Weekend Diversion: Night Of The Ponies
Pedway, First Store Open At Block 37
Around Town
Red-Light Cameras Not So Special?
Karl Rove, what are you doing? First you gave our senator Barack Obama some unsolicited advice on how to beat Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination. When that didn't work, you took him to task in an op-ed piece for the Wall Street Journal.
Some might wonder why you would dedicate two separate columns to the Democratic presidential primary. Oh sure, it's been fun watching the Democrats fight amongst themselves, and the rest of the nation sure seems engaged this time around. But shouldn't you, the supposed architect of the permanent Republican majority, be more interested in who will emerge as the standard bearer for the GOP?
Could it be, Karl Rove, that maybe, just maybe, the quiet civil war that is right now tearing apart the GOP is far more terrifying to you than who might be the Democratic nominee this year? Could it be that dedicating column inches in widely read, authoritative publications about the faults, both real and perceived, of the two Democratic front runners, is far more effective in moving your message than critiquing the GOP front runners? After all, your wing of the Republican party won't be satisfied with any of the candidates in your primary. So instead you turned your gaze to Hillary Clinton, veiling your critique of her in "advice" to Barack Obama. And when she won the New Hampshire primary (narrowly, we might add) and Obama seemed poised to rally, you realized that you might not get what you want? So you take Obama down a few notches, get people talking, doubting their choices, maybe bolster the candidate that you really want to win the nomination. With such slim pickings in the GOP primary this year, what better way to distract Republican voters than to focus on the Democratic race? After all, nothing whips the staunch Republican base into a frothing fury quite like a Clinton.
Your political chops are undeniable, Mr. Rove; even life-long Democrats respect that. But it doesn't excuse your cynical maneuvering to meddle in the selection of the Democratic candidate. You have the right to your opinions, but you, more than most, understand the power of ideas. Go write a book, Mr. Rove. Teach at a university. Mind your legacy. But leave the electoral decision-making to the American voters.
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And this relates to Chicago how again?
That Karl Rove, he sure is the devil. I don't seem to remember Mr. Rove insinuating that B. Obama had been a drug dealer, that was one of H. Clinton's operatives. The real long term threat to democrats is much closer to than Mr. Rove.
Because Barack is from here and Hillary used to be I guess. Also it relates to Chicago because it relates to everyone. Karl Rove is a deplorable...well I was going to say human being but that doesn't fit. His Op-ed piece was borderline racist and I hate when people like Sharpton play the race card nonstop. I hate Karl Rove more though so that's probably why I think it's borderline racist.
You have the right to your opinions, but you, more than most, understand the power of ideas... leave the electoral decision-making to the American voters
He may write however many op-ed pieces he would like, but I don't think there are many Democratic primary voters looking to Karl Rove to help make their electoral decision.
Concern troll.
wouldn't this be more appropriate for a kos diary, or something? i don't mind the chicago-specific politics stuff, but i don't really visit chicagoist to read screeds on karl rove or to stare at ginormous pictures of his ugly mug.
Karl Rove is a pretty smart guy and a shrewd political operative. You may hate him and the administration he worked for, but dismiss his opinions at your own risk.....
Poor Karl...so impotent now that he's officially out of the inner circle.
Why:
--Obama is from Chicago.
--Chicago is part of the USA, and the USA is electing a president. Did you miss this?
Many national and global issues relate to Chicago. Perhaps you don't grasp this?
Or is he just bored out of his skull? Once the most powerful person in electoral politics, then the most powerful person in setting the domestic agenda, today he... sits on his ass?
I never thought Rove seemed to have much of a feeling on anything policy-wise, he just liked screwing people and amassing power. He sold Bush to the Christian conservatives not because he loves 'em, but because he saw in them a politically homogenous group of people who could be motivated to vote in large numbers through extant communication networks. The price? Just a couple of asshole Supreme Court justices which, since you don't much care about policy beyond ensuring a "permanent Republican majority" (and hence continued employment and enjoyment in the screwing of the over), works in his favor anyway.
When the hell has Karl Rove ever left the electoral decision-making to the American voters? I'm sorry Kevin, but you're tilting at windmills. It's akin to complaining that a slug is slimy.
Chicagoist should really stick to reviews of chocolate peanut bars and the like and leave the heavy lifting to news outlets, I can get my left-wing slant on news from any number of other sources.
Chicagoist, what are you becoming? This doesn't seem to be a site about Chicago, but rather a site for Chicagoist writers to exercise their Democratic Party support.
Did anyone actually read the article? So what if it was Rove. Where exactly is his analysis incorrect or "border line racist"?
Quick impression:
"Whaaa... Chicagoist are liberals... whaaa!!!"
Wardie Up Up Up?
I was just saying that about WLS Chicago talk radio!
Son, its like WLS isn't about Chicago, but a place for Chicagoians to exercise their Republican Party support!
What's up with that Bro?
You feel me on this Friday afternoon so close to quiting time?!
More like Chicagoist are BORING liberals.
Really, what did I learn here? That Kevin hates Karl Rove? Wow! Such an insight!
I could read preaching-to-the-choir-20-something-web-enabled-urban-hipster-liberal masturbation like this at Kos if I was so inclined. In fact I will: here's the article that Kevin is read before producing deeply thoughtful and original insights.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/10/142551/817/812/434482
Does Kevin just parrot everything he reads there back to us?
It looks like Karl Rove is testing prepping his way to become a Democratic political strategist. He did the Republican thing, and won for a while, but got as far as he could get, and is now out of the inner circle. The Democrats appear to be ascendant on the national stage.
He likes to run tough campaigns, and win. Working for Republicans has probably lost some of its appeal. Strategically, his best move would probably be to write a book about how terrible he was, and then announce he is now a Democrat. The only thing left to do is to overcome the enmity of Democrats. Will he? Can he?