[Das Outsider]

Rove is supposed to be a master tactician, from the WH perspective why not just let the issue slide until after the election, instead of essentially declaring war with as powerful faction of his own party?

One of Rove's crowning achievements was--and liberals will admit this--getting President Bush reelected in 2004 against Walter Mondale cum tan-in-a-can, John Kerry.

Genius? I would have to question that.

[stephenjohnbanker]

"Genius? I would have to question that."

I sure question it. From where I stand, he is an obtuse-beltway-in-bred-freak!

[M. Dodge Thomas]

Well, this has always been very much a "us against them" administration, but on domestic issues up to now it's been "us against the Democrats."

Over on the Congressional side the peace was broken several months ago over immigration, if they are now smoking war pipes over in the in the White House as well we could see a very ugly and personal Republican slug-fest between now and November.

And if the President is sufficiently pissed - and is not subject to concerns about electability - HE'S not running again - there is pretty much no limit to how bad relations could get between the two ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

And this really matters to Republican prospects in 2006 and beyond - the party has been doing well largely because of the perception of a Democratic "competence gap", but if voters are subjected to the sight of Republican squabbling over question such a immigration, how to try terrorists, and the like - questions that really do deeply divide the party - the perception of Republican competence could evaporate pretty quickly.