Karl Rove, George Bush's right-hand man and a really, really bad rapper, has announced his resignation "to spend more time with his family." It's amazing to me that politicians still think that people buy that bullshit excuse when they're shown the door. It's on a level with "the dog ate my homework." Please. Have a little respect for our intelligence.
Rove says he was not forced out, but you have to wonder about the timing. Why would a man who has been at Bush's side for 14 years suddenly leave with just months left before Bush's term comes to an end?
As Ol' Turd Blossom rides into the sunset, let's review his legacy. Although he is regarded by some as a political genius, you wouldn't know it by the mess he's created and left for others to clean up. Rove used to talk about establishing a "permanent Republican majority," but his party now has him to thank for a failed presidency, a calamity in Iraq, the loss of Congress, and possibly the loss of power in Washington for a generation or more. So he may turn out to be right about a "permanent majority," just the wrong party.
This is the man who was at the center of the Valerie Plame affair - a sordid episode in which a CIA agent was outed as revenge for her husband's expose of Bush's lies about Iraq. His standard operating procedure when it came to winning elections was to employ dirty tricks at every opportunity. It was apparently easier than trying to win by campaigning on your candidate's strengths.
He once famously said in a 2005 speech, "Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 and the attacks and prepared for war. Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers." Typiclal Rovespeak — demonize your opponents even if it means making stuff up.
But his deceitfulness is finally catching up with him. He is the subject of multiple investigations having to do with various forms of illegal acts and other skullduggery, from the possible violation of the Hatch Act for politically-motivated presentations to government agencies to the politically-motivated firings of U.S. Attorneys.
He may think that by resigning, he'll take himself out of the line of fire, but I think he'll be disappointed in that regard. Now that he's no longer a member of the executive branch, he may find himself stripped of certain protections and more vulnerable to investigators.
So long, Karl. Don't let the the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Article comments
1 - g-daddy-love
The last sentence in your first paragraph is pretty funny - O.K.,...go ahead and take a moment to scroll up and look at it,...this administration has been insulting our intellengence ever since the election outcome of "00. As George Carlin states in his latest comic bit,..."This country is being run by those in the club - YOU ARE NOT IN THE CLUB! I AM NOT IN THE CLUB,...YOU,...ARE,...NOT,..IN,...THE,...CLUB!"
2 - Baronius
Seventeen. Seventeen months until Bush's term ends.
Karl Rove is one of those figures who becomes larger than life, like James Carville was the brains behind Clinton until Dick Morris became the brains behind Clinton. They personify their eras. Knowing their names give us amateurs the appearance of inside knowledge. How much did any of them do on their own? Who knows.
Rove may have created the opposition majority, but it took him three times longer than Carville and Morris.
Also, the center of the Plame affair was Richard Armitage. I don't know why people forget that. But at least no one's indicted you for forgetting who leaked Plame's information first.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Well, 14 months is plenty of time to orchestrate 2008 presidential campaigns.
4 - Matthew T. Sussman
The number 2008, by the way, is likely not the quantity of campaigns he'll direct.
5 - gonzo marx
watch for Karl to show up on the Freed Thompson payroll...possibly position on the RNC...probably behind the scenes
but wouldn't be surprised to see him draw a hefty paycheck from the AEI, i expect Wolfowitz, Libby and Karl all to be drawing huge salaries form there
Excelsior?
6 - REMF
And don't forget it was Karl Rove, a chickenhawk draft-dodger, who was behind the sliming of John McCain's patriotism in the 2000 GOP primary.
(MCH)
7 - No More Mr. Nice Guy!
Anyone who really thinks Turdblossom is gone, I have a bridge in Alaska I'd like to sell them for a billion dollars. George Bush Junior isn't going to perform lobotomy on himself. This is just a ploy to try and help Turdy dodge a subpoena and distance himself from the '08 rethug candidates - although there's no doubt he'll be working unofficially to get a 'thug elected, and anytime Junior needs some dirty tricks done, he'll just pick up the phone. I won't count Snoopy Doggy Turd out until I see him buried at the crossroads at midnight with a stake through his heart.
8 - Baronius
Nice Guy, why the animosity? Mid-level politicos come and go. I remember how Ashcroft was considered the source of all evil until he quit.
I think we imagine campaign managers to have magical powers. My country would never have elected that creep, unless his campaign manager cast a spell on everyone. It's easier than facing the fact that about half the time, my beliefs get stomped.
Taking it a step further, in the 1990's the Republicans hated Perot for undermining their presidential candidates. In the 2000's, the Democrats claimed election fraud. It's more denial.
The world is going to go on pretty much the same with Rove working somewhere else. There are only nine jobs in the nation that affect policy outside an election, and they're the ones that aren't supposed to.
9 - Dave Nalle
You know, Doug, I don't mind you venting your spleen and all, but could you please refrain from bald-faced lying?
This is the man who was at the center of the Valerie Plame affair - a sordid episode in which a CIA agent was outed as revenge for her husband's expose of Bush's lies about Iraq.
I'd like to see some evidence of malicious intent to expose Wilson AND of Rove's direct involvement, because last I heard Rove was cleared in the investigation and Richard Armitage - a Bush critic - admitted to having inadvertently leaked the info.
He is the subject of multiple investigations having to do with various forms of illegal acts
Perhaps you could enlighten us as to what those 'illegal' acts were and exactly what law they violated, because last time I checked the president had the power to fire federal employees at will.
Dave
10 - Doug DeLong
Fine, Dave, have it your way. Karl Rove was just an innocent bystander in the whole Plame affair. I mean, it's obvious that his heart is pure (he wasn't indicted, right?). And of course, he had nothing to do with all those missing emails in the US attorneys case, and of course, he would never violate the Hatch Act by attempting to politicize government agencies.
I guess he was just way out of the loop on everything that happened in the White House. Please forgive me for being so mean to this very nice man.
11 - Zedd
I believe that Rove's departure has more to do with the elections than anything else. The image that he projects is one of the most detremental thiings to the Republicans. He may also be putting his time to lending a hand to onen of the candidates.
12 - Egbert Sousé
Of course, Rove was involved. If you think it was a coincidence that Bush went from saying he was going to fire anyone who leaked the name to "if someone committed a crime, they will no longer work in my administration," then you are rather naive about politics.
13 - Egbert Sousé
If Rove is detrimental to Repubs, how does he help a campaign?
14 - Dave Nalle
Doug, it doesn't matter whether Rove was involved or not or how guilty he was. All that matters is what can be proven in a court of law or in Congress. We've got a system here, and supposition and inuendo have no legal weight in it.
I realize that you'd probably prefer to live in a system where people could go to jail based on their popularity rating or what people suspect about them, but frankly I'm glad we don't.
Dave
15 - Doug DeLong
Here's what I'd like...
I'd like a system that treats everyone equally, and doesn't give someone a "get out of jail free" card if they happen to be friends of Karl or George or Dick.
And I'd like an administration that respects the American people and doesn't lie, deceive, and manipulate events as easily as most people breathe.
Oh, and I'd like to have a government that doesn't depend on fearmongering to get their way.
A man can dream, can't he?
16 - Dave Nalle
Like I said on another thread - or should have - until you can shed the partisanship and do more than repeat talking points it's going to be pointless to try to engage you in meaningful discussion.
Dave
17 - Doug DeLong
You know what, you are just the very definition of the pot calling the kettle black.
18 - Nancy
What a pity someone didn't put a bullet thru Bush's Brain a long time ago.
19 - Zedd
Egbert,
I suppose since we didn't agree on the other thread you will be yapping at my heals. Relax, don’t take yourself so seriously.
I mean Rove is moving out of the way so that his image doesn't taint the candidates. He represents deception and manipulation. The last thing that the candidates or the party needs to reflect. However he is a genius at maneuvering. He could be intending to use his time (away from the spotlight) to aid a candidate with their election or groom another for a future race like he did Bush.
I'm sorry that I didn't spell it out. I hope you understand what I was saying now.
20 - Nancy
If we're really lucky, maybe Cheney will take him out hunting.
21 - Nancy
...and get shot as vermin? Now THAT would be SOOOO appropriate. Talk about your divine justice-!