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Donald Rumsfeld's Legacy; President Bush Making Nice With Democrats

Aired November 09, 2006 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone.
You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Tony Harris.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Lin, in today for Heidi Collins.

For the next four hours, actually, watch events unfold live on this Thursday, the 9th day of November.

Here's what's on the rundown.

President Bush making nice with the Democrats. He's got a lunch date with the woman who will be the speaker of the House.

HARRIS: Donald Rumsfeld's legacy -- we talk later this hour with special correspondent Frank Sesno.

LIN: And, yes, Virginia, there will be a winner. This man says he'll give Democrats control of the Senate.

You're in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: So what do you say?

Let's do lunch. President Bush and the speaker-to-be of the House meet over lunch today. On the menu, compromise and common ground.

It's part of a busy day for the president. And it follows a bombshell announcement -- Defense Secretary Rumsfeld is out.

Live to the White House now and correspondent Elaine Quijano -- Elaine, good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony.

Well, that's right, President Bush yesterday acknowledged that he misled reporters recently when he said that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld would remain in his post through the end of the president's second term.

In actuality, talks had been going on quietly for weeks. And yesterday the president moved quickly not only to announce Rumsfeld's resignation, but also to name his choice to replace the Secretary, former CIA Director Bob Gates.

Now, that announcement certainly stole some of the thunder away from Democrats as they focused on their gains in Congress. The president and his top aides, though, say the reason he didn't make the announcement sooner is because the president did not want to insert such a major decision into the election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COUNSELOR: I think that would send a very wrong signal to the American people, that the president was making calculations about the conduct of this war based upon short- term political gain. And whether it be the question of troop levels in Iraq or whether it be the leadership, the civilian leadership at the Pentagon, I think most Americans would be comforted but the fact that the president was going to make that devoid of the campaign politics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, this morning, two days after Republicans received what the president called a cumulative thumping at the polls, the president and outgoing GOP leaders met over breakfast here at the White House.

It was a chance to take a look back at the campaigns, but also to look at what's ahead and what might be accomplished in the leaders' remaining time left, before the Democrats take control.

Later today then, for lunch, the president reaches across the aisle. He'll be meeting with Democratic leaders, including the incoming House speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Despite some harsh words back and forth between President Bush and Nancy Pelosi on the campaign trail, the president and his top aides say they're ready, essentially, to move beyond the elections.

The president himself said yesterday that it wasn't his first rodeo, meaning that he's been around politics a long time, Tony, and he certainly understands it can be tough at times -- Tony.

HARRIS: That was fascinating, kind of a cool line.

All right, Elaine Quijano at the White House for us.

Elaine, thank you.

LIN: Well, Rumsfeld's presumed successor, Robert Gates. Not a household name, but he is well known for where it matters the most.

Here's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bob Gates is new to the Pentagon, but a new defense secretary does not end the problems in Iraq. ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY NOMINEE: Because our long-term strategic interests and our national and homeland security are at risk, because so many of America's sons and daughters in our armed forces are in harm's way, I did not hesitate when the president asked me to return to duty.

STARR: Gates, who served as CIA director and national security advisor for the first President Bush, is regarded as someone who understands both politics and policy.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, FORMER CIA ACTING DIRECTOR: He's very well known to Democrats and I think he is seen across the aisle as a non- ideological person who would bring a realist's perspective to this job.

STARR: If confirmed, Gates is expected to have a smoother relationship with his generals than Secretary Rumsfeld had, at least for now.

MCLAUGHLIN: I think they will welcome Bob because he's generally well known in the military. They'll welcome his style.

STARR: Gates is an old Washington hand from the Reagan-Bush years. He's currently part of the Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by former Secretary of State James Baker, one of the first President Bush's closest friends. That group is working on options for a new Iraq policy.

Gates is not without controversy. In 1991, he was investigated but cleared of any wrongdoing in the Iran-Contra scandal. Several political analysts tell CNN they do not expect that to hinder his confirmation.

But Democrats are getting ready.

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: And I don't see this being an easy confirmation unless there is a change in strategy and unless he's willing to come forward with that change in strategy.

STARR: He has not always agreed with the current administration. In 2004, he co-authored a study on Iran for the Council on Foreign Relations, which said, in part, "The United States should not defer a political dialogue with Iran" until differences over its nuclear programs have been resolved.

(on camera) Gates' essential challenge will be to provide that fresh look at Iraq that President Bush now says he wants. But the problem remains unchanged -- finding a way to end the violence and bring the troops home.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(END VIDEO TAPE) LIN: The Rumsfeld resignation, the bombshell didn't just reverberate right here in the United States. It also was front page news in Iraq. And ordinary Iraqis are wondering what the resignation and the changes in Congress mean for them.

CNN's Aneesh Raman in Baghdad this morning -- Aneesh, good morning.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you.

Let's start first with the U.S. troops. Many of them were shocked by the news that Donald Rumsfeld had stepped down. He had withstood so much pressure to resign for the past few years. And there is, of course, any agitation -- sorry, agitation that comes with any change in leadership at a time of war.

But many people that we have spoken to -- and our own John Roberts is embedded with U.S. troops as we speak -- have suggested that Rumsfeld departing is, perhaps, a good thing, that he had become a distraction to the war, that he had become a lightning rod for criticism and that it is time for a fresh set of eyes to look at the situation here.

U.S. troops are increasingly being put as a buffer zone between fighting factions among the Shia and the Sunnis. It is not a position they want to be in. And a change in Washington perhaps will bring about some sort of concrete change on how military operations are conducted on the ground.

What that will be, of course, no one knows as of now. They are not so explicit on camera, the U.S. troops. A lot of these comments are coming off-camera. But those that are explicit today are Iraqis. They are near joyful to see Donald Rumsfeld step aside. He had really come to embody all that is wrong for the Iraqis that we spoke to, in this war.

He was inextricably linked at the time of the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal to those now infamous photos that were spread throughout the Arab world. Many Iraqis wanted Rumsfeld to step down then. They are glad that he has stepped down now.

But they understand, of course, that even though Congress is now in Democratic hands and there will be a new secretary of defense, the president is still President Bush and so they'll wait to see what sort of change, if any, comes here.

Here's a little bit about what they've told us this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We did not see anything good from him except wars. We do not want war. We hope the next one is better than him. We hope so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Of course, he caused us all the problems, starting from Abu Ghraib incident and many other things, like occupation, that all the Iraqi people are suffering from and killing in the streets. But this is all because of the U.S. government, and not only this minister.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAMAN: So, a bit of hope that change will bring change here. But they've had hope before, Carol, so they're going to wait to see what pans out.

LIN: Well, Aneesh, what does this mean for the Iraqi government?

RAMAN: It's a very big deal for Iraq's prime minister, Nuri Al- Maliki. Undoubtedly, late night phone calls throughout the capital about the change in leadership at the Pentagon.

Nuri Al-Maliki, a big part of his governance in Iraq is dealing with the relationship with both President Bush and lawmakers in Washington. Democrats have called for increased pressure on the Iraqi prime minister to reign in the Shia militias, to get them off the streets, get arms out of their hands. There have also been suggestions in the Democratic Party to partition Iraq.

So a change in Congress, a change in, perhaps, the military strategy on the ground, brings uncertainty, if nothing else, to the Iraqi prime minister.

LIN: All right, thanks very much.

Aneesh Raman live in Baghdad.

HARRIS: Let's talk a little bit more about those mid-term elections.

It is up to Virginia. Democrats can take control of the U.S. Senate with a win by Jim Webb.

But is incumbent Republican George Allen ready to give up?

CNN's Jeanne Meserve joins us from Arlington -- Jeanne, good morning.

And it seems it comes down to the canvassing that's going on now.

JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It does. You're right. The drama could be over within just a couple of hours. Democrat James Webb expected to declare victory in this race some time early this afternoon. That canvassing that you mentioned, a survey of the voting, has not shown any significant anomalies, any big problems, indicating that the vote tally may be quite an accurate one.

Right now, it shows Webb with a lead of about 7,000 votes out of more than two million ballots cast.

Now, Republican George Allen can ask for a recount if that margin is less than 1 percent. But indications from the Allen camp are that he might not do that. There are a couple of reasons. One, the canvassing, which thus far hasn't shown a problem. Two, there have been some recent recounts in other races here in the state of Virginia and they have not resulted in any reversal of the winner.

So there seems to be a system here which is fairly credible.

And, finally, there's the question of Allen's political future. Many analysts are saying if he does have future political ambitions, perhaps it would be wise of him not to alienate the people of Virginia and stretch this out, that perhaps he should act the statesman here.

Now, we have been told to expect, by the Webb campaign, a statement from him, an event from him, early this afternoon. Senate Democrats also expected to hold an event this afternoon, the leadership, to say that they now control the U.S. Senate, because that, of course, is what this race has come down to.

This is not just about who is going to represent Virginia, this is about who is going to control the United States Senate -- Tony, back to you.

HARRIS: Good point.

Jeanne Meserve for us in Arlington, Virginia.

Jeanne, thank you.

LIN: Yes. Things still kind of unresolved in the Montana race, as well. Victory claimed, but defeat not conceded just yet. Ninety- nine percent of the vote counted and Democrat John Tester holding a lead of almost 3,000 votes over Senator Conrad Burns. Most news organizations have called the race for Tester, and he sounds like a lawmaker heading to Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON TESTER (D), MONTANA SENATOR-ELECT: Now is the time, really, though, to come together. It really is a time to put politics aside, because we've got many, many issues that are facing this great state and this country, both in foreign policy and domestic policy. We've talked about them for the last 18 months. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get some things done.

It is absolutely critically important that we change the direction of this country and empower the middle class, empower working families and small businesses, family farms and ranches, and, really, the people who have made this country so great.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: Ah, but wait a minute, says the incumbent. Burns put out a statement yesterday acknowledging Tester has the lead, but not conceding the race. Montana's Republican secretary of state is not giving his party colleague much hope, though. He says the margin of victory will probably be too wide for a recount. HARRIS: There you go.

Still to come this morning, the rise and fall of Donald Rumsfeld -- an inside look at the outgoing Pentagon boss and the mission in Iraq.

Frank Sesno joins us with his unique insights, next in THE NEWSROOM.

LIN: And waterlogged in Washington state -- the cleanup begins after a super soaker. Look at that.

HARRIS: And it's not just Iraq. U.S. forces train a national army so it can stand alone. American advisers in Afghanistan. A tough job. We'll tell you about it, in THE NEWSROOM.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: We've just learned here in THE NEWSROOM that the president is going to be making a statement in the resigned after his cabinet meeting this morning. A big day for the president after the elections. He's meeting with the new House speaker, the speaker- elect, Nancy Pelosi, at the White House. Meeting with his cabinet to discuss changes in the Defense Department. Donald Rumsfeld resigning just yesterday.

And we're anxious to hear what the president has to say after this cabinet meeting. It should be later this morning. The time is going to be fluid. But when it happens, we're going to take it live.

HARRIS: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, chief architect of the Iraq war. But critics claim he forgot to draw up a post-war plan. Rumsfeld's popularity faltered along with America's support for the war.

Special correspondent Frank Sesno spoke with the defense secretary before the election. The focus? The changing winds of war.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

FRANK SESNO, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: The American people seem to not support this war anymore.

RUMSFELD: Well, it...

SESNO: The majority of them say it's a bad idea.

RUMSFELD: ... it comes and it goes. It comes and it goes. But on big things over time the American people have been right. If they're not, they would have tossed in the towel on the Revolutionary War, and we wouldn't have had a country. Think of the people who were telling Abraham Lincoln not to even have a Civil War, throughout it, to stop it. We wouldn't have had the United States of America today if he had believed that. SESNO: If that's the case, how do you explain the polling? If the American people are right and they've watched...

RUMSFELD: I've watched...

SESNO: ... this war for years...

RUMSFELD: I've watched polling go from 0 to 55 percent to 12 percent in six weeks. What's important is what's right. What's important is what makes sense. And over time, the American people find their way to right decisions. If the -- if people believe today that the problem of terrorism in this world is a law enforcement problem, like somebody stealing their car or killing somebody in one of our metropolitan areas and that the task, then, is to punish them and put them in jail, they're wrong. And over time, they'll see that.

There's too many people being killed by terrorists. And the capabilities of terrorists are growing and the lethality of their weapons are growing and the threat against the American people is growing and is a serious one. And the government of the United States simply cannot sit there and take the attack. They have to go out and find them and work with other countries to achieve that.

And I believe the American people understand that message. I believe that they do have staying power and perseverance and I think that, over time, it'll be seen. And I think you'll see the polls go up and down depending on what the news of the day happens to be at any given moment.

But I've got a lot of confidence in the American people.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

HARRIS: And the American people have spoken. Rumsfeld finds himself on the outside looking in.

Special correspondent Frank Sesno joins me from Washington -- Frank, good to talk to you.

SESNO: Likewise, Tony.

HARRIS: Frank, you watched yesterday's good-bye.

SESNO: Yes.

HARRIS: And what did you think?

SESNO: Well, I thought that it was a very bitter moment for Donald Rumsfeld. You know, this is a guy who, throughout his career, he's intensely competitive. He was a high school and a college wrestler. Everybody you talk to around him says he still loves that body contact. It's why he's as combative as he is and why he is as abrasive as he is, why so many people don't like him, to be quite honest.

He's not accustomed to failing, and, I have to tell you, the way he went out yesterday, despite what he said -- you heard him, as defiant as he was about public opinion, public opinion has spoken and, like you said, he's on the outside looking in now.

HARRIS: He told you about how difficult it can be for democracies to wage long wars, years long wars. And there's some history to back him up, isn't there?

SESNO: Oh, yes. You know, I mean whether it's the British throwing the Tories out after World War II and Winston Churchill with it; or in this country after World War I; again after World War II. Publics want to get back to normal and they don't want, often don't reward people who fought the wars, even when the wars have gone well.

HARRIS: Yes.

SESNO: But I think what you saw in that clip of Rumsfeld and his attitude toward public opinion does explain one reason. I mean it gives you one sense there as to why he became so isolated, and many in the administration so isolated, because they just thought that everybody would see this conflict was right and that they would prevail and essentially fall into line. That's not what's happened.

HARRIS: Yes.

He leaves a lot of issues to be sort of straightened out, cleaned up, in Iraq, just a whole host of issues for Robert Gates, presumably, well, if he is confirmed, to begin to straighten out, doesn't he?

SESNO: Gates has a very tough job, and it's going to start within the Pentagon. The attitude toward many of the general officers, top military men and women in the Pentagon toward Donald Rumsfeld has been quite hostile, even though the voices of the critics -- the retired generals have called for his resignation and been very critical of him -- have been fairly few in number, they have resonated broadly with men and women in the military.

So it starts there and it ripples out right into Iraq itself.

One of the big questions being asked now is whether Gates is just going to change the furniture...

HARRIS: Yes.

SESNO: ... and the faces and the tone, or whether he really address not just the tactics, but the strategy itself. If the strategy changes, that goes to the White House.

HARRIS: Hey, I have to ask you, finally, personally, how difficult a moment was this for Rumsfeld himself personally in that room?

SESNO: You mean yesterday?

HARRIS: Yesterday. Because I thought there was a moment where -- you talk about how much he believes in this and how righteous he can be about what he believes in. I thought there was a moment at the end yesterday where he almost choked up a bit when he was talking about the service men and women.

SESNO: I think that -- and he's capable of doing that. He doesn't do it a lot, he doesn't do it very publicly, but he will tear up from time to time.

Look, Donald Rumsfeld knows that his legacy is going to be determined by Iraq and only by Iraq. He, as you said, is the architect of this war. He's very committed to the men and women in uniform. Quietly he goes to Walter Reed and other places to visit the vets. He writes checks -- he and his wife -- to them, again, without much fanfare or publicity.

So this is a mix of a very personal connection, but also a very public connection because -- I'm not going to say he's going to become the McNamara of our time. I don't know if Donald Rumsfeld will ever look back and apologize. But this, this is his legacy.

HARRIS: Let's leave it there.

Frank Sesno for us this morning, CNN special correspondent.

Frank, appreciate it.

Thank you.

SESNO: Sure.

LIN: Fascinating. A fascinating conversation.

HARRIS: Yes.

LIN: Yes, and Frank just sitting in the room with that man and spending so much time...

HARRIS: That's right.

LIN: ... having that much access.

All right, in the meantime, you know, we're just off the 2006 election. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but technically we are on to 2008. And a politician is throwing his hat into the ring -- the biggest one.

Find out who it is in THE NEWSROOM.

Also, a fallen Evangelical looks for redemption. What's ahead for the Reverend Ted Haggard?

We've got an interesting closer look coming up straight ahead in THE NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Wal-Mart is bringing Merry Christmas back.

Ellen McGirt is in for Andy Serwer today, Minding Your Business -- Ellen, this was a big controversy last year.

ELLEN MCGIRT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, it really was, just a simple phrase, Merry Christmas, causes all kinds of trouble for Wal- Mart and other retailers, as well.

And this year they're saying they've learned their lesson, that they came under fire with some boycotts and some serious flak from Christian groups last year.

So this year they're saying when you walk into a Wal-Mart store, you're going to hear "Merry Christmas" from employees. You're going to see a spate of Happy Christmas ads. Their interior store, where you can get your holiday decorations, it used to be the Holiday Store. Now it's going to be the Christmas Store. And there will be a bit countdown sign, days to Christmas, when you go in.

So...

LIN: Including Jesus and the manger, do you think?

MCGIRT: I'm -- that's a good question. I'm guessing there's going to be some religious iconography there, as well. But I'm sure they're going to be open to all ways that people celebrate.

LIN: Yes, avoiding the controversy but perhaps maybe even creating a new one.

So, Ellen, are you planning on seeing the new Russell Crowe movie this weekend?

HARRIS: Hey.

LIN: It looks exciting.

MCGIRT: Carol, you know I am.

LIN: I want to see it.

HARRIS: Get that.

MCGIRT: You know I am.

LIN: Tony is making fun-of me.

MCGIRT: I'm a big fan. But he's got a sexy new costar, but I'm not going to be jealous, because it's his Palm trio, believe it or not. This is a Smart Phone that shows up dozens of scenes in the movies, where he is making phone calls and taking videos and videoconferencing and all kinds of interesting stuff.

LIN: Wow!

MCGIRT: I'm a low tech girl, so it's a gizmo I'm not familiar with.

LIN: Yes. That was a low tech fall we just saw him take. MCGIRT: I know. I know. He plays an investment banker in this movie called "The Good Life," where he inherits a vineyard. And there's no word yet, Carol, whether he hurls the Trio at anybody. But we're hoping. We're hoping for some drama there.

HARRIS: Not.

LIN: Yes, but, come on, we know that Palm paid for this, right? Isn't this product placement in the movie?

MCGIRT: You know, that's a good question. In fact, they did not. And -- but they are certainly going to take advantage of it. They're thrilled by it. And my guess is that Ridley Scott, the director, is a fan himself.

LIN: I'm sure I'm going to get e-mails now from the Palm Trio people.

HARRIS: Oh, yes.

LIN: Anyway, Ellen, thank you very much.

And thanks for a preview of that movie.

MCGIRT: Thanks for having me.

LIN: You know, romantic comedy.

HARRIS: You have earned a personalized Palm of your own there.

LIN: Oh, thank you.

Merry Christmas to you, too.

HARRIS: And still to come, the balance of power -- the president knows a shift when he sees one.

What does it mean for immigration, tax cuts, Medicare?

A new beginning, in THE NEWSROOM.

Hanging in the balance -- the race in Virginia determines who controls the Senate. What the candidates are saying today.

LIN: And waterlogged in Washington state.

Have you seen the pictures? There is a city under there. The cleanup begins after a super soaker. That's straight ahead also in THE NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: And speaking of breaking news, we've just learned the specific time that President Bush is coming out to the Rose Garden to make a statement after his cabinet meeting. It's going to be at 11:35 a.m. this morning. You're going to want to tune in. He had breakfast this morning with Nancy Pelosi, who is going to be the new speaker of the House, after the Democrats have won, first time in 12 years, Tony, that they have regained the majority in the House.

And also the resignation of the secretary of defense, so the president having a lot to say after this cabinet meeting, so please stay tuned for that. We already know that he's coping with reality, the lies, the power, the Democrats in Washington, so he's meeting with his cabinet and it is going to be the first time since the election that gave Democrats control of the House, quite possibly the Senate, and we may actually learn more about that in the 11:00 hour as well.

Mr. Bush sat down with those GOP leaders over breakfast this morning, and we have learned that next on the agenda, his lunch with Nancy Pelosi. The two exchanged bitter verbal jabs during the campaign. It got pretty ugly there. But now both are promising to search for common ground. The search for compromise with the Democrats follows the president's surprise Pentagon shakeup. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld out, something Democrats have long wanted to see. Now, the president's choice to replace him, former CIA director Robert Gates.

HARRIS: So what we are talking about here is the political shift in Washington. It means the White House is rewriting its playbook. CNN chief national correspondent John King looks at President Bush preparing for the new Capital Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is a new beginning of sorts, two years from the end, and he thought it best to start with a joke.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Say, why all the glum faces?

KING: The president knows the lame duck label is floating around and doesn't like it. His goal the morning after a midterm election rebuke, to make clear he gets the message that he's not done. So Donald Rumsfeld is out.

BUSH: The timing is right for new leadership at the Pentagon.

REP. NANCY PELOSI, INCOMING SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Thank you all very much.

KING: Outreach to Democrats suddenly in.

BUSH: I'm confident that we can work together. I'm confident we can overcome the temptation to divide this country between red and blue.

KING: Mr. Bush suggested compromise on a top Democratic priority, raising the minimum wage. And he voiced hope more Democrats in Congress means more support for his views on immigration issues.

RICHARD GEPHART, FMR. HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER: He doesn't have to be a lame duck. If you get a couple of wins under your belt, for both sides, then you can go ahead and do the things that are a little harder.

KING: Starkly different views about whether to keep the Bush tax cuts in place are on that harder list. So is what to do about the strain baby boomers are putting on Social Security and Medicare

BUSH: If we do not have Republicans and Democrats at the table for entitlements, nothing is going to happen.

KING: The next campaign is already under way and could prove an obstacle to compromise on those bigger domestic challenges, but the turn around in Mr. Bush's tone was striking. The reason, no secret.

BUSH: It was a thumping. But nevertheless, the people expect us to work together. That's what they expect.

KING: If that spirit of goodwill breaks down, even a weakened president can hold significant sway.

ALAN SIMPSON (R), FORMER U.S. SENATOR: When you are talking presidential power, if you really want to see a president with teeth, it's a president who's going to veto legislation that is passed by the Congress.

KING: Iraq was the biggest campaign divide, and will now be the biggest test for whether Mr. Bush gets a fresh start. He bought goodwill by making the personnel change the Democrats wanted.

BUSH: To be the next secretary of defense.

KING: But he gave no shift of the major policy shift his critics also want.

BUSH: To our enemies, do not be joyful. Do not confuse the workings of our democracies with a lack of will.

KING: The debate over time lines and troop levels will intensify once the power shift becomes official in January, testing Mr. Bush's commitment to bipartisanship.

BUSH: This isn't my first rodeo.

KING: And his skills and influence navigating a divided government.

John King, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And some breaking news just in to CNN. We have learned that the Parago Company, this is a major manufacturer of store brand Acetaminophen, and these are the generic pain-killing pills that you find in stores like Wal-Marts, CVS stores, Walgreens, about 11 million bottles of these pain relieving pills have been recalled by Parago because they found some contamination with metal fragments.

No immediate word or reports of any injuries or any illness attached to the contamination that's been found, but Parago is saying that it is pulling the 11 million bottles off of shelves because it discovered the metal bits during quality control checks. So, once again when you go to stores like Wal-Mart and CVS and you buy the generic pain-killers, they're made mostly by this company called Parago and they are pulling 11 million bottles off the shelves right now because of some contamination with metal fragments. We will continue to follow this story and bring you more information as we get it.

LIN: Not the thing you want to get, metal fragments in your pain relief medication.

HARRIS: Absolutely.

LIN: Well, we're waiting for this very exciting outcome in the Virginia Senate race. It's not quite in the bag yet, but it's close for Jim Webb and the Democratic party and this means -- this is going to make or break it for the Democrats in the Senate, whether they take the majority. He is leading right now Senator George Allen, the Republican incumbent, by about 7,200 votes. Now a canvas of votes showing no significant changes in the count.

The Associated Press has already called the race for Webb. The margin is narrow enough to allow Allen to demand a recount, but a source close to Allen says the senator has no intention of dragging out the election. So if the vote stands, a Webb victory would give Democrats a one-seat majority in the Senate.

Now, the midterm election are done. Now the race is -- for the White House is on. A few Democrats have been positioning themselves to run. Now the first to make it official. A source says Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack will file election papers today. He plans a multi-state tour in November, on November 30th, actually, to formally announce he's running. Vilsack heads the Democratic Leadership Council. Former President Clinton used that centrist group to help launch his candidacy.

(MARKET REPORT)

LIN: Boy those folks in Washington State are really putting up with a lot of water there. They are starting to dry out today, a little bit. Three days of heavy rains and flash floods leave two dead in the Northwest and many home owners are returning to simply a muddy mess. CNN's Kareen Wynter reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After three days of record rains people in Western Washington are beginning to survey the damage. VICTOR FUNCK, RESIDENT: It's gone down. It was ugly there for a while. There was actually a current coming through right over here. You could stand there and it would splash up against you. The current was coming through so fast. And it came up quick.

WYNTER: Storms pushed rivers over their banks, causing widespread flooding. Roads, bridges and homes were submerged. This house in Preston, Washington now hangs over a raging river. The owner spent 10 years building his dream home and was just about ready to move in. Now, it's about to be swept away.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was moving in and I guess I am not now, but all the years of shopping with my wife and, you know, for all the light fixtures and the plumbing fixtures and picking colors out and doing this and all my vacation time and all your spare time during the day and weekends, to see it all-- this happen to it, it's really hard to take.

WYNTER: In King County, Washington there was flooding as far as the eye could see. The rising waters caught many off guard. Hundreds were stranded and had to be rescued by the Coast Guard and National Guard crews.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was crazy. I've never been through this before.

WYNTER: Authorities say as many as a thousand hunters road out the storms in mountain camp sites and right now have no way out. Washington's governor has issues emergency declarations in 18 counties.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You try to just get as much valuables up off, you know, to try to ease the pain of the home owner because nothing is going to be more frustrating than coming home to this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: See that guy?

HARRIS: Yes.

LIN: Thigh high water.

HARRIS: Yes.

LIN: And then after that you've got to worry about the mud slides.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: And still to come, it is not just Iraq. U.S. forces train a national army so it can stand alone. American advisors in Afghanistan, a tough job. We'll tell you all about it in THE NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARRIS: Carol, we were talking just a moment ago about just how busy a day this is for the president. OK, breakfast this morning with the Republican leaders. Lunch, noon or so, with speaker to be Nancy Pelosi. Between those two events, the president is holding a cabinet meeting, about 10:35 this morning. And as soon as we get some comments from the president -- usually what we get are some comments from the president at the end of that, but today it looks like we will be actually be getting a statement from the president in the Rose Garden. That is scheduled for 11:35 a.m.

So much for the president to talk about. I'm sure he will issue a bit of a statement, then perhaps take a couple of questions. The point here is we will bring that to you live when it happens. 11:35 a.m. is the scheduled time for the statement from the president in the Rose Garden. We will bring it to you here in THE NEWSROOM.

LIN: So preceding his lunch with the speaker to be.

HARRIS: Absolutely, statement, couple questions, and then lunch with Nancy Pelosi.

LIN: Wouldn't you love to be at that lunch.

HARRIS: Boy, would I.

LIN: First time the Democrats have taken control of the House in 12 years.

HARRIS: In 12 years.

LIN: The first speaker, a woman.

HARRIS: Yes.

LIN: I mean, the first woman to be House speaker.

HARRIS: Two heartbeats away from the presidency.

LIN: Yep, a lot to talk about. One -- I wonder if he is going to call her madam speaker elect?

HARRIS: I would imagine so.

LIN: We will see. Anyway, we will be covering those Rose Garden comments live.

HARRIS: And we're going to talk about Afghanistan now for just a moment.

LIN: Yes.

HARRIS: An army at war, trained by U.S. forces, but, look, undermanned and overmatched.

LIN: Looks like it. Sound familiar? Well, this is not Iraq.

CNN's Jennifer Eccleston has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These Afghan troops are preparing for what could be an impossible mission, blunting a Taliban advance before the winter snow makes this rugged border land an impenetrable sanctuary. They're the tip of the spear, often the first to engage insurgents, but they are not alone. Major John South is a mentor for these troops, part of a U.S. embedded training team, the ETT. Despite extending his tour in country to help build Afghanistan's army, he's trying to work himself out of a job.

MAJ. JOHN SOUTH, U.S. ARMY: When the Americans leave, Afghanistan runs its own country and that's what it's all about.

ECCLESTON: He and a team of advisors run the gamut of military instructions, from the tactical patrol and combat maneuvers, to the technical, how to fire the big guns, to teaching basic human rights.

SOUTH: That would probably better for the commander to deal, instead of sending a soldier --

ECCLESTON: The American advisors give them avenues of approach and the Afghans must choose which path they take. It's a work in progress.

(on camera): Five years after the invasion that toppled the Taliban, the Afghan National Army is beginning to take the lead in major operations and small ones like this patrol. Today, they are looking for Taliban sympathizers. But this is an army with major problems. They are under-supplied and under-manned.

(voice-over): Desertion is common. In this battalion alone, almost 50 percent of the men haven't returned from their vacation. Despite a salary of under $70 a month, a sizable paycheck for an ordinary Afghan, recruitment is also a substantial challenge. Soldiers and their families are frequent targets of Taliban intimidation and attacks. It's a problem, but Afghan commanders say it's not insurmountable.

Day by day, the younger generation sees the valor of their army, says Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed. They, too, will want to join because they're defending Afghan freedom.

LT. COL SCOTT FOSDAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS: There's always going to be setbacks, but they're getting better, considering that they didn't have a federally or nationally standing army, just three or four years ago. Look at the distance we have made.

ECCLESTON: A considerable distance with a long way to go.

Jennifer Eccleston, CNN, Malakshe (ph), Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Election day, people's choice, today, the people's voice. Talk radio buzzing about the Democratic gains and Republican losses. Listen in right here in THE NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: A fallen evangelical looks for redemption. What's ahead for the Reverend Ted Haggard? A closer look in THE NEWSROOM. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: We have been hearing a lot from crushed conservatives and giddy liberals, all pouring out their post-election passions on talk radio. CNN's Allan Chernoff has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's gratifying to see the Americans finally wake up.

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On liberal talk radio network Air America, Mark from Oakland was gloating.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was just one of the most incredible and wonderful feelings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your point is well taken.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got our -- we've made the first step. We've got our country back.

CHERNOFF: Democrats were pumped up on talk radio today, energized, feeling new power to demand change.

New York's Republican leaning talk show host John Gambling got an earful from some Democratic callers this morning.

JOHN GAMBLING, WABC RADIO: Bush wake-up. Now do you have the message? A couple of them called and said they didn't think he has the message.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have said we do not want stay the course anymore. We do not want Rumsfeld. We want a new foreign policy in Iraq. We want someone to listen to us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.

CHERNOFF: The president apparently was listening. An hour later, Derek from Brooklyn got part of his wish, when the president announced Donald Rumsfeld was resigning.

It was a day for Republicans to lick their wounds.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm really sad for this country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm a very disappointed conservative today.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think that the Democrats have no intention of working with the Republicans for the next two years. What they are going to try to do is impeach the president.

CHERNOFF: But, amid the complaints, one Republican caller, Maureen, reminded fellow party members to keep the loss in perspective by recognizing the blessings of democracy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we're disappointed, but chins up. We decide our destiny. We can vote in this country.

CHERNOFF: Allan Chernoff, CNN, New York

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Changing the guard at the Pentagon, a change in leadership on Capitol Hill. The new Washington ahead in THE NEWSROOM.

And he's played a law man on TV. Now he's in trouble with the law. Do you recognize this guy? Here's the thing. It's not the first time for this Baldwin brother. His legal scrape in THE NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WHOOPI GOLDBERG, COMEDIAN: Did you see those commercials with those women who go through menopause? They look like they are about to slit their own throats. And you try to save the people, you know, is it hot in here. They always go no.

JUDY FORTIN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Whoopi Goldberg jokes about Menopause in her latest HBO special, but any woman who's been through it knows that hot flashes aren't so funny when you are experiencing them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hot flashes actually, when a woman is standing around doing her normal business, and all of a sudden she feels this huge surge of heat coming over her.

FORTIN: Women may not like hearing this, but it's in your late 30s that you start down the road of menopause. That's because the ovaries are producing fewer eggs and fewer hormones. But it's in your 40s when a women usually gets hit full force. Nancy Walsh noticed them in her late 40s, but didn't think much of it. Strictly speaking, Nancy was in pre-menopause.

NANCY WALSH, MIDDLE AGED WOMAN: It came on rather slowly for me, and it was the hot flashes that it started with and they were very intermittent, like I might only have one in a day. And then, as time went by, they became closer and closer together.

FORTIN: The most common symptoms of pre-menopause are changes in your monthly cycle, hot flashes and night sweats, mood swings, insomnia and memory loss. The intensity of these symptoms can vary among women. It's in your early 50s when you actually hit menopause.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Menopause, in the strictest definition, is the day that you have gone 12 months without having a period, consecutive months without having a period. FORTIN: Now, a woman is considered post-menopausal, but women like Nancy still can suffer the same symptoms as before. If the post- menopausal symptoms are so severe that they affect your life-style, you may want to consider hormone replacement therapy. Talk to your doctor about the risks. And use hormone therapy for the shortest time possible. If the symptoms are less severe, there are other options, like exercise and diet.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some women have seen tremendous results by merely incorporating more Soy, Tofu, Soy Milk, soy related products, soy enriched products and calcium enriched soy products into their diet.

FORTIN: Just know that you are not alone.

WALSH: The only piece of advice I would give for women who are going through menopause is try to relax. It will go away. It will end, just like some of the more challenging times of your life.

FORTIN: Judy Fortin, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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