Why is Karl Rove taking shots at Sarah Palin and Christine O'Donnell?

CS Monitor ^ | 10/28/2010 | David Scott

[WebFocus]

Karl Rove, Republican political strategist and the general behind George Bush's presidential victories, has been taking pot shots at some conservative favorites.

His latest target, former Alaska governor and Tea Party darling, Sara Palin.

Palin, Mr. Rove told Britain's The Daily Telegraph, lacked the "gravitas" to be president in 2012.

He dissed her new Alaska reality series as a bad political move.

“With all due candour, appearing on your own reality show on the Discovery Channel, I am not certain how that fits in the American calculus of 'that helps me see you in the Oval Office’,” Rove told the Telegraph.

QUIZ: How well do you know Sarah Palin? Take the quiz

Sarah Palin has been an influential player in the midterm elections, traveling and speaking around the United States and endorsing a range of candidates, often the same candidates endorsed by the Tea Party movement. But Palin has not declared herself a candidate in the 2012 presidential election.

How serious is this conservative rift between Rove and Palin?

Rove's views often represent the Republican establishment. And he's got a reputation for knowing how to win. George W. Bush called him "The Architect" of Bush's gubernatorial and presidential victories. Rove also guided the successful campaigns of several governors and members of Congress.

But he's critical of some of the Tea Party-backed candidates endorsed by Palin, including Christine O'Donnell in the Delaware Senate race.

He's not a fan.

“I’ve met her. I wasn’t frankly impressed by her abilities as a candidate,” Rove said on Fox News last month. “One thing that O’Donnell is now going to have to answer in the general election that she didn't in the primary is her own checkered background.”

“There were a lot of nutty things she has been saying that don't add up,” Rove added.

[Shugee]

"And not everyone is enthralled with Sarah. I agree that she has the base excited. But I do not think she has what it takes to win the big one. I agree with the poster that said that Rove is looking at the BIG picture. We need huge coattails next time. Sarah will not bring those. She can help—but she probably would not be able to win on her own. If she is the nominee, I would vote for her. I just don’t see her getting through that process."

Dude, you just aren't paying attention.

[Shugee]

"The biggest knock against Palin is the perception -- eagerly promulgated by the media -- that she's an intellectual lightweight with no grasp of the issues. Even if that's not true, that's the perception she needs to be trying to change."

Unlike you, not everyone holds the media's perception close to their heart. Many people are sick and tired of intellectuals and are looking for good people who will do right by this country.

[PaleoBob]

Rove is a disgrace. He needs to join the Dhimmis. And FNC, please get this double agent OFF your network.

[r9etb]

Many people are sick and tired of intellectuals and are looking for good people who will do right by this country.

I'm sick and tired of so-called conservatives who no longer value thought.

[evad]

"A good Republican political operative doesn't bad mouth a Republican candidate after the Republican candidate wins the primary. An good conservative operative doesn't bad mouth a conservative candidate after the conservative candidate wins the primary. Rove's behavior is indefensible. "

DING DING DING...
needs to be repeated!

[Shugee]

Since when do intellectuals have the monopoly on Thought?

Words like Intellectual, Gravitas and the like are judgment calls. Who decides what’s an intellectual, what are the criteria, etc?