Machiavellian Rove’s Influence Declining?

Dr. StrangeRove gasped, "It would not be difficult, Mein Führer! Nuclear reactors could easily provide, heh... I'm sorry, Mr. President."

Writing for the Washington Post, columnist E.J. Dionne clears up what seems to have become a misconception, regarding Machiavellian presidential adviser Karl Rove. Rove’s influence on President George Bush and the Republican Party, in general, is not likely to be diminishing just because his duties may changed slightly.

No, Rove’s stock probably hasn’t gone down one bit. He is merely going to concentrate on what really matters most at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- holding power. And, as Dionne points out, there is good reason for that to be the No. 1 priority:

“Here’s the real meaning of the White House shake-up and the redefinition of Karl Rove’s role in the Bush presidency: The administration’s one and only domestic priority in 2006 is hanging on to control of Congress.

“That, in turn, means that all the spin about Rove's power being diminished is simply wrong. Yes, Rove is giving up some policy responsibilities to concentrate on politics, but guess what: The possibility of President Bush's winning enactment of any major new policy initiative this year is zero. Rove is simply moving to where all the action will, of necessity, be. As one outside adviser to the administration said, the danger of a Democratic takeover of at least one house of Congress looms large and would carry huge penalties for Bush. The administration fears ‘investigations of everything’ by congressional committees, this adviser said, and the ‘possibility of a forced withdrawal from Iraq’ through legislative action.”

'Toon by F. T. Rea