Good Advice

First of all, don't panic. Second of all, get pissed off. It's what Molly would've done.

The Turdblossom Special Rides Off Into the Sunset...

...leaving the wreckage of the Bush presidency, the Republic Party, and most of the American political landscape in his wake. Though it has become somewhat fashionable since last November to denigrate his skills as a political operative, he actually has a remarkable legacy as probably the most important Presidential kingmaker and advisor since Mark Hanna (his historical hero). And don't blame him for the brutal partisanship created by elevating a mediocre-minded empty-suit from Governor of Texas to the White House--Rove's job was never to govern, it was to win. His ideas were not particularly original (Kevin Phillips invented the Southern Strategy nearly forty years ago), and it's arguable if Rove's vaunted "permanent Republican Majority" would ever have worked under any set of circumstances, but that's the problem with political operatives: they don't do "long term." They do one, maybe two, possible three elections out, and that's it. Anything else is beyond the seeing of their magic eight balls.

Dumber'n He Looks

If the GOP loses control of one (or especially both) House of Congress, the biggest loser will be Bush's designated Evil Genius, Karl Rove. Joshua Micah Marshall, however, takes the position that Rove was never the All-Powerful Minion of Darkness Democrats and Liberals made him out to be. Marshall isn't the first to suggest this, of couse; but if true, then we might say that Karl Rove, in the final analysis, was nothing but a convenient excuse for Democrats' electoral incompetence.

UPDATE: Howard Kurtz at WaPo on Turd Blossom, the man who is all things to all people.

Down the Tubes, Part V

Listened to part of a rare interview with Karl Rove on NPR--he came across as snappy and peevish, insisting that he had secret polling data that proved the GOP would hold both Houses. And this was during a softball NPR interview!! Charlie Cook respectfully disagrees:

In the House, Republicans are most likely to see a net loss of 20 to 35 seats, and with it their majority. In the Senate, the GOP could lose at least four, but a five- or six-seat loss is more likely. A six-seat change tips the chamber into Democratic hands.

In short, in four of the five diagnostic indicators, the situation is significantly worse for Republicans today than it was for Democrats in 1994. And in the remaining one, this year is marginally better.

So, does this mean it's all over? Time for Aragorn to return to Minas Tirith (ask Santorum; he'll explain that one to you)? Sadly, no. The Forces of Evil still have an enormous bankroll and they will stoop to anything--and I mean anything--to cling to power. I'll believe a Democratic victory when I see it on November 8, and not a moment before.

Why Is This Man Smiling (er, Smirking)?

Does he know something we don't?

Turd Blossom's Secret Weapon

It's all about the turnout.

Sympathy for the Devil

Kevin Drum over at Washington Monthly notes outraged Ohio Democrats claiming they won't support Sherrod Brown or Ted Strickland because they voted for the White House Torture and Permanent Detention Act.
We've had a similar meme running through the party here over Chet Edwards, finally culminating in:

Chet is a practically Republican. He votes with Democrats only on the amendments to resolutions, but he votes with Republicans 80% of the time on passage (when it actually counts). This is one of many reasons why I will not vote for him! I am a Democrat, and I will only vote for people that support a Democratic agenda. Chet Edwards and Van Taylor do not meet this criteria thus, I will leave this portion of my ballot blank on November 7th. I encourage real Democrats, and people that believe in the Democratic party principals (not just flag wavers) to do the same.
LEAVE IT BLANK!!!!


My response:

Then you are voting FOR Nicholas Vancampen Taylor and if he wins, we will have YOU to thank, just like we have that preening narcissist Ralph Nader to thank for George W. Bush.
And, second, I resent your statement that I am somehow not a "real Democrat" because I choose to live in the real world of politics and not some liberal Candyland. There are several "real Democrats" on this list who were nowhere to be seen when I was running for office and whose sole contribution to the party appears to be sitting in the cheap seats and throwing spitballs. By your standard, we should've refused to vote for Ralph Yaborough because he started out supporting LBJ on Vietnam or refused to vote for JFK because he supported nuclear testing or refused to vote for Ann Richards because she supported the death penalty. If you cannot accept the basic reality that politics requires compromise, then electoral politics is not for you. I recommend blogging, where you can happily spend all day criticizing while the rest of us actually go out and win elections.

Once again, Democrats threaten to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Do you not think that Karl Rove (the evil genius) planned this vote? If Democrats vote AGAINST it, then the GOP blasts them as "soft on terror." If they vote FOR it, then pissy liberals stay home. Either way, Karl Rove wins. Friends, I have said it before and I will say it again: in politics, winning isn't everything, it's the ONLY thing. Unless we win control of (at least) the House, the GOP will continue its agenda of eradicating the Constitution. If you withhold your vote from Chet Edwards, make no mistake: you are voting FOR that weasely, crypto-fascist ankle-biter, Nicholas Vancampen Taylor.

Brace Yourselves!

It's Hurricane Karl! Republicans plan a multi-million dollar slime-tsunami for the last 60 days of the campaign.

Like Shooting Chickenhawks In A Barrel, Part 2

Next, Murtha takes on Karl Rove. Ooo-rah, Marine! From Crooks & Liars.

The Right Wing Blogosphere Loves You and So Does Karl Rove

From the lovely and talented Blognonymous.

Okay, Definately Not, Then

Karl Rove is, apparently, not going to be indicted. Liberals are, understandably, dismayed. But as I have tried to explain to the rabidly "Impeach Bush Now!" crowd, we shouldn't get so monomaniacally focused on punishment that we forget the main goal: winning back control of the government. Bush is not going to be impeached, even if the Democrats stumble into control of both Houses of Congress. He's going to leave office January 20, 2009, open a library, ghost-write some whitewashed memoirs and start making money on the rubber-chicken circuit. He will never be punished for the myriad sins of his Administration and he will never ever admit he was wrong. And Karl Rove isn't going to jail. Deal with it. It might even be for the best. Then get out and fight like hell to get Democrats elected in November. Taking back Congress in '06 and the White House in '08 is the best revenge.

Turd Blossom Special Derails

From Truthout, all indications suggest that Karl Rove, Bush's brain, will be indicted for perjury and lying to investigators, and sooner rather than later. The timing on this could not possibly be worse for the White House, given the President's humiliating poll numbers.