[Bernard]

Why did we lose? Depends on who "we" is, Kimosabe. The ground rules didn't change, the players didn't change. The media was the same as always. It appears that "we" just didn't try hard enough to win this time.

The Republicans also set this up a long time ago, by not continuing to act like Republicans. Most disappointing of all was George W. Bush, who seems to have made a deal to get rid of Don Rumsfeld AFTER the election, when it was too late to affect voter reactions. What a horrible decision that was.

And I would prefer that the President had stuck with Mr. Rumsfeld, who has performed well under adverse conditions and remained loyal. If GW Bush wanted to let Mr. Rumsfeld take the blame for Iraq, he should have done it before the election.

Now, instead, we have lost the services of a good man, and we get a Democrat Senate and House. If this was planned, Karl Rove should stick to hurricane machines.

[chiller]

And I would prefer that the President had stuck with Mr. Rumsfeld, who has performed well under adverse conditions and remained loyal.

I suspect the timing was Rummy's call. As soon as he knew Dems won the Senate, Rummy knew he'd be going through two years of congressional hearings. He may be required to testify but I suspect he'll tell 'em to stuff it.

[snugs]

IMHO Rumsfeld would have remained if the Republicans had not lost control.

I believe the main reason he had to go was that both he and the President believed that the next 2 years he would spend the majority of his time in front of congressional hearing after another. He may well still do so but not as the current Secretary of Defense.

He could not have run his department and fulfilled overseas visits including NATO meetings with all of this going on at home.

And lastly get off your President's back and support like your fellow Republicans should have in congress and then the result last Tuesday would have probably been different. They caused the public to see the Republican party as fragmented and therefore did not give them confidence to vote for a Republican candidate coupled with the media portraying Republicans as radical right wingers.

[samantha]

Rumsfeld did most of what he was hired to do prior to 9-11. He got rid of a lot of the chair warming Clinton butt kissers that were just punching the clock waiting for their new promotions to enable them to retire at a higher rate. Then they would be able to be consultants in the private sector with their Connections to the Defense Contractors,and they could continue to screw over the military from he outside. They also will be writing books,and probably be a part of K street lobbyists. They are greedy beyond words because the Salary they could earn as retired Military Brass is double what it would take the average American to live on, even with 6 kids. John Murtha is certainly not the only turd in the Punch Bowl,he is just the one captured on film with the Bribes that the DBM ignored in this election Cycle.

[MNJohnnie]

Don Rumsfeld was a good solider. He knew the media template on Iraq had to change.

The elections results plus Rumnmy's leaving gave the President the chance to change the story line in the Junk Media from everything that has gone wrong since 2003 in Iraq to focusing on what happens next. Don Rumsfeld, like a good solider, put his Duty and his Country in front of his ego and threw himself on that PR grenade for us.

It would be really nice if our 100%ers would learn from Don Rumsfeld's example