Woodward's Book: Many in war cabinet wanted Rumsfeld fired

Laura Bush, Andrew Card and Condoleezza Rice led the effort to convince the President to fire Rumsfeld back in 2005:

The book reports that then-White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. CardJr. twice suggested that Bush fire Rumsfeld and replace him with formersecretary of state James A. Baker III, first after the November 2004election and again around Thanksgiving 2005. Card had the support ofthen-Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and his successor, CondoleezzaRice, as well as national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley and seniorWhite House adviser Michael J. Gerson, according to the book.

Evenfirst lady Laura Bush reportedly told Card that she agreed Rumsfeld hadbecome a liability for her husband, although she noted that thepresident did not agree. "I don't know why he's not upset with this,"she told Card, according to the book. But Vice President Cheney andsenior Bush adviser Karl Rove argued against dumping Rumsfeld, and Bushagreed.

The book details how Rumsfeld alienated key figuresthroughout the government and military: Rice complained that Rumsfeldwould not return her telephone calls, forcing Bush to personallyintervene. Rumsfeld rebuffed Card when he conveyed Bush's order to sendNational Guard troops to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina untilhearing from the president himself. Gen. John P. Abizaid, the seniorU.S. commander in the Middle East, concluded that "Rumsfeld doesn'thave any credibility anymore."

My guess is that Dick Cheney wouldn't let it happen.  He and Rumsfeld are too close, and represent the most influential wing of the Bush war cabinet.  With Rumsfeld gone, Cheney knows Rice and Hadley would assume more control -- and as a result the Vice President would see his power diminish.