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August 13, 2007 2:48 PM
"Bush's Brain" to Depart...But His Toxic Legacy Will Remain
Political circles were abuzz this morning with the news that Karl Rove -- the architect of George Bush's political career almost from day one -- has resigned and will no longer work for the White House as of the end of this month.
Here at Working Assets, we're not sad to see Karl go -- but we are deeply saddened by the extensive damage he's done to our country and to our democracy. He started with the political dirty tricks and smear campaigns way back in 1970, and by all accounts, never let up. Most recently, he helped "market" the nonexistent threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, assisted in the exposure of a covert CIA agent, and definitely played a role in the politically motivated firings of U.S. Attorneys.
We were quite involved in opposing practically everything Karl Rove tried to do to our country and our democracy. We helped expose and (at least partially) beat back his efforts to cripple public broadcasting through budget cuts and blatant politicization. More than two years ago, we called on President Bush to investigate and fire Rove as one of the leakers in the Plame case. We even printed up t-shirts showing where we think Karl Rove belongs -- in jail.
There's plenty of speculation as to the real reason why Rove resigned -- whenever a top-level Bush administration official resigns to "spend more time with [their] family," you can be pretty sure there's a lot more to the story. Marcy over at The Next Hurrah speculates: Is it the Abramoff investigation(s)? Is it the Office of Special Counsel investigation into blatant violations of the Hatch Act? Or is it the ongoing investigation into the politically motivated firing of David Iglesias, and/or the ensuing coverup?
In any case, if Rove thinks his resignation will somehow clear him of potential wrongdoing in these cases, he better think again. Senator Leahy, a former prosecutor who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, doesn't seem too happy that Rove has not yet responded to his subpoena from earlier this month -- and doesn't appear ready to cut his investigation short.
What do you think Rove's long-term legacy will be? Are you sad to see him go?
(On edit -- I should note that our activist base was very engaged in speaking out against Rove's nefarious deeds; we sent nearly a quarter million messages to Congress over the past couple of years, and this April we sent [scroll about 80% of the way down the page; sorry no permalink] more than 54,000 petition signatures to Rove asking him to come clean and testify under oath before Congress. )
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Discussion
I would not be so sure that Rove has really left. He can probably make a great deal more money doing paid campaign work, and with potentially less scrutiny than even from inside the White House. Leaving may free him up to eventually work for one of the presidential campaigns or to become an uber corporate lobbyist for the waning months of the Bush Administration.
As to the Rove legacy - he truly is responsible for Bush's initial election to the governor's office in Texas and then to the White House. As such, he has caused more damage than any individual in U.S. history to the American treasury, to our civil liberties, our standing in the world, and yes, to our safety.
Rove, like his cousins the rats, is jumping ship because he knows that bad stuff is headed their way (impeachment of Bush and Cheney?) and he's getting out now in the hope that they won't take him down as well.
I wish folks didn't elevate Rove like this.
Karl Rove only pushed legislation and agendas what the corporate types and monied elite wanted him to push. You know the folks who bankroll the GOP and K Street.
Follow the money.
As for his political skills they were a joke. His main strategy was smear the Demmie and use Democrat wedge issues against the Dems. Stuff that any big city campaign strategist is familiar with. But it was more than enough against a witless and charmless human weather vane like Kerry or Gore for that matter.
Don't forget he helped drive the GOP over the cliff politically and turn the voters against the party. In many respects he was a better asset to the Democrats than to the GOP.
You folks ought to be thanking Rove for doing to the GOP what the Democrats could never do.
Oh nothing is going to happen to Turd Blossom. There is no way gutless, corrupt insiders like Pelosi and Reid would pursue anysort of criminal investigation against Turd boy.
All Reid can do is drool and Pelosi is too busy cooking up back room deals worthy of Rove.
Go Riddance to bad rubbish..!
If Karl had stayed in college and earned a degree, he might have taken Civics 101 and learned that government is more than winning elections. He may have been the 'brain' for that, but as a policy wonk, he's been a dunce. Divisive tactics never work for governing because they alienate the very people whose help you eventually need. Actually Karl must have flunked kindergarten as well because his behavior shows he never even mastered the basics: don't hit, share your toys, and hold hands to keep safe.
Aw, I always thought he was kinda cute - in that Baron Vladimir Harkonnen kind of way...
"I see plans within plans..!"
"The Spice must Flow..!"
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