Rove Develops A Pattern - Democratic Underground

babylonsister

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Thu Apr-09-09 02:43 PM
Original message

Rove Develops A Pattern

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_04/017670.php

ROVE DEVELOPS A PATTERN.... There's nothing wrong with political commentators developing a signature style, but when the common thread of a pundit's work is unintentional irony, there's a problem.

Let's take Karl Rove, for example. Last week, the Bush/Cheney "architect" used his role as a high-profile media professional to accuse the Obama White House of using hardball political tactics. A couple of weeks before that, Rove accused the president of looking at every policy issue "from a political perspective." A couple of weeks before that, Rove complained about the scourge of budget deficits. A couple of weeks before that, Rove accused the president of relying on "straw men" for his arguments. A couple of weeks before that, Rove decried White House "power grabs." (Rove also, about a year ago, accused the New York Times of having "outed a CIA agent," which "obviously puts the CIA agent in danger." Rove added that disclosing the name of a CIA operative represents "a very callous view about our nation's security and interests.")

Notice the pattern?

Today, Rove is in rare form, arguing that President Obama is "polarizing," because of his "petty" partisanship, while George W. Bush tried to bring Democrats and Republicans together.

The Pew Research Center reported last week that President Barack Obama "has the most polarized early job approval of any president" since surveys began tracking this 40 years ago. The gap between Mr. Obama's approval rating among Democrats (88%) and Republicans (27%) is 61 points. This "approval gap" is 10 points bigger than George W. Bush's at this point in his presidency, despite Mr. Bush winning a bitterly contested election.

Part of Mr. Obama's polarized standing can be attributed to a long-term trend. University of Missouri political scientist John Petrocik points out that since 1980, each successive first term president has had more polarized support than his predecessor with the exception of 1989, when George H.W. Bush enjoyed a modest improvement over Ronald Reagan's 1981 standing.

But rather than end or ameliorate that trend, Mr. Obama's actions and rhetoric have accelerated it. His campaign promised post-partisanship, but since taking office Mr. Obama has frozen Republicans out of the deliberative process, and his response to their suggestions has been a brusque dismissal that "I won."

Compare this with Mr. Bush's actions in the aftermath of his election.

First, the loyal Bushies' newfound fascination with the "polarizing" talking point is wildly misleading. Second, for Karl Rove to argue that Bush, far more than Obama, worked to bring people together is simply hilarious.

You don't suppose Rove has identified some of his (and Bush's) biggest faults, and is simply projecting them on to the Obama White House, do you?

—Steve Benen

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Champion Jack

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Thu Apr-09-09 02:48 PM
Response to Original message

1. Why isn't Rove in Jail?

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Tangerine LaBamba

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Thu Apr-09-09 02:54 PM
Response to Original message

2. Rove.

It is galling that that fat fuck has any platform from which to spew his twisted bullshit. Of course, Faux would be the place for a floating turd like Rove, and I don't watch it, but I always read whatever babylonsister posts, so she's got me with this one (;))

A very reasonable question might be, "As this new, wildly popular young President works his ass off to clean up the fucking mess Chimpy Fucknuts and his gang of squatters in the Oval Office made of our country during their eight years of illegal occupation, who gives a good goddamn what Rove has to say?'

And he's being paid, probably quite handsomely, for this bullshit.

Coincidentally, did my eyes deceive me, or is Dick Morris still at it on Faux, saying stupid things over and over? And, if so, WHY?

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babylonsister

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Thu Apr-09-09 02:59 PM
Response to Reply #2

4. Yes, toesucker morris is still there afaik. And I only bring up

rove because he's been all over the place on the newz today. The r/w is still getting their marching orders from the crook. I guess that confirms there is no original thought in that party. ;)

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Tangerine LaBamba

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Thu Apr-09-09 03:08 PM
Response to Reply #4

5. As long as you watch the news,

I don't have to, and I'm eternally grateful to you for that. (I really do read everything you post, because, quite simply, you're the best, on top of it all.)

There was a video posted here earlier today from a Lancaster, PA TV station, going on - the guy was really good - about Ted Nugent coming out against all this recent gun violence. And it struck me that someone, even laughingly, is regarding TED NUGENT as a spokesman for the right, for the GOPigs.

Can they get any lower?

And, I'm sure you have, but did you see the tape from KO's show last night, with Rush Limbaugh being spanked big-time by an old Marine/Army veteran, who called him and his remarks "Nazi"? Maybe the best thing I've seen on TV................................

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babylonsister

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Thu Apr-09-09 03:31 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. Yes, I heard the tape and had read about it earlier.

And yes, I watch m$nbc and/or cnn regularly, but am not able to watch faux very often. They're getting loopier and loopier; I'll trust all of the blog sources to clue me in there, as well as other DUers who can stomach them.

As for Ted, I don't care what he has to say. He's lost all credibility with me, if he ever had any to begin with. He's a washed up old rocker who craves attention, regardless of what kind he gets. But that does indicate how low the GOP will go. I guess their numbers are so few, they'll take anyone at this point!

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KharmaTrain

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Thu Apr-09-09 03:09 PM
Response to Reply #2

6. Astroturfing In The Open...

In some ways the last election "liberated" Faux and hate radio. They were having a lot of problems being a "majority" and defending the most unpopular president ever. Now that they're in the minority they can live in their bubbleworld and revise history, play persecutted puppies and be as hypocritical as possible...all for their own partisan motives.

If anyone has a reason to revise, it's Turd Blossom...call it jury nullification. If he can muddy the waters enough, he can make a few bucks and possibly keep his ass out of jail. His game has always been to confuse and attack...and now we can see his act out in the open, not hidden inside the White House. Best to have him where we can see him...and call him on his bullshit.

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subterranean

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Thu Apr-09-09 02:58 PM
Response to Original message

3. That's what Republicans do.

They accuse their opponents of doing what they themselves did, or would do.

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Webster Green

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Thu Apr-09-09 03:32 PM
Response to Original message

8. Projection is what repukes do best.

Can't wait till they lock that mutherfucker up! :grr:

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zipplewrath

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Thu Apr-09-09 03:56 PM
Response to Original message

9. When

When will someone point out in these data that part of the reason that Obama has such "polarizing numbers" is that the only folks left in the GOP are the hard core. Their numbers are way down and independents and Dems are way up. Of course things are polarized, it's because the GOP has polarized themselves right out of politics. He only has 27% support from a small group (maybe 33%) of people left who will even identify themselves as GOP.

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babylonsister

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Thu Apr-09-09 04:06 PM
Response to Reply #9

10. It happened today-I read that earlier. Here:

and I think Barnacle on m$nbc is about to address that this hour, too.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8331584

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