Thursday November 9, 2006

The Final Word: “The People, Yes Edition”

(The media experiment in which we conjoin the headline and last paragraph of each bylined article in the A-section of today's New York Times.)

Page 1

Rumsfeld Resigns; Bush Vows 'To Find Common Ground'; Focus Is on Virginia:

"I thought when it was all said and done, the American people would understand the importance of taxes and the importance of security," the president said. "But the people have spoken, and now it's time for us to move on."

With Control of the Senate in the Balance, All Eyes Turn to Virginia:

At least one other race faced the possibility of a recount. In Florida, Vern Buchanan, a Republican, and Christine Jennings, the Democrat opposing him in the race for the Congressional seat being vacated by Representative Katherine Harris, appear headed for a recount with Mr. Buchanan ahead by 368 votes.

Democrats Turned War Into an Ally:

Gathered in the Oval Office with aides at dawn yesterday, Mr. Bush decided to add a name to his call list. "I'm going to call Rahm, the guy did a good job," Mr. Bush said, according to an aide.

New Democrats Pose Challenge:

"People are so tired of the factions of party and they have been begging us to get together and work things out," she said. "I have the soul of a Democrat, but I also come from a Republican family, and I know we have to reach out."

Robert Gates, a Cautious Player From a Past Bush Team:

"One of our recommendations is that the U.S. government lift its ban in terms of nongovernmental organizations being able to operate in Iran," Mr. Gates said. "Greater interaction between Iranians and the rest of the world," he said, "sets the stage for the kind of internal change that we all hope will happen there."

News Analysis: Rumsfeld, a Force for Change, Did Not Change With the Times Amid Iraq Tumult:

"At the end of the day you would have to say that for Rumsfeld, transformation was more promise than reality," said Andrew F. Krepinevich Jr., the executive director of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. "He made a start, but these things take time, and it is clear now that Iraq has denied him that time."

Nancy Pelosi Is Ready to Be Voice of the Majority:

In a rare unscripted moment Wednesday, Ms. Pelosi noted that Mr. Bush had telephoned her that morning. "He called to congratulate me, referred to me as Madam Speaker-elect," she said, smiling. She paused, then — still smiling — added, "I referred to him as Mr. President."

Routine Night in San Francisco: For all that, however, Mayor Newsom said the stereotype of San Francisco as a bastion of fringe politics was way overblown. "It's a remarkably sane city," he said, "for all our eccentricities."

Israeli Shelling Kills 18 Gazans; Anger Boils Up:

Israeli forces also killed a Hamas gunman and a 17-year-old civilian near the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza, hospital officials said. The Israeli Army said soldiers had shot three gunmen after being attacked with an antitank missile.

Other News

Suicide Bomber Kills 42 Pakistani Soldiers:

"There are very few now who think the military is an instrument that will work," said Talat Masood, a military analyst and retired general.

Billionaires Fight to Buy The Los Angeles Times:

"It is not as if you can't make money, but it is not the principal criteria," he said. "I would say that the fact that The Daily News was the only newspaper to endorse Michael Bloomberg in his first election, has been tremendously gratifying. We contributed to his victory."

Justices Hear Arguments on Late-Term Abortion:

Justice Stephen G. Breyer, who wrote the court's decision in the Nebraska case, asked whether the court might rule that the procedure could be used "only where appropriate medical opinion finds it necessary." Justice Breyer added: "Now, if Congress is right, there will be no such case, so it's no problem. But if Congress is wrong, then the doctor will be able to perform the procedure and Congress couldn't object."

$496 Million Auction Shatters Record:

The loss of the Picasso did not hurt the evening. As crowds milled around Christie's after the sale, trying to make sense of it all, Andrew Fabricant, a Manhattan dealer, perhaps best echoed the feeling of the audience. "I'm flabbergasted," he said. "Not only did so much money change hands, but this sale it going to change the whole landscape when it comes to prices for postwar art."

International

Venezuela Groups Get U.S. Aid Amid Meddling Charges:

"The thinking goes that if it's for the revolution, then by definition it is correct," said Aníbal Romero, a professor of political science at Simón Bolívar University. "But if the money comes from Washington, then it's definitely wrong."

Memo From Lebanon: Christians Struggle to Preserve a Balance of Power:

"We are different," he said, "because we are Christian."

Turks' Bid to Join Europe Stalls on Cyprus and Rights, Official Warns:

The report also rebuked Turkey for its failure to meet minimum standards on human rights and cited concerns over the rights of women, Kurds and religious minorities.

Afghans Losing Faith in Nation's Path, Poll Shows:

Deep respect for religion also was apparent. Sixty-one percent said religious leaders should be consulted on issues and problems. Sixty percent of those surveyed said an Islamic nation could attain democracy without becoming Westernized, while 35 percent said democracy challenged Islamic values.

Hong Kong Doctor Nominated to Lead W.H.O.:

In earlier rounds, she defeated Kazem Behbehani, a senior W.H.O. official from Kuwait; Elena Salgado Méndez, Spain's health minister; and Dr. Shigeru Omi of Japan, who is in charge of the agency's operations in Asia.

Taiwan Leader Suspected of Graft Wins Vital Support From Party:

"He's President Chen," Mr. Dang said. "He cannot act as Mr. Chen, and that makes all the difference."

Artillery Fire Kills 23 Civilians and Wounds 135 in Sri Lanka:

Truce monitors say the cease-fire now exists only on paper, with more than 2,500 soldiers, rebels and civilians killed this year alone.

In Iraq, New Calculations of the U.S. Role:

But other Iraqis fretted about what the Democrats might do. "We do care if Congress pressures the president of the United States to pull out troops because we don't have yet highly trained forces," said Muhammad Nerous, a paramedic. "We don't have yet adequate equipment by which we can challenge the terrorists."

Iraqi Predicts the Hanging of Hussein by Year's End:

The garrison, called Forward Operating Base Apache, is in Adhamiya, a heavily Sunni Arab neighborhood.

Reactions From Abroad Set Conciliatory Tone, Seeing Vote as a Protest to Iraq Policy:

"Poland is pro-American, not pro-Bush," said Lukasz Lipinski, the foreign editor of Gazeta Wyborcza, one of Poland's largest daily newspapers. "People in Poland love the American president whoever it is."

Facing the Music After a Bruising Makes for Alluring Theater:

"People say unfortunate things at times," he said, with an indifference befitting a man who has bigger things to worry about.

Gaining Military's Trust Is Early Step for Incoming Defense Secretary:

Representative Ike Skelton, the Missouri Democrat in line to become chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said Wednesday that he intended to make oversight of the Pentagon and of the administration's military policies a priority.

National Report

Veterans Await a Resting Place That Is Truly Final:

"We did what we did when there were no other choices," Mrs. Leckie said, "and we're good with that."

Neanderthals in Gene Pool, Study Suggests:

Dr. Lahn said it did not necessarily show that interbreeding was widespread. It could have been a rare, perhaps even single, event.

After Years On the Outs, New York Comes Back In:

"It always seemed before like New York was diminishing in power and numbers every term," said Representative Lowey, a Westchester Democrat. "I don't recall New York ever having this much Democratic power, with two senators and a governor, and also a new House speaker who supports us."

In Statehouses, Too, Democrats Post Sizable Gains:

"This used to be the backbone of the Republican Party in Colorado," he said. "But the rise of social conservatism in the Republican Party — pro-life, anti-stem cell — has alienated large numbers, and that's the group that has abandoned the Republicans more than any other."