Bush sacrifices key policymaker in reshuffle

[spindrifter]

Julian Borger in Washington
Thursday April 20, 2006
The Guardian

<snip>

...the news that Mr Rove would relinquish his role overseeing policy after just over a year was widely seen as an acknowledgement that the presidency's problems run deep.

<snip>

...this shake-up comes at a time when his popularity has hit record lows and still seems to be falling. The polls also suggest that if November's congressional elections were held today the Democrats would win back the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate.

<snip>

Since Mr Rove became deputy chief of staff for policy last February, fusing politics and policy in a uniquely powerful portfolio, the administration's domestic agenda has largely stalled. In particular, a flagship programme to part-privatise the federal pension system has got nowhere in the face of nervousness in the Republican party that it is too big a gamble.

<snip>

"This president's problem is Iraq. And Iraq isn't Rove's policy."

++++++
The article has a number of interesting comments regarding the abysmal Bush "popularity" stats, KKKarl's opposition to military action in Iraq, and the KKKarl's failure to meld policy and political strategery. Best of all--the telling commentary that the Democratic Party could very well take control of both Houses! Yesss!



http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1757236,00.html

[azurnoir]

1. Didn't Geog1 do the same thing

with Karl, all this is allowing the karl roach to work out of limelight in an election year. I'd rather have him where he can be seen at all times. (large all glass terrarium?)

[spindrifter]

3. If he's doing his political strategy

work, he'll be plenty visible. There is no getting around the fact that this administration has had zip in the way of domestic policy. Everything they originally touted has turned out to be dross.

[unschooler]

2. Can KKKKarl hold the KKKCongress for the rethugs?

That seems to be the real strategy.

I also thought this was an odd remark, considering the recent revelations from Scooter Libby.

It was also reported last year that Mr Rove, who has orchestrated all Mr Bush's election campaigns since the early 1990s, had lost the president's trust after it emerged he had participated in leaking the identity of a CIA agent in 2003.

Don't Guardian reporters read the Washington Post?



edited to fix typos

[ladjf]

4. What a joke! Rove will continue to do what Rove does.