Posted on 01/26/2009 8:03:48 AM PST by Kaslin
Karl Rove, one-time deputy chief of staff to former President George W. Bush, spoke to a jam-packed Storer Auditorium at the University of Miami Thursday afternoon.
After a brief opening speech, Rove transformed the event into an open forum during which audience members could ask him a question or engage him in a debate.
The “campaign architect,” as he is commonly called, built a case against President Barack Obama’s order to close Guantanamo, an overseas CIA detention center where terrorists and other “enemy combatants” are held. Obama’s order could enable terrorists to be tried in U.S. courts, to be given undeserved rights afforded American citizens and could cause damaging long-term effects, Rove said.
“One year from now, Gitmo won’t be closed,” Rove said. “If it is, there will be an uproar in the U.S. about where to put these people.”
Interrogation tactics used by the CIA during Bush’s term in office were not torturous, Rove said, but he did not deny that the CIA strongly pressed terrorists for vital information.
“You bet we squeeze them for information,” Rove said. “If we hadn’t, those same terrorists could have executed their plans to kill, and [people] would be asking why Bush didn’t protect American soldiers’ lives.”
A heated exchange erupted between Rove and senior Corey Ciorciari, a longtime intern for the Obama campaign. Cioriciari asked about the ethics of using “fear and deception” as governing tactics.
Rove called Ciorciari’s accusation “cynical and callous.”
“Was it creating fear when we got reports that Saddam Hussein stores secret supplies for chemical weapons, that he had a willingness to use destruction, that he was developing and seeking weapons - that he was an imminent threat to the U.S.?” Rove asked. “These are not quotes by Bush. They’re quotes by Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Kerry.”
A loud applause erupted from the audience, but Ciorciari was not convinced.
“I think it’s nice he came [to speak] after Obama’s inauguration… It’s a testament to how much this country rejected the last eight years,” Ciorciari later told The Miami Hurricane. “What really struck me is his lack of acknowledgment and disappointment. He never owned up to [the administration's] mistakes. I wish, in retrospect, that I could have said a lot more.”
Other students said they appreciated Rove’s honesty.
“I loved it; he was very informative and very honest about his opinions,” said Sgt. Agbeyegbe Jolomi, a junior who served in Iraq for one year. “I’m happy I came to this event.”
Bush was deeply changed by the Sept. 11 attacks, Rove said, and keeps the badge of a firefighter killed during the rescue effort in his pocket at all times as a constant reminder of his “guiding responsibility to keep the country safe.”
“I know that 9/11 has receded from some people’s minds, but I will tell you it hasn’t left George W. Bush’s mind,” Rove said.
A heartfelt story about Bush’s compassion for the American people and his devastated reaction upon first visiting Ground Zero left many in tears.
“It gave us a new perspective on the Bush administration and the decisions they made,” senior Andrea Whalen said. “If you look at the facts, Bush got an unfair rap. He made a lot of really tough decisions for the best interest of the nation. It was really great when [Rove] finally set the record straight.”
Rove still encouraged attendees to support the new president, stating that he “wishes Obama success.”
“It was fantastic, more than what I expected,” said Remy Flor, a junior and fan of Rove’s. “To see him in the flesh was great, and the presentation reinforced my views.”
Its nice to see a heart lifting story amid all the current flying crap. Thanks you.
Thanks, Kaslin, for posting this.
It is indeed. You’re very welcome
ping
My pleasure
Is Rove writing a book about the Bush years? It would be fascinating.
I’m very much looking forward to Rove’s book. I can’t wait to get the inside skinny on the administration. I bet it will be interesting!
I think he is, I’m not sure though
Rove was great at getting Bush elected. Not so great at helping him govern popularly.
It’s interesting that this is a balanced article quoting people who attended this event rather than trying to put across the writer’s personal biases.
The NY Slimes would do well to learn from this COLLEGE newspaper!
Nice article. Refreshing in a time of bad news from the Bambi.
Maybe you lack understanding of the MSM and the Bush attackers. His popularly was damage by pure hate instead of the great things Bush did. Rove had nothing to do with this. Bush's mistake was to try to be kind to the RATS in Washington and give in to many economical crap that made him look bad. Get it straight. Hate was the driving force for the lack of popularly and constant drum beat by the sick. Rove was and is a great man.
Doesn't the US have a base at Thule? That would be a good place to put the Gitmo detainees, except that Denmark would probably veto the idea.
Iceland would be a logical place for this. I think they
would welcome a source of income.
I believe he is and they do have a maximum secure prison there already, and what I read according to Wikepedia, Thule Airbase is operated by the US Air Force
Rove was one of the architects of “Democraticizing” the GOP
Not true newbie
A heartfelt story about Bush’s compassion for the American people and his devastated reaction upon first visiting Ground Zero left many in tears.“It gave us a new perspective on the Bush administration and the decisions they made,” senior Andrea Whalen said. “If you look at the facts, Bush got an unfair rap. He made a lot of really tough decisions for the best interest of the nation. It was really great when [Rove] finally set the record straight.”
Perhaps, at long last, the pushback against the Left's (and too many on the Right) lies about President Bush #43 has begun. The fortcoming books by President Bush, himself, as well as Dick Cheney, Condi Rice and others will record their perspectives for history. That comforts me.
You armchair critics just slay me. First of all, it's not the job of the president's chief political aide to help him govern. Secondly, but most importantly, from 9/11/01 forward, President Bush did not govern in order to be popular. He governed in order to protect the United States of America -- us -- from more attacks.
Seems to me that a 100% success rate on his #1 priority as president speaks more to how he governed than any misty eyed, media-drive popularity contest. I don't know when the hell self-styled "real" conservatives are going to get that through their thick skulls, but until they do, I refuse to identify with them.
Yes, I am getting closer to going offline. I had to come back on FR because there was something that I had to update, and then got sidetracked by new topics. :’)
Rove was one of the architects of “Democraticizing” the GOP
Not true newbie
Well, you are entitled to your beliefs but he did
President Bush told wellwishers at his Midland, TX homecoming gathering last Tuesday that he planned to write a book about his presidency from his own personal perspective.
CSPAN has the video posted on their site - an excellent personal moment as he addressed the crowd. The media skipped it entirely.
UNITED WE STAND
It does me too, and I hope I will still be around when history is written and finds him as the best President of this century
the only way to survive
NObama used fear & deception to get elected with the aid of ACORN...........
President Bush wrote a personal letter to every family of a serice person killed in Iraq & Afghanistan.
Somehow,
i doubt that any survivors will see such a letter under
NObama.
I doubt it too. I also doubt he will comfort the families of those who gave their lives
I was speaking of the way Bush did not address the nation to explain his perspective at key moments. I cheered the other day when bush finally slammed Ray Nagin for the katrina response. Why 4 years too late? why not explain how waterboarding is not "torture"? How the RATs screwed up housing with ACORN/CRA? He just didn't come to us to give his side. He permitted the liberal elites to paint a one-sided picture. Rove should have helped him with that.
I've held the opinion for several years, now, that Katrina was one disaster too many, and it burned President Bush out. I'm not sure this is the accurate way to say it, but he almost seemed to withdraw into himself somewhat after Katrina and the fight over Harriet Miers that followed on Katrina's heels.
Thanks so much for the ping! Returning home today.... I think the house is finally ready/done!!!!
W tried by signing all he could to get the ball rolling, but just like those buses, the local level stalled any progress.
My pleasure.
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.