Is it now finally occuring to us in DU that Rove is incompetent himself?

[Writer]

Okay, okay. Bush ain't helping. Bush's mouth runs amok with comments such as how he's going to rebuild Trent Lott's house and his guileless "hey, gotta run, but I'm not going to forget this!"

I mean really. Karl Rove was supposed to be some type of genius. But the more I consider Karl, as a whole, the more I believe Karl only gained his comeuppance from 19 terrorists killing 3000 Americans on September 11, 2001. Other than that, I suppose, we can say that he "brilliantly" stole 2000. Otherwise, he's been flat-out incompetent. He's been incompetent because, quite frankly, he forgot an all-important factor in his political calculus: Reality.

But hey, Bush might have a way out. He can fire Rove and still look like a prince! Really, now, it's quite easy. See, Rove illegally leaked the name of a covert CIA agent to the press. I know - it's a big secret, but since Rove's incompetence in covering up for Bush's incompetence creates the need for a little awkward house-cleaning, Bush needs all the excuses he can muster.

Excuses. The White House is very good at excuses. C'mon, George, do yourself a favor and get rid of Karl... okay?

[goclark]

1. Karl is losing his touch

He doesn't have enough pull to get the media back in check.

[belle]

2. Rove's "genius" is mainly this: sheer, unmitigated gall.

You wouldn't think it'd be enough, would you, when the man pulls the same tricks again and again. The problem is, most people don't think like total sociopaths, yes, even in politics. They take a microsecond or two to consider the consequences, or even god forbid worry about the ethics, if they try to fight as dirty as he does. And those who don't even get down in the mud with him are often left with their mouths simply hanging open at what appears to be not only completely shameless and evil, but ultimately *stupid,* since it doesn't consider the long-term (from the Bushteam point of view) at all. "He can't really mean that, can he? He did *not* just do that, did he? He wouldn't. He COULDN'T." But by then, he could and he did.

After that, a mix of shame at being taken in by such a dirty little scumbag and fear of someone who doesn't seem to have any scruples or even any sense sets in.

[Skittles]

5. he does things decent human beings cannot do because of a conscience

that's Rove's "genius"

[Imagevision]

14. Rove is so yesterday - when Rove uses the same tactics again and again you

know even the architect is having problems with his pupil.

http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[lumpy]

3. He is no brain.

Parasites have little sucking brains.

[eleny]

4. NOLA is too big - too big for anyone

The mistake was to shoot for the moon - bet the wad that it wouldn't happen while W was in office. They gambled and lost bigger than big.

[Canuckistanian]

6. Some things he did WERE sheer brilliance

I remember my AH-HA! moment when I realized the double-reverse switcheroo they pulled on Dan Rather.

Taking some true, but damaging information on Shrub and putting it in a faked document. Well, of course the gullible and simple-minded came to their own conclusion (with a little help) that the WHOLE STORY about TANG was false.

When I realized how the wool was pulled over the whole country's eyes for that short period, I silently applauded the sheer audacity of it all.

If only Democrats had the same guile.

[hlthe2b]

7. I hope he is frogmarched away shortly...but I surely wouldn't

count him out if he is not--- He has NO scruples. People like that are dangerous, whether smart or merely devious.

[applegrove]

8. What makes you think Bush standing down for 4 days with

the troops wasn't Rove's idea? I don't think Bush comes to these ideas himself. There was a meeting on Monday for an hour where they discussed troops. And decided not. And then when the levy broke what did they do?

Nothing.

You think Rove is much more benign that he actually is. There were a number of reasons a riot or day of two of lawlessness would suit Rove fine. One being that it would help bush reconnect with his base. Another being that it gave them a chance to 'teach the people' harsh lessons in the ways of Bush world - personal responsibility and "they were told to leave". Which is ridiculous for people with no cars or sick or who have no insurance and wanted to protect all they had in the world. Then there is the contemptible way in which Bush/Rove/Cheney fill positions with unqualified hacks to diminish the organizations these people are supposed to run. We all know bolton is at the UN to take it apart. Was Brown at Fema to make FEMA look bad? So corporations can step in. Just another simple decision in the grand plan. EXCEPT FEMAS JOB IS DISASTERS. And coordination & pre-planing on rescues.

Now the architect of these things and the politics (remember the guy is now in charge of policy too - as if it is new) the architect is not some bubbling fool. He is someone who takes great pleasure in winning and diminishing others. The complete opposite of a Saint. Would Rove enjoy a riot? Yup! Would it perhaps not cross his mind as he was advising the president on action that these were families and children who needed rescue? I don't think he sees families and children that way. They are objects.

And someone who thinks human beings are objects was a close adviser the the President. So close he couldn't leave his side during the holiday and had to be put up in a trailer.

How come when the levy's broke on Tuesday - how come the cavalry was not called up then? Why wait two whole days? The looting had started a bit. There could have been another meeting on calling in the army. The order set and then the Mayor and Governor called to say - the army was on there way so the paperwork should be done.

I think this was just some weird, conscienceless grand experiment where private enterprise would show its efficiency and a few political points could be scored and Bush/Rove could impress the rich people he covets so much.

There is always political opportunity in every tragedy for a Rove - just like corporations find benefit to even a just war. Would it make a great smoke screen for the fall? How about Canada getting furious the week before and beginning to talk about looking at our NAFTA Agreement to consider repealing it because US was not playing fair with dispute settlement mechanisms. That got wiped off really quick cause of Katrina. So a humanitarian crisis was helpful. In fact, by Wednesday, the very Canadian Lumber Companies who have been so mistreated ... were calling their foes in the U.S. and asking where & how to send all the free lumber (no duties on these) for the victims.

Does that mean Rove & Cheney & Bush were too busy on the phone with corporations discussing the opportunity of Katrina to pay enough attention to the actual crisis? Were they just busy with their true people the CEOS?

At the very least - an adviser the the President during a devastating crisis knows enough to know to call in a "bill clinton" if they are having trouble working things out with the mayor - if the mayor of a small city happens to be inexperienced in disaster management and cannot handle the biggest single disaster U.S. soil has ever seen.

They stood down. And let a vacuum happen. Why? What was the "payoff"? We may never know. But neither one of them should be aloud together near an important decision again.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

9. I believe he isn't and wasn't ever a genius, but

was simply well practiced at the art of deception, and all kinds of dirty tricks, and anything at all that would help his side.

And being without scruples he was without limit as to what he could do, something most people, even politicians, cannot do.

Will not do.

Practice makes perfect. He's been doing it since the 1970's.

[JugDack]

10. Sorry, he'll pull this one out, too.

Keep watching. It's already happening. The poll that showed people were evenly divided on Bush's response to Katrina, the change in emphasis from the Fed response to the State/Local one, etc. Plus, now he's got the SCOTUS to distract everybody with.

Bush is headed back up in the polls big time - Rove has won this war.

[Imagevision]

19. JUG> I disagree, Katrina Iraq gas prices too much to handle 4 Rove

know even the architect is having problems with his pupil.

http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[Vickers]

11. Appealing to the basest instincts of the most misinformed group of

citizens is not genius.

[Totally Committed]

12. Far from it... incompetent?

He has sucessfully, alomost single-handedly (a nod to Karen Hughes and his Neo-Con evil minions as well) kept Bush in office. He has given Bush a coat of Teflon that repels all.

Incompetent? I'm not sure if he will get off the hook for the Plame business, but I know he has made it possible for Bush to get away with murder.

I usually agree with you on most things, but on this... we mush agree to disagree.

Karl Rove is a lot of things, but "incompeteent", he ain't.

TC

[Imagevision]

13. Everything Bush parrots is out of Rove's mind - we know this and

it is difficult for Bush to just repeat what The Rove plan for the day is, example: you can try to sound like Elvis but you may sound foolish as does Bush sound so utterly rediculous with his words and animations to resemble a president.

Rove's futile lessons to Bush just aren't working...Rove is so yesterday!


http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[Arkana]

15. The poisoner always succumbs to his own poison.

Even Atwater recanted on his deathbed.

[warrens]

16. He is very competent at changing the subject, smearing his enemies

And intimidating the press. Otherwise, he's a total fuckup, but that's all he really needs.

[chomskysright]

17. Sorry: this is planned: MALEVOLENT NEGLECT & ...

how much will the people put up with? Yes, this is the LIHOP and MIHOP argument but they overlap to a significant degree here.

[The Sleeper]

18. Genius ?

If he was such a fucking genius, why did he pick such an obvious neer-do-well gutless punk-ass brainfried can't stick to a simple speech dimwit to hitch his star to ?

On the other hand, sociopaths reconize and nurture their own, don't they ?

[McCamy Taylor]

20. Rove thinks he is smarter than he is. Understands nada of the Deep South.

If he did, his number one priority would have been to select a LEADER and have * present that LEADER to the South as the chosen Hero to LEAD them to the Promised Land. All the rest, the photo ops, the blame casting, the Halliburton Contracts, would have come second. The LEADER should have been chosen no later than day 2 after the flood waters rose and should have been on the ground in the affected area that same day. He should have been someone with a good TV presence, someone people already know and trust. Bill Clinton would have been perfect. Al Gore would have been great too--everyone knows he is real brainy and understands science.

Since the South is always very clear on hierarchies, there never would have been any doubt that the LEADER answered to the PRESIDENT, and the PRESIDENT had chosen the LEADER.By giving the South the LEADER it required in a time of crisis, * would have proven his own ability to be SUPREME LEADER.

But Rove fucked up, creating a LEADERSHIP vacuum instead. And the South can tolerate a lot of things in times of crisis but not a lack of leadership.