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.

Robert Gates, a Cautious Player From a Past Bush Team  —  In choosing Robert M. Gates as his next defense secretary, President Bush reached back to an earlier era in Republican foreign policy, one marked more by caution and pragmatism than that of the neoconservatives who have shaped …

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 …

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.

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.

The Next House Minorty Leader  —  If you were listening to the second hour of my program today, you may have detected some anger in my voice when Congressman John Campbell told us all that the GOP House members would gather in D.C. next week to elect new leadership.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Youth turnout in election biggest in 20 years  —  BOSTON (Reuters) - Young Americans voted in the largest numbers in at least 20 years in congressional elections, energized by the Iraq war and giving a boost to Democrats, pollsters said on Wednesday.  —  About 24 percent of Americans under the age of 30 …

Dist. 13 voting analysis shows broad problem  —  SARASOTA COUNTY — A review of Sarasota County voting results shows that in almost every precinct a high percentage of voters didn't cast ballots in the hotly contested 13th Congressional District, a trend that likely affected the outcome of the race.

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.