Rallying Cry: Vote Bush* Out of Rove's Office

[kskiska]

By ELISABETH BUMILLER

There are no "Rove for President" signs, Rove house parties or bumper stickers screaming "Karl!"

No matter. To the Democratic presidential candidates, the powerful White House political strategist they consider President Bush's evil genius might as well be on the ballot. Certainly they have mentioned him so often on the campaign trail in recent weeks that he sometimes sounds like Mr. Bush's running mate.

(snip)

Mr. Rove, as is his custom, did not return calls to his West Wing office seeking comment about the bruising from his boss's competitors. Officials at Bush campaign headquarters did not want to comment, either.

But never mind. At the heart of the matter are only two questions: Why do the Democrats so lustily attack Mr. Rove, and does it work?

The first question is easy to answer: Mr. Rove has become the ultimate symbol of politics over policy, with a persona that Democrats love to hate. Elusive to reporters, infamous for browbeating Republican operatives (and members of Congress) who displease him, Mr. Rove is the man who told Republicans they should use the war on terrorism for partisan advantage. He has a hand in all policy set by the president, from immigration to Medicare to the Middle East.

(snip)

At the same time, invoking Mr. Rove, at least among the Democratic loyalists who vote in primaries, is a kind of code describing a president who Democrats say is manipulated by the political strategist behind the curtain.

"What it implicitly does is make the point that this is not a president who is making his own decisions," said Chris Lehane, a senior adviser to General Clark.

more…
http://nytimes.com/2004/01/19/politics/19LETT.html

[Hobarticus]

1. B-I-N-G-O...

Dems need to latch on to this like rabid dogs, and not let go.

When Hillary tried to push healthcare through, the first thing the GOP screamed was, "no one voted for her!". Now you've got Rove. It's obvious Bush can't go potty without his counsel, yet no one makes a peep.

Who is this guy? I don't recall his name on the ballot!

[lovedems]

2. KKKarl is evil! If he is the target of attaks, he will screw up.

Bullies can dish it out but they can't take it. It is a good strategy by the dems.

[FrankBooth]

3. I love this strategy

Make Karl come out from under his rock.

[0007]

4. I kind of got a kick out of what Joe Lieberman said,

"Joe Lieberman in a conference call to reporters: "I've got news for Howard Dean. The primaries are a warm-up compared to what George Bush and Karl Rove have waiting for the Democratic nominee."

I think everyone, I mean everyone, knows the dirty pool that is coming down the pike for who ever the nominee is gonna be. 'Joe ya got a paperasshole' LOL!!

[oscarmitre]

5. It worked for the conservatives in Australia

many years ago when the Australian Labor Party during the 1950s was labelled as having "faceless men" in the backrooms dictating policy to the elected politicians. The public in Australia (innately conservative) bought it and massive mistrust resulted in huge political losses to the ALP. Hopefully the spectre of a Rasputin-like figure in the White House will cause the American electorate to consider who is really pulling the levers.