Gregory stated that GWB deliberately misled reported on his confidence in Rumsfeld prior to election.
I don't believe that is true. I think it was contingent on the election whether Rummy stayed or left. GWB obviously trusts Rumsfeld.
Bush told as close to the truth as he could.
Once the Dems won both majorities, Rumsfeld's effectiveness evaporated. Gates was waiting in the wings. Reality sucks.
I hve long thought the Rumsfeld wanted to go for a long time, but the President wasn't ready to let his critics win. I think he agreed to let Rumsfeld go after the election, so it would appear that the critics didn't win, but rather that a distinguished servant had done his part and now wanted to just go retire.
The dems winning Congress back just forced the President to concede that in this case, the critics won, and to let Rumsfeld go, who wanted to go anyway. And that would at least take one bullet out of the dem magazine. Had the Republicans retained the Congress, I think Rumsfeld would have been allowed to retire in January.