King-Maker Karl Departs
The big news this morning is that Karl Rove has announced he will be leaving the Bush administration to, of course, "spend more time with his family". For Bush opponents, there probably couldn't be better news. For patriots, it's the end of a diabolical partnership and a shameful era.
Rove and George W. Bush began working together in 1993 and Rove proved an effective campaign director as he took Bush from a mostly unsuccessful and little-noted son of a former President to Governor of Texas and 43rd President of the United States. Rove's tactics were often criticized as being cynical but he largely ignored his critics. When asked this morning if he were leaving the White House under pressure regarding his role in the politicizing of justice department hirings, his response demonstrated his opinion of republican government: "I'm not going to leave or stay based on whether it pleases the mob."
The retreat of Karl Rove is reason for celebration, for many reasons. He took scorched earth politics to a new level, dividing the country and proving he cares more about ideology and his party than the good of the people. Rove used fear to manipulate voters, which, though effective to a degree (he won two elections for Bush while losing the popular vote in the first and winning reelection by a historically low percentage in the second) never creates a lasting mandate for success in governing. His polarizing style was often called Macchiavellian, but the philosopher would have warned him that galvanizing opponents is more often a path to ultimate defeat, not victory. In the end he proved far better at getting George W. Bush elected than at helping him run the country.
It is said that Karl Rove wanted to leave a legacy of a permanent Republican majority. He's failed at that - Bush will almost certainly be succeeded by a Democrat and Congress looks likely to remain Democratic for some time to come. His legacy will instead be a further polarized country and a dangerously divided Middle East. His departure from the White House is far overdue. Goodbye Karl, and good riddance.
UPDATE: Many good articles all over the web today about Rove resigning.
I like this editorial from the NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/opinion/14tue1.html
And if you're a conservative, you'll appreciate David Frum's take (he's a former Bush admin. member) here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/opinion/14frum.html
Leave a comment if you'd like.
Rove and George W. Bush began working together in 1993 and Rove proved an effective campaign director as he took Bush from a mostly unsuccessful and little-noted son of a former President to Governor of Texas and 43rd President of the United States. Rove's tactics were often criticized as being cynical but he largely ignored his critics. When asked this morning if he were leaving the White House under pressure regarding his role in the politicizing of justice department hirings, his response demonstrated his opinion of republican government: "I'm not going to leave or stay based on whether it pleases the mob."
The retreat of Karl Rove is reason for celebration, for many reasons. He took scorched earth politics to a new level, dividing the country and proving he cares more about ideology and his party than the good of the people. Rove used fear to manipulate voters, which, though effective to a degree (he won two elections for Bush while losing the popular vote in the first and winning reelection by a historically low percentage in the second) never creates a lasting mandate for success in governing. His polarizing style was often called Macchiavellian, but the philosopher would have warned him that galvanizing opponents is more often a path to ultimate defeat, not victory. In the end he proved far better at getting George W. Bush elected than at helping him run the country.
It is said that Karl Rove wanted to leave a legacy of a permanent Republican majority. He's failed at that - Bush will almost certainly be succeeded by a Democrat and Congress looks likely to remain Democratic for some time to come. His legacy will instead be a further polarized country and a dangerously divided Middle East. His departure from the White House is far overdue. Goodbye Karl, and good riddance.
UPDATE: Many good articles all over the web today about Rove resigning.
I like this editorial from the NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/opinion/14tue1.html
And if you're a conservative, you'll appreciate David Frum's take (he's a former Bush admin. member) here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/opinion/14frum.html
Leave a comment if you'd like.
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