Top Items:
New York Times:
Rumsfeld Resigns; Bush Vows to 'Find Common Ground' — Faced with the collapse of his Republican majority in Congress, President Bush responded swiftly on Wednesday by announcing the departure of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and vowing to work with Democrats "to find common ground" on the war in Iraq and domestic issues.
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Washington Wire:
A New Perspective on Iran? — Whatever else he may bring to his new job at the Pentagon, Robert Gates apparently holds a view on the highly sensitive subject of relations with Iran that hasn't been embraced by all his new colleagues in the Bush administration.
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters, BLACKFIVE, Atlas Shrugs, Tammy Bruce, protein wisdom, Daily Pundit, Hotline On Call, Blue Crab Boulevard and Macsmind
Liz Sidoti / Associated Press:
Dems Complete Election Sweep of Congress — Democrats completed an improbable double-barreled election sweep of Congress on Wednesday, taking control of the Senate with a victory in Virginia as they padded their day-old majority in the House. — Jim Webb's victory over Sen. George Allen …
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 …
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E. J. Dionne Jr / Washington Post:
Meeting at The Middle — It's over. — American voters, in their wisdom, ended an era on Tuesday. They rejected a poorly conceived war policy in Iraq that has weakened the United States. They rejected a harshly ideological approach to politics that cast opponents as enemies of the country's survival.
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David Brooks / New York Times:
The Middle Muscles In — For decades, moderates have been the cowardly lions of American politics. You'd see them quivering in the corner as the anti-establishment left exchanged culture war mortar fire with the anti-establishment right. You'd see them passed over and dissed …
Joe Gandelman / The Moderate Voice:
Election 2006: Victory Of The "Mighty Middle?"
Election 2006: Victory Of The "Mighty Middle?"
Discussion:
Donklephant
Mike Glover / Associated Press:
Iowa's Vilsack to Run for President — DES MOINES, Iowa — Gov. Tom Vilsack said he will officially launch his presidential campaign Thursday when he files documents with the Federal Election Commission. — The filing comes two days after his fellow Democrats scored overwhelming victories in state and national elections.
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Associated Press:
Democrat Vilsack launches run for White House — DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa took the initial step in his long-shot bid for the White House Thursday, establishing a presidential campaign committee and seeking an early jump on 2008. — "Americans sent a clear message on Tuesday.
Tony Blankley / Washington Times:
Post-election Washington — And so the inter-party struggle pauses, if briefly, and the intra-party struggles begin. After such a profound shift of political power as resulted from this week's election, both the winning and losing parties will inevitably enter a prolonged period (months …
Discussion:
Hyscience
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Pelosi: Iraq isn't a war, Gannett = "the voice of the military" — Third in line for the presidency. Two heartbeats away. And one of those is arrhythmic. — The first segment comes from "The Situation Room." If you missed the story about the Military Times editorials, read Bryan's post.
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Ian Bishop / New York Post:
RANGEL 'MEANS' TO IRK VP — NEW TOP-DOG NYER: I'LL GRAB THE S.O.B.'S OFFICE — Rep. Charles Rangel, the incoming chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, revealed yesterday that he's got his eye on Capitol Hill office space now held by the man he recently called a "son of a bitch" - Vice President Dick Cheney.
Michael Grunwald / Washington Post:
Republicans' Angry Factions Point Fingers At Each Other — After minutes upon minutes of soul-searching, Republicans are now in recrimination mode. And the GOP's various factions all agree: This wouldn't have happened if the party had listened to us. — In the aftermath of the historic …
George F. Will / Washington Post:
A Loss's Silver Lining — At least Republicans now know where the "Bridge to Nowhere" leads: to the political wilderness. But there are three reasons for conservatives to temper their despondency. — First, they were punished not for pursuing but for forgetting conservatism.
Dick Armey / Opinion Journal:
End of the Revolution — Advice to Republicans: Don't go back and check on a dead skunk. — If there was still any doubt, the Republican Revolution of 1994 officially ended Tuesday night with the loss of at least 28 seats and majority control of the House of Representatives.
Tim Reid / Times of London:
Meet the Blue Dogs: pro-gun, anti-abortion - and Democrat — Our correspondent examines how the party masterminded its move to the centre and reined in liberals to seize hostile territories — They wear cowboy boots, chew tobacco, love hunting, hate abortion, want less government spending — and some voted for Ronald Reagan.
Mark Pazniokas / Hartford Courant:
Still A Democrat, Joe Says, To Preserve Seniority — Now that he's won re-election as a petitioning candidate, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman is pledging to remain a Democrat, if for no other reason than to keep his 18 years' seniority in the Senate. — "I'll sign up with the caucus to protect my seniority," Lieberman said Wednesday.