Los Angeles Times: GOP at a loss? Karl Rove has an 11th-hour plan to win

[Penndems]

He taps government resources to boost candidates in need.

By Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten, Times Staff Writers
October 29, 2006


During a whirlwind five-hour trip to bolster an endangered GOP congressman's reelection prospects, White House political guru Karl Rove last week delivered a fiery speech to 500 party activists, then shook every available hand and posed for snapshots like a rock star. He toured suburbs recently trashed by a snowstorm. He also found time to huddle with local strategists.

But the most significant element of Rove's effort to help four-term Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds keep his job may have occurred behind closed doors, when the White House strategist met with a federal disaster relief official contemplating how to respond to the storm. Four days later, Reynolds announced that President Bush would authorize millions of dollars in federal disaster aid for the area.

The timing was perfect: Reynolds broke the news hours after testifying before the House Ethics Committee about his role in the Mark Foley sex scandal — knocking reports on the scandal out of the spotlight.

Reynolds' fate Nov. 7 could be a bellwether for Republicans in the Northeast — in the midterm election as well as the long term. And his poll numbers crashed after revelations that he had known about suspicious e-mails the former Florida congressman had sent to male congressional pages. In the wake of the announcement about federal aid, a survey by a Buffalo television station showed Reynolds regaining a narrow lead over Democrat Jack Davis.

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rove29oct29,0,440699.story?coll=la-home-headlines

An outstanding, informative article, well worth the read.
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This article goes on to state that Rove plans to mobilize political employees of Cabinet agencies and Capitol Hill this week, dispense them to a dozen battleground states to supervise Rove's "72-hour Plan".

Utilizing Federal employees for partisan political work is in direct violation of the Hatch Act.

[mirandapriestly]

1. No problem, George Bush will just "veto" the Hatch Act

Since when have they let anything like legalities get in their way?

[lyonn]

6. Sheesh, they just keep breaking the rules ....

Just one more thing for the Dems to investigate when we get subpoena power! Hope someone is keeping a list.

Edit: said Veto power instead of Subpoena.

[cautiouslywaiting]

12. I'm sure someone is.

There's a lot of stuff to look into after this election.

[Penndems]

7. This is exactly what the DNC, or a consortium of progressive lawyers, should be looking into

and bringing charges against Rove for.

Using Federal employees for partisan politics is against the law - PERIOD. In fact, the Hatch Act doesn't just cover employees, but anything bought and paid for with taxpayer money: Computers, telephones, fax machines, Blackberries, etc.

If memory serves me, the FBI was investigating the Bush 41 White House (Jim Baker, in particular) for the same set of circumstances Rove's been up to the past two election cycles: Utilizing the Feds for political gain.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Even A Great GOTV Effort Is Worth 1-2 Points...

I suspect organizations like MoveOn.Org and labor union volunteers can partially negate it.


Karl Rove can take his Republican realignment theory and stick it up his ample ass....

[populistdriven]

11. It is easy and all it takes is an hour - I just finished 2hrs - give it a try!

GOTV! http://pol.moveon.org/phone/volunteer/c4c.html

[pnwmom]

3. thanks, penndems

You're right -- excellent article.

[phaseolus]

4. How much ya wanna bet ...

...we get to see a new Osama video Friday afternoon?? He has this knack of popping up every two years just when it gives the most benefit to Republicans.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. An Osama Video Isn't Cutting A Ten To Fifteen Point Defecit In The Generic Ballot

eom

[Penndems]

8. Funny you should mention that, because there's a thread over at DKos

concerning an alleged CIA operative who stated on MSNBC this morning that Osama bin-Laden wants the Dems to win, because then the U.S. will pull out of Iraq.

Here's the link:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/29/1288/3679

[Gabi Hayes]

13. alleged is right...the LAST thing Osama wants is for us to get out

nobody on earth was happier that we went into Iraq than he was, with the exception of the PNACers and the Carlyle groupsters. toss in the Halliburtonettes, and all the other war criminal profiteers, as well as the criminal/prison industrial complex.

who else?

[UTUSN]

9. I'll always believe all that hurricane money for FL warn't JUST for hurricanes n/t

[Penndems]

10. I'm with you there, UTUSN

Wouldn't be a bit surprised if a lot of that dough hasn't turned up in Karl Rove's dirty-tricks kitty.