Rumsfeld says "Goodbye"
Issue date: 11/13/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 3 next >
|
Bush's surprise decision to replace Rumsfeld with former CIA Director Robert Gates was the most dramatic event in a series of rapid-fire developments triggered by the Democratic takeover in Congress.
Late results from Tuesday's elections left Democrats poised to control both the House of Representatives and the Senate, although the final Senate lineup might hinge on a Virginia recount that could take a few weeks. Virginia Democrat James Webb held a lead of more than 7,000 votes out of 2.3 million cast over Republican Sen. George Allen.
Bush and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, in line to become America's first female House speaker, pledged to work together on issues ranging from Iraq to increasing the minimum wage.
"The American people spoke with their votes, and they spoke for change," Pelosi said. "Nowhere was the call for a new direction more clear from the American people than in the war in Iraq."
But the talk of cooperation didn't immediately dispel the partisan rancor that's settled on Washington nor did it stop Republican recriminations over the election results. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., announced that he would surrender his role in the Republican leadership when the new Congress convenes in January.
At the White House, a somber Bush said he was surprised and disappointed by Tuesday's outcome.
Democrats, who needed 15 additional House seats for a majority in the 435-member chamber, were on track to pick up about 30. They also won five of the six Senate seats they needed to take control of that chamber, with victories in Montana, Missouri, Rhode Island, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and a lead in the sixth, Virginia.
If a recount in Virginia reverses Webb's apparent victory over Allen, the Senate would be split 50-50, leaving Vice President Dick Cheney with the deciding vote for Republicans.
Bush acknowledged his share of the blame for an election that was a referendum on the Iraq war and on his performance as commander in chief.
"As the head of the Republican Party, I share a large part of the responsibility," he said at a White House news conference. "It was a thumpin'."
Rumsfeld's ouster came a week after Bush told a small group of reporters that he wanted the defense secretary to stay on the job until end of his presidency. Despite what he said, Bush had already concluded that he wanted "a fresh perspective" at the Pentagon, although he hadn't interviewed Gates or worked out final details of Rumsfeld's resignation.
Be the first to comment on this story