An easy decision for Rove, he's gone. Shows some Bush leadership (since he did lose this election for us because the congressional leadership defaulted to him on the country's agenda), PLUS it Gives the dems something practical to wrassle with; i expect extensive hearings and questioning of the nominee, which isn't bad per se. And, in listening to the prez's press conference right now, truly I hate bush's frat boy chuckle.

A few months ago I read an interview with an outgoing Army general, logistician-type, who helped write the war plan for Iraq. He said very plainly that Rummy refused to let them even plan for the post-war period, and finally threatened to fire anyone who so much as mentioned it again.

That's when I went well and truly sour on Rummy. Good riddance.

What's up with the White House? Appointing a guy who had his first nomination as CIA director withdrawn because of linkage to Iran-Contra is opening up a can of worms when the point of Rumsfeld's resignation is to defuse controversary. Can't wait for Carl Levin to schedule the nomination hearings on the same day as Daniel Ortega's inauguration in Nicaragua!

What about floating Joe Leiberman's name? I doubt he'd take it given CT has a Republican governor, but that would have opened up some interesting possibilities. At the mid-term point of a lame duck Presidency, the Secretary of Defense will have little impact on the future of the military. The focus is on executing and institutionalizing the policies and strategies -- actually managing and running the Department of Defense. This nomination is not to recycle a family loyalist.

The good thing is the in-box of many Pentagon action officers just became significantly lighter.

How about the fact that Rummy is SecDef until his heir is blessed & sworn. He's a good soldier. He can make a few unpopular decisions that can help the guys doing the dirty work, and take the blame with him.