WA PO: "It was the president who executed the plans and earnned the vote"

Fall Elections Are Rove's Next Test
Reputation as Architect of Victory at Stake

By Jim VandeHei and Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, June 17, 2006; A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/16/AR2006061602015_pf.html

White House political strategist Karl Rove emerges from the CIA leak case with his reputation scuffed, his power slightly diminished, and Republicans counting on him, once again, to help rescue their House and Senate majorities. Described by friends as relieved and recharged after getting the news this week that he will not be indicted in the leak probe, Rove now faces another verdict this fall over his abilities as a political strategist and his ambition to build an enduring GOP majority. Rove's reputation as a campaign operative is unparalleled -- he is hailed by President Bush as the architect of his 2004 reelection -- but his judgment in melding politics and policy into an effective governing strategy has been called into question in the president's second term. Bush endured the worst stretch of his presidency when Rove's powers inside the White House were at their peak.

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The record, they say, speaks for itself: Rove was the architect of a series of victories for Bush -- the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, as well as the 2002 midterms -- that left Democrats demoralized and divided. While it might be Washington myth that Rove is responsible for all of Bush's wins -- after all, it was the president who executed the plans and earned the vote :spray: -- the balding Texan with the mischievous grin gets much of the credit in the eyes of Republicans and Democrats alike.

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His assignment to shape strategy for the midterm elections is no easy task considering the public's low opinion of Bush and Congress. Rove has gained a reputation for running polarizing campaigns aimed at maximizing the turnout of the GOP's conservative base. But he also had success in 2004 with policy proposals designed to chip away at Democratic or swing constituencies such as Hispanics, suburban women and Roman Catholics. Republican divisions on immigration show the limitations of that strategy, but it is not likely that Rove will abandon it.

determined to create a long term repuke majority.

we all might like to minimize rove -- but for my money that's a mistake.

only paralelled by democratic party elected officials who run away from left wing politics.

i despise rove -- and for my money rove has learned on e thing and carries it to extremes -- he has learned that a good offense beats a good defense every time.

and he is relentless.

rove has also learned to fashion and use a huge tool -- the right wing media and the MAINSTREAM MEDIA.

few political power brokers have emerged in modern history with rove's deep, deep connections --and his connections are only too eager to give him whatever he wants.

...and the basis for a statement I make frequently, which is anyone interested in winning an election in which Rove is involved needs to commit to taking down Rove. Period.

He's relentless, but he's relentless without a shred of conscience. It's all about winning. Lives and careers destroyed in the balance through dirty tricks and character assassination are simply considered to be collateral damage.

In a Rove-orchestrated campaign, the "candidate" is not the opponent. Rove is the opponent.

first is the problem we continually have with beltway dems.

second is that there are too many dem powerbrokers who guilty of two things.

first is that they don't know their own current political history -- a guy like rove doesn't spring from the mind of zeus full blown{i.e. they not sufficiently aware of paul weyrich, leo strauss, etc}

second -- they are lulled into looking for that political middle road{a modern myth if there ever was one} because they fear ''leftists'' would lose even more corporate support -- that supposes that embracing what they are defeats them.
and that corporatism is an accomplished fact and inevitable.

the beautiful right out of America. We need someone to put it back in.

By a compliant corporate controlled media and a corrupt voting system can steal elections. Or as was the case in 2000 could not steal it and had to have a compliant SCOTUS hand it to his candidate illegally and unconstitutionally.

It's just incredible to see the never ending Republican asskissing from these PRE$$TITUTE$!

NOBODY at the Whoreshington Post is a reporter anymore. ALL of them are now $TENOGRAPHER$ for the Republican Party and they flaunt their brown lipstick. I swear, Hitler, Mao and Stalin never got their ass kissed as much as Bush does.

In fact, why don't these liars just go all the way and change the name of their propaganda rag to Pravda?