I love Steyn and thinks he's the best and I do not think he is wrong on most things. But (and you knew it was comign) I do not think the President fired Rumsfeld. I think Rumsfeld insisted on going in the face of what was coming now that the dems had been elected.
As I was reading down, J.E.B.S., I was going to say, I'm not sure but what it was Rumsfeld who told the Prez and the Veep when he was going to leave. My earlier predictions had been (if it was certain the dems would take the House) that he would leave a number of weeks before or after the election. This was a brilliant move and he will be a whipping boy for a while, but only for a short while. By January the American people will be saying, "no, let's move on" and Rummy will be tending his ranch in AZ or NM or where ever it is.
"I do not think the President fired Rumsfeld. I think Rumsfeld insisted on going in the face of what was coming now that the dems had been elected."
I think you are right although Rumsfeld and the President had to know this was coming. It looks like they had no clue or maybe the wanted the dems to win? Let them take some heat for whatever happens after they cut off funds etc?
I am really baffled by all of this!
On Wednesday morning right after the election while the losses were still being counted?? The timing of the resignation/firing screamed defeat and worse. What could Bush have been thinking - We are all Spanish now?
Also, Finnigan2 is wrong, he will still have to face these lynch mob committees even as a retiree. The only silver lining to this is that he'll be able to rip them apart in the hearings. He so much smarter and he has nothing to lose.