(WaPo) Newsview: Rove Put Too Much on His Plate

[ProSense]

Newsview: Rove Put Too Much on His Plate

By RON FOURNIER
The Associated Press
Wednesday, April 19, 2006; 4:18 PM

WASHINGTON -- Karl Rove bit off more than he could chew. Basking in triumph after President Bush's re-election, the White House adviser took a promotion and added policymaking to his already jam-packed portfolio. It was a mistake _ one that may have contributed to the president's slump _ and so he's been told to focus on his old job: politics.

Technically, it is a demotion. But in terms of real power and influence, Rove remains virtually unmatched at the White House.

Snip...

Democrats dismiss the shake-up as "window dressing," and even some Republicans say it won't dent public perceptions.

Snip....

Democrats like to imagine a White House without Rove and his track record of success.

"The president has abundant reason to fire Karl Rove," said Democratic Party chairman Howard Dean.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/19/AR2006041901900.html?nav=rss_nation/special

Imagine? Is this a GOP press release?

[FSogol]

1. Just look at his waist-line. Of course he put too much on his plate. n/t

[partylessinOhio]

3. You beat me to that comment!

I always called Rove the fat doughboy.

[dchill]

2. I wonder if he's still in charge...

of the "Katrina Rebuilding Effort" - that was an excellent display of Dear Leader's decision making ability, wasn't it?

[gratuitous]

4. Yeah, how is that Katrina project coming, Karl?

I wonder who he answers to on that, and if he'll be issuing regular reports on what he's doing and what he hopes to do?

[dchill]

5. Uh, I'm just guessing...

but I think we've seen all we're gonna see on the Karl-Katrina affair.

[calimary]

6. Hey, the way's clear now to put contradicta on it!

He's already furthered the fuck-up down there. Now, bush's nanny can step in and close the deal. After all, she won the tug-of-war with rummy over who'd be "coordinator" of post-war Iraq. Hey, what a capital job she's done THERE, 'eh?

(I LOVE reminding people about that one!) :evilgrin:

[ProSense]

7. Has Rove’s Security Clearance Been Revoked?

Has Rove’s Security Clearance Been Revoked?

This morning, the White House announced that Karl Rove will step down from his policy post and resume his focus on the midterm elections. An important question has not been asked: Will Rove also give up his security clearance?

To this day, Rove has maintained his security clearance in spite of evidence that he mishandled classified information regarding Valerie Wilson’s position at the CIA. Rove was named as in the indictment of Scooter Libby as “Official A.”

An Executive Order 12958, signed by President Clinton in 1995, states disclosure of an undercover agent is grounds for, at a minimum, losing access to classified information:

Section 5.1: Violation means: any knowing, willful, or negligent action that could reasonably be expected to result in an unauthorized disclosure of classified information.

Section 5.7.d: The agency head, senior agency official, or other supervisory official shall, at a minimum, promptly remove the classification authority of any individual who demonstrates reckless disregard or a pattern of error in applying the classification standards of this order.

In November, Newsweek wrote, “Having his security clearance yanked would not require Rove to resign as deputy chief of staff to President Bush. But it would prevent him from taking part in policymaking that relates to national-security issues, which would mean a much-reduced role in the Bush White House.”

more...

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/04/19/rove-security-clearance/

[dchill]

8. He needs that Security Clearance...

to get info on W's political rivals. If Rove can't play dirty, then he can't play at all. To revoke it would be an act of treason!

[smoochpooch]

9. Exactly,

Has he ever won without playing dirty or breaking the law?

[dchill]

10. No.

Neither has W.

[IChing]

11. This is Bullshit....

He will be able to focus all of his powers and energies at the taxpayers expensive for the fall election.
Character assassination, voter fraud, lies, media manipulation etc.

Hasn't been an election since the last one he worked on and they stole.

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. Too bad no one feels like enforcing the Hatch Act

which obviously only applies to DEM VP's who might have made a few fundraising calls from the WH.

[peacetheonlyway]

12. Election Rigging is a Fulltime Job (But Rove will Still Be at Policy Helm)

Don't think for one second this is not a carefully orchestrated, meticulously timed effort to give Karl Rove more power and less accountability/spotlight.

Just like in swordfish, we are being told he is not playing a policy role, but do any of us really believe that?

it is going to take Fitzpatrick to rid his sorry turdblossom self from the white house, or else we will have the continued power and influence of that man regardless of his new title..

my true belief is that this is a pre-emptive move sorta like McKinney's apology to try to appease a machine intent on indicting Rove.. realizing he controls the very machine that makes RIGGING ELECTIONS POSSIBLE.. they are doing anything they can to keep him in power under a rising tide of recognition by the public that Rove is a bald faced criminal...