11.09.2006
Democrats Close In on Senate (LATimes.com)
Republican election defeats and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's departure may signal Iraq policy changes.
By Janet Hook, Times Staff Writer
November 9, 2006
WASHINGTON — A day after discontent with the Iraq war prompted sweeping election defeats for the Republican Party, President Bush on Wednesday acknowledged voters had given him "a thumping" and said the chief architect of his military strategy, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, had resigned.
The announcement came hours after Democrats won a majority in the House for the first time in 12 years and seemed all but certain to take control of the Senate — barring unexpected changes in the vote totals in two states.
In the past, Bush repeatedly defended Rumsfeld, even as progress in the war stalled and as the Defense secretary, known for his confident and bristling manner, piled up critics in both parties. But on Wednesday, the president said he and Rumsfeld agreed that the Pentagon needed "fresh eyes."
"He himself understands that Iraq is not working well enough, fast enough," Bush said. He said he would nominate Robert M. Gates — who served as CIA director under Bush's father — as his new Defense secretary.
News that one of the most powerful figures in Washington was leaving office came as GOP hopes faded that they could win two close Senate races, in Virginia and Montana, that would decide control of the Senate.
Virginia officials had not confirmed final results, but the Associated Press declared that Democratic candidate Jim Webb had pulled off an upset victory based on new data from election officials in all 134 voting localities. But GOP Sen. George Allen refused to concede. His aides said they wanted to wait for election officials to complete a routine review of the vote totals, expected this week.
Earlier in the day, Montana officials declared Democrat Jon Tester the Senate race winner, but GOP Sen. Conrad Burns had not given in.
In Washington, Democratic leaders were expected to hold a news conference today to celebrate their apparent victories in the two races — which would give them 51 Senate seats to the Republicans' 49. The party has not held both chambers of Congress since 1994.
(More ... LA Times > Election 2006 > Voters Side With Democrats)
By Janet Hook, Times Staff Writer
November 9, 2006
WASHINGTON — A day after discontent with the Iraq war prompted sweeping election defeats for the Republican Party, President Bush on Wednesday acknowledged voters had given him "a thumping" and said the chief architect of his military strategy, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, had resigned.
The announcement came hours after Democrats won a majority in the House for the first time in 12 years and seemed all but certain to take control of the Senate — barring unexpected changes in the vote totals in two states.
In the past, Bush repeatedly defended Rumsfeld, even as progress in the war stalled and as the Defense secretary, known for his confident and bristling manner, piled up critics in both parties. But on Wednesday, the president said he and Rumsfeld agreed that the Pentagon needed "fresh eyes."
"He himself understands that Iraq is not working well enough, fast enough," Bush said. He said he would nominate Robert M. Gates — who served as CIA director under Bush's father — as his new Defense secretary.
News that one of the most powerful figures in Washington was leaving office came as GOP hopes faded that they could win two close Senate races, in Virginia and Montana, that would decide control of the Senate.
Virginia officials had not confirmed final results, but the Associated Press declared that Democratic candidate Jim Webb had pulled off an upset victory based on new data from election officials in all 134 voting localities. But GOP Sen. George Allen refused to concede. His aides said they wanted to wait for election officials to complete a routine review of the vote totals, expected this week.
Earlier in the day, Montana officials declared Democrat Jon Tester the Senate race winner, but GOP Sen. Conrad Burns had not given in.
In Washington, Democratic leaders were expected to hold a news conference today to celebrate their apparent victories in the two races — which would give them 51 Senate seats to the Republicans' 49. The party has not held both chambers of Congress since 1994.
(More ... LA Times > Election 2006 > Voters Side With Democrats)
Labels: 2006 election, Bush, House, LATimes, Rumsfeld, Senate
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