On November 1, 2006, President Bush told journalists “that he wanted [Secretary of Defense Donald] Rumsfeld and Vice President [Dick] Cheney to remain with him until the end of his presidency. ‘Both these men are doing fantastic jobs,’ said the president, ‘and I strongly support them.’ It was a straightforward lie, as Bush himself candidly admitted on November 8 when he announced Rumsfeld’s ‘resignation’ and replacement by former CIA director Robert Gates. The day before, voters had given their verdict on the administration and its war by turning control of the Congress back to the Democrats after years of Republican control. Rumsfeld was duly offered up as a sacrifice.”
– Andrew Cockburn, Rumsfeld, Page 221