Theory on Rumsfeld
Like Buck, and many others, I was baffled by the post-election departure of Donald Rumsfeld. It finally clicked this morning… I have no supporting evidence so consider this irresponsible speculation. Bush knows something about Rumsfeld he is afraid might come to light during oversight investigations, something that might also put himself in impeachment jeopardy or otherwise damage his GOP. When it became certain that Democrats would control the house, Rumsfeld was ejected in order to take the target off his back - thinking being that if investigations come, they will focus on active members of the administration rather than retired ones. By putting Rummy on the periphery, Bush hopes to avoid unnecessary daylight on some obscure corner of the Rumsfeld career that might open up a whole can of worms if discovered.
If the election had gone otherwise, according to this theory, the super-rummy-secret would be safe, and Bush would have wished for Rumsfeld to stay on, just as he had told us days before the election.
For what that’s worth.
Makes as much sense as anything else I have heard. In fact, somewhere out there I have seen others put forth the same theory.