Huh? Bush won despite Rove's idiocy. And I suspect this is more of Rove's lunacy. Look at all the money and time Bush squandered on California instead of locking up Florida and a few very very close states like New Mexico. Rove put Powell and Rice on the ticket and Bush tried to make an appeal for black votes and did even worse than Bob Dole did, getting only 8% of the black vote. And after this performance, Rove is supposed to be good at political calculations? Bush won despite Rove's blunders. Rove should be dismissed and replaced with a competent national campaign advisor. Bush had better think twice if he thinks he can sign this and win any moderate votes because of it. He will certainly lose part of his base support with no swing voters likely to vote on this issue. Furthermore, Bush has already paid the full political price for gun rights and he is expected to be pro-gun so stopping the AWB is not a true political liability for him. Bush had better remember who voted the Republican landslide of '94 into office (pissed off gunowners).This is (IMHO) really good political analysis, friend GWB. Everybody treats Karl Rove like he's the reincarnation of Lee Atwater, but let's face it -- Karl ain't no Lee Atwater.
The GOP desperately needs Lee Atwater -- needed him badly in 2000, but they'll need him again in 2004. There's a place for dirty street-fighters who can assess a situation, identify strengths and weaknesses, and go in for the Kill without remorse.
Sadly for Conservatives everywhere (of which Karl Rove is not), God apparently decided that, as the old saying goes, "Heaven had more need of Atwater" than do we the Living who remain. He was called Home on March 29, 1991, the result of an inoperable brain cancer (early-tech Cell Phones may bear some of the blame), some few months after his Colson-esque conversion to devout Christianity.
Not to sound pessimistic, but this example (as with John Calvin's death at the relatively young age of 54) re-inforces my doubt towards the Post-Millenial vision of Reconstructing Society into a "Millenial Golden Age" prior to the return of Jesus Christ. The Post-Millenials are going to have a hard go of it if God continues to recall the Best and Brightest home to Heaven, to enjoy their Just Reward.
As another old saw has it... Only the Good die young.
For those of us who remain, my sense is rather more Amillenial -- we run the Race, we fight the Good Fight, but in the end...
God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
A Post-Millenial (futuristic optimist) would say, "Yeah, that's how things were". A Pre-Millenial (futuristic pessimist) would say, "Yeah, that's how things will be".
As an Amillenialist (dare I say, an eschatological realist?), I'd say... "Brother, that's just how things are."
Anyway... RIP Lee Atwater (the last of the truly brilliant GOP street-fighters); we hardly knew ye.
Huh? Bush won despite Rove's idiocy. And I suspect this is more of Rove's lunacy. Look at all the money and time Bush squandered on California instead of locking up Florida and a few very very close states like New Mexico. Rove put Powell and Rice on the ticket and Bush tried to make an appeal for black votes and did even worse than Bob Dole did, getting only 8% of the black vote. And after this performance, Rove is supposed to be good at political calculations? Bush won despite Rove's blunders. Rove should be dismissed and replaced with a competent national campaign advisor.
/////
Well said! Wish I had written that. Rove is over-rated. That GWBush trusts all to his judgment calls into question GWB's political acumen, as well.