GOP strategist Karl Rove resigns

The White House loses invaluable insider, Karl Rove

In an emotional statement to the press on the lawn at the White House, Karl Rove said he was leaving at the end of this month to spend more time with his family.

With Mr. Bush standing beside him, Mr. Rove paid tribute to the president as a farsighted colleague who put America on a war footing and a leader who among other things took decisive action to strengthen the economy.

“Through all these years, I have asked a lot of my family,” Mr. Rove said. “Now it’s right to think about the next chapter.”

He said it had not been an easy decision and said he would deeply miss his work but would remain a “fierce and committed advocate on the outside” of President Bush and his policies. Mr. Bush thanked the man who has been one of his closest advisers for more than a decade, and said they would remain close friends.

“I would call Karl Rove a devoted friend,” he said, before the two men hugged, and left without taking questions.

Mr. Rove’s decision to leave office was first reported this morning in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

src: NY Times article, Karl Rove leaving White House

It’s difficult to know how this may affect the ongoing Alberto Gonzales investigation. Karl Rove never appeared before the Senate Judiciary committee despite having been served a subpoena. Is this his way out or is it a preemptive move by the White House to cover the Presidency? What comes of the White House’s executive privilege defense? Karl Rove’s mind may be best suited outside the White House as the GOP decides how best to mitigate damage stemming from President Bush’s unpopularity.

”Rove is the model for all future presidential advisers — disciplined, smart and personally tight with the commander in chief. With that power comes all of the negative baggage when policy and governing failures erupt out of control,” said Republican consultant Scott Reed.

”He has kept remarkably cool as the GOP has spiraled out of control the last 10 months.”

Reed was pointing to the 2006 midterm elections that cost Republicans control of Congress and destroyed any chance that Rove would achieve his driving ambition — create a governing coalition that would outlast the Bush presidency.

src: NY Times, Rove Helped Make, Break Bush

Fred Soto is an Attorney and Entrepreneur from the Silicon Valley.
Email this author | All posts by Fred Soto