Rove: We Got Nuthin'

I've been meaning to blog this for a few days.

On Friday, embattled Bush coalition architect Karl Rove emerged from his grand-jury induced seclusion to address Republicans.  The weathered, tired-looking and bleary-eyed Rove managed to come out swinging; the way Woody Allen would come out swinging upon coming back into the ring with Mike Tyson for a miraculous 2nd round.  Did this guy just climb out of a spider hole or what?

Rove's message grasped at his Bush's only surviving claim to a political future:  National Defense.

It's sad in a way, that the man who only a year ago was being trumpeted as the architect of the next American century, is reduced to empty rhetoric and over-told lies.  Perhaps not; perhaps what's sad is that America is only now (15 months too late) waking up to the reality of this failed Presidency.

In 2002, Rove caused a stir among Democrats when he told RNC members to make the war on terrorism an issue in the midterm elections. "We can go to the country on this issue because they trust the Republican Party to do a better job of protecting and strengthening America's military might and thereby protecting America," he said at the time.

Rove made the same case Friday...

Unfortunately for Mr. Rove, he's wrong.  Let's ignore the fact, as much of the nation seems to, that 9/11 happened under the watchful eye of Republicans.  The American experience since 2004 has proven to Americans that Republicans just can't do the job.

 
• When Osama Bin Laden released his latest tape to the media this week, he proved that the Republicans in general and Bush in particular have failed to enact justice since the worst terrorist attack in American history.  By the way, is Bush coaching Bin Laden?  When Bin Laden says ""This is going to be a generations long war and we need patience,"  it's like he's reading from Mr. Bush's teleprompter.


 

• Meanwhile,  Iraq continues to cost America $1 Million per second and an average of 2 lives per day.  How do Republicans react to the sacrifices of America and her veterans?  They cut benefits to veterans and their families, "swiftboat" any veteran with the timerity to run for office as a Democrat, and gut medicare and student loans.  Republicans in general and Bush in particular offer nothing for our cost, loss and trouble but empty words and tax breaks for the super-rich.


 

• Anybody with a TV saw hurricane Katrina coming days beforehand, and the Republicans in general and Mr. Bush in particular allowed New Orleans to drown.  That was a disaster you could see coming from a satellite.  What will Republicans do if there's a briefcase bomb?  Congratulate the next Brownie on doing a great job?


 

• The 9/11 commission gave Republicans in general and Bush in particular failing grades in implementing their recommendations.

 

• Last but not least, we now know that Mr. Bush unilatterally used 9/11 hysteria as a pink slip for dictatorship and usurped authority to monitor the communications of Americans without warrants. 

The problem with Mr. Rove's argument is that America no longer believes him, his party, or his boss.  Republicans in general, and Mr. Bush in particular have been judged unworthy of the difficult job of protecting America, Americans, their interests, or their liberties. 

Without trust, there's no leadership.  Without leadership, you got nuthin'.

Since 9/11, Osama's bin busy. Iraq's a quagmire.  Katrina pulled the scales from our eyes.  Mr. Bush and many Republicans are fighting to defend unconstitutional wiretaps.  And that's the short list.  I didn't even mention the rampant corruption in the Republican party.

Are you feeling safer yet?  I didn't think so.

Mr. Rove says that Democrats haven't learned the lessons of 9/11.  2005 proved that Republicans haven't learned those lessons any better, nor have they learned the lessons of 8/29: Hurricane Katrina and the drowning of New Orleans.

Well, back to the spider hole, Mr. Rove.  You never know when somebody's going to pop up with another subpoena to appear before a grand jury.

[UPDATE:  Mr. Bush returned to his record low job approval numbers according to a poll released by the American Research Group today.  Nearly 2 out of 3 Americans disapprove of Mr. Rove's boss.  The most interesting highlight however is this:  A clear majority, 52%, believe that the economy is getting worse rather than "staying the same" (31%) or "getting better" (just 14%).  That's right, just 14% of Americans see an economy on the mend.  I don't know about flat or inverted yeild curves. I don't know about hidden unemployment.  I don't know about decaying infrastructure, cultural malaise, a divided nation or increasing poverty.  I do, however know a failed executive when I see one, and he's been smirking at me from the front pages of my newspapers since the millenium.]

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