Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Young Rove's Dreams Became Everyone Else's Nightmare
The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | Saturday November 6, 2004 | Dr. Brian Moench

Posted on 11/06/2004 3:52:30 PM PST by republicanbred

The year was 1968. The Vietnam War and the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. were shaping history. Little did I know that walking next to me in the halls of Olympus High School that year was a friend who would shape history in 2004 as profoundly as these events did in 1968, the year Karl Rove and I were 17. Karl started out with every social disadvantage. He was the new kid, physically still pre-pubescent, the classic nerd, with Coke-bottle glasses, pants too short, belt too tight and, to make it even worse, he was non-Mormon. Yet at a very clique-ish high school, he managed to break into the social elite by understanding who was in charge and how to appeal to them. He had an energetic but not a charismatic personality. He was intelligent, but not a genius; he was well-read, but tried a little too hard to let you know that.

Karl Rove Junior at Olympus High School, 1968.

Karl became my friend and political counterpart. I was the student body president; he was president-elect of the student senate. We conducted political conventions at our high school. He organized the Republicans. I organized the Democrats. But when the convention was over, the rest of us went back to worrying about our next zit, our next date, making the team. Some thought about college, the SATs, the war and occasionally "What does it all mean?" Karl remained consumed by politics; not the ideology, the principles or the social ramifications of politics, but the infrastructure, the wheeling and dealing, the game and, most of all, the winning. Most of our friends were academically focused with goals of becoming doctors, lawyers, professors and scientists. But with typical youthful idealism we also dreamed about our future romances, our families and making the world a better place. Karl was the only 17-year-old I'd ever met whose dreams were limited to being a political operative, period. One mutual friend said, "Karl would stare at a sunset and see only the political implications of it." I never remember Karl talking about making the world a better place. His next milestone: At age 22 he conducted a conference for young Republicans on the art of dirty-tricks politics. Thirty years later he has accumulated a remarkable winning streak at political gamesmanship, but with the Machiavellian mantra of the end always justifies the means. The means have been astonishingly brutal. When Rove decided to reach for the top he found the only presidential candidate who lacked everything he could provide. The symbiosis of Bush and Rove has steamrolled through the political landscape like the Terminator

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advertisement

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

wearing an Alfred E. Newman mask and a cowboy hat. On the outside there is Bush, with his "aw shucks" down-home-guy act who says he's on a mission from God. On the inside is Rove, the scorched-earth killing machine whose mission is to destroy every political opponent in its path. On the outside there is Bush, who brags about not reading newspapers or anything else. On the inside there is Rove who reads everything and has unmatched attention to detail. On the outside is Bush, who seems to truly believe in Bible literalism and creationism and who admits to allowing his foreign policy to be shaped by an apocalyptic view of the imminent second coming of Jesus. On the inside is Rove, who thinks of the Second Coming as the re-elect-Jesus campaign. For Karl, winning is the only goal and the tactics used have no ethical, moral, factual or even legal restraint. The latest edition of Rove's smear campaigns came in the form of the Swift Boat Veterans' now totally discredited version of John Kerry's Vietnam service. It did what smear campaigns always do. It diverted attention away from what really matters. I can't say that in 1968 I saw all the seeds of what Karl Rove would become. I am surprised more people haven't been willing to stand in his way. But a person that relentless, that single-minded, that focused loses peripheral vision, and that's where someone more introspective might see the collateral damage of their obsession. If Karl the Terminator would pause long enough to turn his head a little to either side he would notice that in the movie of real life the victims scattered all over the highway are not just the Democrats but democracy itself. An electorate distracted by dirty tricks is less able to vote to protect the public interest, which is the whole purpose of democracy. A distracted, deceived and fearful electorate is the precursor of fascism. Far better than any of his old friends, Karl truly has achieved his dream job. Unfortunately for the rest of us it's become our nightmare.

---


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: barkingmoonbat; bush; goswiftees; nightmare; rove; symbiosis
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 next last
To: republicanbred

Dr. huh... Shut up and Heal!


21 posted on 11/06/2004 4:04:45 PM PST by zzen01
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred
the Swift Boat Veterans' now totally discredited version of John Kerry's Vietnam service

Yeh, right. Repeat it often enough, maybe Kerry will suddenly get a serious wound (not a Purple Boo-boo) if you keep lying about the Swifties.

LOL!

22 posted on 11/06/2004 4:05:32 PM PST by beyond the sea (ab9usa4uandme)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred
The latest edition of Rove's smear campaigns came in the form of the Swift Boat Veterans' now totally discredited version of John Kerry's Vietnam service.

Didn't the Swift Boat Vets have a news conference in May and nobody came? Has the author ever bothered to actually read the book, address the specific charges or question why Kerry refused to release his military records? Of course not. 200 people who served with Kerry are all liars because he said so. The two who supported him are all the truth we need to know because Kerry said so.

I am beginning to doubt the author even knew Karl Rove once upon a time because the entire article smacks of "holier than thou." And shame on the author for trying to drag the Mormon religion into this. As I recall, Kerry couldn't muster even 30% of the vote in the state of Utah.

23 posted on 11/06/2004 4:06:05 PM PST by Vigilanteman (crime would drop like a sprung trapdoor if we brought back good old-fashioned hangings)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred
To the demonic-rats, righteousness, common sense, honesty, good morals, truth, and anyone having these qualities is considered "Their Nightmare". How pathetic. They should go and read what happens to those who decide to go against God's Laws. It ain't "purdee". But God, in his benevolence to those who prayed for decency, morals, righteousness, and common sense to lead our country, allowed President Bush to lead our nation for

FOUR MORE YEARS!

FOUR MORE YEARS!

FOUR MORE YEARS!

24 posted on 11/06/2004 4:06:06 PM PST by Iam1ru1-2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred

Just curious: this article was published well over a week ago and was the subject of a fair amount of comment then. Any reason to post it now? Dr. Moench (an anesthesiologist who clearly has been sampling the merchandise) had his little screed posted on sites like "The Smirking Chimp" in addition to being published in the Salt Lake Trib, so it seems to have pretty well gone the rounds.


25 posted on 11/06/2004 4:07:28 PM PST by macbee ("Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." - Napoleon Bonaparte)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred
An electorate distracted by dirty tricks is less able to vote to protect the public interest

Don't mention Rove, start with Dan Rather and the rest of the Big Media slime!!!

26 posted on 11/06/2004 4:07:31 PM PST by beyond the sea (ab9usa4uandme)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fintan

It looks like the sea between Egypt and Saudi Arabia is "Bush Country" too - the RED Sea.


27 posted on 11/06/2004 4:08:29 PM PST by Iam1ru1-2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: King Prout

And I believe the Swifties are not done with John Kerry. Stay tuned.


28 posted on 11/06/2004 4:08:51 PM PST by Fam4Bush (We actually voted against John Kerry before we voted for President Bush.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: atomicpossum
Hey Possum, Google Carville, Louisiana. James' family ran Carville, Louisiana for years as a private fiefdom. It is the State of Louisiana Leper Colony! It is the foundation of the Carville family fortune.

Now be freakin' fair. What the hell other job on this planet could James Carville get other than work as a Democrat operative? For generations the Carvilles made their living by making a profit from a terrible disease.

29 posted on 11/06/2004 4:09:06 PM PST by Kenny Bunk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred

"Discredited Swift Boat Vets"?

LOL

Discredited among you discredited losers, perhaps, but we here in Red America can tell the difference between the truth and a dog and pony show.


30 posted on 11/06/2004 4:09:16 PM PST by Dont_Tread_On_Me_888 (John Kerry--three fake Purple Hearts. George Bush--one real heart of gold.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred

I think Mr. Moench should see a shrink and quick. He's so delusional he gives new meaning to the word paranoid.


31 posted on 11/06/2004 4:10:18 PM PST by driftless ( For life-long happiness, learn how to play the accordion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred

Sorry for posting with the ---advertisement--- error in there. I am a long time lurker, once in a blue moon poster, but this was my first article posting. I missed the part about previewing my posting.(oops!)
By the way, you guys on this site literally saved me from a pre-election breakdown.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! You are the best!!!


32 posted on 11/06/2004 4:10:50 PM PST by republicanbred (sorry and thanks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred
[snip]
Rove, the scorched-earth killing machine whose mission is to destroy every political opponent in its path.

[snip]
Karl, winning is the only goal and the tactics used have no ethical, moral, factual or even legal restraint.

BUSH WINS !
Bush wins !
BUSH WINS !

Eat it, libs.

33 posted on 11/06/2004 4:11:04 PM PST by ChadGore (59,313,309 Bush fans can't be wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred

Who is this idiot? Obviously they never met Karl Rove...it just goes on and on, the democratic bull&#!* lies. These people need to get a life.


34 posted on 11/06/2004 4:11:11 PM PST by Kackikat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred
The latest edition of Rove's smear campaigns came in the form of the Swift Boat Veterans' now totally discredited version of John Kerry's Vietnam service.

Huh. Had to stop there. Shame, because it was a fairly interesting piece up to that point. But then the author had to go and expose himself, carelessly, as a liar. NOTHING the Swift Boat veterans have claimed has been discreditied. Nothing. This clown obviously never bothered to read the book.

35 posted on 11/06/2004 4:12:24 PM PST by Lancey Howard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred

Do I take it that Dr. Brian Moench is a Mormon?
I'm surprised at his Dem devotion.


36 posted on 11/06/2004 4:12:45 PM PST by Spirited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred
I didn't like the tone of the first two paragraphs, but decided to read on anyway...

...Then I find this gem:

The latest edition of Rove's smear campaigns came in the form of the Swift Boat Veterans' now totally discredited version of John Kerry's Vietnam service.

Who has discredited John O'Neill and the Swifties Dr. Moench?

(Crickets)

Methinks you don't have an answer, only an agenda. Even Kerry himself wouldn't confront the Swifties face to face.

Dr. Moench, you're pathetic.

5.56mm

37 posted on 11/06/2004 4:13:00 PM PST by M Kehoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred

DR. EVIL, I PRESUME.


BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...


38 posted on 11/06/2004 4:14:05 PM PST by badmrbunny (delicious results . 4 more....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman
I am beginning to doubt the author even knew Karl Rove once upon a time

Well, we know the author is a liar so it is safe to presume that the guy never even met Rove.

39 posted on 11/06/2004 4:14:30 PM PST by Lancey Howard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: republicanbred

I'll be damned, We went to the same High School. A few years apart, though.


40 posted on 11/06/2004 4:15:00 PM PST by fritzz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson