The funny thing about Rove’s resignation is that he is so up to his neck in criminality that it is hard to decide which scandal took him out. Obviously, in l’affair Plame, he survived lying to the FBI and grand juries by a combination of feigned memory loss and corrected testimony. It didn’t hurt that his boss gave him a pass after promising to fire anyone that leaked Valerie’s job.
Why is he leaving now? It’s possible that the Abramoff scandal has finally reached up through his former assistant, Susan Ralston, and bitten him in the ass.
It’s also possible that the Office of Special Counsel will recommend Rove be fired for the same reason they recommended Lurita Doan be fired…serial violations of the Hatch Act. Of course, Bush did not fire Doan and she may be awaiting a Medal of Freedom.
Another possibility is that the investigation into the firing of US Attorney David Iglesias has identified Rove as the main culprit. And, in a related matter, it may be that Fred Fielding has advised the administration that he can’t continue to shelter Rove from congressional subpoenas for RNC email and direct testimony.
Rove’s explanation that he wants to spend more time with his family is a non-starter. His son is in college.
It’s possible that he is gearing up to focus on the ’08 elections, but he won’t be taking a visible role in any campaign…not with all this controversy.
I had really hoped to see Rove frog-marched out of the White House in handcuffs. But I haven’t given up hope that he will be arrested.
It’s very hard to envision a Bush presidency operating without Karl Rove. Who will replace him? What effect will it have?
