Hearings into Rumsfeld resignation calls?

The Note has some interesting news on a story which offers us a preview of Congress post the mid-terms and the ’08 campaign. Hillary Clinton, demonstrating the political smarts that will make her a more formidable candidate than many people think, has called for a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee with the six generals ...

The Note has some interesting news on a story which offers us a preview of Congress post the mid-terms and the ’08 campaign.

The Note has some interesting news on a story which offers us a preview of Congress post the mid-terms and the ’08 campaign.

Hillary Clinton, demonstrating the political smarts that will make her a more formidable candidate than many people think, has called for a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee with the six generals who have called for Rumsfeld’s resignation. The Chairman of the Committee John Warner is going to allow a vote on this. As The Note points out, we can expect all 11 Dems to vote for hearing which means that if two Republicans do they will happen. It is reported that Susan Collins is inclined to join the minority on this one, which means that only one other Republican vote is needed. So, will John McCain—or his close friend Lindsey Graham—vote aye?

McCain has made clear that he has “no confidence” in Rummy. So, it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise if he voted aye. I think it would be the politically savvy thing to do too as it would allow him to make clear that while he supports the war, he is all too aware that the execution to date has been poor.

James Forsyth is assistant editor at Foreign Policy.

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