memeorandum: RUMMY OUT. GATES IN — The question uppermost in my mind is... (Rick Moran/Right Wing Nut House)

10:50 PM ET, November 8, 2006

RELATED ITEMS:

Press Conference by the President — THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I say, why all the glum faces? — Yesterday, the people went to the polls and they cast their vote for a new direction in the House of Representatives. And while the ballots are still being counted in the Senate …

Discussion: The Mahablog, The Reaction, The Swamp, Crooks and Liars and Shakespeare's Sister

CNN:

Rumsfeld quitting as defense secretary — WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush announced Wednesday that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is stepping down from his post. — "The timing is right for new leadership at the Pentagon," Bush said at the White House Wednesday afternoon.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, NewDonkey.com, War and Piece, Blogcritics Section, democracyarsenal.org, State of the Day, David E's Fablog, Whiskey Bar, Swords Crossed and PoliBlog (TM)

Think Progress:

VIDEO: Bush Admits He Lied About Rumsfeld For Political Purposes » — Last week, President Bush unequivocally told a group of reporters that Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and Vice President Cheney would "remain with him until the end of his presidency, extending a job guarantee …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, The Political Pit Bull, AMERICAblog, DownWithTyranny!, King of Zembla and Seeing the Forest

Fox News:

DONALD RUMSFELD RESIGNING AS DEFENSE SECRETARY — WASHINGTON — Donald H. Rumsfeld is stepping down as defense secretary and former CIA Director Robert Gates will be nominated to take his place. — Rumsfeld, President Bush's sole defense secretary in six years of leadership …

Discussion: Hot Air, Townhall.com Blog's …, Don Surber, Confederate Yankee, The Jawa Report, On Deadline, Hang Right Politics and Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler

William Branigin / Washington Post:

Rumsfeld to Step Down as Defense Secretary — Bush Taps Former CIA Director Robert Gates as Successor — President Bush today announced he is replacing Donald H. Rumsfeld as secretary of defense, saying a "fresh perspective" is needed at the Pentagon to deal with the war in Iraq.

Discussion: Unclaimed Territory, Comments From Left Field, Opinions You Should Have, Harry's Place, The Sundries Shack and Sound Politics

David Stout / New York Times:

Rumsfeld Resigns as Defense Secretary After Big Election Gains for Democrats — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the hard-driving and super-confident Pentagon boss who came to symbolize President Bush's controversial Iraq policy, is resigning, President Bush announced today.

Discussion: Political Animal, Blogcritics Section, CorrenteWire and Althouse

Associated Press:
Bush says Rumsfeld is stepping down

Discussion: American Footprints, NewsHog, protein wisdom, Truthdig, Pam's House Blend, The Road to Surfdom and Dohiyi Mir

Captain Ed / Captain's Quarters:
I Question The Timing, And The Sanity

Discussion: ABCNEWS and Blue Crab Boulevard

Austin Bay Blog:
Rumsfeld resigns- with analysis

Discussion: The Swamp, The Anchoress, Macsmind, neo-neocon, Ed Driscoll.com, Think Progress and TPMCafe blogs

Dan / Daniel W. Drezner:
RUMSFELD OUT, GATES IN, DREZNER HAPPY

Discussion: Outside The Beltway, Andrew Sullivan, PoliBlog (TM), JustOneMinute, The Reaction, Tammy Bruce and Donklephant

Kristin Roberts / Reuters: Democrats' win alone won't drive Rumsfeld out

Associated Press:

Democrats take control of the Senate — WASHINGTON - Democrats wrested control of the Senate from Republicans Wednesday with an upset victory in Virginia, giving the party complete domination of Capitol Hill for the first time since 1994. — Jim Webb's squeaker win over incumbent Sen. George Allen …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, CorrenteWire, The Moderate Voice, The Democratic Daily, MyDD, No More Mister Nice Blog and Dependable Renegade

RELATED ITEMS:

David Crary / Guardian:
Losses on Ballot Measures Jolt Religious

Discussion: The Road to Surfdom

James Taranto / Opinion Journal:

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).

Discussion: Inactivist, Gay Patriot and Daimnation!

Ibrahim Barzak / Associated Press:

Hamas urges attacks on U.S. targets — GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Hamas' military wing called Wednesday on Muslims around the world to attack American targets following reports that an Israeli tank strike killed 18 people in the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.

Discussion: Counterterrorism Blog, Wizbang, Democrats.com, The Jawa Report and 7.62mm Justice

Howard Schneider / Washington Post:

Challenger Maintains Lead Over Sen. Burns — Nearly All Precincts Reporting in Montana Senate Race — Montana elections officials continued working today to sort out the result in a closely fought race that could determine control of the U.S. Senate, with software problems forcing …

Discussion: Whiskey Bar, The Caucus and CNN Political Ticker

rushlimbaugh.com:

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 …

Discussion: The Huffington Post