timing of the rummy resignation

[Beavis68]

Bush said he waiting until after the election so it wouldn't look political, but it looks even more political now. Not only that, it seems like a slap in the face to his party.

In my opinion, Bush has made two big political misteps in the last two years that lead to the loss of seats - maybe three, but two had greatest effect.

If he would have resigned Rumsfield 3 months before the election the republicans could have gone into the electoin with a "new direction in Iraq" instead of"stay the course". I think this would have earned some goodwill from the voters.

The second costly mistake was his "guest-worker/amnesty first" approach to illegal immagration. If there was more early work on enforcement the republicans would have something to show the american people. instead the last few years were spent with the legislative branch refusing to give Bush his guest worker program but not really coming up with their own enforcement regulations against the presidents wishes.

Do you guys think these two things could have had an impact on the election?

[Nortonesque]

The Rumsfeld thing probably would have saved the Senate for the GOP. I don't think illegal immigration reforms would have had much effect.

[Rhound50]

I think the immigration thing is less important that you make it seem. This election was almost 100% about the war in Iraq. I think maybe if Rumsfield has resigned earlier it might have helped but I think the results would have still been similar. If the GOP had gone with a "new direction in Iraq" approach, the Dems would have pounded in the point that the GOP leadership got us there in the first place and now is abondoning the mess that they made. I think people are unhappy enough with the Iraq situation that the GOP was fukd either way.

[Beavis68]

for what it is worth I dont think that "new direction" means "leaving". I think it means significant changes in the strategy used to achieve the same objective.

Whether that means more troops or not I have no clue, but I do not think that Rumsfield resigning means tha we will be pulling out any sooner.

Illegal immagration was a HUGE part of the campaings in arizona, I dont know about other states though.