Posted on 01/13/2006 5:16:59 PM PST by deport
AUSTIN
Headliners Club roasts Rove
Presidential adviser takes ribbing from both sides of aisle.
By Tara Copp
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, January 13, 2006
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Austin Headliners Club, members roasted a prolific hometown newsmaker: presidential adviser Karl Rove.
Since it was opened decades ago, the Headliners Club has been a high-cotton watering hole for Texas' press and politicians — where folks made news whether they meant to or not, amid the heady mix of free-flowing liquor and ideas. Both were in overdrive Thursday night.
Mark McKinnon, who developed President Bush's media campaign in 2000 and 2004, led the audience through a slide show of some of the "best of Karl" moments, including one wintry day on the campaign trail when Rove got into a snowball fight with the national press corps' bus. McKinnon also produced a video message from Bush, who had a "to-do list" for Rove for the next three years: to "sign the first edition of my new book, 'Inside Karl's Brain,' " to "take Barney to drug-sniffing training at Homeland Security," and, finally, that "I hope you finally finish reading the Cliff Notes of the Constitution."
The friendly ribbing came from both sides of the aisle.
Former UT Regent Lowell Lebermann brought down the house by noting that Bush's and Clinton's administrations shared a common weakness: "Two pudgy people in the White House who couldn't keep their mouths shut."
Rove was tickled and touched by the roast, and his voice broke while getting his own licks in.
"I miss Austin," Rove said. "I came here when the equivalent of the Internet in Austin was Neal Spelce's newsletter . . . and the Comedy Channel was Cactus Pryor." He thanked Bush for the opportunity "to work for a man with vision, a man with guts."
And just for the record, Rove said, "not a single snowball got within five feet" of the press.
The gala also toasted the Headliners Club's new president, Brian Greig, a partner at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. His wife is American-Statesman columnist Jane Greig.
About 750 guests attended the $300-per-person event at the Renaissance Hotel. Proceeds of the gala benefit the Headliners Foundation journalism scholarships.
Rodolfo Gonzalez AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Presidential adviser Karl Rove prepares to hug
Mary Matalin, former assistant to President Bush,
before he was roasted during the Austin Headliners
Club's 50th anniversary celebration Thursday at the
Renaissance Hotel.
Political roasts are a hoot. Wish the article had more of the jokes.
Too funny!
Political roasts are a hoot. Wish the article had more of the jokes.
Fun article about Karl Rove ping!
You never see this kind of self-deprecating humor from the Rats. Could you imagine Teddy or Chuckie or Kerry or Hitlery going through one of these?
Thanks for the ping!
Oh cute!! You have them all sized perfectly now!! That is really a cute combination devolve!
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