Robert Gates and the "New Approach"

Greyhawk :
I question the timing - obviously the Bush admin wants to steal the headlines from the Democrats!
But seriously folks - does anyone think Robert Gates woke up this morning to the stunning news that he was the new SecDef? Don't buy that for a minute.
One thing regarding the Democrat's victory I expected: hearings. A lot of folks were just sent to Washington on the promise of willingness to "ask the tough questions" on Iraq. (A nice way to deflect any concerns that you have no answers, of course, but I digress...) But what that translates to is hearings - probably hearings ad nauseum, and doubtless with multiple planned appearances from one Donald Rumsfeld. My guess - and I state this with sincerity - is that barring appointment of a Special Assistant to the Secretary for Listening to the Tough Questions, Mr Rumsfeld's ability to run the Defense Department would effectively come to a close in late January, 2007.