·cid·able /di-'sI-d&-b&l/ adjective
- de·cid·er noun
synonyms DECIDE, DETERMINE, SETTLE, RULE, RESOLVE mean to come or cause to come to a conclusion. DECIDE implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy . DETERMINE implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something . SETTLE implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty . RULE implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority . RESOLVE implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something .

http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/Decider

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by madformac

It is a word but it shouldn't be used in such a way and by a chimp either.

I think he needs to be told what the word decision means.

What a prat..

I will say one thing. I do believe him when he says "I hear the voices" . Indeed he does hear voices...

"I am the decider" is incorrect? Should it be only "I decide" and "The decider determined . . . . " - I am not being snarky, just curious

[skcin]

I already SAID that I looked it UP and conceded that it IS a word!

I just think it sounds....I don't know....really elementary school playgroundish? Like something I would say - not what a wrold leader should say!

For example: "Shut up, Strand, you can't keep posting definitions here in my thread! WHY? Because I'm the decider!"

"I'm the decider,
I've been burned by this liar
and I've had to live
with his false promises
I want him to retire
I'm the DECIDER!"

[JohnL]

I am the decision maker. Just my opinion. However, that is why we are in the shape we are today in this country, because he has been the "decider" once too often.

[madformac]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

"I am the decider" is incorrect? Should it be only "I decide" and "The decider determined . . . . " - I am not being snarky, just curious

Sounds much better but he should have used "decision". As in "I make the decisions" or "I am the decision maker" not "I am the decider".

You could use the word in a phrase such as "This question is the decider"
but I wouldn't use it in terms of a person. "He's the decider" no, it's "He's the decision maker" or "He makes the decisions".

I'm not surprised by his choice of wording. This is a guy pondering nuclear war when he can't even say the word itself..

[skcin]

^ COPYCAT!

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by skcin

. . . . For example: "Shut up, Strand, you can't keep posting definitions here in my thread! WHY? Because I'm the decider!"

"I'm the decider,
I've been burned by this liar
and I've had to live
with his false promises
I want him to retire
I'm the DECIDER!"

GET OFF THE CAFFEINE

[ragandbone]

How about "I am the boss of you!" or "I am the Dictator!"

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by madformac

Sounds much better but he should have used "decision". As in "I make the decisions" or "I am the decision maker" not "I am the decider".

You could use the word in a phrase such as "This question is the decider"
but I wouldn't use it in terms of a person. "He's the decider" no, it's "He's the decision maker" or "He makes the decisions".

I'm not surprised by his choice of wording. This is a guy pondering nuclear war when he can't even say the word itself..

Ahhh- I see now - thanks!!!!

Also, yes, W is an a$$

[madformac]

Originally Posted by ragandbone

"I am the Dictator!"

That's more like it..

The American people shouldn't be too upset with Bush. He's done something wonderful for you guys on the world stage and those of you that are less well travelled may not even know.

Before he came to power and showed the world the full limit of his intelligence the American people in general were sneered at, particularly in parts of Europe such as France and Germany as being arrogant and self obsessed, egocentric, whatever.. I think it's possibly a little bit of jealousy at the US economy but I don't know really. Anyway, now the whole world looks on you guys in a sympathetic way. How awful having an idiot like that in charge. The world feels sorry and the rest of us understand..