From the perspective of GOP leaders like Newt Gingrich, the White House completely botched the Rumsfeld departure. The President also lied to the media about Rumsfeld shortly before the election. Been wondering what finally made it happen and today's New York Times gives the credit to Rice:
While Mr. Gates, a former director of central intelligence, had long been considered for a variety of roles, over the past two months Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the national security adviser, Stephen J. Hadley, quietly steered the White House toward replacing Donald H. Rumsfeld with Mr. Gates, who had worked closely with Ms. Rice under the first President Bush. One senior participant in those discussions, who declined to be identified by name while talking about internal deliberations, said, “everyone realizes that we don’t have much time to get this right” and the first step is to get “everyone driving on the same track.”Rice "quietly steered" it. Need more information. We know she's best friends with Bush and Laura. We also know that Bush is incapable of making any serious decisions. He can't admit failure. So, did Rumsfeld get out-maneuvered by a woman who he has spent the last six years dissing? Or is this just spinning to give Condi the credit for vanquishing the evil Rummy.
Either way, the big loser is Cheney. He should be watching his back now, too.
