Karl Rove: I wasn’t George Bush’s brain

[sabra]

Source: MSNBC

GOP strategist defends ex-president’s intellect and his own political style

Most people would probably find it flattering to be called the brains behind the president of the United States. But not Karl Rove, the former senior adviser to President George W. Bush who has been called “Bush’s brain.”

The nickname, bestowed on Rove by Bush critics, isn’t a compliment to him but rather an insult to his former boss, Rove told TODAY’s Matt Lauer during an extensive interview he granted in conjunction with the publication of his book, “Courage and Consequence: My Life as a Conservative in the Fight.”

“I’ve known him for almost four decades. He is a really smart person. To suggest that I was his brain is derogatory about him,” Rove said in a preview of the interview that ran Friday on TODAY. The full interview will air Monday and Tuesday, March 8 and 9, on TODAY. On Tuesday, Rove will join Lauer live in the show’s Studio 1A in New York City.

...

Lauer asked Rove for the secret to Rove’s long association with Bush. “What was it about the two of you that meshed so well?” Lauer inquired.

“He’s the outside man, I’m the inside man. He’s a big thinker,” Rove said. “I liked being around him.”



Read more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35723068/ns/today-today_people/?ns=today-today_people

[peace frog]

1. "Big thinker". Uh huh.

:puke: And as for *liking to be around him*: evil seeks its own.

[saigon68]

40. He was actually his sphincter

[Journeyman]

2. Well, I'd do everything to distance myself from responsibility for that train wreck, too. . .

If Rover were simply a Grima Wormtongue, why didn't he deny responsibility back when BushCo's "ideas and ideals" were the media's darlings? Did he lack courage and fear consequences in 2002? Or is it -- as we suspected all along -- mere charade posing as resolute thought and action?

[Captain Hilts]

3. He had an office in the White House for why??? He was in charge of polling, though. nt

[WillParkinson]

4. I believe what he's saying. He wasn't Mr. Bush's brain...

We know Mr. Rove exists.

[bulloney]

8. I always thought of Rove as Bush's hemorrhoids.

Looks about as bad, too.

[SpiralHawk]

5. "Chickenhawkery & Consequence" - should be the title of Rove's screed

Should tell how Rove, Bush, Cheney and the half-vast cabal of chickenhawk republicons lied America into an Oil Profits Crusade for the benefit of their republicon cronies...

Not an ounce of real courage among the gaggle of republicon chickenhawks...

[DebbieCDC]

6. "Big thinker"???

:rofl:

[Maeve]

24. Gee, does Rove lisp? More like 'big stinker' eom

[Hissyspit]

7. Go to fucking jail, war criminal asshole. Shut up. Nobody cares. Everyone knows you lie upon lie.

Free Don Siegelman.

[onehandle]

9. Of course he wasn't. He was just another 'President.'

Cheney, Rove and Rice were the 'Presidents.'

Bush was just a slurring, smirking figurehead.

[Jefferson23]

10. Why isn't this man in jail??

[SoapBox]

11. Uhhh...we know that and that's why you are called TURD blossom.

We know that Bush "squated" you out...

[wolfgangmo]

12. Well of course he denies it.

My guess is that now that Shrub is out of office he has let TurdBlossom know that he needs to stop the "brain" reference, or else.

People who piss the Bushes or their allies off have a tendency to end up dead.

[trusty elf]

13. Rovelting....

[Soylent Brice]

14. he's right. this is Bush's brain:

or this:



or possibly this:



or maybe even perhaps this:



speculation of possibilities is infinite, really.

[Botany]

15. He (bush) is a really smart person

Whatever you say Karl.

"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family." --Greater Nashua, N.H., Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 27, 2000

"We spent a lot of time talking about Africa, as we should. Africa is a nation that suffers from incredible disease." --Gothenburg, Sweden, June 14, 2001

"Do you have blacks, too?" --to Brazilian President Fernando Cardoso, Washington, D.C., Nov. 8, 2001

[felinetta]

16. Rove: I can literally remember what he was wearing: an Air National Guard flight jacket, cowboy boot

I can literally remember what he was wearing: an Air National
Guard flight jacket, cowboy boots, complete with the--in Texas
you see it a lot--one of the back pockets will have a circle
worn in the pocket from where you carry your tin of snuff,
your tin of tobacco. He was exuding more charisma than any one
individual should be allowed to have."

No, my friends, that is not a quote from Laura Bush or any
other woman. Those words used to describe a young George W.
Bush were spoken by Karl Rove.

[Botany]

20. That might explain Rove's relationship w/ Jeff Gannon

I wonder if Rove really thinks anybody is buying his lies?

[tanyev]

32. Yep. I think Dubya will always be Karl's one true love.

"Rosebud!"

[area51]

37. Yeah, I remember that quote too.

KKKarl Rove was/is in love with Bush.

[Mr. Sparkle]

17. I remember back in the mid noughties we kept on hearing what a genius Rove was.

How the mighty have fallen. }(

[EFerrari]

18. That's right. He wasn't the brain, he was the co-conspirator. n/t

[Edweird]

19. Heh. Too late bozo. You're 'it'.

[Lilicat]

21. Big what now?

Did he mean 'stinker' ?

Hell, I wouldn't admit it either.

[sabrina 1]

22. Did Lauer ask him why the author of 'Bush's Brain'

was placed on the no-fly list and is still on it? Or why despite many attempts to find out why he ended up on that list, he has been told he cannot get that information?

Any reporter who gets a chance to talk to this cowardly, criminal thug and plays soft-ball with him doesn't deserve the title 'reporter'.

I agree he was not anyone's brain. He's not exactly a genius himself. All he ever had going for him was, like his protegee O'Keefe, he was willing to commit criminal acts to accomplish goals. We would all be geniuses if we were so bereft of morality and principles that we were willing to do that.

And yes, as someone else asked, why is he still not indicted for the crimes he committed to overturn elections? Didn't they find the lost emails etc that prove his involvement in yet another crime?

[GreenTea]

23. Rove is an obsessive habitual manipulating liar. Bush is an idiot-Both are trying to change history...

Of what really happened, the lies, the stealing of the elections they stole, their pure hatred of workers, the scams, allowing corporations do as they please, the wars for profit, etc...

Rove & Bush & Cheney desperately want history to read differently about their arrogance & wickedness their elitist greed & power hungry world and most of all to hide the pleasure they get from their vindictiveness their love hurting other and watch people die.

Rove is always lying to cover his evilness, hoping to divert the truth and put the blame on others whom he tried to destroy like democrats to name one.

Bush is and always will be a "C" brain at best, and an egotistical bore, a born liar a psychopath and a complete moron.

[Blue Owl]

25. Read this

"Walking away, (Rove) muttered deliberately and loudly, "I change Constitutions, I put churches in schools ..." Thus he identified himself as more than the ruthless campaign tactician -- as the invisible hand of power, pervasive and expansive, designing to alter the fundamental American compact.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2004/11/25/clinton_library/index.html

Doesn't sound like the Karl Rove he describes in his book.

[Toasterlad]

26. No One Would Be Flattered To Be Perceived As the Brain That Fucked Up the Country.

[Mithreal]

28. +1

[superduperfarleft]

27. Does Karl mention his dad in the new book?

Essay: "I'm the proud owner of Karl Rove’s father’s solid gold cock ring."
http://boingboing.net/2007/08/18/essay-im-the-proud-o.html

[whosinpower]

29. Well, if he wasn't his brain,,,,,

surely then, he must of been his ass!

[3waygeek]

35. Why do you think Dumbya referred to Rove

as "Turdblossom"?

[8 track mind]

30. He wasn't Bush's brain, but he played one on TV! n/t

[rocktivity]

31. You damn sure wasn't his conscience.

x(
rocktivity

[WVRICK13]

33. I'd Deny Being Responsible

for the biggest fuck up our country has seen in power to date.

[bleever]

34. Big thinker Bush: I shud haz presidensy. Inside man Rove: I can steal that for you.

Heck of a job, guys.

[No Elephants]

44. Your subject line is perfect.

[panzerfaust]

36. So Karly admits that Bushie had no brain at all?

[alfredo]

38. He should hang next to The Regency of Crawford.

See Gabriele D'Annunzio. Both bush and D' Annunzio were of privileged birth, both proto fascist.

[beac]

39. Ok KKKarl, we'll start referring to you as "Bush's Asshole."

Happy now?

[PATRICK]

41. A pebble rattling in

an empty barrel. Maybe brain is a bad word in this case.

[warm regards]

42. I believe him...

No one could be that stupid.

[No Elephants]

43. "'He’s a big thinker," Rove said" I never realized Rove was so funny.

To the extent Bush had a brain, Rove was it. However, I would never admit to being Bush's brain, either, so I guess I can relate to Rove's denial. (What are "Words I never thought I'd type,", Alex?)

As for Matt Lauer, he is such a shill. During the 2004 camapaign, Kitty Kelly wrote a book about Poopy Bush. Matt Lauer interview her about it for four--count 'em--four days, trying his damndest to tear apart every negative thing in the book. JMA (Journalist, My Ass.)

[laylah]

45. it is late in my day, so all i have to offer is...

:rofl: What a lying asshole!

[Cha]

46. Both of ya'll's sociopathic brains Suck.