Bush Pledges to Work With Democrats – Examiner.com: ”
WASHINGTON – President Bush pledged Wednesday to work with Democrats after the ‘thumping’ his party got on Election Day. He named a new defense secretary to oversee the war in Iraq, a change the president said was going to happen whoever won the elections.
Bush said former CIA Director Robert Gates would replace Donald H. Rumsfeld at the Pentagon. The president said Rumsfeld was a ‘patriot who served this country with honor and distinction.’
Bush said he had been talking with Rumsfeld about whether it was time for a fresh perspective at the department, and the two agreed Tuesday that it was appropriate for Rumsfeld to resign.
‘He, himself, understands that Iraq is not working well enough, fast enough,’ Bush said. The president planned to meet with Rumsfeld and Gates on Wednesday afternoon in the Oval Office.
Bush called Democratic leaders to congratulate them on their victories in Tuesday’s voting and he expressed both disappointment and surprise over the election results. He admitted that he wrongly predicted a Republican victory on Election Day.
‘Actually, I thought we were going to do fine yesterday, shows what I know,’ Bush said. ‘But I thought we were going to be fine in the election. My point to you is that, win or lose, Bob Gates was going to become the nominee.’
Bush seemed stoic about the election, proclaiming: ‘This isn’t my first rodeo.’
‘I recognize that many Americans voted last “
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