Rove To Resign
By California Yankee Posted in Archived — Comments (7) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Karl Rove, President Bush's longtime political adviser, is resigning as White House deputy chief of staff effective Aug. 31, and returning to Texas. Rove announced the resignation plans during in an interview with Paul Gigot, editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page:
In the interview, Mr. Rove said he expects Democrats to give the 2008 presidential nomination to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, whom he described as "a tough, tenacious, fatally flawed candidate." He also said Republicans have "a very good chance" to hold onto the White House in next year's elections.Mr. Rove also said he expects the president's approval rating to rise again, and that conditions in Iraq will improve as the U.S. military surge continues. He said he expects Democrats to be divided this fall in the battle over warrantless wiretapping, while the budget battle -- and a series of presidential vetoes -- should help Republicans gain an edge on spending restraint and taxes.
In a related editorial Gigot writes that Rove remains optimistic about the outlook for the GOP:
He says young people are if anything more pro-life and free-market than older Americans, and that, despite the difficulties in Iraq, the country doesn't want to be defeated there or in the fight against Islamic terror. He recalls how Democrats thought driving the U.S. out of Vietnam would also help them politically. "Instead, Democrats have suffered ever since on national security," he says.[. . .]
As for 2008, he says, Americans "do want change," but "every election is a change election"; even in 1988, when Ronald Reagan was popular, the Gipper famously said at the nominating convention for George H. W. Bush that, "We are the change." Adds Mr. Rove, "I don't want to be Pollyanish about it, but if we keep our nerve and represent big things, we'll win."
Regarding the 2006 thumpin', Rove said his biggest error was in not working soon enough to replace Republicans tainted by scandal. No argument about that here.
Rove has advised President Bush for more than a decade, working with him closely since Mr. Bush first announced he was running for governor of Texas in 1993 and serving as chief strategist in his presidential campaign in 2000.
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Rove To Resign 7 Comments (0 topical, 7 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
"His biggest error, Mr. Rove says, was in not working soon enough to replace Republicans tainted by scandal."
I found this hindsight/admission rather interesting only because from the looks of the news lately, it appears that the Merry Maids have finally arrived at the Capital and the Congressional house cleaning have begun.
It has even been said by the Big Dawgs here at RS that until the Republicans clean their own house, things, mainly elections outcome, will be difficult for them going forward. This a message that I strongly agree with and one that seems to be resonating throughout the party!
I agree with Rove that we have a great chance in 08. It looks like the enforcement laws that are on the books already on immigration will be enforced (finally), it looks like some of the corruption investigations are 'shaking up' Congress a bit before the run for 08. Primary candidates are emerging in some areas, the lack of effort to reform earmarks and the reversals in Iraq are starting to rattle the Dumbacrats, etc.... The stars appear to be aligning well.
Hell, Feinstein turned on her party on FISA and now on the latest judical appointment of Judge Southwick, sending her to the floor for a vote!!....Is DiFi a little nervous about being investigated and trying to 'make nice' with GWB?? Ya gotta wonder.
I hate to see Rove leave only because the hay that will be made of it in the Natl. Media and the Dem Party, but I think that we have not really heard the last of Rove.
Thanks for your service Mr. Rove.
Here come the trolls. We might as well front page a diary named Ron Paul! Ron Paul! Ron Paul! so we can get critical mass.
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent.
The liberals running Congress will try to twist this into an admission of guilt from Rove that he has done something illegal and unethical, although they'll be short on specifics. The media has already tried to say this "reinforces Bush's lame-duck stature and declining influence." The pot shots will inevitablly keep rolling.
For conservatives reading into this announcement, I look back to the "retirement" of Karen Hayes, who although no longer an official staffer for the White House has remained a close adviser to the President. Mr. Rove's "retirement" could very well mean that unsaddled with the fast pace of life inside the West Wing, he may be able to step back and do what he does best - strategy. And if Rove does take on a more strategic role outside the White House, Democrats may not have seen the last blueprints from the Architect...
conservative candidate in the field. RonPaul™, RonPaul™, RonPaul™.
____
CongressCritter™: Never have so few felt like they were owed so much by so many for so little.
In the original WSJ interview Rove states that he believes the GOP can win in the 2008 election.
I wonder what Roves sees to make him say that. I wonder why he picked now to leave AND say that. He could have made that statement w/o resigning. He could have resigned w/o making that statement. There is purpose behind this. Wonder what it might be
But really what does Rove have to fear? Plame is done. The whole Federal attorney /AG thing? No crime in the first place, no testimony from Rove so no perjury.
If anyone is to fear it is the DNC and HRC. ‘Cry HAVOC! And let slip the GOP Dog of War!’
(sorry about that Will)
M. Rove end up working with?
" in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
Abe Lincoln