Bush: We're absolutely not "staying the course," except in all the important ways:

Bush expects Rumsfeld to stay on rest of term

President George W. Bush on Wednesday voiced confidence in Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld despite demands he resign over the Iraq war, saying he expects Rumsfeld to stay in his job for the two years he has left in office.

Bush also said U.S. commanders in Iraq have not yet recommended a troop increase in Iraq. He said at this point they have told him that "the troop level they've got right now is what they can live with." ...

Bush will never let Rummy go, even if Rummy falls on his knees and begs to go. He's keeping him on just to piss us off. If Democrats really want Rummy to leave, we should beg Bush to keep him on.

Yes, I've suspected that GOP plan for Connecticut is to work for a Lieberman win and then replace Rummy with Lieberman so the state's GOP governor can pick his replacement -- but I think if Joe gets an appointment, it's going to be at the U.N. (See this New York Daily News story from last December, which floated the possibility of Joe-for-John.)

Ever meet a bratty little kid whose favorite thing to do was whatever you'd just warned him, in your most authoritative voice, not to do? That's Bush regarding Rummy.