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The Mark of Rove
Karl Rove on whether he's running away (sub. req.) from Democratic oversight:
What about those who say he's leaving to avoid Congressional scrutiny? "I know they'll say that," he says, "But I'm not going to stay or leave based on whether it pleases the mob." He also knows he'll continue to be a target, even from afar, since belief in his influence over every Administration decision has become, well, faith-based."I'm a myth. There's the Mark of Rove," he says, with a bemused air. "I read about some of the things I'm supposed to have done, and I have to try not to laugh." He says the real target is Mr. Bush, whom many Democrats have never accepted as a legitimate president and "never will."
So there you go. However much the U.S. attorney firings, the political briefings to senior agency officials, and other dirty deeds that have been pegged as Rovian (an adjective that will live on) might seem like his handiwork, it's just the phantom Mark of Rove. One wonders if the Mark will continue to haunt the Bush Administration after he leaves.
After he gets to work on his book on the Bush presidency, Rove says that he'd like to teach. Will college freshmen be clamoring to get into Dividing The Electorate 101? Any ideas on what that course might be called?
Note: A portion from The Wall Street Journal piece that I'll note without comment:
It is his long and personal relationship with Mr. Bush that has made Mr. Rove arguably the most influential White House aide of modern times. The president calls him to chat about politics on Sunday mornings, and they have a contest to see who can read the most books. (Mr. Rove is winning.)
Comments (89)
Toxophilite wrote on August 13, 2007 10:52 AM:Had Rove read nothing but the latest Harry Potter book this past year, he'd still be winning the reading race with W. This is a joke, right?
OkieFromMuskogee wrote on August 13, 2007 10:55 AM:"...they have a contest to see who can read the most books."
I was going to write a snarky comment about this breathtaking lie, but I'm speechless.
I believe that Rove reads lots of books. Mr. Bush, on the other hand...
Ian wrote on August 13, 2007 11:05 AM:Rove's resignation really stinks. My Chertoff (gut) is telling me that there is something right around the corner (indictment? Yes, please). He's the ultimate loyalist, he would never, ever just resign to spend time with his family.
Nelly Bly wrote on August 13, 2007 11:07 AM:LOL - I wrote about Rove's three-month mortgage and million-dollar credit line with a Birmingham bank here in the TPM MR and, within two weeks, he's gone!
Vincent Berg wrote on August 13, 2007 11:09 AM:Why is Rove leaving now? So he can get the indictment, conviction and pardon, all out of the way before January 20th 2009.
drew wrote on August 13, 2007 11:09 AM:My Pet Goat was the last book attempted. Only got part way through.
C92 wrote on August 13, 2007 11:13 AM:NB:
Apparently he's moving back to that 2 room cottage in Ingram, TX. The one he supposedly calls his homestead. The one he and his wife voted from in 2004 (despite being a full time resident of DC).
Keep a close eye on Karl's finances in the short term. Particularly who buys his house in DC -- and for how much.
off2xtremes wrote on August 13, 2007 11:16 AM:Why do I have that creepy feeling sliding up my spine? I have that feeling that this is not good news, but I can't put my finger on "Why?".
Nelly Bly wrote on August 13, 2007 11:25 AM:C 92, I was curious, too, when I read this line from the WSJ:
"His son attends college in San Antonio, and he and his wife, Darby, plan to spend much of their time at their home in nearby Ingram, in the Texas Hill Country."
Obviously, the Roves aren't moving into a 2-bdrm cottage. Maybe they bought something in Ingram.
Richard McLamore wrote on August 13, 2007 11:25 AM:Almost Freudian that Rove obsesses about Bush's legitimacy--or lack thereof--as a President.
Given his long track record of trying to turn weaknesses into strengths by fronting them and blaming the other side for them, I'm tempted to see that comment (admission?) as a slam at Bush.
And . . . if he has been reading Harry Potter, does that Mark of Rove stuff mean he thinks he's Voldemort? I suggest everyone start watching Gonzalez's left arm . . .
Hank wrote on August 13, 2007 11:27 AM:Does the U.S. have an extradition with Texas?
Anonymous wrote on August 13, 2007 11:27 AM:Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Nobody resigns for 'personal reasons' in this administration.
Code word: Snake
Hank wrote on August 13, 2007 11:28 AM:That should be, Does the U.S. have an extradition treaty with Texas?
Janet wrote on August 13, 2007 11:35 AM:Does it strike anyone else as odd that Rove is leaving to spend time with his family when his son is going off to college? Is he planning to go to college with him?
Arlene wrote on August 13, 2007 11:35 AM:Donna Brazile said he was talking to "Rudy" a year aga; but he might have switched to Fred Thompson, Cheney's daught is working for him and he is a Scooter pal and a Neocom's Neocom.
moondancer wrote on August 13, 2007 11:40 AM:Fielding probably told him that once court rejects their exec priv claim, the e-mails will doom him.
1oldlady wrote on August 13, 2007 11:42 AM:Well, the RNC has been having troubles, that may be his next move. To help recover the parties reputation! LOL!!!!
Brain2Brain wrote on August 13, 2007 11:44 AM:The Protect America Act of 2007 was passed as everyone got out of Dodge for the summer recess. Essentially the legislation is a carte blanche for electronic surveillance without oversight. Rove is the uber political operative. He can run his activities safely within his RNC blackberry accounts. Any past documentation of 2001-2007 warrantless wiretapping efforts have not, nor probably will be forthcoming. That means, any improper, politically directed surveillance during that time frame is hidden. Let's face it, there will be a lot of sneeking and peeking that will have NOTHING to do with terrorism and everything to do the 2008 election year.
Punchy wrote on August 13, 2007 11:45 AM:I think this means war with Iran, and Rove wants no part of the blowback.
tricynical wrote on August 13, 2007 11:45 AM:Karl Rove is most likely setting up a war room to coordinate attempts to steal the 2008 presidential and congressional elections. There are many fronts he will be fighting on, and they will take up all of his time. Vote caging, influencing US attorneys to prosecute Democratic candidates, electronic vote rigging, redistricting in California, swiftboat attacks, discouraging voters in poor (read: democratic) neighborhoods, and many other plans that have been festering in his brain for years.
EdNSted wrote on August 13, 2007 11:47 AM:Republican excesses and corruption have created substantial blowback in America, and voters are going to be leaning towards Democratic solutions. It makes political sense to have an "Election Czar" to focus on the elections, someone who already commands the loyalty of the Republican faithful, and has the machinery, contacts, and soldiers in place to be highly effective in disrupting and skewing the election process. Rove has already shown genius in this capacity, and distancing himself from the Bush will officially insulate the president from any possible repercussions as well as freeing himself up from the constraints inherent in his membership in the executive (legislative?) branch. Remember that Rove has many new tools available to him now that the Federal Government can wiretap just about anybody. Democratic campaign operatives might be well-advised to stay away from conventional communication when passing critical information....
If anyone here feels like losing some money, I'll throw down $20 at 2:1 odds that says there is NO forthcoming indictment of Karl Rove - now or ever - and that Rove never complies with the outstanding congressional subpoenas and will never, ever be forced to testify under oath before this Congress.
In short, Rove walks. Completely and without restriction. It's over.
sailor wrote on August 13, 2007 11:54 AM:The democrats should continue to pursue Rove with the utmost vigor if only to run his legal bills into the stratosphere and keep him occupied so he can't get into "mischief".
cracker wrote on August 13, 2007 11:57 AM:Karl sees Ted Stevens and Don Young going to prison before 2008 along with Oil Execs- Front Page news for 6 months. Will make Repubs nostalgic for a Foley scandal. 2008 a breeze for Dems. Karl can't spin that
He probably never knew how corrupt it was so why be Casey Jones in 2008? Good move Karl... he is a thinker.
2008 is going to be a train wreck for Republicants
regular lurker wrote on August 13, 2007 12:02 PM:There was a great anecdote about Karl Rove. I looked around but couldn't find it online. It went something like this, a woman met Karl Rove at a party and found him to be a very nice man. She apparently told him to his face that she didn't find him scary at all. At which point he listed all of the achievements he was proud of: dismantling public education, rolling back taxes for corporations, etc.
Wager: I'll bet that Karl Rove has already been Weinbergered.
NitPicker1 wrote on August 13, 2007 12:02 PM:"And . . . if he has been reading Harry Potter, does that Mark of Rove stuff mean he thinks he's Voldemort? I suggest everyone start watching Gonzalez's left arm . . ."
Not to mention that for years, ever since I first read the first Harry Potter book, in my mind's eye I can't help but picture Bush as wearing a purple turban on his head.
Obviously Rove is resigning because the Unicorn blood isn't working anymore - time for Rovedemort to flee, leaving the weakened host to his (political/historical) death.
Van wrote on August 13, 2007 12:04 PM:Today... America is a safer country. Rove is no longer in control of our Nation.
Mudshark wrote on August 13, 2007 12:06 PM:V.
The first thing I asked was: why on a Monday morning? These guys typically save potentially damaging announcements for late Fridays. Is there something really smelly that they want to overshadow?
Mike Conwell wrote on August 13, 2007 12:06 PM:From CNN's story
"You're never going to replace him," said another senior administration official, adding that Rove served a "unique role."
I wonder who, if anyone, will replace Karl Rove. I sorta think his seat won't be filled.
Which brings up a question. What do you think Rove was paid for, out of tax payer dollars, that was so essential to the United States that he should have such a cherry job? (with access to State secrets) You and I know, that all he did was partisan activity, so why the f*** did we have to pay for it?
blah blah wrote on August 13, 2007 12:08 PM:Oh, but he's keeping his security clearance and his salary... just like Rummy.
Anonymous wrote on August 13, 2007 12:08 PM:Personally, I think he's about to sign on with Fred Thompson.
NitPicker1 wrote on August 13, 2007 12:09 PM:Van, whatever gives you the idea that Rove is no longer in control? Tricynical laid out the likely scenario (in a comment above).
TheraP wrote on August 13, 2007 12:13 PM:Paul, your title is outstanding!
Nickpicker1 @ 12:02 - "The Mark" brought the "Dark Mark" to my mind as well. And dark as this man proved to be upon the body politic. And dark should his legacy remain. Gives me the shudders just to think of his ilk!
TheraP wrote on August 13, 2007 12:17 PM:Rove's course. It certainly won't be "Defense against the Dark Arts." And they problably won't dare call it: "All about the Dark Arts."
I hope that citizens will organize boycotts against any school that dares to hire him to teach!
Anonymous wrote on August 13, 2007 12:18 PM:Karl leaving means the Cheney takeover of the White House is nearing completion.
Anonymous wrote on August 13, 2007 12:23 PM:TharaP - to be fair I was quoting Richard McLamore 11:25AM, who got there first on the "Mark of Rove" = Dark Mark idea in the comments.
(Security Code is "brain", sorry folks, couldn't help but mention that one!)
Samsara wrote on August 13, 2007 12:24 PM:Rove is gone because there is no longer any use for him. He can't manipulate the Gov from back stage because of the Democratic Congress. Bush is out of ideas and initiatives where his services could be useful. The only thing left for Bush is to keep control of Iraq policy, and Rove is detrimental to that.
As Bush faces the Iraq battle, he decided that he would rather face it without having Rove around to remind him and others of the slimy underbelly of his administration. Also, Rove gave a stream of happy talk for Congressional Republicans before the election disaster, then after the disaster he started touring the country, blaming the whole thing on corruption among Republicans in Congress. Now Bush needs those Republicans, and Karl finally gets to see the undercarriage of the bus.
gjdodger wrote on August 13, 2007 12:27 PM:He's leaving now so he can go work for Fred Thompson and continue the neocon control of the White House.
Radarcat wrote on August 13, 2007 12:32 PM:Dear Anonymous: Please elaborate on your comment above about the Cheney takeover of the white house. Thanks.
Max Renn wrote on August 13, 2007 12:33 PM:The Undead don't have families to spend more time with.
Your Mom wrote on August 13, 2007 12:36 PM:Punchy, I think you are onto something:
"I think this means war with Iran, and Rove wants no part of the blowback."
I believe it may be a combination of this and any pending decision on executive privilege (which will not hold up).
Although the thought of him skipping out before we "bomb, bomb bomb" Iraq is chilling.
Spotty Dog wrote on August 13, 2007 12:44 PM:There is something very odd here. Clearly they mutually agreed to the termination but something is up, and it's not bright and sunny for the Texas boys. That Tony Snow denied Rove was going to work for anyone else, and the fact that Rove gave that really unbelievable 'I'm going home to spend more time with my wife and son" (what college kid wants to have his unemployed father handing around him?)are big flags.
The reason this seems odd to me is because I used to write out packages (golden parachutes) for folks who couldn't stay in their jobs anymore but the company didn't want any bad PR (or lawsuits) - so this Rove leaving with 2 weeks public notice is odd and familiar.
calipendence wrote on August 13, 2007 12:55 PM:Hmm... I wonder if Halliburton is preparing a job offer for him....
... so that he can help them with their move to Dubai! Maybe they'll put both he and his family up over there as a part of the deal so he can spend more time with his family over there!
... and of course "conveniently" answer any subpoenas that might come his way then!
Tiger547 wrote on August 13, 2007 1:01 PM:Looks like the MSM and everyone else has forgotten that there is an ongoing "sweeping" federal investigation of all of Rove's political operations by the Office of Special Counsel, which was prompted in part by a compliant filed by David Iglesias. Rove said he wanted to leave the White House on his own terms. Is there an indictment in the air? I think so!
Val Sanford wrote on August 13, 2007 1:02 PM:Rove will be a top speaker on the lucrative lecture circuit. This will help him pay legal bills.
Val Sanford wrote on August 13, 2007 1:03 PM:Rove will be a top speaker on the lucrative lecture circuit. This will help him pay legal bills.
mo2 wrote on August 13, 2007 1:13 PM:There are so many reasons to choose from. Wife and college age son are not among them. But I don't think we can guess because it feels like something is about to be revealed. Why Rove but not Gonzales at this time? Gonzales is holding back a flood of some kind. Rove, GW and Gonzales have agreed to protect GW. Gonzales has no other option because he has committed illegal acts.
But why Rove now? It must be because of the Republican voter suppression policy and the approaching election. The GOP needs distance from Rove and quick.
B. White wrote on August 13, 2007 1:18 PM:Rove has been raptured out so that he and his family may don their special underwear and eventually enter the kingdom of the evangelicals to sit at the right hand of Jerry Falwell. On the other hand, perhaps President Bush is preparing to create his legacy and hopes that historians will forget that Rove ever existed. Both are of little or no concern for those of us who still believe that our country can recover from Rove’s White House antics. What does concern us is that if Rove was Bush’s brain, what does that mean for the months left in his presidency?
electricphoto wrote on August 13, 2007 1:19 PM:B. White
Rove's choise to make a comment about some Democrats never accepting Bush as a legitimate President is telling - seeing how he was behind the overthrow of elections that put Bush in two terms.
His need to give a cover story here indicates how close the evidence is getting that he directed the overthrow of our democracy by installing an unelected President.
What a scumbag traitor - calling Americans bums for the millionth time to cover up his own dirty illegal deeds.
TheraP wrote on August 13, 2007 1:22 PM:A bit of "professional" speculation here. Tears - on the part of both men (rove and bush). Tears usually mean very deep emotion. Makes me wonder if rove perhaps has some kind of life-threatening illness. This "road he's going down." Not the kind of thing you might do (cry) if you simply feel you can pick up the phone or you can get together any time.
Like mo2 I feel like this is the prelude to something coming out. And I may be wrong... but the tears... doesn't fit unless it's really, really something that a person has no control over. And I'm not sure that even an indictment would qualify.
Just to throw that thought in...
Anonymous wrote on August 13, 2007 1:23 PM:Scene from "What About Bob?"..comes to mind,
Dreyfuss, yelling ..."He;s not gone. He'll never be gone"
Those flying monkeys never leave...somewhere in the WH or Pentagon or RNC there is a room with all the folks who "resigned" sitting around, doing their jobs, getting non-traceable paychecks. Job titles and duties in this Admin mean nothing.
phil james wrote on August 13, 2007 1:25 PM:2008 is coming and the Repubs need Rove desperately. There is no need except convenience for Rove to be physically in the WH...
He and Rummy and Sampson, et al, are just
"out of sight, out of mind" , continuing to subvert the country.
Your Mom...
think you mean bomb, bomb, bomb...bomb, bomb Iran!
Let's see...on the reasons for leaving.
FMArouet wrote on August 13, 2007 1:30 PM:1) to spend time with family...everyone knows this is patent boilerplate BS to cover all departures for other reasons.
2) Anyone who stays on must do so until Jan 2009...more BS. Rove calls his own shots...He has no superiors at the WH.
3) something uglier than we've already seen is about to surface...most likely scenario
4) the WH will now be under remote control...also a good bet since Dubya, as many have noted, can't read (or think for that matter).
5) Cheney has administered the coup de grace and is now in total charge...some have voted for this...which may become clearer under number 3)
Punchy, Your Mom, and Anon at 12:18 p.m. seem to make the key points.
Remember that Rove seemed to be the only serious political and policy force on the Bush side of the White House. Bush's personal staff members, as well as his cabinet secretaries, have been, except for Rove, an exceptionally lightweight crew.
Policy, both foreign and domestic, has for the most part been forfeited to VP Cheney and his current Chief of Staff, David Addington (torture memo, Iraq invasion, warrantless wiretapping, etc.).
Rove, though he got "The Math" a little confused in the 2006 elections, was still capable of looking at the landscape politically and with at least a tenuous link to reality. He may have had the foresight to see that yet another "preemptive war"--the next one against Iran--would likely be an Iraq-style protacted disaster or worse, would unhinge the U.S. economy for the next generation, and would discredit the neocon version of Republicanism for possibly decades.
Could Rove have been vigorously arguing this point within the White House? Could he have just now lost this battle with Cheney and Addington?
Is the weak and intellectually impaired Bush now completely in the thrall of Cheney, Addington, and the remaining neocon agenda, i.e., "bomb, bomb Iran?" Have the delusionists just completed their seizure of the throne?
Valiant Shield, a massive air and naval exercise involving three carrier strike forces (Stennis, Nimitz, and Kitty Hawk) is concluding near Guam this week. Will those strike forces now be sent to the Gulf? Watch closely. Very closely.
chalmers wrote on August 13, 2007 1:31 PM:I posed this question to Bush/GOP supporters but have not gotten any responses.
High-level officials are always being recycled in Washington. People who have held high jobs get "promoted" in later administrations of the same party or are nominated for national office.
Even after the Carter administration, Walter Mondale was his party's presidential nominee and Warren Christopher became secretary of state.
Who are the present/former Bush administation officials who have performed so well that you would consider them for "promotions" or as future presidential candidates? To put it a different way, whose reputations have grown as a result of their work within the Bush administration?
Colin Powell would have been a very formidable presidential candidate prior to joining the Bush administration. How has that changed? Rumsfeld and Cheney have said they don't seek higher office, but if a GOP candidate wins in 2008, would you expect them to be offered prominent spots? What about younger officials like Rice, Feith, Wolfowitz, Chertoff, Ridge, and Gonzales?
Peter Duffy wrote on August 13, 2007 1:32 PM:Goodbye George 2007
Hello Dick 2008
phil james wrote on August 13, 2007 1:33 PM:TheraP noted the possibility of a life-threatening illness. I kind of doubt that. If it were true, why not use it to garner what shred of kindness or deference he might from his attackers? Turn it against them? That's his style. Can't believe even that would change it.
BlueInTexas wrote on August 13, 2007 1:41 PM:Combined coalition deaths in Iraq at 3986. Maybe he left before it hits 4,000 (or Labor Day, whichever comes first)
Welcome back to Texas, Blood Traitor.
Mimi Schaeffer wrote on August 13, 2007 1:44 PM:He'd have to teach at some batwing university, like Liberty -(Jerry Falwell's alma mater, especially since if memory serves me correctly, Karl doesn't even have an undergraduate degree in anything -- save a bachelor's in bullshit.
CJR wrote on August 13, 2007 1:44 PM:What else could Rove have hoped to achieve? Sure, his dream of a permanent GOP majority didn't come true, but look at it this way: it didn't really have to. Even in the majority the Democratic congress is behaving like the party in the minority.
Rove probably just got tired of being the only crony hanging around who actually could put a thought together. And for those who think this is the harbinger of an indictment or something, although I'd love to see it go down, I'm pretty sure Rove is bulletproof. There is no accountability for this crowd and he knows it.
Scott L wrote on August 13, 2007 2:08 PM:As the saying goes " Garbage in garbage out."
SPENCER wrote on August 13, 2007 2:10 PM:I think that there's direct evidence that the acting Inspector General has proof that Rove clearly violated the Hatch Act, and he resigned to keep the WH out of it.
Not that it will work...
moondancer wrote on August 13, 2007 2:12 PM:Mark my words, if the court compels WH to turn over e-mails, especially GOP party web used, he wont be able to dance out of it.
TomPaine wrote on August 13, 2007 2:20 PM:I think he knows this and is going out to rake in some serious cash for the upcoming yrs of legal defense.
He is a political sociopath.
The bookreading contest between Rove and Bush: comic books.
deRougemont wrote on August 13, 2007 2:51 PM:Reading the body anguage of this briefing was really interesting: Bush's mouth twitches every time he looks at Rove--which isn't often. They keep Laura between them on approach to the helicopter, and again, Bush rarely looks directly at Rove...something is in the wind.
mo2 wrote on August 13, 2007 2:59 PM:Also, as someone on another post noted: the 'tears' or signs of emotion are not natural to sociopaths unless they've been bested.
Samsara 12:24 wrote "Now Bush needs those Republicans, and Karl finally gets to see the undercarriage of the bus."
Bush needs those Republicans ... to fend off impeachment.
Anonymous wrote on August 13, 2007 3:00 PM:I think that his remark in response to "What about those who say he's leaving to avoid Congressional scrutiny? 'I know they'll say that,' he says, "But I'm not going to stay or leave based on whether it pleases the mob." says it all. So much contempt. So much hubris.
kilo wrote on August 13, 2007 3:09 PM:Mr. Teflon is gone? Hmmmm. Maybe those emails have some child porn or something, which would fit nicely with my theory of "GOP loyalists are closet homosexuals"
mo2 wrote on August 13, 2007 3:26 PM:If Bush is saddened to tears, then Cheney's lawyer, Addington, must have determined that Rove's legal defense is weak. All I can think is that it has been determined that the RNC emails won't meet standards for executive privilege. Leahy's storm is brewing.
GW Bush is like an empty suit. When action occurs, everyone wonders what Cheney decided.
OkieFromMuskogee wrote on August 13, 2007 3:49 PM:If Rove goes into teaching (doubtful), it will be at Pepperdine University. The scenery in Malibu is fantastic, and he can hobnob at this extremely conservative campus with other notable right-wing faculty members: Ken Starr, Ben Stein, and Arthur Laffer (remember the "Laffer Curve" of Reaganomics?
Or maybe they'll find a place for him at the American Enterprise Institute with Paul Wolfowitz and John Bolton.
Rove is going to need a lot cash for his future legal bills. Follow the money.
MichaelAOlson wrote on August 13, 2007 3:56 PM:I'll go with my first instincts.
Rove is leaving to be closer to his
John wrote on August 13, 2007 4:14 PM:family and the Mexican border.
I googled Karl Rove and Jeff Gannon and found this little ditty at TBR News.org from 2/28/05.
"There are two reasons for this crashing silence. One is the fact that a large number of powerful and wealthy Republicans are gay and do not want their wives and children to discover that they put on leather underwear and spend their spare time at the Eagle over on New York Avenue or getting rough trade action at the Crew Club. Fat Karl Rove was seen by one of my people entering a private homosexual orgy at a five-star Washington hotel over the Mid-Atlantic Leather (MAL) weekend last year. All the self-hating loyal Republican gays at the no-pants party, many of them Senatorial aides and military types, of course pretended they didn't recognize him, and who can blame them - imagine how repulsive Fat Karl must look without his clothes. The report that came back was that Fat Karl greatly enjoyed the supervision of a certain hairy 350-lb. Leather Dominator, who had won the Miss Virginia Daddy Bear title at the MAL festivities.
Karl used hang out at JR’s, which is on 17th between P&S, before he became so well-known. This is a “respectable” gay bar for discreet people who do not wear mesh panties, high-heeled pumps and wear terrible wigs. How many people know about these activities? In Washington, a hell of a lot of the prominent. But very few of them dare to open their mouths because of their own small problems."
I was stunned to say the least. I never trust any guy that stays away from his family so much to be up to anything good.
code: flag as in rainbow flag for Karl?
Lord Garth wrote on August 13, 2007 4:52 PM:They don't need Karl anymore. Watch for a Cheney resignation before the end of the year. Bush then nominates someone popular and apparently nonpartisan for VP, and a gullible Congress approves him. There's your real candidate for the GOP in '08. The only question is, who's it gonna be? Jeb?
moondancer wrote on August 13, 2007 5:13 PM:John@4:14
LOL I hope that is true, and expect to see tape on 6:00PM news...
dallasprof wrote on August 13, 2007 5:55 PM:Where will Rove teach? That's an easy one. There were rumors over a year ago that the part of SMU's proposal to get the Bush Library was the offer of a chaired faculty position for Rove. Since then there has been additional info about Rove preparing to take a big role at the Library & Bush Institute, according to some of the SMU campus papers and websites devoted to tracking the Library's progress. Plus it's in TX, close to his son, and right next door to the posh Dallas neighborhood where Bush and Cheney are both likely to settle after they finally vacate DC.
Not that the SMU faculty are thrilled about this. Wonder how many will resign on the day that Rove shows up for work?
bob h wrote on August 13, 2007 6:11 PM:My gut tells me a Hatch Act indictment is on the way.
bob h wrote on August 13, 2007 6:14 PM:Rove will have to lawyer up to fight the Congressional subpoenas and contempt citations. Puzzling that as a private citizen he will have to arrange it for himself, rather than hiding behind the WH legal team. Further in debt for Karl.
John wrote on August 13, 2007 6:48 PM:It is amazing what you can find on Google! Seriously, I was checking out all the gay rumors about Karl Rove and found that Jeff (the Cannon) Gannon was allowed free reign in the WH by who? you guessed it, Karl and I googled images of Bush and there was this whole serious of photos showing Prez. Bush touching all of these different guys heads! He seemed especially interested in the guys that had shaved heads or close cropped hair!! AND there was a pic of Bush holding Gannon's head and Gannon was whispering in Bush's ear! AND Bush's room mate in college and cheerleader partner, Victor Ashe was supposedly having a gay affair with Bush!!
So, I got to thinking this is kind of like the Night of the Long Knives. Is history repeatig itself?
Code: sticky, I don't even want to go there!
Duckman GR wrote on August 13, 2007 7:01 PM:Rove sick? Ala Lee Atwater? That would be too bad.
Alguien wrote on August 13, 2007 7:05 PM:I am trying to imagine what the title of his memoir would be.
I have a few suggestions:
"Postcards from Ingram, Texas; where wilted TurdBlossoms come home to roost"
"Plamegate: Confessions of the guy that got away"
moondancer wrote on August 13, 2007 7:40 PM:"The hot date that Margaret Spellings missed"
alguien@7:05
Astrid wrote on August 13, 2007 7:46 PM:"Pilsbury doughboy goes to Washington"
Remember this story from The Washington Times on June 29, 1989?
"A homosexual prostitution ring is under investigation by federal and District authorities and includes among its clients key officials of the Reagan and Bush administrations, military officers, congressional aides and US and foreign businessmen with close social ties to Washington's political elite, documents obtained by The Washington Times reveal.
One of the ring's high-profile clients was so well-connected, in fact, that he could arrange a middle-of-the-night tour of the White House for his friends on Sunday, July 3, of last year. Among the six persons on the extraordinary 1 a.m. tour were two male prostitutes.
[. . .]
“Henry Vinson [the operator] said a high level official is going to try to block the investigation and may succeed,” said Mr. Balach, the labor secretary's liaison to the White House. Mr. Vinson said he believes a highly placed federal official, whom he would not name, is working to derail the investigation, but he would not elaborate.
[. . .]
Operators of the ring told The Times that videotapes, audio tapes and still photographs were made of sex acts performed by clients and the call boys, including perverted acts."
http://www.voxfux.com/features/bush_child_sex_coverup/WashingtonTimes.htm
Rove just said he and George had a "friendship of 34 years." Wonder what they were up to in Daddy's WH back in '89. Could it have come back to bite them in the butt?
Max Renn wrote on August 13, 2007 8:27 PM:Larry Flynt Strikes!
TheraP wrote on August 13, 2007 10:46 PM:Interesting anomaly from the press conference. rove made a series of religious statements - which is strange because the man has publicly mentioned that he lacks "faith." If he's got religion and he's got tears, what does it mean?
Word is "public." Soon we will know.
Anonymous wrote on August 14, 2007 12:43 AM:I told you all that the things from the 80's would be coming out soon. The "retirement" of one Karl Rove is a direct result of this. There are more fish to fry, but for now let this one sizzle in the pan. Digest this while you wait, business deals from a shady past may soon trip up another bigger fish. The information is widely suspected but not proven to a certainty. It will soon come to pass. Things with the Bush crew are often right in front of your eyes but explained away. For instance, the moniker turd blossom, often used by Bush for Rove. It has much more meaning then admitted, It is a reference to Roves homosexuality. It speaks to Roves flowering rectum and the Pistal so often held within it. Bush gets off on publicly saying or showing things in a semi-secretive way. The nickname was an insider way of acknowledging and teasing Rove about his sexuality. It is a typical Bush thing. There will be more revelations soon. Enjoy this victory for the meantime.
PJ White wrote on August 14, 2007 3:10 AM:So what Rove's "successes" prove is that the Republicans are masters at getting elected (or figuring out how to steal elections - a very real possibility), but they are totally unfit and unable to govern. Very effective politicians but miserable statesmen. Wow. Hope we don't make that mistake again! And I hope that the incredible power that Bush has wrested from Congress and granted to himself doesn't go to his head (?) and allow him to cancel the 2008 elections. After all, Rove's plan had two parts: (1) Establish a unitary executive and (2) create a permanent Republican majority. The Repugs certainly don't want a unitary executive branch in the hands of the so-called liberal Dems (not nearly liberal enough for me, but that's another story). And it looks like the permanent Republican majority is off the table, so to speak. Could it be that Rove has lost his sparkle, a little tarnish on the "boy genius" perhaps?
Anonymous wrote on August 14, 2007 8:31 AM:I am wondering if Karl's resignation wasn't part of a deal with Congressional Democrats under which the Democrats agreed to warrantless electronic surveillance for national security and the White House agreed to let Rove go. Not surprisingly, the Dems got the raw deal. He will walk scot free.
moondancer wrote on August 14, 2007 9:06 AM:No, I dont know what brought this about, but hes not leaving for family or any other reason than he has to.
JEP wrote on August 14, 2007 10:50 AM:Whether its Flynt, Ig of DOJ, or Fieldings assessment of his legal standing, hes got something big about to pop up, and needs distance from shrub. That makes me think personal scandal, but we will see.
"I'm not going to stay or leave based on whether it pleases the mob."
Didn't Dr. Frankenstien say something similar once?
JEP wrote on August 14, 2007 10:53 AM:Evil Dr. Rovenstien and his Bush monster!
Driven from the castle!
Yet, while the architect flees the mob, the monster still remains.
Anonymous wrote on August 14, 2007 7:03 PM:If some of the above rumors on Kar's sexual preference are true, maybe Larry Flynt has the goods on him!!!!