And don’t forget that in 2000 the Republicans lost seats in the House and went from a slight lead to a tie in the Senate, setting up the shift to Democratic control when Jim Jeffords became so disgusted with Rovian Republicanism that he left his party to caucus with Democrats.
No, Karl Rove lost the 2000 election. James Baker and the best lawyers the Bush family, the Republican Party and corporate America could buy engineered the legal victory that handed the Presidency to Bush.
The Presidency, January to September 10, 2001.
In the first nine months of Bush’s presidency, Rove was losing America. It is hard to remember, but in late Summer of 2001 Bush was below 50% in the polls, was stumbling around rather pathetically and was already being discussed as a lackluster and potentially failing President.
Mid Term 2002 and President 2004.
Lets just be gracious and give these to Rove. Even though no one could ever credit Bush’s sudden rise in the polls after 9-11 to Rove; even though shamelessly exploiting and later frittering away the good will from a national tragedy could never be called genius; even though weakening the military effort against the real perpetrators of 9-11 to pursue Iraq, lying the nation into an unnecessary war, and exploiting that war for political gain should never be equated with genius; even though only a shameless man would repeatedly induce and evoke fear and send soldiers off to their deaths to win elections; even though Ohio appears to have been stolen in 2004; even though Rove’s victories in 2002 and 2004 were based on all of this perfidy and heartless selfishness; lets give 2002 and 2004 to Rove.
His record still sucks.
Mid-Term 2006
The Thumpin’. Rove gets creamed as badly as it gets. What’s worse, he is creamed largely based on the abject failures of the very same hole-cloth he spun into victory in 2002 and 2004. In other words, his two victories sowed the seeds for his big, crushing loss.
The Presidency 2007
Rove’s man is among the least popular and least respected Presidents in American history.
So to sum up, Rove won two cake-walks for which he can claim little credit; two electoral losses (even if one was rescued in the courts); a initially unsuccessful stint as presidential political advisor; a national tragedy for which he can claim absolutely no credit that temporarily raised his man’s flagging popularity; two shameless “victories” based on policies that led to a crushing loss followed by a devastating fall in popularity and respect.
This aint’ no boy-genius; this ain’t no evil genius; this ain’t no master to study; this ain’t no historical figure. This is just a tricky-driven-soulless-ruthless-and-mean little man who ran into a little luck and a lot of comeuppance and most of all managed to bail out before his whole rickety but weighty construct fell on his head.
No legacy for Karl. If there is any justice in history, none at all.
Twenty-First Century Gollum, maybe, but that’s all I’m givin’ him.
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