Funny...when I see that pic of Rove, I imagine he's just eaten half a sheet of Escher acid, and is starting to transform into his 'inner child' ... and beginning to weep profusely.
Posted by Dr. Wellington Yueh at November 14, 2006 02:33 PMOT, but how about the absence of 18,000 votes in Florida. 18000 ballots had no vote for congressional rep, an unusually high number. No paper ballots to recount. Oh well. They'll never know who really won, though they are doing a "recount" which I guess means re-adding the numbers that the machines spit out.
Posted by CG at November 14, 2006 02:39 PMLittle Boots will keep Rove in his back pocket and close-by until the very end of his 2nd term because Rove knows all the family secrets: the alcoholism, the sexual trysts, the breakdowns and the power brokering.
Rove is dangerous if he's cut free, angry and willing to talk.
Posted by Christopher at November 14, 2006 02:39 PMAnother of the Roveisms (translation: I pronounce it therefore it becomes a truth) I'm fond of is his heralding of the GOP loss last week as a mere bump in the road of GOP control of governance for generations to come. (Magic wand time)
The only explanation for this is that Rummy has spread the tables in the White House with happy doses of Tamiflu which I now hear is known to cause delusions. What a considerate parting gift.
Posted by mainsailset at November 14, 2006 02:42 PMThere's another reason they waited until after the election: Rove's "red-meat for the base" strategy involves never admitting to any mistakes. No matter how screwed up things are, never accept any blame! Admitting mistakes is a sign of weakness! Instead go instantly on the attack and blame the Democrats for .... well, something. Invent something! Lie! To quote Richard Nixon "Do anything, plead the fifth, just save the plan!"
While firing Rumsfeld is a signal to moderate Democrats and independents that we're going to change course in Iraq (a false signal of course, but a signal), that's NOT what the Republican base wanted to hear out of Bush!
For three years they've marched along, totally impervious to reason while every neo-con plan tured to total brown turds in front of our eyes. Fired up by GOTV efforts and endless negative TV ads, the Republican base was getting ready to vote -- and vote they did! Despite the endless litany of utter failure and destruction 93% of the Republican base that showed up at the polls voted for Republicans!
They were impervious to scandal, treason, incompetence repeated over and over again, bribery, gay-sex with boy-pages and mega-church pastor methamphetamine binges with gay prostitutes.
There never was less reason to vote Republican in the history of our country but their loyal sheep still stormed the polls in record numbers to vote every corrupt Republican scumbag back into office. It just didn't matter because independents voted 2-1 for Democrats. But the base turned out all right!
If Bush signaled "cut and run" in Iraq right before the election how many hard-right trolls would have turned out for him? How many true-believer Reich-wing volunteers would have gone home in disgust?
It's easy to say that the gains would have overcome the defections from his own party, but that's not what Rove's strategy was! For 4 years those guys won by ingoring the center.
They weren't going to switch course at the last minute because of a few negative polls.
Posted by Cugel at November 14, 2006 02:45 PMKarl Rove's success has been attributable to the quality of his opponents, who fetishize and idolize him against their own best interests.
Incidentally, there was no mandate in this past election for the Democrats, but only one to oust the Republicans. That really isn't very much of a victory; it's just a default.
Posted by Toby Petzold at November 14, 2006 03:03 PMEvery realigning elevtion is a "throw the bums out" election. Check them out historically.
They never are for anything.
Posted by horseloverfat at November 14, 2006 03:50 PMIn other words, Rove bought his own bullshit, hook, line and sinker. He sure didn't do Atwater proud.
The Little Fat Piggy should be led to the slaughter for porkchops. Couldn't happen to a more deserving punk. Many times I have said "pride comes before the fall," and once again, that old saying proves to be quite true.
Posted by Judith at November 14, 2006 04:28 PM"Rove is dangerous if he's cut free, angry and willing to talk."
Christopher, they will kill him first before he got one word out of his mouth, and Rove knows it. You aren't playing with people who think killing is wrong to further their agenda or keep secrets.
Posted by Judith at November 14, 2006 04:31 PMTime Magazine's Mike Allen
I guess Matt Cooper isn't on Rove's first call list anymore.
Posted by Flamethrower at November 14, 2006 04:40 PMHey Rove, how's that creating our reality for us working?
Posted by Judith at November 14, 2006 04:54 PMI think Rove play Rahm Emanuel and Chuck Schummer. He did catch Rahm and nearly caught Schummer with Burns & Allen closing so hard near the end. He didn't catch Dean and the netroots; an oversight that surely must have turned Turdblossom's brain into a pile of steaming manure.
Say good nigh Gracie
Posted by shirt at November 14, 2006 05:20 PMIncidentally, there was no mandate in this past election for the Democrats, but only one to oust the Republicans. That really isn't very much of a victory; it's just a default.
Posted by Toby Petzold at November 14, 2006 03:03 PM
*****
You just described every realignment election in history.
Posted by God Of War at November 14, 2006 05:41 PMYou aren't playing with people who think killing is wrong to further their agenda or keep secrets.
Agreed. Especially, the Bush clan.
That really isn't very much of a victory
It's still a victory, loser.
Posted by phidipides at November 14, 2006 06:21 PMThat really isn't very much of a victory; it's just a default.
Just so we know the difference, Toby, what would a "real" victory have looked like?
Posted by Repack Rider at November 14, 2006 07:05 PMGiven rove's total lack of respect for the potential flattening capability of the landing gear of a 747, how is it that as a small child he was not squished in a driveway, thereby making the world a better place?
Posted by TIKI AL at November 14, 2006 07:24 PM"...how is it that as a small child he was not squished in a driveway..."
There are some things so repugnant that even a 747 wouldn't want to run over.
Posted by Christopher at November 14, 2006 08:12 PMPerhaps the media will now take off their kneepads and see this as well.
When pigs fly.
Posted by Galloping Goose at November 14, 2006 08:41 PMToo bad that 747 was rolling.
Posted by Judith at November 15, 2006 03:10 AMJust so we know the difference, Toby, what would a "real" victory have looked like?
Like the quagmire in Iraq? We're winning there, right?
Posted by ann at November 15, 2006 05:15 AMRepack:
Just so we know the difference, Toby, what would a "real" victory have looked like?
1994.
Posted by Toby Petzold at November 15, 2006 02:48 PMToby,
Are you aware that not a single Democratic incumbent lost a seat?
Not one.
This was BETTER than 1994, so I guess you must concede it was a "REAL" victory, and thanks ever so much for playing.
Now, weren't you going to enlist or something? I forgot what your biggest sacrifice for your country was, could you refresh me?
Posted by Repack Rider at November 15, 2006 10:40 PM