CNN: WH Is Going To Protect Rove At All Costs - Gonzales Can Be Replaced

[kpete]

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Bush still hearts Alberto, for now. But he loves Karl more.
by Joe Sudbay (DC) · 3/20/2007


The White House is making a big deal about a phone call Bush made to Gonzales this morning. Whatever. In the battle for their President's affection, Alberto loses. Bush still loves (and needs) Karl more.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/20/AR2007032000111.html

Ed Henry just explained the situation quite succinctly on CNN:

The White House is going to protect Karl Rove before they're going to protect Al Gonzales. The fact is they can get another Attorney General. Karl Rove is their lead guy here at the White House. They're going to protect him at all cost.

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2007/03/bush-still-hearts-alberto-for-now-but.html

[bdamomma]

1. bush and his two loyal lapdogs, who will he defend and

who will he throw under the bus, but maybe just maybe this will blow up right in bushie's face.

maybe them "protecting Karl" will bring them all down. I have my fingers crossed.

[Catherine Vincent]

23. Gawd, I hope so.

And I am sure Bush Sr. warned him that this would happen. I could hear him telling Dubya.... "I told you to stay away from Karl Rove!"

[H2O Man]

2. I think that

this is an accurate description of what is going on within the White House.

[annabanana]

3. But Rove can do his dirty work from anywhere. . .

If Rove is being so carefully insulated, it's because Jr. wants to keep him physically close. He probably doesn't really talk to anyone else.

[whistle]

4. Take out the weak links first and Rove, Cheney and Bush will eventually

...be exposed for who and what they really are

[gatorboy]

5. I'm not sure how much Bush loves Karl.

But Rove has certainly had his hands in more pies than Gonzo. They'll protect Karl at all costs simply for the fact that the man knows way to much about these criminals. And they definitely don't want this man talking under oath. Because if they cut Karl loose, he's bound to talk, talk, talk.

[riderinthestorm]

13. I'm fascinated that the mafia's lawyer would be the one cut loose

instead of the consigliere.

It could be argued that the AG has much more power and capability of enacting BFEE's criminal, fascist agenda than a "political advisor" with an ambiguous title. And yet, when push comes to shove, it's going to be Gonzalez who goes.

Do they trust Gonzalez to keep his mouth closed and so he's getting thrown to the wolves, more so than Karl? Will Gonzalez hide behind a lawyer/client privilege? This sure strips away any vestige of belief (which I'm guessing those at DU never did believe) that Rove just directs campaigns.

I'm betting that Bu*h needs Rove's dirty ops file - Rove is Bu*h's blackmailer. Beyond that, in my opinion, Rove's got the original docs on all of Bu*h's (BFEE's?)dirty secrets and that ensures Rove's protection inside the family forever.

[AlinPA]

20. I doubt it. Karl makes all the decsions, he is certainly not going to rat

on himself.

[Double T]

6. The Dem Congress needs to continue hammering away at the bushco.........

crime administration until the whole thing starts coming apart. Eventually, indictable offenses and evidence will be found.

[tanyev]

7. Karl Rove is a Turdblossom of great price.

George Bush went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

[madrchsod]

8. we will see how fred "the cleaner" fielding

handles karl...will he invite rove to go fishing?

[OneGrassRoot]

9. Any speculation as to why Rove is kept officially on board?

As someone else said, he can do his dirty work from anywhere. Doesn't have to be physically close to Bush.

Is getting rid of Rove (again "officially) signalling a defeat Bush won't consider?

Is he afraid of dissing Rove - or doing anything which may, to Rove, appear to be dissing him in the eyes of Rove's minions will result in Rove spilling all the dirt?

Maybe it's a "keep your friends close but your enemies closer" mentality?

Either way, several congressman are definitely on a mission, rightfully so, to get to the top. The more they protect Rove, the more the bricks crumble. That's my hope, at least.

[bdamomma]

19. and one more thing the so called media is publicly saying

Rove is being protected by the WH, I bet the WH doesn't like this too much, what a web they are weaving.

[riderinthestorm]

24. Good point. The WH must hate that fun fact getting splattered all over the media

it makes people start to wonder about their (mis)perception of Rove as simply Bu*h's campaign manager (cough). The WH sure doesn't want Jane or Joe Public beginning to think that way.

[Blackhatjack]

10. I have a different take on the White House 'protecting Rove' ...

Rove knows too much about Bush/Cheney involvement. Rove likely is constrained by a deal worked out with Fitzgerald which prevented his indictment, but now he must tell the truth if he is ever put under oath.

Keeping Rove close by in the White House is best for Bush to protect himself.

Rove is the prickly porcupine that the White House dares not kick out.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. That makes sense. Again, he could do his dirty work from ...

anywhere, so I always wonder why he is kept on officially. Thanks!

[Frustratedlady]

25. I have trouble believing that Rove would tell the truth under oath.

Although, remembering the weight he lost when he thought he was going to prison, might prove me wrong. Still.....

[Blackhatjack]

30. One thing you can rely upon, Rove will do anything to avoid prison...

He would not last in a prison environment, and in the end Rove is always going to look out for Rove first --there is no real loyalty to anyone or anything that does not ultimately benefit himself.

[terisan]

11. Assuming Bush is King-if this were a Chess game, which piece is Rove ? nt

[riderinthestorm]

16. There's isn't a position in chess for a blackmailer and consigliere to a crime family. nt

[AlinPA]

17. Makes me think of "It Can't Happen Here" (Lewis) where the main man

behind the ignorant president was a bishop. Rove ranks higher than a bishop. He is totally in charge.

[gkhouston]

22. a rook. Bush is running kind of short on pieces these days, isn't he? n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

12. Of course. They've been protecting Rove since the beginning.

If it wasn't for his evil handedness in this administration, they'd all be gone by now.

[radfringe]

14. bush needs his brain.... n/t

[AlinPA]

15. Karl Rove makes all the decisions in the White House. All of them, even the Iraq invasion.

Ed Henry is right: They will protect Karl Rove at all cost.

[IWantAChange]

21. Scary that Turdblossom is the 'brains' of the WH - we are all in BIG trouble

cuz if Dems can't defeat a Party with that limited brain pan mush-ball at the epicenter what does that say about us??

[riderinthestorm]

26. The combination of smart, evil, and a master of history makes Rove very dangerous

especially since he's now been outed as Bu*h's most important guy at the WH.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

29. They did, in November 06.

[bdamomma]

27. with all this stuff that is happening is Rove planning another

distraction story for all of us, just get ready, it's getting hot in DC.

[Virginia Dare]

28. Everybody but Rove is expendable...

I would be getting my resume together and cleaning out the desk if I worked for the misadministration right about now.

[helderheid]

31. Rove knows way too much

[Solly Mack]

32. Bush will always protect the Iron Triangle over others

but that isn't to say Bush wouldn't pardon Gonzales in a heartbeat if it came down to it.

Gonzales could tell all kinds of things if he wanted to - but not as much as Rove, Hughes or even Allbaugh (those three make up the Iron Triangle)