GOP officials: Rumsfeld stepping down  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, architect of an unpopular war in Iraq, intends to resign after six stormy years at the Pentagon, Republican officials said Wednesday.  —  Officials said Robert Gates, former head of the CIA, would replace Rumsfeld.

A Virginia Recount Would Not Come Soon  —  Virginia's election laws allow an apparent loser to request a recount if a contest's margin is less than 1 percent — and the margin in the preliminary results of the state's Senate election stood this morning at about one-third of 1 percent.

Democrats win House; Senate now tied  —  WASHINGTON - Democrats won a cliffhanger race in Montana on Wednesday that brought them to the brink of control of the Senate, after Americans sick of scandal and weary of war ended the Republican majority in the House.

U.N. Celebrates Republican Loss?  —  From the desk of Kofi Annan's spokesman: … Why is the U.N. commenting on member state elections?  We're told that this isn't normally done.  So why is the Republican loss worthy?  It's almost celebratory.  Does the U.N. think they'll get more support now?

Just A Step Forward—But What a Step!  —  Here is where we stand right now:  — National Sweep.  Democrats take the national majority in the House, Senate, Governors, and State Legislatures.  The only thing Republicans have left—Bush—still sports a sub-40% approval rating.

Netroots Victories  —  The media and the right-wing blogospehre used to brag aobut how Dailykos and MyDD candidates never won, even though they might have heard of Barack Obama, Stephanie Herseth, and Ben Chandler.  Well, welcome to our new generation of victorious netroots candidates:

Time To Socialize Medicine  —  HOW DEMOCRATS CAN MAKE THEMSELVES USEFUL.  —  May I put in a word for socialized medicine?  —  The Democrats have won back the House of Representatives and may also have acquired a gossamer-thin majority in the Senate.  They won by not being the party …

Best of the Web  —  Always Look on the Bright Side of Life  —  This column is scrupulously nonpartisan, but we will bend the rules for a moment and acknowledge that last night's outcome was not what we were hoping for.  As of now, the Democrats have picked up 28 House seats, giving them at least 228 (a majority is 218).

I Feel Liberated  —  RUSH: Just to reiterate, ladies and gentlemen: "It's going to get worse before it gets better."  I'm not trying to be negative.  I'm trying to prepare you here for what is coming.  It is obvious from the president's press conference that his view is …