Surprise! Rumsfeld "resigns."

"Hey, why all the glum faces?"
--George Bush, 11/8/06

When we mentioned "sudden dismissals" in our previous post, we didn't quite expect a departure quite so quickly, but we'll take it, we'll take it. Mr. Bush and Mr. Rumsfeld have jointly decided that "new leadership is needed in the Pentagon." Our shock is boundless.

His replacement will be former CIA chief and Texas A&M University President Robert Gates.

Highlights from the press conference:

Bush looks ragged and slightly hung over. He looks, for the first time since his term began, as though he might have lost some sleep. He also seems faintly humanized -- forced into a position of humility, he seems less crazed and more genuine.

When asked about why he recently assured the country that Rumsfeld would remain in office, Bush said, "I didn't want to inject a major decision into the last days of the campaign. The only way to get you to move onto another question was give you that answer."

"People want their Congress to be honest, and ethical. That was a factor in some of the races."

"Somehow it just seeped into their [the American people's] consciousness that I was just 'stay the course.' We're constantly adjusting."

Slightly later... "I think it sends a bad message to our troops when their Commander-in-Chief appears to be constantly adjusting tactics."

"This is not my first rodeo."

Bush shows uncharacteristic skill answering a question about Pelosi calling him "incompetent, liar, and the Emperor with no clothes." We give him credit for grace under pressure. It is the cautious poise of a man who has discovered he is running out of options.

Bush repeatedly mentions the Baker/Hamilton commission. We assume that he has some advance information about its findings -- possibly an escape plan?

Explaining his previous optimism about yesterday's election: "I thought when it was all said and done that the American people would understand the importance of taxes, and the importance of security. The pople have spoken." In other words, it's their fault. He is called on this by a British man, and bristles.

The ending is abrupt -- he appears simply to run out of words. He turns, marches away.... This promises to be an interesting few days.