Shocker: Rumsfeld Resigned Before Announcement

For some reason, Reuters acts as if this is a breaking scandal.

Rumsfeld resigned before election, letter shows

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Rumsfeld, architect of the unpopular Iraq war, resigned as defense secretary before last year's November election but his decision was not announced until after the voting, according to his resignation letter obtained by Reuters on Wednesday.

The letter was dated November 6, the day before voters, angered by Iraq, went to the polls and swept Republicans from power in Congress. According to a stamp on the letter, President George W. Bush saw it on election day.

Bush, however, did not announce that Rumsfeld would leave until the day after the election.

You can guarantee had President Bush rushed to the podium on election day to announce this, the media would have gone crazy, saying he's trying to influence the election. From what I recall, it was announced by 10 am the following day.

So what is the point of the story?

Allahpundit notes, so very accurately, what the reaction would have been.

Bush evidently didn’t find out until the day after and wisely chose to put it in his pocket lest an Election Day bombshell lead to nutroots screeching about the ultimate November surprise forever after.

Quite frankly, it wouldn't have made any difference. The GOP was doomed to fail in 2006, and it wasn't just displeasure with Iraq.

Had Rumsfeld left a week earlier, a month earlier or last summer, I just don't think it would have altered the outcome. Harken back to the weeks leading up to election day. It was Mark Foley all day, every day, and if it wasn't Foley, it was the infamous "macaca" moment.

I guess now they can concentrate on when exactly did Karl Rove pen his resignation letter.