August 13, 2007
Rove to Resign

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Karl Rove will resign as White House deputy chief of staff by the end of August.

Good.

The words "riddance" and "bad rubbish" should be included to the above monosyllabic paragraph. Probably to be followed by the popular catch-phrase involving doors and asses and concluded with "Release the hounds".

I'm sure there will be the appropriate joy in Mudville over on the left side of the blogosphere. At this moment writers at keyboards are getting hot and sticky circle-jerking to the visions of impeachment, wiretaps, Haliburton, CIA leaks and sundry conspiracy theories.

The truth remains that Rove should have been let go a couple years ago. As a campaign advisor, professionally, one can admit "Turd Blossom" had talent. As a domestic policy advisor his skills have been lacking. Michelle Malkin has already chimed in with an incomplete list of critiques. Lest anybody misunderstand, Rove is hardly liked by many conservatives and Republicans.

I have some disdain for the political lampreys which attach themselves to the bellies of elected officials. Rove is no different. He can now enjoy spending time with his family in Texas. And here's to the slim hope that Turd Blossom won't plop onto the set of a cable news station as a talking head any time this decade.

Posted by DonWard at August 13, 2007 07:25 AM | Email This
Comments
1. Michelle Malkin has it right...It would have been better done a year ago!

Posted by: Susu on August 13, 2007 07:52 AM
2. I've never asked the question, but in '99 and '00, it seemed Bush was leading Gore by a substantial amount, they would get lazy and the race would tighten up, and then Bush (Rove) would do something to get the lead comfortable again, etc. etc.. It seemed they didn't have the 'killer' instinct to 'put away' Gore. Am I wrong or right?

Same with '04.

Same with the way the President ran his administration.

It seemed weird to me. It worked in the grand scheme of things, but you would think they should have put away the defective Gore and Kerry.

Just my observation.

Posted by: swatter on August 13, 2007 08:21 AM
3. Oh look, Don came back. So Don, will you finally answer my question?

If your high school age kid came to you and asked for $20 saying he needed it or he would fail school and you gave him $20 each time for about 5 times and then you find out he is using the money for video games and not school. Would you continue to give him the $20 over and over?


Posted by: pbj on August 13, 2007 10:00 AM
4. Some samples from the comments at Democratic Underground:

He might not be a physical presence in the White House after this month, but there's no way he's going to keep his pudgy fingers out of things. He'll just be exercizing his evil machinations from someplace that doesn't have the press crawling all over it.

He will still run Bushes whitehouse. Its a ploy to avoid accountability.

If he were going to jail, I would be happy, but this? Its nothing. Monkeyboy can still take his orders from Rovie.

I don't trust this one bit. He's got something up his sleeve.

We haven't seen the last of Karl Rove.

Seriously, when he walks away, watch to see when Cheney and Bush have left the country, and then RUN to the local X-Ray Clinic and HIDE BEHIND the LEAD WALLS.. bring a cooler.

Posted by: JDH on August 13, 2007 10:13 AM
5. Waxman, Reid, and Pelosi better be careful. Without Rove, and with Cheney next to impossible, who are they going to try to hound out of the White House next, Laura? I think they just found themselves without a goal and victim, and now will have to start actually doing the jobs they were elected to do. Do they even remember how?

Posted by: katomar on August 13, 2007 10:45 AM
6. I have mixed feelings about this.
The MSM & whacked out Leftist Pinheaded Klowns used Rove as a whipping boy....they needed a guy to hate because that is the prime thing they MUST have in order to promote their Marxist Agenda.
Frankly, I don't know enough about what Rove actually did or did not do to know if he deserved to leave or not.
I know what the MSM and LEFTIST PINHEADED KLOWNS "accused" Rove of........

Soon these KLOWNS will have no one to kick around and stand in front of the world bare-naked for all to see they are woefully "under-endowed"!!
Nothing between their ears...or their legs.

Posted by: Mr. Cynical on August 13, 2007 01:20 PM
7. Man, what's with this wingnut obsession on priapic capacity? One senses a little bit of insecure fixation over here. When you're not advocating policies that have sent thousands of good Americans to their deaths you are fixating on your nads. Sheesh....

Posted by: Bartelby on August 13, 2007 01:29 PM
8. Karl Rove articulated a vision in which Republican majority would hold onto power for decades.

Institutionalized political corruption within the Party led to the undoing of everything he worked towards.

When the corruption became so transparent, it became impossible to deny any longer I knew "wheels were going to come off" in the next election cycle. That cycle was 2006 and on election night you might as well have turned out the lights because the party's over.

As we saw last week, with the indictment of Ted Stevens et all, the Party has done NOTHING to clean it's own house. Mark my words; we have still not gotten to the bottom of the filth and corruption within the Party.

Unless and until the Republican Party realizes that those with a proclivity to vote Republican issues will not tolerate this they might as well get used to being a minority Party. And don't try to tell me that those who were not involved - did not know exactly what the Randall Cunninghams and Ted Stevens in the Party were up to.

My guess is that is exactly why he left.

Posted by: JDH on August 13, 2007 01:47 PM
9.
I hate to say it, but I think you Libs belie your true prejudices of judging a book by its cover.

Rove is the rare genius who can work at the meta-level. People hate him because he doesn't play the game...he goes up and around it and down into the game.

If Rove is quitting politics, it assuredly is for one and one reason only -- boredom with his opponents.

Posted by: John Bailo on August 13, 2007 01:54 PM
10. Let's face it. Karl Rove is Bob Shrum with brains.

Posted by: Rey Smith on August 13, 2007 02:14 PM
11. "Mark my words; we have still not gotten to the bottom of the filth and corruption within the Party."

Yeah, but at least we have started. Contrast it with Democrats who put their crooks like William Jefferson on the Homeland Security Committee.

Posted by: pbj on August 13, 2007 03:13 PM
12. Bob Schrum...isn't he that lauded famous dem king maker guy who never actually managed to get anyone elected??

Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on August 13, 2007 03:16 PM
13. pbj,
You are right, Dems not only will excuse corruption, they expect it. This is where the power base within the Republican Party dropped the ball. A majority of people who have a proclivity to vote republican are not going to put up with it and while they may not vote for Democrat candidates (on principal) they will stay home.

Posted by: JDH on August 13, 2007 03:30 PM
14. Contrast it with Democrats who put their crooks like William Jefferson on the Homeland Security Committee.

Contrast it with a man who persecuted a sitting President for an extramarital affair while having one of his own at the same time. Or how about the Presidential candidate who married his cousin.

Finally there's the senator who described the internet as 'not a big truck, but a 'series of tubes', yet somehow he remained chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce which is in charge of communications. This senator also spent $223 million on a bridge that will benefit approximately 13,175 people. Oh yeah, did I mention his whole family is being investigated by the FBI for taking bribes?

I'd say both parties have their problems but as for sheer crookedness I'd say the GOP will be wearing that crown for several years to come (at least till the Dem's screw up worse).

Posted by: Cato on August 13, 2007 04:02 PM
15. Of course Bill should have been prosecuted for taking Chinese money at the whitehouse coffee partys he held. Al certain should have done time for "No overriding legal authority". Maybe Tennis Shoes should have returned the dirty money from the tribes she received via a former Preston Gates Associate. And maybe the IRS should be asking why Maria was funneling unreported funds to her former/current squeeze Mr.Dotzauer during an ugly divorce when he was reporting no income. Then pressuring the court to seal the divorce records that named her as a causal factor in the break-up. I am looking for some good used furniture, does anyone have Rosty's number? Gosh I'm almost out of petty cash, does nayone know where I can convert my office postal allotment into cash?...what's that?
No, I'm sure it's legal just ask Tom Foley.

Posted by: Huh? on August 13, 2007 04:35 PM
16. Yawn, once again he thread disintegrates into old stuff, generic name calling and partisan & bitter cheerleading.

the subject is Karl Rove.

The legacy: 2 gub. wins for GWB, 2 presidential wins, failure today at the low approval rates, at building a Repubican majority for the long term.
You won't even see GWB at the GOP convention I bet!

So history may judge that the Architect built a house of cards.
It has fallen down already.

Posted by: Seattle Democrat on August 13, 2007 04:58 PM
17. The world just got a little bit safer! Now we can concentrate on putting him in jail for treason.

Posted by: Shawn on August 13, 2007 05:13 PM
18. The dems just froth at the mouth about Rove because they have no match for him. Carville is a punk with an attitude. Okay, he has a wife that's a far better person than himself. But every male but Bill Clinton can say that.
Face it dems, the guy you all call "Monkey Frat boy" was smart enough to surround himself with capable people and beat the Viet Nam War hero AND the inventor of the internet. I guess there's no dem tag team that can beat them.

Posted by: PC on August 13, 2007 06:01 PM
19. Rove's problem was that he looked like the Nazi who stole the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Posted by: Organization Man on August 13, 2007 06:25 PM
20. So Seattle Democrat is Bartelby...that figures...Yawn, belch, fart.

Posted by: Huh? on August 13, 2007 06:31 PM
21. DonWard: tell us again how Romney did poorly at the Iowa Straw Poll, when he did as well as anyone ever has there!

Posted by: pudge on August 13, 2007 06:42 PM
22. As always, I was waiting for CATO to say something dumb and he didn't fail me. Sorry CATO but Clinton was gone after for sexual conduct that HE signed into law. Plus he lied to a judge that he picked. (that left a mark)

To bad you failed reading, or you would have never make that statement. Reading KOS again are you!

LOL

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on August 13, 2007 07:52 PM
23. #17 The world just got a little bit safer! Now we can concentrate on putting him in jail for treason.

Good luck Shawn... But hey keep on trying, but you had better read up on the law and I don't mean the one fron the DEM
s or KOS. (real court law)

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on August 13, 2007 07:56 PM
24. Karl Rove is leaving in the prime time of the next political race. He will make millions advising and will not be far from any of the next elected official. The Left hates him because he kicked their ass.

Watch out for him in 2008. He won't be far behind the winner

Posted by: GS on August 13, 2007 10:15 PM
25. I suspect that GS is correct in post 24. Mr. Rove is a great American who has provided a great service to our country. I admire people who can be in the public eye and take the intense criticism and hateful comments without flinching or faltering in their purpose.

The editorial cartoon in the Seattle PI this am (8/14/07) is on this topic. I find it interesting how people underestimate President Bush. I think that has always worked in his favor.

Posted by: NWClosetCon on August 14, 2007 07:23 AM
26. Wow... I guess the KOS battalion of the Tinfoil Hat Brigade is on maneuvers again.

I thought I detected the fungi-like stench of petulae.

Posted by: ERNurse on August 14, 2007 08:12 AM
27. Correction: PATCHULAE. I must have been thinking of the word 'petulant.' Either way, when it comes to libs, either one suits.

Posted by: ERNurse on August 14, 2007 08:14 AM
28. Rove was the master of divisive politics (not an insult). Essentially he felt that though carefully highlighting contentious issues, like gay marriage, he could put together a constituency just above 50% and win. That worked really well for a few years.

However like every political trend or era it has begin to come to an end. People are getting tired of the scare politics. Gay marriage measures have been run pretty much everywhere they would benefit republicans and there is not much more R's can do on that and South Dakota showed that abortion is not likely to be a good wedge issue.

That being said the politics that will define the next era are still unknown. After 2006 the dems have the opportunity to define it but so far have yet to.

Posted by: Giffy on August 14, 2007 08:49 AM
29. Giffy, what you didn't say. The response to radical islamism is the defining moment for this country.

Posted by: swatter on August 14, 2007 09:24 AM
30. As always, I was waiting for CATO to say something dumb and he didn't fail me.

Glad to help, though one would hope you have better things to do.

Both parties are quite dirty, there is no doubt (just look at Dino Rossi's Forward Washington "non-profit"...I mean gubernatorial campaign). The GOP just has made a bigger ass of themselves doing it over the last 12 years. I'm sure now that the Dem's are in the spotlight all their dirty laundry will come to light. Both parties are equally corrupt, I'm sure there's a Gregoire scandal waiting in the wings as soon as the GOP retakes the legislature in this state (which seems more and more unlikely every day).

Posted by: Cato on August 14, 2007 10:23 AM
31. Cato, unless you have proof about Rossi's which you don't and neither does the dem's! Your words mean nothing.
As far as Clinton goes, why don't read up about the court case, so you won't make a fool of yourself again.
As I said before Cato. Clinton was hung by the LAW he signed into power to make NOW happy.

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on August 14, 2007 11:41 AM
32. Cato.. I know you woun't look it up so I did.
This is what happened.

Like I said, think before you make a fool of yourself.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Feminists got Clinton to sign into law changes in the rules of evidence in the code of Civil Procedure that allowed questions about "prior conduct". Those rules were in place when the Jones case took place. Condign justice, it's called. As the Jones civil case indicated the judge cited Clinton for offering false and misleading testimony, the questions he lied about may have been immaterial to the case, BUT the court, not the witness, gets to rule on that.

If Clinton lying in Jones was "no biggie", then why did his attorney Bob Bennett himself advise the court that his client's testimony was false. Because he could be disbarred if he knew and didn't tell!

There ARE no "inappropriate questions" in the criminal code. There are rules of evidence as to inadmissibility of evidence, limitations as to its use, etc., but still, that's for the judge to deal with, not the defendant or his lawyers to pre-judge.

p.s. perjury is a FELONY. If you think Libby should go to jail for committing perjury about a statement that wasn't itself evidence that a crime had committed, then logically, ethically and morally you are compelled NOT to argue that perjury is not an impeachable offense. And of course, Clinton was also charged by the House with witness tampering and imprision of felony.

Finally, Clinton copped a plea on the grand jury charges. He admitted guilt to lesser charges, in order to avoid standing trial for greater ones.

At NO TIME was ahe charged with having sex with a consenting adult. NEVER. Not in the Jones case, which was about....Jones and Clinton. And not in the impeachment case or grand jury enpanelment, which were about what Clinton said and did AFTER he had sex with Monica, in order to hide the SCANDAL, not a crime.

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on August 14, 2007 11:54 AM
33. Cato, unless you have proof about Rossi's which you don't and neither does the dem's!

Ummm yeah, so a speaking tour that takes Rossi all over the state to talk about issues that matter to Washington a year before an election that is headed by GOP party loyalists is really not a front for his future gubernatorial campaign. Give me a break, even your not that stupid.

You really want to bring up Paula Jones, the white-trash, 'GOP paid for my nose job', lady who had no credibility whatsoever? Give me a break.

P.S.: You're right, Perjury is a felony unless you're Scooter Libby.

Posted by: Cato on August 14, 2007 12:10 PM
34. Army, Not that I agree with your logic but by the converse you would have to accept that Libby committed a crime and should have accepted the punishment.

Posted by: Giffy on August 14, 2007 01:13 PM
35. Mudville?

Katrina.
Iraq.
Rummy.
"Yer doin' a heckuva job, Brownie."
Outing Spies for fun and profit.
Brain dead woman.
Add 50% to the nat'l debt.
"Bring 'em on."
"I'm a uniter--not a divider."
Scooter.

And you think it is limited to Rove?

Posted by: RoveIsASkunk on August 14, 2007 02:03 PM
36. Cato, are you sure you want to make a statement like that? Are you saying Slick Willie doesn't deserve the nickname he won in Arkansas? Are you saying he never had an affair with Flowers?

I just don't believe a word out of the guy's mouth. Too bad you do since you are much more intelligent than that.

Posted by: swatter on August 14, 2007 02:33 PM
37. Giffy
Army, Not that I agree with your logic but by the converse you would have to accept that Libby committed a crime and should have accepted the punishment.
*****************************

I threw that one in just to get Cato all happy inside.I also think they will over turn Libby conviction. Now don't you love it about Cato. He calls Paula Jones white trash. So LIBERAL of him isn't it. LOL

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on August 14, 2007 03:52 PM
38. Are you saying Slick Willie doesn't deserve the nickname he won in Arkansas?

I really have no idea, did he win it in a contest or something?

Are you saying he never had an affair with Flowers?

That one is true, Paula Jones on the other hand was bought and paid for, she didn't actually have a real case it was all TV friendly sound bites. Her nose job, lawyers, lawsuit were all paid for by a conservative law firm.

He calls Paula Jones white trash. So LIBERAL of him isn't it

Yeah, even Ann Coulter called Jones 'trailer park trash'. Looks like I'm not alone here.

Needless to say GOP politicians have affairs too...Newt Gingrich, David Vitter, Strom Thurmond. Clinton has some pretty famous company.

Posted by: Cato on August 14, 2007 04:35 PM
39. Cato,

Please provide the link to the Ann Coulter quote where she called Jones "trailer park trash". Somehow I think you are fibbing with that one.

Posted by: jones on August 15, 2007 04:07 PM
40. No, smart guy, he didn't win it in a contest; he won the nickname of "Slick Willie" by his shady dealings as a Arkansan. Somewhat like a Used Car Salesman would have the "Slick" attached to their profession.

You know, he did lie about the relationship with Flowers; yet, no one thought he should be impeached over that. It was the lying under oath that was the final straw.

Do you have any doubts in your mind that he and the PIAPS were guilty in the Whitewater thing?

Posted by: swatter on August 16, 2007 07:16 AM
41. Cato: please do not misrepresent the facts. There is no actual evidence that Paula Jones was lying. You can question her motives and those of her "benefactors," and that's fine, but it is simply not true that you or any of us know whether she was telling the truth.

Posted by: pudge on August 16, 2007 10:19 AM
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Posted by: ibpmkuqag exfjhqtrz on August 19, 2007 05:47 AM
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Posted by: ibpmkuqag exfjhqtrz on August 19, 2007 05:48 AM
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