Cross-posted at the Brock Log
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.
The development occurred one day after congressional elections that cost Republicans control of the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate as well. Surveys of voters at polling places said opposition to the war was a significant contributor to the Democratic Party's victory.
Bush says Rumsfeld to step down
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the face of U.S. war policy, will step down after Democrats' rode Americans' anger over Iraq to victory in Tuesday's election, senior defense and administration officials said on Wednesday.
President Bush said he had offered former CIA Director Robert Gates to replace Rumsfeld, following dramatic victories by Democrats in both the House of Representatives and Senate.
Clearly, the Republicans did not see the blue writing on the wall. If they had, President Bush would've canned Rumsfeld last week so that the Republican Congress could campaign on it. Instead, Rumsfeld avoids being subpoenaed and investigated by a Democratic Congress and leaves, tail tucked between his legs, yellow belly dragging on the floor. Leaving the Pentagon as a coward.
What does the blogosphere have to say?
Kevin Drum at the Political Animal.
NO MORE RUMMY?....Rumsfeld resigning? CNN says an announcement is imminent.
UPDATE: Yep, he's out. Bush will nominate former CIA Director Bob Gates to replace him.
Michael van der Galien at The Moderate Voice.
The timing of this is quite surprising: Rumsfeld resigns. H/t to C.Stanley. I will update this post later: I am currently listening to Bush talking about yesterday's elections. So far he sounds very good.
UPDATE 1
Bush just confirmed it: Rumsfeld has, after being Secretary of Defense for approximately six years, resigned.
Gone
The evil one.
Donald Rumsfeld has resigned. Change has come. We have demanded it.
Introducing Bush's nominee to replace Rumsfeld, Robert Gates.
Comments
Gates is nominated in his place
Another Neo-con wacko.
My recommendation to the Senate? Confirm Gates ASAP. It's too early to try to take responsibility for the cataclysmic disaster that is the Bush Defense Strategy. Let AWOL George twist in the wind some more with another partisan hack running things into the ground.