The Twisted Legacy of Rove
By Joe Conason
The New York Observer
Until the ethical and legal questions that trail Karl Rove are answered, his own explanation for abruptly departing the White House must suffice. Perhaps he is the first political operative in history to flee Washington because he actually wants to spend more time with his family.
Why he is leaving matters much less, however, than the opportunities he squandered and the wreckage he leaves behind.
Inevitably, thousands of words will be devoted to his electoral achievements and his ultimate failure to "realign" American politics under right-wing Republican domination - including a book he apparently plans to write. His vision of a new political dispensation proved to be more grandiose than grand. His partisan edifice is fallen into rubble. As "the architect," he turned out to be more journeyman than genius.
If Mr. Rove's pursuit of his objectives was finally frustrated, he certainly exercised enormous influence on decisions and events at a fateful time in our history. His petty nastiness came to matter a great deal, not because of elections won or lost but because of the polarization he sought to exaggerate and exploit. His bad advice to George W. Bush weakened the nation in the name of patriotism.
In the aftermath of 9/11, the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor, Mr. Bush quickly abandoned the example of past wartime presidents who struggled to bring the entire nation together against the enemy. With astronomical approval ratings and extraordinary unity, the President could have accomplished almost anything. But following its political guru's direction, the Bush White House used war as an instrument of Republican political domination - which meant dividing, not uniting, America.
Mr. Rove argued that only Republicans possess the moral strength to protect America from Islamist terror. Whether he personally believed this propaganda or not, it served his efforts to establish Republican hegemony.
Within months after Democrats and Republicans joined arms on the Capitol steps, standing with the President against the jihadists, Mr. Rove told the Republican National Committee that the "war on terror" would become in reality an assault on the loyal opposition. To win the midterm election, the White House would turn on the Democrats who had faithfully supported the invasion of Afghanistan and the USA Patriot Act.
(Continued here.)
The New York Observer
Until the ethical and legal questions that trail Karl Rove are answered, his own explanation for abruptly departing the White House must suffice. Perhaps he is the first political operative in history to flee Washington because he actually wants to spend more time with his family.
Why he is leaving matters much less, however, than the opportunities he squandered and the wreckage he leaves behind.
Inevitably, thousands of words will be devoted to his electoral achievements and his ultimate failure to "realign" American politics under right-wing Republican domination - including a book he apparently plans to write. His vision of a new political dispensation proved to be more grandiose than grand. His partisan edifice is fallen into rubble. As "the architect," he turned out to be more journeyman than genius.
If Mr. Rove's pursuit of his objectives was finally frustrated, he certainly exercised enormous influence on decisions and events at a fateful time in our history. His petty nastiness came to matter a great deal, not because of elections won or lost but because of the polarization he sought to exaggerate and exploit. His bad advice to George W. Bush weakened the nation in the name of patriotism.
In the aftermath of 9/11, the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor, Mr. Bush quickly abandoned the example of past wartime presidents who struggled to bring the entire nation together against the enemy. With astronomical approval ratings and extraordinary unity, the President could have accomplished almost anything. But following its political guru's direction, the Bush White House used war as an instrument of Republican political domination - which meant dividing, not uniting, America.
Mr. Rove argued that only Republicans possess the moral strength to protect America from Islamist terror. Whether he personally believed this propaganda or not, it served his efforts to establish Republican hegemony.
Within months after Democrats and Republicans joined arms on the Capitol steps, standing with the President against the jihadists, Mr. Rove told the Republican National Committee that the "war on terror" would become in reality an assault on the loyal opposition. To win the midterm election, the White House would turn on the Democrats who had faithfully supported the invasion of Afghanistan and the USA Patriot Act.
(Continued here.)
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1 Comments:
In the aftermath of 9/11, the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor, Mr. Rove told the Republican National Committee that the "war on terror" would become in reality an assault on the loyal opposition. "It was a moment to summon our national will."
9/11 + Pearl Harbor = Victory
So, if this concept can work in politics … how about a football game ?
After an embarrassing 21-14 loss Saturday to Louisiana-Monroe, Alabama’s Head Coach Nick Saban tried to motivate his team by citing the 9-11 terrorist attacks and Pearl Harbor.
Here’s the link
So the obvious question, is Louisiana-Monroe the Japanese and next week’s opponent and in-state rival, Auburn, is al-Qaeda ?
Not a smart move by the coach as Auburn is nationally ranked, but maybe if everyone in America “summons our national will." Alabama will be able to “assault the loyal opposition.”
Roll Tide … for America and the War on Terror !
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