The terms of any high-level termination are always dressed up for gracious public consumption. Whether Rumsfeld was "asked to resign" or not is really academic and pedantic. The point is, the Commies scored a belt-notch. This cannot continue, and, frankly, I don't suspect it will.
Those dillweed Repubs in the Senate have a lot to answer for over the next two years, having effectively stalled most of the legislative agenda Dubya had coming forth, such as SS private accounts and the soon-to-expire tax cuts. He has no friends on the Hill, no political campaign to run, and his enemies are all in plain sight. He'll have a wondrous "lame duck" session, replete with his vision.
I'm not trying to be difficult, but did you see the interviews of both men? Unless you think they're both lying, it was Rumsfeld who submitted his resignation repeatedly and the President who finally accepted it.
There is no doubt that the reason for its necessity was the Democrat victory in November, for which they take full credit.
And I completely concur with your assessment of the Republican 'dillweeds.' They have been spineless and disgraceful.
And I have no doubt that the President will continue his full press offense for the next two years. He hasn't had real support in the past, and he sure isn't going to get it now........but fortunately, he doesn't care. He does what he thinks is right regardless of the opposition.