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 …

Throw Rummy Under the Bus  —  President Bush has just confirmed that, after a series of conversations, he and Defense Secretary Don Rumsfeld have agreed "that it is time for new leadership at the Pentagon."  Mr. Bush also announced that former CIA Director Robert Gates will be his nominee to succeed Rumsfeld.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.