Yes, you read that right: CNN just reported that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will step down. We were giddy for about 10 minutes, until an astute political observer (my mother-in-law) just posited a way this could turn bad: Bush could appoint pro-war Democrat Sen. Joseph Lieberman as Rummy's replacement. Connecticut's Republican governor could then appoint a Republican replacement for Lieberman, which would take away the Democrats' apparent edge in the Senate. Remember, a 50-50 Senate gives the edge to the GOP, because Vice-President Dick Cheney would cast the tiebreaker on any even votes. Be careful what you wish for. You might get it. EDIT: Thank God, I've already been proven wrong. See the post above about Bush appointing Robert Gates as Rummy's successor.

"A superb leader in a time of change," says the president. Former CIA director, and Texas A&M president Robert Michael "Bob" Gates nominated by Bush. Let the Aggie jokes begin. In other news from this press conference, Bush is a contradictory ass.

We wax Rummy with a wealth of his quotes below the fold.

Paul Burka pauses from delivering mustache rides to nowhere (like this real boner: "[Bell] lost any chance of getting my vote when he decried high-stakes testing"), to wax rhapsodic on last night's D wins as only he could.

Granted, it's a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee press release posted on Daily Kos, so take with a grain of salt. But things continue bode well for the D's:

"Both Jon Tester and Jim Webb have won their races in Montana and Virginia but want to make sure that every vote is counted. We expect to have official results soon but can happily declare today that Democrats have taken the majority in the U.S. Senate."

The entire entry after the jump.

The Democrats may not be done rolling up the score in Congress. Because of court-ordered redistricting, Dist. 23, which stretches from San Antonio almost to El Paso, was a special election rather than a general election. Unlike a general election, just getting the most votes is not enough – to win a special, an actual majority is required, and if no achieves it, a run-off is required. And an unlimited number of candidates from any party may run.

Dist. 23 was gerrymandered by Tom DeLay in 2003 to favor Republican Henry Bonilla, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the lines violated the Voting Rights Act and ordered them redrawn again this summer; the new boundaries weren't quite as GOP-friendly.

Bonilla may have come up just short: With 306 of 326 precincts reporting, he has just 48.07% of the vote. If those numbers hold, he'll be thrust into a run-off against Democrat Ciro Rodriguez, who is in a comfortable second with 20.27%. To whip out that old cliche, turnout will be everything in a run-off: Rodriguez and five other Democrats combined for 49.19%. Note to the Democratic National Committee: Pump some money into this race now. The run-off, if it happens, will likely be held in December.

UPDATE: New numbers, with only two boxes uncounted: Bonilla's percentage is down to 47.97%. It will definitely go to a runoff.

That blue island in the sea of red that is Travis County added some land last night, as the neighboring Hays County government made a dramatic flip from R to D. All three Republican incumbents on the commissioners court were swept from office – including County Judge Jim Powers, who was first elected in 1998 – completely reversing the court makeup from 4-1 GOP to 4-1 Dem. There is still room for Republicans in Hays, though – they won Precinct 5 constable, Precinct 4 justice of the peace, 428th District judge, and county clerk, although the latter two were by razor-thin margins, 1.2% and 0.6%, respectively. Dems took county court-at-law and criminal district attorney, the latter by just 99 votes. It's definitely a divided county – the biggest percentage of the vote by any of those victors was 54.9.

Apparently, the Democrats picked up four Republican seats in the Texas House last night, and could get a fifth: In District 32 (Corpus Christi area), sleazeball incumbent Gene Seaman – fighting for his political life amid investigations of criminal conduct – is clinging to a 24-vote lead over Democrat Juan Garcia with one box out in San Patricio County.

Democratic control of both chambers of Congress hang in the balance of two outstanding Senate races, which, as of this writing, are leaning Dem.

In Montana, Jon Tester leads Republican incumbent Conrad Burns 146,449 to 139,675, 73% reporting, according to CNN. Dems are "extremely optimistic."

Which leaves the Webb-Allen knuckleduster in Virginia. Webb, leading as of this bleary-eyed writing at 1:50am, is up by approximately 11,500 votes; he's already declared victory, but this squeaker will likely be in for a recount.

Like Florida in 2000, or Ohio in 2004, the story hinges on Virginia this election. But with Webb in the lead, the shoe is on the other foot this go around.

Pardon my French, but... holy fucking shit!

Sweet dreams, blue dotters...

That's it for me, folks. My eyes are crossing from about 14 straight hours of staring at a computer. Some of my more nightowl co-workers might continue to post, but I'm heading home. Thanks for joining us tonight for our election coverage.