What images do you conjure up when you hear the name Karl Rove? Strategist? Presidential Advisor? Campaign king? Political history buff? or maybe controversy? Liar? Charlatan? Drop out? Traitor? or the infamous term “Bush’s Brain”?
In the autumn election season of 1970, a cherubic, bespectacled teenager turned up at the Chicago campaign headquarters of Alan Dixon, a Democrat running for state treasurer in Illinois. No one paid the newcomer much attention when he arrived, or when he left soon afterwords. Nor did anyone in the office make the connection between the mystery volunteer and 1,000 invitations on campaign stationery that began circulating in Chicago’s red-light district and soup kitchens, promising “free beer, free food, girls and a good time for nothing” for all-comers at Dixon’s headquarters.
As political dirty tricks go, it was minor league. Hundreds of the city’s heavy drinkers and homeless turned up at a smart Dixon reception looking for free booze. Dixon was embarrassed but the plot failed to stop his momentum: he was elected state treasurer and went on to become a senator. But the teenager who stole his letterheads, Karl Rove, has gone even further.
Mr. Rove has made a significant impact on American history then and even more so now. He’s been the master strategist working the strings of the political puppets in many republican circuits and today is considered by many, the most powerful advisor in politics.
Though the most widely known political figure in the world today is not Rove but our president George W. Bush. However, knowing Mr. Bush’s verbal communicative skills, social habits and quick wit decision making process, you know that he didn’t get where he is today without some help. “Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain” – and that man is Karl Rove.
Rove is an avid student of history and the political process, however, as he understands it backwards, forwards, loopholes and around corners. He is smart, shrewd, calculating and egotistical all with out a college degree. He attended the University of Utah, the University of Texas at Austin and George Mason University, however, he’s dropped out of each and does not hold a degree from any institution. Yet Karl Rove has risen through the rakes mearly by doing all things possible, public officials dear not do for their cause; playing a hard nosed, down and dirty game of politics.
Although he worked on George H. Bush’s primary campaign for president in 1980, his early successes were in Texas working the political ladder for a small circle of Republicans through the state. Rove won his first key victories in the rise of power through the successful run and Texas election of George W. Bush to the governors seat in 1994.
From that point on, Karl Rove influence has ballooned as has the Republican party – albeit not always on good faith and morals as they would have you believe. Right now the Republicans hold a majority in the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Presidency. A solid trifecta of power which has disillusioned the democrats and dissolved any remnants of political influence and power they had. The final step to complete reb-blooded republican dominance is the Supreme Court and as cautious conservatism is being pushed off the scale with the nominations of John Roberts and Harriet Miers (should she get appointed). Where does the conquest end? For egoists and power whores, it never does but you’re sure to see the lasting effects of this expansion with extreme changes in the decisions for freedoms, foreign policies and lifestyles for not only the American but world nation people as well.
Today. If you haven’t been hiding from the political pages of the news, you know that there is an on going investigation into the public disclosure of the name of one of our CIA undercover agents. This type of disclosure of any undercover operative, puts that person, their family and their mission into grave jeopardy. And if they survive all of this, their job is over, ruining their career. This type of action is inexcusable for any reason and should be subject to treason charges for the parties involved (which in this country could mean life in prison).
Special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald has accumulated evidence during his two-year investigation regarding this still on going leak case and it has become apparent that the motives behind the ousting of this CIA agent (Valerie Plame) is in retaliation against her husband, Joseph C. Wilson IV. In the summer of 2003, Wilson, a former diplomat, strongly accused the White House of using “twisted” and false intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq.
[Joseph Wilson claimed firsthand evidence: At the behest of the CIA, he had flown to Niger in February 2002 to investigate the administration’s assertion that Iraq was trying to purchase uranium in the African nation for use in its nuclear weapons program. Wilson returned unconvinced the assertion was true. However, Bush himself made the charge in his 2003 State of the Union address, prompting Wilson to spread word throughout the government and eventually make public his rebuttal. (From the Washington Post article noted below)
The motive is clear. The revenge is damaging and reeks of Karl Rove. He is currently under oath and speaking with the commission on his role and knowledge of the case, however, it’s be come clearer that he has a connection to the case and the pressure is on to show how connected.
To take a side track, I realize that the majority of people in America could care less about politics. As long as they have their paycheck, air to breath, are getting some and just going along in life – happy go lucky. Its becoming increasingly clear that politics is effecting younger and younger generations. As I get older I realize this, but I understand at 21, the first thing on my mind after that Friday exam is hitting the beer fridge at 3 PM…
Maybe political and economic event always hit every generation around 30, but the CIA Leak case is just one in a series of events that show how undermining and deceiving our current government is (and you would think that forging uranium purchasing papers to start a war would be enough for a public out cry). I’m sure Karl Rove isn’t loosing sleep over this nuisance and he’ll be back to As time passes we are going to see a fanning out of issues we all have to deal with “business” however, this shouldn’t discourage any generation from getting involved with your own or next generation’s futures. We are continuing to have issues effecting younger gens; from rising education costs (US 1, 2, UK), the depletion of oil and other energy reserves, political unrest in other areas of the world (Korea, Syria, Iran, and Nepal?), the astronomical US National debt, rising healthcare costs, censorship or more directly the over-concentration of U.S. media control, separation of church and state *cough*, right to choose (abortion), and your Tuesday night hold’em tournament…
What country before ever existed a century & half without a rebellion? & what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon & pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants. It is its natural manure.
~Thomas Jefferson : Letter to William Stephens Smith (November 13, 1787)
Reference Links:
Role of Rove, Libby in CIA Leak Case Clearer (Washington Post)
Timeline: The CIA Leak Case (against Karl Rove) (NPR)
Leak Counsel Is Said to Press on Rove’s Role (New York Times)