Democrats are almost giddy
over the announced retirement of Karl Rove
from the White House staff this week. Rove
had been the master-strategist for most
every political move George W. Bush made
since becoming active in politics in a
losing Congressional race in west Texas many
moons ago. There were some Republicans who
benefited from Rove's strategy that recently
felt President Bush was depending too much
on Rove in his decisions regarding U.S.
participation in the Iraq war. The Rove
stamp of approval did seem to be indelible
on most all decisions Mr. Bush made.
Karl Rove was born on Christmas Day in 1950
in Denver. He grew up in or near the Rockies
where his father worked as a geologist. On
his 19th birthday, his father walked out on
him. Soon afterward, he found that the man
was NOT his father after all, the news
dropped into a dinner-table conversation by
his Aunt and Uncle. Twelve-years later,
alone in Reno, Nevada, his mother committed
suicide.
Although Rove was deferred from military
service to attend College, he gave up his
education to work on Republican political
campaigns and never got a degree.
Rove worked tirelessly until he wrested
control of collegiate Republicans and was
off to the races as a King-maker in
politics. His friendship with George W. Bush
began 34-years ago. This week when Rove
announced he was leaving the White House,
both men were near tears as they talked with
reporters.
After meeting George W. Bush while working
for his father for four years and during
that time Rove met the younger Bush and fell
politically-speaking, in-love with the
younger Bush because he spotted charisma,
swagger, cowboy boots, flight-jacket and
wonderful smile, just charisma---"you know
like WOW!"
In 1977, according to some political
writers, Rove was sent to Texas to baby-sit
Bush during his drinking days although
Rove's official role was to run the
political
action committee. It was during this time
that Karl Rove also became an in- demand
consultant for direct-mail political
campaigning. Rove helped Bill Clements
defeat Mark White for Governor of Texas in
1986.
Eight-years later, Ann Richards. another
Democrat, occupied the Governor's Mansion
but Rove was promoting another Republican
candidate--George W. Bush. Some of Richards'
advisers reportedly laughed openly at the
Bush challenge. They were in for a shock.
Bush was extremely disciplined. Reportedly
Karl Rove gave Mr. Bush ten index cards and
said: "This is what you are going to say.
Don't confuse yourself with the issues. It's
the model for the PRESIDENCY. "Bush was
elected and from that point on it seemed
they were joined at the hip. Nothing Bush
did or said was done without the Rove
imprint.Most people
call Karl Rove the "architect of George W.
Bush's success. That is also one of the
things Bush calls him. But, the President
has some other names for Rove, such as
"Boy-Genius" and one many who work in the
White House and many in the Press Corps have
heard the President call Mr. Rove---"Turd
Blossom!" Reportedly that pet name is in
reference to Rove's successes in light of
his humble beginnings.
When Karl Rove gets settled back in Texas,
he should feel right at home. The pet-name
the President had for him in Washington is
heard quite often in the Lone Star State.
And one doesn't have had to succeed as Karl
Rove has to be called that name. In fact,
Democrats in Texas may be just like those in
Congress, they will use just the first half
of the nick-name when referring to Rove.
That's my time and I thank you for yours! |
