BBC Monday, Aug. 13-- Top White House aide Karl Rove, seen by many as the brains behind George W Bush's presidency, has said he will resign at the end of August.
"I just think it's time," Mr Rove said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, adding that he was quitting for the sake of his family.
Mr Rove has worked with Mr Bush since 1993 when he ran for Texas governor.
As Mr Bush's chief strategist, he is seen as instrumental in delivering election victories in 2000 and 2004.
For this he is highly regarded by Republicans, but at the same time equally reviled by Democrats.
"Obviously, it's a big loss to us," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino told the Associated Press news agency. "He's a great colleague, a good friend, and a brilliant mind. He will be greatly missed."
"He will continue to be one of the president's greatest friends," she added.
Delayed departure
Mr Rove has been accused of underhand tactics frequently since his teenage years.
As a student, he invited Chicago vagrants to turn up for free beer at a plush reception for a Democrat state candidate - an incident he later described as a "youthful prank" that he regretted.
He has continued to be dogged by controversy.
Last month, the US Senate issued a subpoena against him as part of an investigation into the sacking of eight federal prosecutors, but Mr Bush ordered him not to testify, citing executive privilege.
Mr Rove was also investigated in connection with the exposure of CIA agent Valerie Plame, though prosecutors decided he should not face any charges.
Mr Rove told the Wall Street Journal that he had first floated the idea of leaving last year, but had delayed his departure when the Democrats took control of Congress.
He said he took a final decision to leave after White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten told aides that if they stayed after the end of August they would be obliged to stay in the administration until Mr Bush's own departure in January 2009.
"There's always something that can keep you here, and as much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family," he said.
He said he expected Mr Bush's current poor ratings to improve, and that conditions in Iraq would get better as the military surge continued.
A Republican had a good chance of winning the 2008 presidential election, he said, because Democrats would choose the "fatally flawed" Hillary Clinton as their candidate.
Now that one of the masterminds of the Bush crew is stepping down, perhaps this will be an opportunity for investigations to move forward. I know it's wishful thinking.
"I just think it's time," Mr Rove said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, adding that he was quitting for the sake of his family.
Mr Rove has worked with Mr Bush since 1993 when he ran for Texas governor.
As Mr Bush's chief strategist, he is seen as instrumental in delivering election victories in 2000 and 2004.
For this he is highly regarded by Republicans, but at the same time equally reviled by Democrats.
"Obviously, it's a big loss to us," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino told the Associated Press news agency. "He's a great colleague, a good friend, and a brilliant mind. He will be greatly missed."
"He will continue to be one of the president's greatest friends," she added.
Delayed departure
Mr Rove has been accused of underhand tactics frequently since his teenage years.
As a student, he invited Chicago vagrants to turn up for free beer at a plush reception for a Democrat state candidate - an incident he later described as a "youthful prank" that he regretted.
He has continued to be dogged by controversy.
Last month, the US Senate issued a subpoena against him as part of an investigation into the sacking of eight federal prosecutors, but Mr Bush ordered him not to testify, citing executive privilege.
Mr Rove was also investigated in connection with the exposure of CIA agent Valerie Plame, though prosecutors decided he should not face any charges.
Mr Rove told the Wall Street Journal that he had first floated the idea of leaving last year, but had delayed his departure when the Democrats took control of Congress.
He said he took a final decision to leave after White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten told aides that if they stayed after the end of August they would be obliged to stay in the administration until Mr Bush's own departure in January 2009.
"There's always something that can keep you here, and as much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family," he said.
He said he expected Mr Bush's current poor ratings to improve, and that conditions in Iraq would get better as the military surge continued.
A Republican had a good chance of winning the 2008 presidential election, he said, because Democrats would choose the "fatally flawed" Hillary Clinton as their candidate.
Now that one of the masterminds of the Bush crew is stepping down, perhaps this will be an opportunity for investigations to move forward. I know it's wishful thinking.
The man behind the puppet is finally gone. Or is he? Could this be yet another scheme by Bush & Co.? Could this be an attempt to draw heat away from the Bush administration & the Republican Party in preparation for the 2008 Presidential elections? And could it be that Karl Rove will still fullfill his current role as a strategist for the Republicans OUTSIDE of the White House?
I am not willing to celebrate just yet.
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3 comments:
Dammit! I was waiting to see him Frog-Marched out instead.
Who would have thought that Alberto would still be around and Rover would be gone?
This is nothing less than mo' Rove strategy to try to run game on unthinking Americans. This resignation is a play move. Rover steps down to decrease the disdain that many Americans have for the repubs right now. This is straight up strategy.
angela
Nuvision
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