True, but he seems to appreciate that it's smart to back away from ID. They're all starting to realize that -- except, perhaps, in Kansas. Judge Jones may have saved the republican party!
I doubt that this conversation between Judge Jones and Karl Rove took place, but this is what I imagine:
Jones: Hello, Karl? I wanted to tell you that I've been sitting through this trial for nearly six weeks, and these ID guys are coming across as a bunch of clowns!Rove: Thanks for letting us know. You're the judge, so do whatcha gotta do.
Jones: I know it's going to upset a segment of your base, but I take this job seriously, so I'm gonna have to rule against the school board.
Rove: We've been expecting that. Tell you what -- as long as that's how you're going to rule, then go all the way. Drive a stake through the heart of this ID thing, so we won't have to deal with it in '06. Or beyond. Let's just put this mess behind us. That part of the base won't like it, but if they're really conservatives, they'll stick with us.
Jones: Okay, Karl. Bombs away!
Don't know if he cleared it with Karl, but he sure dropped the whole load.