Rove's Risky Embrace (Libs Relying on Fake Polls, Question Rove's 2006 Strategy)

The Washington Post ^ | June 22, 2006 | Dan Froomkin

[new yorker 77]

Karl Rove is a master of high-stakes brinksmanship, as he has proven time and time again.

But his latest venture may be his riskiest yet.

Rove is betting that he can reframe the war in Iraq as a battle between courageous Republicans and pusillanimous Democrats.

The stakes: Congress. (And subpoena power.)

Rove believes that this strength vs. weakness rhetorical construct, combined with continued attacks on the media, will be enough to counterbalance whatever negative news about the actual war continues to emerge between now and the mid-term elections.

The actual war remains one in which people die every day, sometimes in the most gruesome ways, for reasons that aren't entirely clear. It's a war that according to the polls the public now thinks was a mistake, feels it was misled into supporting, and would like to see ending on some sort of timetable. It's a war that has raised questions about American devotion to human rights. It's a war we may not be able to win.

But Rove thinks he can win the war over the war.

And although his plan appears highly susceptible to events on the ground in Iraq and/or assertive media coverage, betting against Rove -- thus far, at least -- has been a sucker's move.

The latest evidence of Rove's plan comes in a New York Times story this morning by Jim Rutenberg and Adam Nagourney , in which they write about what's behind the congressional Republicans' vigorous embrace of Bush's war strategy.

"That emerging Republican approach reflects, at least for now, the success of a White House effort to bring a skittish party behind Mr. Bush on the war after months of political ambivalence in some vocal quarters," Rutenberg and Nagourney write.

[martin_fierro]

Rove is betting that he can reframe the war in Iraq as a battle between courageous Republicans and pusillanimous Democrats.

When was it ever NOT thus.

[Dilbert56]

The actual war remains one in which people die every day, sometimes in the most gruesome ways, for reasons that aren't entirely clear

As opposed to the wars where weeks and weeks go by with no deaths......

[Paleo Conservative]

Rove is betting that he can reframe the war in Iraq as a battle between courageous Republicans and pusillanimous Democrats.

[OldFriend]

Rove doesn't have to do a thing. Just stand back and watch the dems prove they aren't ready to embrace national security as an important issue.

They're back to teeny tiny issues like school uniforms and V chips. That may have worked for slick willie, but America knows better now.

[johnny7]

King of Comedy... Rupert Froomkin.

[the Real fifi]

Who to put my money on? Froomkin and Shrumm or Rove? Oh, this is sooo hard.

[Shermy]

""Rove doesn't have to do a thing.""

Rove is the scapegoat for Democratic bad ideas, missteps, and inability to explain themselves and inability to censor opponents.

[Cobra64]

The Left seem to forget that Vietnam was the Democrats war. Just look at the troop strength levels.

[Eagles Talon IV]

When the Dubai Port debacle broke in the news, I recall soon after polls showing that for the 1st time in a long time if not in history, Democrats were leading as the Party best able to protect the country. Did I see that incorrectly and what are they now saying (the polls)?

[Wolfstar]

The actual war remains one in which people die every day, sometimes in the most gruesome ways, for reasons that aren't entirely clear.

Someone should buy the author of this article a clue. People die every day around the world, sometimes in the most gruesome ways, for reasons that aren't entirely clear. Iraq does not have a corner on the market of human violence and depravity.

[bybybill]

All Rove did was to tell the Rats where rope was on sale, they tied the knots.

[NutCrackerBoy]

The actual war remains one in which people die every day, sometimes in the most gruesome ways, for reasons that aren't entirely clear. -Dan Froomkin

This is one aspect of why our media opinion-makers are doing a disservice. They never believed President Bush when he gave concrete reasons that involve an understanding of how history can be changed by moral action. They pretend not even to understand it. They are rewarded handsomely by praise when their failure to understand makes the President look bad.

[The Blitherer]

Rove's RISKY Embrace?

Oh, I don't know, he seems to have somewhat (/sarc) successful in the past when it comes to elections...

[RoseofTexas]

I love it when the RATS fear the ROVIAN!! LOL!

[winner3000]

(betting against Rove -- thus far, at least -- has been a sucker's move. )

The author doesn't seem to take his own advice!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Man did you nail that one.

[Ouderkirk]

The actual war remains one in which people die every day,(yeah, and people die in wars) sometimes in the most gruesome ways(at the hands of Muslim nutjobs), for reasons that aren't entirely clear(9/11 wasn't clear enough for you?). It's a war that according to the polls the public now thinks was a mistake(polls that you push with leading questions), feels it was misled into supporting(you may have been misled, I certainly wasn't), and would like to see ending on some sort of timetable(When we have a stable functioning goverment there). It's a war that has raised questions about American devotion to human rights(We have been overly cautious about protecting these savages so-called human rights). It's a war we may not be able to win(we are winning it...MORON!!!).

[centristo]

Are you comparing a casualty in a war with a fatality in a car accident? Talk about apples and oranges.

[Wolfstar]

Are you comparing a casualty in a war with a fatality in a car accident? Talk about apples and oranges.

Is your mind only able to imagine deaths due to accidents or natural causes?

Around the globe, people are murdered every day, often by warring parties similar to the factions in Iraq. Just this week, a thread appeared here on FR with an article about three men who were beheaded in Mexico, probably in some drug-related turf war. I'd find the link for you if I could remember the title of the thread.