by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright August 13, 2007
All Rights Reserved.

alling it quits, President George W. Bush's chief strategist and so-called architect of his two presidential victories, Karl Rove, upended conventional wisdom, announcing his resignation. Rove, while credited with Bush's two terms, leaves his job at the end of August with his fingerprints on all of Bush's most damaging controversies, including the Iraq war, Valerie Plame affair and firings of eight U.S. attorneys. For all the genius attributed to Rove, he leaves Bush with some of the lowest approval ratings in modern presidential history. Rove's real genius was capturing religious and social conservatives, who kept Bush close in 2000, squeaking out an Electoral College victory, while losing the popular vote by over 500,000. Truth be told, Sept 11, more than Rove, brought Bush his second term. By 2004, the nation was at war in Iraq and unwilling to change horses in midstream.

      Since the Valerie Plame mess, Rove became a liability, with swirling questions about his role in outing the once covert CIA agent. Syndicated columnist and political pundit Robert Novak fingered Rove as one of his two sources, together with former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, for his July 14, 2003 controversial column revealing her identity. With only 18 months left in Bush's term, the game is one of salvaging a presidential legacy, currently marred by Iraq War. Rove's departure actually helps Bush reclaim a few lost approval ratings, though it's not likely to make much difference. As long as the Iraq War drains the U.S. treasury and causes an ongoing loss of life, Bush's approval ratings will remain low. Roves leaves the White House with a mixed legacy, known as a ruthless political operative who found himself too much in the national headlines.

      Called “Bush's brain,” the clever title of James More and Wayne Slater's (2004) best-selling book, Rove Met Bush in the early 70s while serving as Director of College Republicans. At the request of then U.N. Amb. George H. W. Bush, Rove delivered "W" a set of car keys while attending Harvard Business School. Their paths wouldn't cross again until Bush tried but failed run for congress in 1978. After selling the Texas Rangers in 1993, Bush decided run for governor in 1994 against feisty Democratic Gov. Ann Richards. With Rove's help, Bush trounced Richards [53-46%], a impressive accomplishment considering Richards was a popular incumbent. Rove served as Bush's chief strategist in all his campaigns, earning him the nickname “boy wonder.” Bush considers Rove one of his closest friends. His absence at the White House will take the fun out of being president.

      Rove's exit signals a major change at the White House, no longer consumed with politics but preoccupied with securing Bush's legacy in the final 18 months. “We've been friends a long time and we're still going to be friends . . . I'll be on the road behind you here in a bit,” said Bush, appearing forlorn at Rove's decision to head back to Texas. Bush counted on Rove to battle the left and the endless talking points justifying an unpopular war. He leaves knowing that failures in last November's midterm elections signaled a catastrophic slide in Bush's popularity. “I'm grateful to have been a witness to history. It has been the joy and honor of a lifetime,” Rove told Bush consumed with emotion. “I will join those whom you meet in your travels, the ordinary Americans who tell you they are praying for you,” revealing Rove's true political value capturing the bible-belt vote.

      Rove's correct saying that only prayer can save Bush now. Rove's shenanigans made certain that a dark cloud follows around his presidency, non-responsive to polls or ordinary citizens begging Bush to change directions. Rove's departure indicates that Rove's political skills and presence can only further damage Bush's legacy, light-years from his 90% approval ratings after Sept. 11. More than Rove, 9/11 forged Bush's presidency, boosting his popularity in the wake of the most bitterly contested election in U.S. history. By the time Bush's reelection came in 2004, the country was only year into the Iraq War, unwilling to change upper management. With Democrats scoring big in 2006, it's unlikely the results will be that different in '08, recreating the scenario seen in 1976 when an incumbent Gerald R. Ford lost to a little known, Georgia governor and peanut farmer Jimmy Carter.

      Rove's departure deals a serious blow the intellectual backbone of the Bush presidency. While he's probably better off gone, Rove's departure sucks the oxygen out of the White House. “Obviously, it's a big loss for us,” said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino, an understudy of Vice President Dick Cheney's former press secretary Mary Matlin. “He's a great colleague, a good friend and a brilliant mind. He will be greatly missed . . . “ said Perino, stunned by Rove's announcement. Rove was the aggressive force defending Bush's every move, especially the Iraq War. No one stuck to the talking points better than Rove, insisting the war was an historic fight to save Western civilization. Rove's departure makes one wonder whether “Bush's brain” has been summoned to his next mission: Working tirelessly to defeat Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) bid for the White House.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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