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The Partisan Worldview - Why Democrats demonize Rove and Republicans demonize Mrs. Clinton
OpinionJournal.com ^ | August 22, 2007 | Jay Cost

Posted on 08/21/2007 9:07:28 PM PDT by gpapa

Last week I wrote an essay analyzing the legacy of Karl Rove. My argument was that one of Mr. Rove's biggest problems--and indeed a major failure of this White House--was the failure to do all that could be down to control his and his boss' image.

I received more than a few emails in response to the essay. Many of them echoed the thoughts of this emailer:

I'm in direct disagreement with your attempt to present Karl Rove as a normal guy. Rove has a serious lack of ethics. He doesn't have sense of right or wrong as much as some ideas about the limitations of his power. With Rove the end has always justified the means. Ethically he is a mirror image of Richard Nixon. God help us if he is the common denominator of our society. Do you really believe that we have sunk so low? The best adjectives to describe Rove might be capable, vindictive and mean-spirited. He has screamed at people that he would crush them if they failed to do his bidding, he has boasted of spying on other campaigns, and he has run dirty campaigns such as the one which discredited John McCain. And apparently he has been undone by the nature of his character or he wouldn't be leaving in such a quick manner with little or no explanation.

I quote this at length not for its analytical insight. It is pretty much standard anti-Bush boilerplate. Rather, I quote it as a way to contrast this line of thinking with my own methodology.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: karlrove; partisanpolitics; politics; republicans

1 posted on 08/21/2007 9:07:30 PM PDT by gpapa
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To: gpapa; All
***Why Democrats demonize Rove and Republicans demonize Mrs. Clinton***

I realized long ago the Clintons and Bush’s demonizing each other is when they’re acting. To maintain a divide between the ‘bases’ for balance.

In reality the Clintons and Bush families are friends, and share common goals.

For example, they are in harmony on ‘Illegal Immigration’

Another example is Iraq, and the WOT. It was the Clintons who called for a regime change in Iraq in 98, I haven’t forgotten. And it’s Hillary who’s leaving a loophole to keep troops there if she’s elected president! Hillary would be a LBJ replay.

2 posted on 08/21/2007 9:21:56 PM PDT by msnpatriot (Free Republic is my 1st stop!....After that check out my 'Political Watercooler' on googlegroups...)
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To: gpapa

“Can we all get along? (belch)”

- Rodney King


3 posted on 08/21/2007 9:28:39 PM PDT by PetroniusMaximus
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To: msnpatriot
I don’t trust any politician. No one should. Clintons, Bushes, etc. There should be no such thing as a career politician. Strict irreversible term limits are absolutely necessary. What’s the difference between ‘President for life’ Hugo Chavez and ‘That’s my personal Senate seat’ Kennedy? Why in the world should someone who flunked the DC bar exam be in a position to decide how millions and millions of people live their lives? For that matter, why should anyone have that power?
4 posted on 08/21/2007 9:30:59 PM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: msnpatriot

They want that North American thing too.


5 posted on 08/21/2007 9:37:12 PM PDT by freekitty (May the eagles long fly over our beautiful and free American sky.)
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To: freekitty

***They want that North American thing too.***

Thats an afirmative! Catch the info on what happened today at Montebello.

Corsi on George Noory in a few minutes about this.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57273


6 posted on 08/21/2007 9:43:30 PM PDT by msnpatriot (Free Republic is my 1st stop!....After that check out my 'Political Watercooler' on googlegroups...)
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To: pieceofthepuzzle
***I don’t trust any politician. No one should. Clintons, Bushes, etc.***

I’m with you on that. IMO, in this age of politicians ignoring the will of the people, we need to vote out more politicians.

In addition, stop the 2nd term presidencies. They all seem to do the ‘wacky’ things then. Actually it looks like Bush is doing all the things he really wanted to do now. The things people would have voted against him on like the North American Union and open borders. I remember when he campaigned he said he was for a secure border!

7 posted on 08/21/2007 9:51:47 PM PDT by msnpatriot (Free Republic is my 1st stop!....After that check out my 'Political Watercooler' on googlegroups...)
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To: msnpatriot
In reality the Clintons and Bush families are friends, and share common goals.

Yup, ol blow job is Dubya's "brother", so I guess the Beast would be sis. Yuck.

8 posted on 08/21/2007 9:52:04 PM PDT by HerrBlucher (Tack it up and shut em down Fred!)
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To: msnpatriot
the Clintons and Bush’s demonizing each other is when they’re acting.

When has Bush demonized the Clintons? Rush Limbaugh has, I have, but when has Bush done so?

9 posted on 08/21/2007 10:33:38 PM PDT by narby
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People don't get up off the lazyboy to go vote unless there are demons to slay. They're motivated to go to the polls by emotion, so emotion is what is revved up.

That is one of many reasons why I'm not nearly as wound up over the immigration debacle as many around here. No, I don't like the "press 2 for espanol" crap. Yeah, I wish they weren't getting away with breaking the law. But, no, I don't wish to tear up the economy by removing 5% of our workers, when we're at "full employment" already.

The Republicans push all the immigration hot buttons, like working the "sovereignty" emotion (how a few people who can't vote can effect sovereignty I'm not quite sure). Just as the Democrats have demonized Christians, gun owners, and others. Hey, whatever works.

Like the author here, I'm still going to vote. And I'll mostly vote Republican, for several reasons. But I know I'm being manipulated by the political power machines all the same.

Anyone who is honest with themselves knows this is all a game. Just ask James Carville and Mary Matlin.

10 posted on 08/21/2007 10:46:10 PM PDT by narby
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To: gpapa

Actually, I think it is funny when the liberals demonize Rove. It means to me, he’s doing his job and doing it well. I’ve found that the liberals oftem demonize those who does their jobs well. Everything from Wal-Mart to Karl Rove.

hehehehe Even here people likes to demonize Rove over some crackpot idea Bush might get. Bush is a big guy.... even if Rove suggests this that or the next thing, I’m sure that Rove isn’t the only one whispering in Bush’s ear but even so, Bush still makes his own decisions. I doubt highly that Rove ever put a gun to Bush’s head.

I figure that Rove is just a guy who did his job and who knew people. That is why Bush hired him.

But frankly, the liberals would/are demonize anyone that is associated with Bush. They demonize everyone from Rove to Bush’s daughters. I’ve even seen an article badmouthing his dog, so..........


11 posted on 08/21/2007 11:35:58 PM PDT by Tut
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To: msnpatriot

I am not too sure that Karl Rove is not really trying to elect Hillary!


12 posted on 08/22/2007 5:01:59 AM PDT by gunnedah
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To: narby

***When has Bush demonized the Clintons? Rush Limbaugh has, I have, but when has Bush done so?***

Not Bush, but, last sunday Rove mentioned Hillary’s ‘High Negatives’


13 posted on 08/22/2007 7:08:33 AM PDT by msnpatriot (Free Republic is my 1st stop!....After that check out my 'Political Watercooler' on googlegroups...)
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To: msnpatriot
last sunday Rove mentioned Hillary’s ‘High Negatives’

Well, yeah, those are just the facts. But he didn't call her a commie or anything. Or liar. Or felon.

14 posted on 08/22/2007 10:09:47 AM PDT by narby
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