The November midterm elections have created a significant change in government. Both parties have started to shift strategies, trying to find political stability in this new environment. This week I thought you might like to know a little about the background about all the new names being thrown around. The Quickie this week (the top post of each topic) has bios on some of the people I will be watching out for.

The first big change was the resignation of Rumsfeld and subsequent announcement that Bush was appointing Robert Gates as the new Secretary of Defense. His long history of government service is documented in this short biography of Gates on the Texas A&M website where he served as the 22nd president. Of course there is also the Wikipedia on Gates. Finally, The New York Times posits its own interpretation of Gates previous CIA experience.

Expect more updates, Robert Gates is just the beginning!