November 09, 2006
Hotline After Dark -- Rummy, Straight Up
An election, a change of power, and VA SEN and MT SEN called, but most of the TV last night was on Defense Sec. Donald Rumsfeld's resignation:
NBC's Ohm: "The surprise announcement about Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation accomplished two things for the White House. One, it got some of the focus off of the thumping the Republicans got at the polls yesterday. ... It also shows that this president is still very much in charge going against the recommendation of Vice President Cheney to keep Rumsfeld" ("Tucker," MSNBC, 11/8).
FNC's Baier: "President Bush insisted this was a decision he had been considering with Secretary Rumsfeld for weeks. And despite recently telling reporters he would like Rumsfeld to stay on until the end of his term, the president said he didn't want to insert that major decision into the election process" ("Special Report," 11/8).
CNN's Malveaux: "President Bush said that he did not actually acknowledge that he was thinking about replacing Rumsfeld publicly because he didn't want to inject a major decision in the campaign, that it wasn't political. But, ... of course part of the decision was pragmatic, part of it was conciliatory, and a big part also political" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 11/8).
NBC's Mitchell: "This was such a class act. Don Rumsfeld, who has really done a lot of painful things and he was following the president's orders and he took it" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 11/8).
Rep. Peter King (R-NY), asked if it would have made a difference if Rumsfeld resigned a couple of months ago: "Politically, it would have. And I guess I give the president credit. He felt that by doing that during the course of the campaign, he'd be sending a message to the troops that he was making a political decision" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 11/8).
READY TO SPEAK
Nancy Pelosi made the interview rounds last night:
On Rumsfeld's resignation: "Thank heavens the president has heard the message and has acted upon it" ("NewsHour," PBS, 11/8).
Asked if Bush is still "incompetent, shallow and dangerous" and all the other things she's called him: "I think incompetence in the implementation of a war is dangerous. But, again, the election is over. He's signaled a willingness to change by accepting the resignation -- if that's the term of art -- of Donald Rumsfeld. And I look forward to working with him in a bipartisan way, extend a hand of friendship to him to say, 'How can we find a way out of Iraq that is bipartisan, and that is effective, and that is soon?'" ("Nightline," ABC, 11/8).
On her call with Bush: "The call was very friendly. He extended a hand of friendship, which I reciprocated and told him what I had said earlier in the evening, that I looked forward working with him in partnership, not in partisanship" ("Nightly News," NBC, 11/8).
Asked who she wants for Maj. Leader: "I haven't finished counting the votes from last night. We don't even know how many Democrats we have. We know it's in the mid-to-high 20s. When we know who we are as a caucus, we can move forward with those races, but right now, right now we're not at a place where I would even talk about such things."
More: "I don't even know completely who's running. All kinds of ambition emerges after you win a majority, as I am learning, and so when we see all of that we'll go forward. But I will say though, both of them have served our party very well. Steny Hoyer I've known since we were interns in Senator Brewster's office here. I'm from Maryland, as you know. And then Jack Murtha performed a great service to the country in blowing the whistle on this war about a year ago" ("Situation Room," CNN, 11/8).
PARTING ADVICE
FNC's O'Reilly, in his "Talking Points" memo: "Right now, the Democrats are in a good position. The country is giving them a chance to improve Iraq and the basic tone of politics in America. But if the Democrats try to destroy Mr. Bush or impose San Francisco values, the country will turn against them. There's no question in my mind" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 11/8).
Posted at 07:24 AM
Comments
Regarding the Rummy announcement by the White House -
I have to say that I am rather alarmed that the Democratic party did not take this as an opportunity to build upon the momentum created by astounding victories in taking over both the House of Representatives and the Senate. I see it as not a coup for the White House (though cleverly timed, I will admit), but rather as icing on the cake, and the ultimate humiliation, particularly in light of the fact that Bush announced just last week that Rumsfeld and Cheney were in it until the end. The timely announcement by the administration of Rumsfeld's resignation is further indication that America has spoken, and at least some positive progress that Bush might actually be listening, and willing to concede.
Or, might it have been just that - a concession in an effort to prevent impeachment hearings on day one of Democrats taking power in Congress?
This is what Democrats, and roughly 2/3 of the nation, wanted. We won much more than the election on November 7 - change is already happening, and we all have instigated that change with our votes.
Democratic strategists should seize upon this event to keep initiatives in the right direction - any opportunity to do so in these early days should be utilized to its fullest potential.
Thinker | 11.09.06 12:03 PM
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