Rove to Republicans: Don't grow 'tired or timid'

[Jon8503]

Thursday, February 17, 2005 Posted: 4:30 PM EST (2130 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Karl Rove, President Bush's top political strategist, on Thursday pronounced conservatism the "dominant political creed in America" and coached fellow conservatives on how to support his boss.

"The next time one of your smarty-pants liberal friends says to you, `Well, he didn't have a mandate,' you tell him of this delicious fact: This president got a higher percentage of the vote than any Democratic candidate for president since 1964," Rove said.

In 2004, Bush was re-elected with about 51 percent of the vote. In 1976, Jimmy Carter received just over 50 percent and in the two times Bill Clinton was elected, he received under 50 percent of the vote; Independent Ross Perot was on the ballot both times.

Bush is the first president since Franklin Roosevelt to be re-elected while his party gained seats in the House and Senate, Rove continued.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/02/17/rove.conservatives.ap/index.html

[MissB]

1. Dean to Democrats: YEARRRGGHHHH

Democrats to Rove: Pissoff.

[dave123williams]

2. He fails to mention that it was the lowest plurality in history.

[Emboldened Chimp]

3. Chimpy got just over 50% of the vote...

That's barely a majority. Nixon got over 60% of the vote in '72. Where's he getting his facts? Oh, never mind...

[mrdmk]

4. Here is one for Karl Rove

I never in my whole entire life have seen so many people take to the streets in protest after an election until Mr. Bush Jr. took office. This first happened in the year of 2000 and a repeat performance in 2004 with numerous curtain calls. Karl Rove is just great, fuck off!

[pacalo]

5. Nothing to brag about -- he's counting the votes that were stolen.

[golden voyages]

8. That's encouraging. At least someone bothered to count 'em.

[pacalo]

12. Hiya, Pretzels!

Good to see you!

[Todd B]

6. Sure, but also...

He was also "re-(s)elected" by the smallest margin of any sitting president during "war time" as well.

Take your mandate and cram it, KKKarl.

[Goldeneye]

7. Karl Rove:

"Don't ever forget fellow republicans, that you represent the majority views. You stand for enivrionmental degredation, education cuts, high deficits, making the poor poorer and the rich richer, war, oil, greed, hatred, homophobia, xenophobia, and anger. Keep fighting the good fight! One day we will overcome these latte drinkin' liberals. Never surrender!"

[elshiva]

11. Yep, that's the RNC's real message don't you forget it!

Liberals are such evil smarty pants for wanting civil rights for all human beings and universal health care. Gosh, and our chairman wears hiking boots!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. "smarty-pants?"

:grr:

[Bouncy Ball]

13. Coming from rove, I consider that a compliment!

(They know we are smarter. And better people. It drives them crazy.)

[Mountainman]

10. Yeah but Bush voters didn't know what they were voting for.

They certainly don't like his budget and social security. His rating is in the 40's. So next time your smarty-pants liberal tells you something, listen up!

[amjucsc]

14. I love the Republicans valiant attempts...

...to convince themselves that Bush won in a landslide. Slightly more than half the vote speaks for itself.

My favorite quote was this delicious oxymoron from Fred Barnes of the beltway boys who termed Bush's election a 'modest landslide.'