Rove is all about politics, not policy.

Because of that the whole government will not be focused on results.

"I support faith based programs in many ways, but I know we can never trust Karl Rove to run them. He is a Republican first and an American second."

Brian, sounds like you have an ax to grind against Republicans and Karl Rove. I think you should be able to trust a Republican to run a faith based program as much as a Democrat - they are both Americans to the same degree. And both parties have their fair share of corruption and punishment for thinking outside of the box.- look how poor Joe Leiberman was treated.

I like Karl Rove and I like George Bush. I like Dick Cheney as well. And I like Arnold S. Sometimes I think I'm one of the only Republicans in the county who will publicly say this.

Katie, Karl Rove was directing staff to give powerpoint demonstrations to the GSA and other government agencies on how the government could be used to sway an election.

They did it on government property!

Read this article and tell me you still believe Karl Rove is good for our nation at this time in our history.

http://www.ronsuskind.com/newsite/articles/archives/000032.html

BTW, do you also like Alberto Gonzalez?

I think Alberto should go.

I can't help it, I like Karl Rove. I like smart people. It doesn't mean I have the same respect for his lackeys.

I am always amazed how much a person will compromise his or her integrity for so little. Karl wouldn't be as effective if people weren't willing to bend over for him. Remember, politics is like sausage - you don't want to know what goes into it.

What I don't like are people who think they are smarter than they really are and who surround themselves with people that are too stupid to realize it. Talk about a system of diminishing returns.

I also really like Condi Rice - she's brilliant. Too bad she isn't running for President.

Brian, I hope all of those good Republicans who did the dogpile on me with the Elton thread weigh in on this one and defend Karl and the President. Otherwise, I think I'm going to be a mighty lonesome voice. I know he is not well liked and the President's ratings are in the tank and everyone hates Cheney. And, of course, Arnold didn't do enough for the rest of the party.

I think you might be alone on this one.

But let me get this straight. You think it isn't Karl Rove but his henchmen that are the problem? How did he end up with so many criminals around him?

I believe it is a natural phenomena in any organization. Like I said, people will compromise themselves so much over so little. It is the true leaders who won't.

I don't know that much about Karl Rove - the only books out there are written by left-wing nuts with an axe to grind. He's a private guy.

I don't know if you have ever explored WWII but it is a fascinating era. If you haven't, you should. Hitler wasn't half as bad as the people he surrounded himself with - talk about creeps! Watch Downfall - it was up for an Academy Award a couple of years ago for best foreign film. THe German who plays Hitler is absolutely amazing. The film perfectly captures the crassness and weaknesses of his lackeys. It takes place during his final bunker days when Hitler's Germany is falling apart and Hitler refuses to believe the facts before him.

maybe Herb Gooch should be asked since he is a Republican activist. Herb Gooch is a member of the Republican central committee. Every articles that quotes him should mention that fact.

Another day, another Republican ideologue packs it in.

Of course, again, it is the "massages" excuse.

A nice list for partisan voters for judges.

Karl Rove epitomizes the ethics of and ideals of the Republican party. I can sum it up in one sentence: "The ends justify the means." He plays dirty and mean. It was interesting to listen to Ted Kennedy last night at the Reagan Library lauding the former President as someone who strove to vanquish his opponents, but not destroy them. With Rove & Co., lies, character assassination, and political payback are in play if it serves to win or hold on to power. These folks don't serve the country, they serve themselves.

However, I think it is Dick Cheney that will ultimately prove to be the real puppetmaster. Anyone want to make a wager whether the Iraqi invasion and occupation wasn't fodder for discussion in the spring of 2001. Why are the minutes of Cheney's energy task force so tightly guarded? It is incomprehensible to suggest 9-11 as anything but a murderous terrorist plot, but it is quite plausible to suggest that the Iraqi invasion was on the drawing board long before that fateful day. George W. Bush used the tragedy as political cover to secure Iraqi oil reserves and promote a presence in the Middle East as a means to thwart other nations from dominating the region, namely Russia and China.

The blood of American soldiers drips from the hands of Bush and Cheney and the death of statesmanship and bipartisanship lies at the feet of Karl Rove. Just because you're smart doesn't make you good.

Let's check the headlines folks. Another Bush appointee has resigned in shame. Mr. Tobias, head of the foreign aid department resigned after his name came up in a prostitution ring scandal. The L.A. Times reports that the democratic congressional committee has raised as much as the republican committee, a year ago the republican committee had raised twice as much, they also said republicans are finding it hard going raising funds because it "Is not cool to be linked to Bush". Arnold may be investigated because a few weeks after appearing on Donald's Trumps show, the Donald gave Arnold a campaign check for 10k, pay to play? On 60 Minutes last night Tenet said that Bush and Cheney "Are not men of honor." He also said that there never was any evidence to link Iraq and Al Qada but that Bush did not care. Of course Bubba Kidd calls this kind of reporting "Bush bashing". I guess the little boy who said "The emperor had no clothes" was emperor bashing?

"I support faith based programs in many ways, but I know we can never trust Karl Rove to run them. He is a Republican first and an American second."

Brian let me say, I have never seen such a well stated analysis of Karl Rove than in that small sentence at the tail end of that quote.

Brilliant. Couldn't and haven't said it better myself.

To Katie and all those who either like and defend Karl Rove, while he may be a smart guy and a someone who based on that "MC Rove" video isn't a total stuff shirt (haha), is exactly what Brian said. Rove despite his political deftness, is not an American first. I saw "Bush's Brain" and the authors of the book were far from "Left-Wing nut cases" but reporters who knew Karl well and spent a lot time interviewing and observing him from early in his political career. Karl is a strange guy; he was awkward as teenager and kid and found meaning in Republican Party politics apparently. This is one huge fantasy come true for him (Bush's presidency and governorship, particularly the former) and he seems to enjoy making America a one party nation, or at least attempting to. While Brian may have an axe to grind, it is the same one I do, and it is not with Republicans in general and Karl Rove because he is partisan or good at what he does, but because although extremely effective his tactics have been, they're wrong and not in the spirit of cooperation and compromise that have defined this country, and that our government and nation was founded upon. I know you know this because of the nature of your organization, which I am actually interested in supporting and joining when I relocate back to Ventura County at the end of the summer.

If the Founders were wholly uncompromising, I doubt we would have a whole nation after the Constitutional Convention and this great experiment which has proven to be the hope of all humankind would have failed miserably or never have been.

I am a Democrat, but far after I am an American, which is why I am always willing to put my party aside in favor of reaching a conclusion that serves the greatest good for the greatest amount of citizens, for public good and in the public interest.

This is a government which serves the public as a whole, not one party or one ideology. The ideology which ought to prevail is the one that this nation was founded upon. The American way which is truly about fairness, justice, liberty and everything else that despite this nation's shortcomings has defined us for 200+ years.

Karl Rove and his ilk despite their political prowess have betrayed the trust of the American people and violated their vows to administrate and operate the government fairly and impartially. I haven't checked the link yet but if Brian is right about the Bush Administration using taxpayer dollars to further the agenda of the Republican Party, et al, then they have to be judged for their actions and should be brought to justice for violating whichever laws have been passed to prevent such flagrant abuses of power. This President has not united this country as promised...he has done his best to tear asunder the sacred bonds of unity that we share as Americans.

It's a shame that he (President George W. Bush) has done so much (whether intentionally or not) to harm this country. A lot of healing will need to take place before this country is ever truly united again.

As far as Rove's lackeys are concerned: they are at fault for going along with the machinations but are by no means a responsible as theose who have led, planned, and initiated such acts.

I say this, not as a Democrat, but as an American.

Typo correction (I HATE LEAVING TYPOS):

*nation WERE founded upon.

*those

*as responsible.

This will be the last time I do this, and the last time I leave typos in a blog entry before posting.

Sorry. Only a writer would be this particular.

Brian, I have been enjoying your photoshops - it will be nice when you are actually in the county.

It will be very interesting to see how history treats Karl Rove, Cheney and Bush. For now all we can do as American citizens is gather up as much information as we can, be mindful of the sources, and try to do the right thing in our personal and political lives.

I am so disgusted with politics - both locally and nationally - that I don't believe anyone anymore. Unfortunately, I am a hopeless political junkie and can't seem to resist the flame.

But I figured there is much I can do bring back some sense of integrity and I'm hoping that California Association of Political Centrists will serve as a foundation. It has been very good for me personally in that it has forced me out of my "Republican" comfort zone and I have met some good people on the other side. It is made me very appreciative of the good people on the Republican side that I know. Not surprisingly, the "good" people from both sides are eager to talk to one another.

Thanks Katie, the Photoshops have been my pleasure.

I agree, it's hard to deny our more partisan impulses and jump quickly to the side that better defines our respective ideologies, and I am just as guilty of such actions as any, despite my desire, and yours, to view politics through somewhat non-partisan, or at least bi-partisan lenses.

I also agree that there are good and bad people on both sides and that no side is ultimately "good" or "evil."

I once gave a ceremonial speech in my Advanced Public Speaking class at Cal State Northridge that was supposed to be a speech given on the Fourth of July about this country, apathy, and some other topics which I forget.

One of my fellow students asked afterwards if I was a Republican by the way the speech sounded and I told him, I wasn't and didn't mention the fact that I was Democrat, but that patriotism runs on "both sides of the aisle," and it's true. And I'm also tired of partisan political hackery defining and the directing the debate in politics nowadays, as you said from the local all the way up to the national stage.

I think your organization is a great start to reintroduce substance and the facts (instead of high school-like name calling and popularity contests) into elections and the debate on all issues and policies in this country. It's sorely needed and I think the public is thirsting for integrity, honesty, and unity within this country's political process and among both parties.

Although I come out to Simi Valley quite frequently, I'm looking forward to being a local resident again and becoming more involved in the local process out there once again.

Did I hear right? Katie Teague said Oh l like George Bush and I like Dick Chaney and Karl Rove is super keen and Condi Rice is super smart. Then to put all her love for everyone in perspective she writes: "Hitler wasn't half as bad as the people he surrounded himself with - talk about creeps!" Are you kidding? Maybe you shouldn't talk so much.

P.S. I think Karl Rove is the kind of guy who drowns puppies in his spare time.

I just talked myself into watching Downfall again last night. I think Goebbels and Himmler were about the worst. Actually, Magda G. was one of the worst when she killed her six beautiful children. Next I'm reading Albert Speers retelling of events.

It's a good lesson for all of us.

I don't think Karl Rove drowns the puppies - but I'm sure there are plenty of his lackeys that would and he probably doesn't even know who they are. Lackeys are like that and they are in every organization - Republican, Democrat, Religous, Financial, Philanthropic, etc.

For the most part I like the leaders, not the lackeys. I don't like leaders who are sociopaths and only history will tell where Clinton, Bush, Kerry, etc. serve on this scale. In the meantime, they all have knee-jerk reactionaries to propagate their messages.

Why are corrupt people attracted to Karl Rove?

The fact of the matter is George Bush and his scumbag Texas friends decided to use the power our ForeFathers fought for to enrich themsleves and destroy our image around the world. The Republicans are still today torturing and killing innocent people. What the Republicans have done to America will never be forgotten and the Republicans don't have a inch of Earth to which they can hide.