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Tea Party Blasts Rove
The Daily Beast ^ | October 28, 2010 | Shushannah Walshe and Benjamin Sarlin

Posted on 10/28/2010 10:03:10 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Tea Party activists tell The Daily Beast that Karl Rove "has been wrong all summer long." Shushannah Walshe on the party's fight over Sarah Palin and the Republican soul.

***

It didn’t take long for Tea Party activists to circle the wagons after Karl Rove’s attack on Sarah Palin.

“What you're seeing is the first shot in the war against Sarah Palin,” said Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips. “Karl Rove is a very shrewd political operative. Getting himself into trouble is not what’s going on,” added Phillips, who earlier this year organized the Tea Party convention, where Palin was the headline speaker.

“Karl Rove–bless his heart–has been wrong all summer long when it comes to having any idea of what conservative Americans want,” said Levi Russell, spokesperson for the Tea Party Express by email. “The difference is that Rove is a D.C. analyst, and Sarah Palin is a leader.” Russell described Palin as “unquestionably the most electrifying figure in politics today,” while Rove “strikes me as a guy who would cross his arms and scowl at the thought of some Hollywood actor named Reagan running for Governor of California.”

Damning by faint praise, Russell went on to say: “Personally I’ve always liked Rove, but it is painfully obvious that he is losing his connection with the American people, and no longer has his finger on the very strong pulse of the conservative movement in this country, which is fueled by the tea party and figures such as Gov. Palin.”

In an interview with the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Rove on Wednesday questioned Palin’s suitability for the presidency, citing her reality-TV show, Sarah Palin’s Alaska, which will air next month.

“There are high standards that the American people have for it [the presidency] and they require a certain level of gravitas, and they want to look at the candidate and say 'that candidate is doing things that gives me confidence that they are up to the most demanding job in the world’,” Rove said.

Rove was the architect of the Bush presidency—and a big-tent vision of the Republican Party he hoped would long outlast 43’s time in the White House. But by the time Bush left office, his approval ratings had sunk so low that many conservatives ran away from his legacy, and avoided even mentioning his name.

As the Obama presidency used the force of the federal government to try to tame an economy in ruins, a grass-roots brigade of Tea Partiers rose up—reacting against Big Government and eager to revive a Republican Party in limbo.

With Obama’s declining fortunes, Rove has reasserted himself, funneling rivers of newly unrestricted campaign cash into an effort to aid Republican candidates nationwide. As Election Day draws near, the infighting between Rove and the Tea Partiers has grown more intense—jockeying for primacy over the direction of the party, a battle that could shape the presidential election in 2012.

The Palin attack wasn’t Rove’s first swipe at the Tea Party movement.

When Christine O’Donnell won the GOP Delaware primary, Rove went on Fox News and expressed concern about her “character,” adding she had been saying “a lot of nutty things.” Palin quickly came to O’Donnell’s defense, also on Fox News, telling Rove to “buck up.”

O’Donnell didn’t return the favor on Thursday, as she was too busy with her campaign for the Senate seat to comment, a spokesperson said. Her team did, however, emailed a note from conservative strategist and Reagan biographer, Craig Shirley. “Before criticizing Sarah Palin, Mr. Rove might remember that Ronald Reagan once hosted a couple of television shows including G.E. Theater and Death Valley Days,” Shirley said.

On Thursday, there were new hints that Palin is interested in the presidency as Entertainment Tonight promoted an upcoming interview with Palin in which she says she’ll run in 2012, “if there’s nobody else to do it.”

Whether she can win, though, is an open question. According to a poll released earlier this month, 64 percent of Americans believe she would not make an effective president.

“What Rove is saying, and other Republicans are saying, [is that] if you look at the polls, Palin is not qualified to be president,” said Republican strategist John Feehery, adding that this may be the opening salvo in the fight for the Republican soul. “Once this election is over, we start the next campaign,” he said. “Whoever is our presidential candidate is going to be the one who’s going to be defining Republican policies,” Feehery said. “There are a lot of people who love Sarah Palin who think Karl Rove is off his rocker, and there starts the competition.”

Rove, who has raised millions of dollars for the Republican Party during this election cycle, also talked about a possible Palin candidacy as he appeared on CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday. The architect of Bush’s two election wins displayed his trademark cool.

“Look, there are going to be several geological ages that are going to come and go before the 2012 Republican presidential nomination fight gels,” he said.


TOPICS: Campaign News; Issues; Parties; State and Local
KEYWORDS: 2010; 2012; karlrove; palin; politics; sarahpalin; teaparty; teapartyexpress; teapartyrebellion
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To: Interesting Times

Rove reminds me of an actor on stage spouting his lines to an empty theater.


81 posted on 10/29/2010 1:43:18 AM PDT by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done needs to be done by the government)
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

“Remember,all you you supported Rove 12 months go now its hypocritical that you are attacking his now.”

I supported the Rove that existed 12 months ago. The Rove that exists now is a different person.

Kind of like being friends with your neighbor... until you find out that your neighbor has been going around the neighborhood or church, badmouthing you and your family.

Rove was my neighbor, but he has been found saying unflattering things about my family, the TEA party, and my family members, other TEA party members. He lost his welcome to Wednesday night bridge.


82 posted on 10/29/2010 1:56:36 AM PDT by esoxmagnum
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To: 2ndDivisionVet; All

I wouldn’t be the least surprised if Tokyo Rove is setting himself up as a modern day David Rodham Gergen, to be called in by Obama after tuesdays shelacking.


83 posted on 10/29/2010 2:31:54 AM PDT by johncocktoasten (Practicing asymetrical thread warfare against anti-Palin Trolls)
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To: onyx

Rove is nothing more than a new-world-order RINO who is watching his big-gummint power slip through his fat fingers as true Constitutional Conservative Americans exert their considerable power.

He should just keep arguing with the other faction on his side, the socialist democreeps and step away from the TEA party.

We don’t want you, Machiavellian-RINO Rove, MYOB.


84 posted on 10/29/2010 3:32:32 AM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: ansel12; Clyde5445
Hewitt is oily, I would be surprised if after decades he has suddenly had an epiphany, and become a conservative,...

Hewitt has only become this squishy in recent years. He started his career as a Reaganite and worked in the Reagan Administration at the WH Counsel's office with John Roberts.

His evening with Sarah Palin in Denver back in May may have been a turning point for him. We'll see. I've got a quote from him written down somewhere and will try and find it later. He was effusive in his praise for her during the Q&A session and called her a "transformational leader."

85 posted on 10/29/2010 3:51:09 AM PDT by Al B.
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld

I don’t think changing one’s mind about someone makes one a hypocrite. Are the people with buyer’s remorse over Obama hypocrites or have they just had their eyes opened?


86 posted on 10/29/2010 4:17:12 AM PDT by PoplarBluffian (November 2, 2010......,Freedom Day)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Rove is a purely political animal that has trouble understanding that doing what is right can trump doing what is politically expedient.

He became a bit closer to obsolete during the 2nd Bush term and has not understood the concept of the Tea Party Movement and how being politically expedient doesn't resonate with the voters nearly as much as it used to.

87 posted on 10/29/2010 4:30:06 AM PDT by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
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To: onyx

all of fox news loves him and thinks he can do no wrong. And all of fox news hates/resents/is jealous of SP. perino especially.


88 posted on 10/29/2010 4:34:40 AM PDT by JApost
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To: Mouton
Rove has never met a RINO he did not like IMO and along with his stand on amnesty I cannot stomach the guy.

80,000 Americans have been killed by illegals since the World Trade Center was destroyed...Rove has blood on his hands.

89 posted on 10/29/2010 4:36:16 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: beaversmom
I’m starting to look forward to his insights on the conservative movement as much as I do Meghan McCain’s.

Say...aren't they both single? Hmmmm...maybe they could do their own version of a 'Bold Fresh Tour'...on behalf of Mittens; and maybe find love at the same time.

90 posted on 10/29/2010 4:41:03 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: All

Karl Rove couldn’t even manage information and keep the American people hot on the scum terrorists that hit our financial center, Pentagon and attempts on the Capitol and White House.

Rove, you frigged up the Republican Party when we should have had unprecedented popularity and support....the list goes on...Big Tent, which meant support for Amnesty and illegals.

...Harriet Miers debacle...Rove will support Myth, his a fat Establishment RINO.


91 posted on 10/29/2010 4:47:19 AM PDT by rbmillerjr
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To: ansel12

“This is full out war between the two ends of the Republican Party.”

We have to let the GOPEstablishment know that we the grassroots conservatives and Tea Party are perfectly willing to run the bus off the cliff if we get a RINO like Romney.

For me it’s Palin or bust....the only other conservatives tht would be acceptable are DeMint and Pence.

Yes, I’ll take my ball and go home. Bring on Obama, GOP.


92 posted on 10/29/2010 4:52:28 AM PDT by rbmillerjr
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To: SatinDoll
All honest work has gravitas.

Merits emphasis.

93 posted on 10/29/2010 4:54:24 AM PDT by jla
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To: ErnstStavroBlofeld
I am still a Karl Rove Fan

Well then you're not one of us. Conservatives that is. Karl violated the 11th commandment. Not once but multiple times. Now he will pay the price.

94 posted on 10/29/2010 5:27:14 AM PDT by McGruff (A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs)
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To: who knows what evil?

It might be a match made in he...., well a match made. Maybe we should start a website for such matches.


95 posted on 10/29/2010 6:22:47 AM PDT by beaversmom
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Comment #96 Removed by Moderator

To: 2ndDivisionVet

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

TIME FOR YOU TO GO

WE THE PEOPLE BY RAY STEVENS

WHEN AMERICA IS NOT AMERICA ANY MORE

Dr. David Janda explains rationing (obamacare)

Krauthammer on Omamacare impact on the USA, (you have to put up with the commercial)

The Forgotten Man

American Hero

Marxism in America

97 posted on 10/29/2010 6:58:47 AM PDT by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, retired Military, disabled & Seniors)
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To: tennmountainman

Tokyo Rove has probably already accepted the job of campaign manager for Mitt “Me Too” Romney. That dog is not gonna hunt in 2012. No more RHINO’s in the White House.


98 posted on 10/29/2010 7:01:04 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2
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To: onyx

I’m sure when demscum see pitcures like that, they think “ah, Palin’s the leader - destroy her and the Tea Party Movement dies!”

Of course, they couldn’t be wronger.


99 posted on 10/29/2010 7:08:25 AM PDT by piytar (There is evil. There is no such thing as moderate evil. Never forget.)
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To: Clyde5445

Yes, Hugh, Pragger, & Palin.
I was front row, stage right.

That was a great event.

Hugh doesn’t have his radio persona at these events, as he let’s his stage mates have the lime light. He teases a bit, but then focuses on reinforcing the message of the others.

I’ve been to several of his political events, religious fund raisers, & book signings. I used to harass him on air, about USC in their better days.


100 posted on 10/29/2010 7:10:44 AM PDT by G Larry
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