How Karl Rove went from GOP mastermind to the right's political punching bag

The Week ^ | 12/24/13 | Jon Terbush

[jimbo123]

A decade ago, Karl Rove was President George W. Bush's right-hand man and one of the most powerful political figures in America. And even after his fortunes briefly dipped at the end of the Bush era, Rove roared to life again, tapping into and fueling the Tea Party movement through his massive super PAC, American Crossroads.

But today, with a GOP civil war raging between establishment types and upstart conservatives in the mold of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R), Rove's once-strong influence has begun to wane. An embodiment of the Bush-era Republicans who have fallen out of favor of late, Rove, too, has begun to come under fire from the populist right.

In the latest sign of Rove's diminished standing, a dozen super PACs are challenging his American Crossroads in the GOP money game, and aiming to promote their own preferred candidates in races across the country, according to the New York Times.

"Certainly I think there's a level of frustration with the state of things in D.C.," Randy Cubriel, a Texas lobbyist, told the Times. See if you can read between the lines here: "I think a group like ours, coming from the state, is probably a little more effective than some of the national groups."

Crossroads was widely criticized for not producing more victories in 2012 despite spending some $300 million. The group had dismal 16.7 percent success rate in the last election, according to OpenSecrets.

[wvnavyvet]

You’re right; we lost the Delaware Senate seat because of that stooge and I’m sure most recently the VA Governor’s seat. The problem with him, RINOs and mainstream Republicans is that they forget internal bickering ends the day of the Primary or in Virginia the caucus which I hate. The goal is to win the seat, not act like spoiled brats; “It’s my football, if I can’t score then I’m going home”

[skinkinthegrass]

please, excuse
my tardiness.Thank You; For the fine essay, Sir.
You have succinctly described the nature/the process
we (& and society @ large) have found ourselves in...
"Ludendorff once remarked of the inept Austrian army, "we are shackled to a corpse."
And so the conservative movement in America is shackled to the Republican
Party and the Republican Party is dying at the hands of people like Karl Rove."
glad to see someone else; watching, WWI in colour. (History Channel)

[terycarl]

You realize we lost both Houses under his leadership, right? Not to mention how we likely would have lost the Presidency no matter who ran, unless it had been Palin.

yes, I realize it, but he didn't run, we ran a fairly strong candidate whom the Republican party completely ignored....when I saw the lack of backing that they gave Romney, I ceased to financially suport them......want to back Obama????do so on your own dollar!!

one more thing, the Repubs wouldn't back Palin either, I love her, but she couldn't have outpolled me as the head of the party ticket.

[itsahoot]

I love her, but she couldn't have outpolled me as the head of the party ticket.

Sure she could have outpolled you, may not have been enough to make a good showing, but we will never know now, unless she gets serious this time.

Libertarians are about as useful to the GOP as are the GOPe. Barry Goldwater was the great libertarian pretending to be a conservative, but he cared not one whit about Social Conservatism. Oh and he lost.