A Tough Road Ahead for Rove

[CatWoman]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 — Karl Rove, the top White House political strategist, is coming off the worst election defeat of his career to face a daunting task: saving the president’s agenda with a Congress not only controlled by Democrats, but also filled with Republican members resentful of the way he and the White House conducted the losing campaign.

White House officials say President Bush has every intention of keeping Mr. Rove on through the rest of his term. And Mr. Rove’s associates say he intends to stay, with the goal of at least salvaging Mr. Bush’s legacy and, in the process, his own.

But serious questions remain about how much influence Mr. Rove can wield and how high a profile he can assume in Washington after being so closely identified with this year’s Republican losses, not to mention six years of often brutal attacks on the same Democrats in line to control Congress for the remainder of Mr. Bush’s presidency.

Things have not gotten off to a great start since the election. Democrats are taking Mr. Rove’s continued influence at the White House — as well as some of its recent moves, like nominating conservative judges for the federal bench — as a sign that Mr. Bush’s conciliatory pledges of bipartisanship will prove to be fleeting.

“Karl’s role has not been to serve as a bridge over troubled waters; he has tried to stir the waters as often as possible,” said Senator Richard J. Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who will be the second-most powerful person in the Senate next year. “Maybe he got religion on Nov. 7, but we’ll see

Mr. Rove declined to be interviewed for this article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/19/washington/19rove.html?hp&ex=1163912400&en=3d7666a9cf7533df&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[TheCowsCameHome]

1. Gee, that's tough. Bulldozer tracks are hard to get off of your back

Couldn't be happening to a more deserving guy.

[TygrBright]

2. uh-huh...

>>White House officials say President Bush has every intention of keeping Mr. Rove on through the rest of his term.<<

And HOW many days was it, after asserting "Rummy is here for the duration," that Rummy was pushed under the bus?

Be afraid, Turdblossom. Be very afraid.

Schadenfreudenly,
Bright

[Ksec]

3. Its nice to watch him crumble

I cant stand the guy and he deserves all the negativity he gets.

You Reap what ya sow and all.

[gumby]

4. "Mr. Rove declined to be interviewed for this article."

Well..... duh!!!

However, Rove will resort to Bush As Governor mode. When Bush was Governor of Texas, the Dem lege would pass popular bills over his objections. Then Bush would declare Victory and declare Bipartisanship.

That's the old-but-new model. If the Dems pass an increase in the minimum wage, Bush will take credit for it..... and so on... all the while playing the 'bipartisan' card. "Uniter, not a Divider" will be the spiel-o-the-day.

Eeeeevvvveeeerrrryyyooonnnee will simply LUV him before too long... or everyone will be unanimous on impeaching his ass.

[Generic Brad]

5. Rove has outlived his usefulness in the Republican party

He has been in Washington so long that he no longer knows what resonates with the common man. It is much harder to trick people when they no longer fall for the usual bullshit.

[Human Torch]

6. Rove only knows one thing..."winning"...

...and that's why the GOP made him their own Personal Jesus (hat tip to D.M.)...

But he failed, and the GOP hates the stench of failure from within its own ranks more than it hates the Democrats or the American people.

Rove failed. Rove's no longer a brain or a genius or an architect. He's a fat motherfu**er who failed. Say good night, Karl.

:patriot:

[napi21]

7. Hi Cat. I hope Durbin is able to get through to all the other Dems

that this bipartisamship story is a scam, and that the Dems start paying back with the same treatment they've received for the last 5 years!