I am very happy to report: ROVE IS RESIGNING!!!

Karl Rove to resign at the end of the month
Bush's close friend and political strategist says 'it's time' to quit

Karl Rove, President Bush's close friend and chief political strategist, plans to leave the administration at the end of August, the White House said Monday.

A longtime member of Bush's inner circle, Rove was nicknamed "the architect" by the president for designing the strategy that twice won him the White House.

"Obviously it's a big loss to us," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said. "He's a great colleague, a good friend, and a brilliant mind. He will be greatly missed, but we know he wouldn't be going if he wasn't sure this was the right time to be giving more to his family, his wife Darby and their son. He will continue to be one of the president's greatest friends."

“I just think it’s time,” Rove said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Monday.

“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," the newspaper said.

President Bush and Rove were expected to speak before the Marine One departure to Crawford, Texas, on Monday.

Advisors told NBC News on condition of anonymity that Rove had been talking to the president about resigning for "a long time, about a year."