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Rally Round Karl Rove, Dems? He's Facing Subpoena, Valerie Plame, and Military 'Analyst' Scandal Troubles

Submitted by BuzzFlash on Tue, 05/13/2008 - 3:30pm.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS
by Christine Bowman

Can Democrats at least agree to distrust Karl Rove?

ABC News Photo 

I'm always looking for something that can unite Democrats. Need I look further than Karl Rove? Could he be our surrogate uniter, as George W. Bush prepares to ride off (in a helicopter) into the Texas sunset and the history books?

Karl Rove is among the most culpable of Bush Administration insiders. Pretty much everyone gives him credit or blame for bringing the Bush administration into power in 2000 (not by himself, granted), and for keeping Bush there in 2004. So what's on Karl's plate now?

1. Well, Valerie Plame is still saying Karl Rove was involved in outing her as a CIA agent in order to smear her husband Joe Wilson when he dared to punch holes in the administration's rationale for the Iraq war (WMDs). Here's a report on her effort to appeal that case, keeping Karl in the proverbial hot seat:

Ex-CIA agent Valerie Plame has begun an attempt to resurrect a lawsuit against officials in the Bush administration, among them Vice-President Dick Cheney.
She accuses them of plotting to leak her identity in retaliation for her husband's criticism of Iraq war policy.

2. Another legal nightmare for Karl concerns the ongoing scandal regarding the politicization of the US attorneys and the Department of Justice. That's the scandal that rid Washington of Alberto Gonzales, of course.

Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman thinks Rove helped railroad him into a jail sentence. As Dan Froomkin wrote last week in The Washington Post:

"On the subject of the possibly politically-motivated prosecution of a former Democratic official, for instance, [Karl Rove]'s been all over the media, vaguely denying involvement. There is, however, one thing that Rove avoids at all cost: being forced to answer a direct question -- especially under oath."

Ben Evans writing for AP last week explained:

"Committee Democrats are investigating whether Rove and Republican appointees at the Justice Department influenced Siegelman's prosecution to kill his chances for re-election. It is part of a broader inquiry into whether U.S. attorneys were fired for not aggressively pursuing cases against Democrats."
What Karl Rove Fears Most (Washington Post)

Ben Evans' May 13 article indicates Karl now has decided he is willing to answer the Judiciary Committee's questions in writing, but he still balks at direct questioning or being sworn in under oath before Congress.
Why does that trouble you, Karl? Are you afraid of the House Judiciary Committee and Rep. John Conyers?

Rove had previously offered to discuss the Siegelman matter with committee members privately, without a transcript and not under oath.
Judiciary Democrats balked, saying it would not create a clear record and would not be sworn.

If the Tuscaloosa (AL) News editorial board is right, Karl is no minor player in the Don Siegelman case. As they write:

The most notable administration figure to thus escape sworn testimony is Bush adviser Karl Rove, who was pinpointed by a former Republican operative in Alabama as the mastermind behind the successful Siegelman prosecution. Rove has denied the allegation but has dodged calls to testify before the committee under oath.

This duly elected Democratic governor has done jail time and faces up to 7 years in prison -- possibly because Rove and other operatives targeted him for the politics of personal destruction? That's worse than what the political operatives dished out to Bill Clinton, in the day, isn't it?

3. Glenn Greenwald at Salon also argues that Karl Rove was involved in the military analysts scandal. That's the story about private Pentagon briefings for select generals whom they then sent off to "analyze" military news using the Pentagon's talking points. Greenwald posts some of the newly released documents in the case that reference "Karl":

"I think it's fair to call this "confirmation" that Rove was involved in the military analysts program."

Despite all the serious legal and ethical situations in which Karl Rove is an important figure, he has been merrily offering his electoral analysis and advice all over the mainstream corporate media. One has to wonder, how much are they paying him? And why? And will their legal teams help defend him if nagging questions don't melt away? Maybe Karl's working so hard now so that he will be able to pay for all the legal help he knows he'll be needing?

Since resigning as Deputy Chief of Staff at the White House in August 2007, Karl got a gig at Fox News, for starters. No surprise that:

That Pundit on Fox News? An Upstart Named Rove (NY Times)

On Fox News, Karl recently offered his unsolicited advice to Barack Obama, as follows:

Any move by Mr. Obama to declare victory before the last of the Democratic primaries in June, Mr. Rove said, would alienate Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s wing of the party. “That’s a mistake,” he said. “That just is rubbing the loser’s nose in it. And a lot of those supporters will remember it by November.”

Obama's press secretary Bill Burton asked himself, in response:

"Wouldn’t taking [Karl's] advice be a little like getting health tips from a funeral home director?”

Karl's chutzpah is considerable, and reminiscent of that of right-wing columnist Bob Novak who recently claimed that Michelle Obama was vetoing Hillary Clinton as a VP choice for her husband. Obama replied: “My wife does not talk to Bob Novak on a regular basis…” We assume the Obamas also avoid speaking with Karl Rove.

Karl cheerfully shares advice, too, with John McCain's staff.

Mr. Rove, who would not comment for this article, says that he maintains regular contact with his progeny at the McCain campaign.
“I’m not certain that I qualify as an adviser to McCain,” he wrote this month in an online discussion with readers of The Washington Post’s Web site, which unlike Fox News, Newsweek and The Journal identified him as “an informal adviser” to the McCain campaign. “I have friends at the campaign who occasionally ask me for reactions, and the Fox network is well aware of that …

Karl also has been writing for Newsweek for some time, which is where he offered critiques both for and against Hillary Clinton:

How to Beat Hillary (Next) November

Crackup? Not So Fast

How to Win in a Knife Fight

and Dear Senator Obama ...

... in which he advises, "Highlight initiatives Republicans can agree on."

And we shouldn't overlook Karl's wisdom generously shared with Democrats in the pages of The Wall Street Journal:

Why Hillary Won

This January 10 article, post-New Hampshire, gives Hillary some handy Obama vulnerabilities which she has since exploited:

Mr. Obama (won) the white wine crowd. … He is often lazy, given to misstatements and exaggerations and, when he doesn't know the answer, too ready to try to bluff his way through.


What should Democrats make of Karl Rove's punditry? The NYTimes writes:

At times clearly partisan, at others apparently offering down-the-middle analysis, Mr. Rove in his new role as a media star marks another step in the evolution of mainstream journalism, where opinion, “straight news” reporting and unmistakable spin increasingly mingle, especially on television.


Yes, the revolving door between the White House and the world of media punditry is troubling, perhaps even worse than the cozy relationship between lobbying firms and Capitol Hill.

But when it comes to assessing Karl Rove's unique contributions, I tend to favor this view, posted at gossip site, jossip.com:

Maybe the advice Rove is giving to the Democratic candidates is exactly the opposite of what they should actually be doing.

Can all the Democrats agree on that?

Is it time to turn up the heat on Karl Rove? He's making way too much money, don't you think, for a guy who should be held accountable for his Bush years? (Comment below.)

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

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Rove, the untouchable

Submitted by willymack on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 3:18pm.
Remember Turdblossom's girlish giggling when he was asked what he thought of the prospect of the rethugs losing both the House and Senate in 2006? I do. He knew then that the "election" outcome wouldn't make a goddam bit of difference, and it'd be business as usual. As usual, he was RIGHT. Even if he's successfully prosecuted and given a prison sentence, dumbya will be there with a free get out of jail card, so he's breezily dismissive of any forecast of accountability on his part. The trick here is to wait until the bush crime family is out of power, then go after them ALL. Let's see Turdblossom giggle then.
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Hatemongering is unnecessary

Submitted by joee3 on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 12:07pm.
I believe that it is harmful to most people and to our society to foment and spread hate for individuals and groups with whom you disagree. Satisfying perhaps, but ultimately harmful. Hatred for the "other" was the defining characteristic of some of the most loathsome regimes of the past century. Too many people will jump on a hate bandwagon, including people for whom genocide is an option. Please do not support hatemongering. Joe E
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TRUTHMONGERING...

Submitted by justintime on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 7:39pm.
...is more like it, joee3. This is not just a disagreement. We're talking about treasonous criminals here. America needs ALL of the truth about the utterly incompetent and criminal Bush administration. This is the same crime syndicate that perpetrated the Iran-Contra treachery, in contempt of Congress. Some of the Iran-Contra criminals -- pardoned by Bushdaddy -- are back again in key roles in our government as operatives for the Bush crime syndicate. America needs to prosecute the Bush crime syndicate to the full extent of our laws, for the incalculable damage they've done to our nation. These criminals must never again meddle with our democracy. Get the truth out!
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As long as Rove thinks he can't be prosecuted

Submitted by Donnat on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 12:03pm.
He's going to turn up everywhere, offering his insights and being paid to spew his spin on FOX. And from what I've seen, he can't be prosecuted. He's thumbed his nose at all attempts so far, and seems well protected by his GOP cronies. He'll go into hiding after the Dems sweep the elections and he'll actually face some real legal trouble. I bet Cheney is fixing up the guest room in his secret bunker right now. Donnat
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Rove's media foray illustrates Nancy Pelosi's pathetic weakness

Submitted by vvvc1 on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 6:40am.
Thanks for compiling that list, Christine. Rove is at the center of not one but two elections stolen from the Democrats, AND the relentless lies-to-war effort. (Which, quite simply, followed the PNAC "we must bomb, attack, and invade Iraq at earliest possible moment" plan from 1997, with Cheney, Wolfowitz, Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, Don Rumsfeld, Jebby Bush, all singing Kristol/Kagan's scheme)
http://newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm
AND the relentless White House efforts to "OUT" an entire CIA undercover organization (Brewster-Jennings Energy Consultants) by outing the CIA undercover officer wife of a prominent war critic.

Unfortunately, Ambassador Wilson should have made known to the American public that President Bush was lying when he claimed Iraq was buying uranium "yellowcake" ore from Niger, Africa, _BEFORE_ the US invasion of Iraq in March 2003, a full month after Bush lied to Congress in his January 2003 SOTU speech, instead of in June, well after the U invasion in March of that year.

(Just as Dan Rather should have reported on the "Bush went AWOL from his Texas ANG assignment to Alabama ANG during Vietnam War years" story _before_ the November 2000 election, when it would have given voters a more accurate insight to then Governor Bush's character, instead of a full year after the election.)

Karl Rove was at the center of every one of these deceptions, at every stolen election, at every harrasment and obstruction of Democratic voting efforts (NH phone-bank jamming), and now we have nearly solid proof that Rove was at the center of a good old-fashioned lynch-mob prosecution of an "uppity" minority Southern political opponent (Alabama Democratic Governor Don Siegelman is of Jewish heritage, and he had won the highest office in a Deep South Dixie state.)

AND STILL Nancy Pelosi pretends not to notice.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Pelosi's "leadership" of the House is worth tens of millions of dollars to Republican campaigning. If not in this year's campaign (because with the economy in the dumps, Repubs are losing races on their own), in the future, when Repubs will be able to blame their deficits and scandals of 8 years of Bush-Cheney on Democrats.

(As they did, turning "White Water" hapless victim Jim McDougal into THE face of the entire multi-hundred-billion-dollars S&L debacle! The NY Times and WashPost put "Whitewater!" and McDougal on front pages for weeks and months at a time, even though McDougal's Madison Guarantee S&L's losses, at (so the feds say) $22 million, were a drop in bucket compared to Silberado Savings & Loan (Neil Bush director, losses $1 billion) or Keating's Lincoln S&L, losses $2 billion, alone.

Then President George H.W. Bush FIRING the Fed Banking District examiner who was looking into Lincoln's massive losses, replacing him with industry super-lobbyist M. Danny Walls at Keating's demands. That obstruction of the Fed's audit of Lincoln S&L cost American taxpayers an ADDITIONAL $1 billion, President Bush should have been considered part of the Keating Five for his interference against the investigative audit into Lincoln's shaky finances.)

Nancy Pelosi and the inside-beltway Democrats just REFUSE to fight for the rights of Democratic voters but in harms way by Rove's gutter, illegal tactics. By not putting her all into holding Rove accountable for eight years of disenfranchising Democratic voters, she allows the media to spin Rove as a new media darling.

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and there's more

Submitted by willdamon on Fri, 05/16/2008 - 7:12pm.
And yet even this summary taken together with the article list leaves a major Rovian misdeed in the shadows: in Mississippi, financier Paul Minor is still in prison for the crime of being the state's biggest donor to the Democratic party. Should've been #4 on the list. Like the Siegelman case the Minor-Diaz case has Rove's fingerprints all over it. Justice Diaz, [who defeated the baseless accusations against him in court], puts it better than I: “One of the startling things about my case is the way it began. Normally, a criminal investigation begins after a crime is committed. Investigators are sent out to gather evidence and a list of suspects is drawn up. Evidence will then point to someone who is then prosecuted for that crime. Sometimes an investigation is begun after a complaint is made about suspicious activity. In our case neither of these things occurred. At about this time in 2002, federal investigators began to look into the financial dealings of large contributors of the Democratic Party. Paul Minor was the single largest contributor to the Democratic Party in the state of Mississippi. Investigators were sent to examine Minor’s banking records and discovered that he had guaranteed loans to several judges. This became the basis for the bribery allegations. In other words, an individual was singled out for examination from the federal government and prosecutors then attempted to make his conduct fit into some criminal statute. This is not how our system of justice is supposed to operate.” Rove is single-handedly changing the our nation's prosecution standards from investigating crimes to investigating individuals.
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Great thumbnail sketch!

Submitted by justintime on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 7:44pm.
And it's all true.
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I signed up to thank you for your clear and thoughtful writings

Submitted by schultz212 on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 11:18am.
vvvc1, Thank you, I could read your writings all day. I think that Nancy Pelosi has been a bigger boost to the Republicans than a support to the Democrats who voted in 2006..."impeachment is off the table." Who says that one person makes that decision anyway? Nancy Pelosi is not the God of the Democrats but she sure seemed to take the steam out of the Democratic win in 2006. I'm sorry to say that it appears that the Republicans couldn't have gotten a better champion for their cause than Ms. Pelosi.
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The Republic, with its

Submitted by Clemsy Diggs on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 4:58am.

The Republic, with its attending liberties, has been seriously eroded over the past seven and a half years. Rove doesn't bare all the responsibility, but he is a primary architect of that erosion.

He needs to be vigorously investigated and forced to testify under oath. Doing so would open the flood gates on further investigations and give this country the purgative it so desperately needs.

Watching Rove climb into a prison van wearing an orange jump suite would be quite cathartic.

Especially if he wasn't alone.

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