Post-Rove thinking under way at White House

[liberal N proud]

Bush administration mulls effects of CIA leak case
By Jim VandeHei and Peter Baker
Washington Post
Updated: 2:50 a.m. ET Oct. 21, 2005
WASHINGTON - At 7:30 each morning, President Bush's senior staff gathers to discuss the important issues of the day -- Middle East peace, the Harriet Miers nomination, the latest hurricane bearing down on the coast. Everything, that is, except the issue on everyone's mind.

With special counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald driving his CIA leak investigation toward an apparent conclusion, the White House now confronts the looming prospect that no one in the building is eager to address: a Bush presidency without Karl Rove. In a capital consumed by scandal speculation, most White House senior officials are no more privy than outsiders to the prosecutor's intentions. But the surreal silence in the Roosevelt Room each morning belies the nervous discussions racing elsewhere around the West Wing.

Out of the hushed hallway encounters and one-on-one conversations, several scenarios have begun to emerge if Rove or vice presidential chief of staff I. Lewis Libby is indicted and forced out...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9757854/

[Clark2008]

1. The question should be: "Can their BE a Bush presidency

without Karl Rove?"

Without Rove, Bush is a little more than a limp marionette.

[xchrom]

2. yes -- karen hughes.

i imagine that she has rove's play book.

[Skidmore]

6. And she's stupid in a different way than Rove.

She's the happy-talk maven. The "but you're not telling the positive news" type. If you think he appears out of touch now, wait till she takes over. Can his number go into negative territory?

[Sal Minella]

7. If Hughes tells * the Constitution says a president can crown himself

King for Life, we may be in for interesting times.

[bluestateguy]

3. Bush without Rove is like a 2 year old without his mommy

[cassiepriam]

4. C'mon, Rove is not the only repug who is evil and full of dirty tricks.

He can be replaced. In a second.

[DistressedAmerican]

5. Unless He Has Something Up His Sleeve They Are Toast!