Carl Rove is insane. Someone should put him in a custom made white blazer, with arms that tie in the back. Then, the rubber room. Same for his followers.
4
The Koch brothers. Sheldon Adelson. Norman Braman, the Miami auto dealer billionaire who has been Marco Rubio's patron. Robert Mercer, the Long Island hedge fund billionaire who has plowed hundreds of millions into right wing causes. And Karl Rove's PAC, which seems almost quaint now.
But let's all fixate on Hillary Clinton's speaking fees.
But let's all fixate on Hillary Clinton's speaking fees.
20
Haven't voted in 10 years. It's a farce. Those with money control the country. There is very little, if any, difference between Democrats and Republicans. The only difference is on touchy/feely social issues. Both are fully committed to, and in the pocket of, Wall St. and the rich. Congress is 70% millionaires. Bill Clinton, and now Barack Obama's economic policies resemble Moderate Republican free trade positions. Unions are dead, as is labor in America. If you don't go to college you're screwed. We have immigrants to do low level jobs. As long as speech is money, we don't live in a democracy. I don't take part in farces-looks like I wasted a lot of money graduating 3rd from my law school class-the first amendment is a joke. Hear my whisper over PAC's megaphone, not likely-they have way more speech than I can ever hope to have. You'll never see a third party candidate who isn't a billionaire-what's that tell you? The marketplace of ideas has been traded for the marketplace.
3
In this article they describe themselves as a dog and as a first baseman. What do you think? I think dog. Anything they can reach, they gobble down.
3
Carl Rove and his CrossRoads PAC are about as popular with real Conservatives as AIDS. Pass it on. Some of us would actually rather see him and the other RINOs lose than vote for one of their candidates. See how well Rove did with Romney, McCain and the last term of George W. Bush, that trend will continue if they fail to realize that Conservatives are not going to lose their country to this bunch of Cronie Capitalists.
6
I don't see how groups like this could possibly qualify for tax exempt status. What is the benefit to the public?
8
Mr. Rove and his ilk are the primary leaders of what I call the "NEW Southern Strategy." Basically, it is the old Southern Strategy but with the agenda hidden behind better propaganda than the in-your-face version of old. No longer do they call minorities by their slang names (in public) or wear white robes and lynch people (in public). Instead, they pay off judges and private prison owners to convict and sentence minorities to long terms in for-profit prisons for non-violent crimes such as "driving a nice car while black." Well, if they don’t shoot them on the spot, of course. They make sure that their schools teach Liberty U type information--the Earth is 6000 years old, jesus wrote the US Constitution, dinosaurs lived with humans, etc., etc. By keeping people fat, drunk, and stupid (sorry, Dean Wormer), and screaming "jesus" every 5 minutes in their propaganda ads, they clearly own and run this strategy to make sure their gerrymandered districts take over the US. Keeping people from information by bombarding them with negative propaganda clearly works very well (ISIS, anyone?) and soon this group will own the country and we will return to the pre-civil war days that they desperately want to live in. Naturally, when they take over our environment will die, the air and water will be poisoned, and the economy will tank again, BUT women can finally take their normal places barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen. AND, Rove will have all the money; what else matters, anyway?
7
On a personal note, I would place Mr. Rove on the same garbage heap with Dick Cheney, Bush II, Boehner, McConnell, the Koch Bros., Grover Norquist, the gambler billionaire, and so many hate-filled, nasty, and indeed, some times unit-American war mongers who have filled our media with more lies than it can handle.
They've always been around in our country's history, but the tragedies these villains unleashed from 2000 to 2008 (from our response to 9/11 to the destruction of the American economy), and the venom they've directed at President Obama over the past 7 years, is certainly in a class by itself. Even Nixon and his lieutenants didn't spew such hate against their "enemies". The sooner they leave America's political stage, the better off America will be.
They've always been around in our country's history, but the tragedies these villains unleashed from 2000 to 2008 (from our response to 9/11 to the destruction of the American economy), and the venom they've directed at President Obama over the past 7 years, is certainly in a class by itself. Even Nixon and his lieutenants didn't spew such hate against their "enemies". The sooner they leave America's political stage, the better off America will be.
13
Mr. Rove was a principal advisor to the worst president in American history and just like Roy Cohn an amoral (choose your own expletive).
5
So the man who made outright lies the centerpiece of Republican campaigning is being displaced, now that really really rich people have discovered that they can lie just as well themselves. It's probably too much to hope for that he would have a last minute repentance, like Lee Atwater. And anyway, now the beast is loose, it would be small consolation.
5
If bush's brain's super PAC is a first baseman on the Republican presidential campaign team, it is one that relies on the hidden ball trick. The next best thing would be for it to disappear completely along with the Koch Brothers and Citizens United. Unfortunately there appears to be no hiding the corrosive effects of these and other big money funnelers including on the other side of the aisle that has become one big slippery slope for our democracy.
3
What the Republicans fail to realize, for whatever reasons, is that no matter how much money they raise, they will will never win the presidency, unless there is a major shift in their social and economic outlook. Unless they can find a way to appeal to the young, to minorities, to women, and to the disenfranchised, they will go down in defeat, again and again.
8
• Data projects nurtured by Mr. Rove are being supplanted in Republican circles by a more successful initiative funded by the Koch political network, which has leapfrogged the Crossroads organizations in size and reach.
So, America is jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
So, America is jumping from the frying pan into the fire?
6
Why would anyone give this clown money he wasted it the last to times. He is a clown so much so that even Fox News ignores him.
6
Yes, but he still gets plenty of Fox air time and his weekly column in the Wall Street Journal so "friends in high places" take him seriously. Why, I don't know.
6
A quote:
------------------------------
...Crossroads has begun carving a niche for itself in attacking Hillary Rodham Clinton... The group will use polling data and opposition research to paint her as “a typical politician who would say or do anything to get elected,” said Steven Law, president of Crossroads.
---------------------------
Hopefully, painter Steven Law has purchased lots of paint to proceed to paint EVERY Republican aspirant vying to win the Grand Trophy on the general election night of November 8, 2016 as “a typical politician who would say or do anything to get elected.”
Disgusting hypocrisy on the part of politicians as well as fellows like Steven Law and Karl Rowe.
(It is difficult to fathom what exactly the PERSONAL gain might be for folks like Law and Rowe in engaging in their dirty deeds. Maybe, they DO make lots of dough through their professional dirty deeds.)
------------------------------
...Crossroads has begun carving a niche for itself in attacking Hillary Rodham Clinton... The group will use polling data and opposition research to paint her as “a typical politician who would say or do anything to get elected,” said Steven Law, president of Crossroads.
---------------------------
Hopefully, painter Steven Law has purchased lots of paint to proceed to paint EVERY Republican aspirant vying to win the Grand Trophy on the general election night of November 8, 2016 as “a typical politician who would say or do anything to get elected.”
Disgusting hypocrisy on the part of politicians as well as fellows like Steven Law and Karl Rowe.
(It is difficult to fathom what exactly the PERSONAL gain might be for folks like Law and Rowe in engaging in their dirty deeds. Maybe, they DO make lots of dough through their professional dirty deeds.)
2
My comments don't seem to make it through the "thought police." Why do you bother to ask readers to share their thoughts only to refuse to post them. Why are they "subject to approval?" If you are worried about language I am sure children have heard worse and besides does anyone under the age of 16 read the NY Times?
Rove is a war criminal along with Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rice and Powell. Why would the New York Times, supposedly the poster child for a frees press, give this man any coverage? If it is to bolster your contention that the Democrats are the answer then you are not listening to what critically thinking Americans are saying.
The right/left paradigm is a sham. We know this because actions speak louder than words. We are not going to swallow the rhetoric from either party nor for that matter from a newspaper that seems intent on clinging to the past.
Critically thinking Americans are tired of this game that people like Rove and your beloved Ms. Clinton are playing. We are tired of the Bush family stomping for democracy yet befriending and defending the most brutal regime- the Saudi Royals.
The majority of American people have been pushed into a corner, life is becoming increasingly difficult to fund and seeing billions being spent on campaigns to buy an office are not acceptable. I would suggest you start to run your newspaper like a business and not like the lapdog of the status quo.
Rove is a war criminal along with Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rice and Powell. Why would the New York Times, supposedly the poster child for a frees press, give this man any coverage? If it is to bolster your contention that the Democrats are the answer then you are not listening to what critically thinking Americans are saying.
The right/left paradigm is a sham. We know this because actions speak louder than words. We are not going to swallow the rhetoric from either party nor for that matter from a newspaper that seems intent on clinging to the past.
Critically thinking Americans are tired of this game that people like Rove and your beloved Ms. Clinton are playing. We are tired of the Bush family stomping for democracy yet befriending and defending the most brutal regime- the Saudi Royals.
The majority of American people have been pushed into a corner, life is becoming increasingly difficult to fund and seeing billions being spent on campaigns to buy an office are not acceptable. I would suggest you start to run your newspaper like a business and not like the lapdog of the status quo.
2
"The majority of the people" aren't paying that much attention. Unfortunately there don't seem to be too many "critical-thinking Americans." Therein lies our problem.
12
Welcome to the club. You may think you have shamed the comments cops into grudgingly allowing your submission to appear, but probably not. While there is undoubtedly an algorithm scanning every comment to reject those with naughty words, impure connotations, and overt threats (the sheer volume of submissions precludes human eyeballing of every one), and more than one overworked hamster in that treadmill cage, don't take rejection personally. I've found more than one of my submissions posted that I never received notification of acceptance. People make mistakes, forget, get distracted, and, yes, sometimes take offense. I don't know what it takes to get the "green card" of automatic publication, but I'm not losing any sleep over knowing I'll probably never get one. Just as you probably won't get the opportunity to read this.
4
The nonprofit arm of Crossroads is facing an Internal Revenue Service review. Wow never would have seen that coming! Yet the Clinton Crime Family continues to thrive.
3
I have to give Rove and the Kochs credit for truth-in-naming as regards their super-pacs. There is no question the "Prosperity" Charles and David want "Americans" to be "For" is their own. As for Karl's baby, his "Roads" are "Cross" in the context of being irritated, angry or vindictive.
7
instead of trying to limit the amount of money-speech in politics, let's limit campaign advertising to technologies that were available when the constitution was written.
10
Karl Rove found an easy way to make easy money. Take from the super rich and skim off a percentage to oneself. I am surprised that Newt Gingrich didn't get into this business.
5
And yet no one at the IRS investigates any democratic money laundering schemes like the Clinton Foundation for example.
1
Even conservatives can have a little too much of the Rove mental-meltdown plan for America, too bad it took them so long to start shunting this Svengali to the ash heap of history.
1
I guess it is passé to say what a sad situation this is for the United States. Beyond my own distaste for so much of what Rove & the Koch Brothers represent, wasn't our political system designed to have different voices representing various points of view - including both parties. These Super PACS are hoping for total GOP and conservative rule. What about America?
3
in case you hadn't noticed, the 2 dominant parties have the system sewn up so no third parties can get a word in edgewise.
The IRS is going after another conservative group. That is how they destroyed the tea party. Conservatives are afraid to join conservative groups because obama's IRS will come after them.
2
The Tea Party has been destroyed? News to me, but wonderful news if true!
1
As long as the presidency of the United States is for sale, anything can happen. Wondering what would happen to the country when money will be banned from politics by Constitutional mandate.
1
Hundreds of thousands of conservatives find Rove to be a disgusting example of humanity. No one-I repeat, no one should donate a dime to anything this man(I'm being kind) has anything to do with. Also, any PAC that backs Jeb Bush will allow Mrs. Clinton to stroll into the white house with a smile on her face.
1
any Republican can beat Hillary
white women (all women) got the right to vote 50 years after black men
it may take that long for the first female Pres. after the first Black Pres.
look at the percentage of women in Congress, etc. etc, to see where woman are
white women (all women) got the right to vote 50 years after black men
it may take that long for the first female Pres. after the first Black Pres.
look at the percentage of women in Congress, etc. etc, to see where woman are
And the US considers itself the protector of democracy. Time to look in the political mirror...
3
Hey, you're clever, Eric. People are going to have no idea that you are trying to create a distraction to draw attention away from Clinton's CGI PAC.
Super Pacs are a real bonanza, panacea for presidential candidates, threat to fair and transparent elections. Election campaign make more than 50% of success for candidate, you should not underestimate its importance. Super Pacs have a major advantage over other sources of financing election campaigns: Super Pac has no limit on source or amount of contributions. They can't give money directly to candidates. But there are lot's of ways to avoid this rule without breaking the law. Yeah, loopholes in law. Forget about transparent elections.
1
Isn't the Crossroads where you meet the devil?
Wasn't Rove the guy who couldn't figure out he and his band of hyenas lost the last election? Not too long ago I saw a tv bit where he got asked by some young Iraq veteran if he would like to apologize for the Iraq War. Rove launched into some free association high hatting about how bad Saddam Hussein's sons were.
OK. That was definitely not worth a trillion dollars and a lot of people's lives.
The upshot was that he basically just talked his way out of a tight spot with a bunch of canned babble that is his trademark skill set. That guys like these are hell bent on winning the White House for whoever can pay is a depressing fact of life in American politics. Thank God for social media and Reality, where the Rove head-slapping gifs roam.
Wasn't Rove the guy who couldn't figure out he and his band of hyenas lost the last election? Not too long ago I saw a tv bit where he got asked by some young Iraq veteran if he would like to apologize for the Iraq War. Rove launched into some free association high hatting about how bad Saddam Hussein's sons were.
OK. That was definitely not worth a trillion dollars and a lot of people's lives.
The upshot was that he basically just talked his way out of a tight spot with a bunch of canned babble that is his trademark skill set. That guys like these are hell bent on winning the White House for whoever can pay is a depressing fact of life in American politics. Thank God for social media and Reality, where the Rove head-slapping gifs roam.
13
I love to read the biased comments of the grey lady; they actually used to be a good news organization that is before they were a no paid arm of the democratic party political machine.
1
So, Larry, are you conceding that Fox News and the Washington Times are shilling for the Republicans?
My brother-in-law, despite being as or more conservative than I am liberal, is, next to my wife, the best friend I have on this planet. And we are both in absolute agreement that super-pacs and Citizens United are abominations and must be reversed and destroyed.
Neither party has the patent on common sense. But in the race to demonstrate a dearth of this commodity, the Republican Party has a commanding lead.
My brother-in-law, despite being as or more conservative than I am liberal, is, next to my wife, the best friend I have on this planet. And we are both in absolute agreement that super-pacs and Citizens United are abominations and must be reversed and destroyed.
Neither party has the patent on common sense. But in the race to demonstrate a dearth of this commodity, the Republican Party has a commanding lead.
Bad Karma and another Bad Hair Day !
Their 'toxic soil' that their PAC is grounded in and that they try have tried to 'seed' to the "dumbed down American Voters" is finally coming home to roost and causing the "Turd Blossom" to wilt.
It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Let the peoples grass roots political organizations now take blossom to save the Americas "Republic" from the demise of the oligarchs .
Have a nice day KKKarl.
Their 'toxic soil' that their PAC is grounded in and that they try have tried to 'seed' to the "dumbed down American Voters" is finally coming home to roost and causing the "Turd Blossom" to wilt.
It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
Let the peoples grass roots political organizations now take blossom to save the Americas "Republic" from the demise of the oligarchs .
Have a nice day KKKarl.
5
Hillary is viewed by many on the left as a shill for Wall Street, an opportunist, a woman of ruthless ambition (something valued in a man), an echo of her husband, and more and worse. But when stood beside anyone Karl Rove might support, oh my, what a shining paragon of political virtue she seems.
14
Rove's Crossroad PAC is no longer the GOP's "Big Dog". Oy.
No it is one of those overbred Frankenstein things with the weird folds that obscure its eyes and wonky hips. But that's OK, Hillary probably has a short leash for it.
No it is one of those overbred Frankenstein things with the weird folds that obscure its eyes and wonky hips. But that's OK, Hillary probably has a short leash for it.
2
As a Conservative I could not find myself supporting anything Rove is involved in.
8
“Our goal is to win the White House and hold the Senate and the House.”
This is what our "democracy" has come to. Small coteries of the obscenely wealthy band together to decide who will run for the Presidency and Congress and who will win. Then they use their unlimited money to ensure the politicians they have bought and paid for do whatever they want once elected. Otherwise, the rich oligarchs will withhold their funds from "transgressors" in the next election cycle.
Add this to the significant number of Americans who make their electoral choices from attack ads rather than do the hard work of democracy and inform themselves on the candidates and the issues, and you have the recipe for a future in which a few feudal lords control the nation and the rest of us are like serfs under their whims and domination.
This is what our "democracy" has come to. Small coteries of the obscenely wealthy band together to decide who will run for the Presidency and Congress and who will win. Then they use their unlimited money to ensure the politicians they have bought and paid for do whatever they want once elected. Otherwise, the rich oligarchs will withhold their funds from "transgressors" in the next election cycle.
Add this to the significant number of Americans who make their electoral choices from attack ads rather than do the hard work of democracy and inform themselves on the candidates and the issues, and you have the recipe for a future in which a few feudal lords control the nation and the rest of us are like serfs under their whims and domination.
20
What passes for brilliance in modern politics has generally been no more than the eager willingness to flush integrity into the sewer. Winning elections doesn't mean that you are actually smart.
12
I wrote GWB telling him to get rid.of Rove. I just.felt he was giving wrong advice.
2
It's been downhill for 'Bush's Brain' since the 'Mission Accomplished' photo op to initiate the Bush/Cheney 2004 election campaign. How can you top starting a war to get re-elected and then claiming it's all over and we won?
4
Americans for Prosperity claims to pay for Walker's travels these days - including Walker's "educational trips" - like his recent journey to Israel.
He really did need that trip to make Wisconsin better, right?
As far as trip funding, let's put it this way - they only pick up part of the tab. In the meanwhile while Walker is parading around the country and world, the state of Wisconsin, because Walker has not "claimed" his presidency, is picking up plenty - like security costs. And it's leaving Wisconsinites not any too happy.
He says he'll claim candidacy once he signs his budget. That isn't going so well either. The Republican WI legislature has gone against some of his shenanigans and is questioning others, like his Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, WEDC, that Walker has headed. Seems like the latest audits have not been so favorable for Walker - losing $500,000 taxpayer money in question, for example. Walker's trying to put the brakes now on business "loans" and may have to leave his position on WEDC.
Just in time.
But yet Americans for Prosperity keeps pumping money for this man.
Hmmm....Well, the Kochs have plenty to play with.
Walker's poll ratings have gone from 56% approval to 41%. If there were to be a recall today, it would not be surprising if Walker lost in Wisconsin.
We used to think seeing Rove was hard to watch, but living Walker in Wisconsin (although he's never around) has made even Karl Rove seem tolerable.
He really did need that trip to make Wisconsin better, right?
As far as trip funding, let's put it this way - they only pick up part of the tab. In the meanwhile while Walker is parading around the country and world, the state of Wisconsin, because Walker has not "claimed" his presidency, is picking up plenty - like security costs. And it's leaving Wisconsinites not any too happy.
He says he'll claim candidacy once he signs his budget. That isn't going so well either. The Republican WI legislature has gone against some of his shenanigans and is questioning others, like his Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, WEDC, that Walker has headed. Seems like the latest audits have not been so favorable for Walker - losing $500,000 taxpayer money in question, for example. Walker's trying to put the brakes now on business "loans" and may have to leave his position on WEDC.
Just in time.
But yet Americans for Prosperity keeps pumping money for this man.
Hmmm....Well, the Kochs have plenty to play with.
Walker's poll ratings have gone from 56% approval to 41%. If there were to be a recall today, it would not be surprising if Walker lost in Wisconsin.
We used to think seeing Rove was hard to watch, but living Walker in Wisconsin (although he's never around) has made even Karl Rove seem tolerable.
7
$500,000 is couch change compared to Solindra
In the near future, people will look back with revulsion and amazement at how the sinister Karl Rove manipulated gullible people into voting for his preferred candidates and furthering his ulterior motives. They will reflect with wonder that a large segment of the U.S. electorate willingly consumed his garbage via FOX "News", and that he was well-paid for producing that garbage.
3
All deserve their 15 minutes of fame. Hopefully the Clinton Cash machine will last longer, at least to the FBI can investigate.
Iraq is a mess thanks to Rove and Bush !
9
Iraq is a mess because of Clinton, Bush and Obama. Clinton had a lot of opportunities like taking out Bin Laden, Bush didn't get us into Iraq alone, congress voted for it (Including Hillary), so it wasn't just Bush, Obama lost everything we fought for by not keeping enough troops there to keep the hapless Iraqi army in line. They are near worthless. All those Americans died for nothing because of Obama. Do you think soldiers are going to want to go back in there with him in charge? Now we have ISIS that Obama is trying to ignore long enough to get out of office which is going to leave the next president with a huge issue that may well require a nuke to resolve. You get the government you vote for people.
There is a special place in hell waiting for the members of the Supreme Court who voted for Citizens United. Corporations might be people according to you but none of you are actually people according to the rest of us.
10
At some, point your actual competence in running things is considered. Mr. Rove may have Machiavellian talents for dividing and alienating the voting population, to motivate the base. But on the governing front he is a complete and catastrophic failure.
7
Down here in North Carolina we have some who are moving far to the right of Rove. They are the wingnuts, whackos and fruitcakes who will only support a candidate who believes in conspiracy theories, barks at the moon and drink water with no fluoride.
4
So sad......Seems like Karl above has had his 15 minutes.....time to ride off into the sunset.....
2
Rove is a tool..stuck in the "old ways" things are done in politics. He is despised by conservatives, whom he and the establishment trashes at every turn.
His branding, product and track record sucks. But his failure constantly seems to be rewarded every year.
And I refuse to watch Fox News, as he is on way too often.
His branding, product and track record sucks. But his failure constantly seems to be rewarded every year.
And I refuse to watch Fox News, as he is on way too often.
1
There are two issues here. One is the power of money, and the other is the power of thought. Unfortunately, the average American voter is woefully uninformed. While the evidence is anecdotal, it is clear that Americans cannot name many of their elected politicians, the members of the Supreme Court, have a very limited grasp of political issues, etc. This makes it possible for the power of money to trump the power of thought. You do not fix this problem by limiting the power of money. That is a sure way for those who do the limiting to become dictators.
Crossroads, Crossroads GPS and other Rove groups have spent millions on half truths and lies, and has not been successful in electing the GOP to national office. Americans just aren't that stupid. If only Rove could have used that money on positive things - fighting poverty, hunger, expanding healthcare to the homeless, etc., people would feel good about his money. Instead, he wastes it on political rhetoric that futher divides this country. Citizens United must be repealed.
9
The Zero-Sum 'game' that Rove and Carvile played is, in my opinion, hugely responsible for how dysfunctional we are as a country. The two of them laid waste to commonalities that have always kept us together as a Nation. Shameful if you ask me. There are many things politically I disagree with my friends, neighbors and, yes...., Countrymen and these two knuckleheads have lit those disagreements on fire to win short term gains. Am I wrong? The messengers are self serving and, frankly, I'm tired of being poked by a hot stick.
2
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, well, maybe.
1
Karl Rove marketed George W. Bush to the Texas governorship and then to the US Presidency.
The man has caused enormous damage to a once great nation now reeling in the toxic fumes of the ashes of the George W. Bush Administration and his Supremely Corrupted Court.
What a human wrecking ball Karl Rove is.
The man has caused enormous damage to a once great nation now reeling in the toxic fumes of the ashes of the George W. Bush Administration and his Supremely Corrupted Court.
What a human wrecking ball Karl Rove is.
9
Soc
Then pray Walker doesn't get anywhere near 1600 Pennsylvania....
He's already wrecked WI, I can't imagine what he would do to the whole country.
Then pray Walker doesn't get anywhere near 1600 Pennsylvania....
He's already wrecked WI, I can't imagine what he would do to the whole country.
It's nice to know that Republican fat cats can smell the coffee.
1
Nasty man, hoisted on his own...
5
Oooh, poor little Karl and his right-wing Crossroads PAC... buffeted by the right-wing Koch political network ... with essentially the SAME extreme right-wing agenda!
5
Go find yourself an honest job, Karl: your day in politics is done.
2
"The group will use polling data and opposition research to paint her as “a typical politician who would say or do anything to get elected,” said Steven Law, president of Crossroads."
Isn't that what it means to be a politician these days. There is one exception. .. Klobuchar. .... http://lstrn.us/1EhpydE
Isn't that what it means to be a politician these days. There is one exception. .. Klobuchar. .... http://lstrn.us/1EhpydE
1
Add Bernie Sanders. He will say things just about guaranteed to NOT get him elected. Eg, the truth.
How sad, after so many gave their lives that our great country should be brought down by the unfettered greed of the few. This is not what the heroes we honor on Memorial Day were sacrificing their lives for. Absolute shame.
11
Turdblossom Rove (as Mr. Bush called him) is about to experience the fun of dealing with the IRS and will very likely be defanged, other than his yellow journalism in the Wall Street Journal. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy with the exception of Dick Cheney.
7
"And while Mr. Rove is beloved by a number of Republican donors, many grass-roots Republicans regard him as too closely tied to a presidency they see as having been insufficiently conservative."
Do these same grass roots Republicans think the moon shines in the daytime and the sun at night? Because they do not inhabit the same universe as me.
Do these same grass roots Republicans think the moon shines in the daytime and the sun at night? Because they do not inhabit the same universe as me.
5
Hundreds of millions to inspire hate and fear. American Crossroads is an apt name.
6
Will we all be crucified upon a cross of Rove?
"'Our goal is not to make American Crossroads the big dog of 2016,' Mr. Law said in an interview. 'Our goal is to win the White House and hold the Senate and the House.'”
---------------------------------------------
As I concurrently read the article further down the page from this one about the racist-based hatred shown toward President Obama as he engaged in tweeting for the first time today, I find the prospect of a GOP-controlled federal government entirely chilling.
Corporations are NOT people, and it's just plain stupid to consider them as such. Citizens United easily is one of the worst decisions made by the SCOTUS as an institution, and it must be overturned.
---------------------------------------------
As I concurrently read the article further down the page from this one about the racist-based hatred shown toward President Obama as he engaged in tweeting for the first time today, I find the prospect of a GOP-controlled federal government entirely chilling.
Corporations are NOT people, and it's just plain stupid to consider them as such. Citizens United easily is one of the worst decisions made by the SCOTUS as an institution, and it must be overturned.
3
I don't feel that the article says anything except that there will be a lot of money put into this election to defame everyone with the result that a lot of people will be so turned off that they will not vote. I believe this is the primary purpose of the Republican money since the effect is fewer progressive voter go to the pols under this condition thus improving the chances of their candidates.
1
I think a great lede to a story would be who owns or has shares in the Television industry who seems to garner almost all the millions spent on campaigns.
Do these big individual contributors and corporate contributors get their campaign money back in the end?
I smell a racket.
Do these big individual contributors and corporate contributors get their campaign money back in the end?
I smell a racket.
1
Even though Hillary Clinton is without a doubt “a typical politician who would say or do anything to get elected,” that still doesn't equate into the American public voting against her for the GREATER of two evils.
1
I believe in the founding principles of our nation, and that means I must apply my beliefs even when I disagree. Here, Crossroads is clearly within it's rights to express free speech but the public must be educated about the concepts of deliberate propaganda in which the masses are brainwashed with new ideas using psychological techniques and slight of hand to get those ideas past the firewalls and filters of a persons mind. You must know the old saying, "He's a fast talking devil". Unfortunately, television campaign ads are ideal for this technique of getting past the firewalls and filters by utilizing short paraphrases and indelible visual reinforcing cues. That is why almost all campaign money goes to television campaign advertising.
People are not stupid, they are just easily duped. Television is an extremely powerful medium that accomplishes this. By appealing to base instincts of survival, love, and hate, the minds of the masses are locked into votes.
The Republicans are particularly adept at getting people to the polls by appealing to and generating hatred of opposing candidates. It works.
While this propaganda blitz occurs, the Democrats try to maintain their dignity in public as they are shell shocked by the attacks. They are easy targets that rarely fight back. Dignity never won a war.
This is a cold war mindset in political fights and the Democrats will continue to lose until they employ equally effective tactics.
That's why Rove hates Hillary Clinton.
People are not stupid, they are just easily duped. Television is an extremely powerful medium that accomplishes this. By appealing to base instincts of survival, love, and hate, the minds of the masses are locked into votes.
The Republicans are particularly adept at getting people to the polls by appealing to and generating hatred of opposing candidates. It works.
While this propaganda blitz occurs, the Democrats try to maintain their dignity in public as they are shell shocked by the attacks. They are easy targets that rarely fight back. Dignity never won a war.
This is a cold war mindset in political fights and the Democrats will continue to lose until they employ equally effective tactics.
That's why Rove hates Hillary Clinton.
4
Follow the money. Karl Rove's #1 funding source is hedge fund manager Paul Singer, a major player in (among other things) the Bush-family-loving petroleum industry. Imagine that.
4
So, citizen's united gets rove, how interesting is that.
1
Having too much money chasing after political influence can make a dangerous landscape. This is not dissimilar to the recent phenomenon of money pouring into startups in the investment world.
Buying Rove is like buying insurance. Political observers should learn from history: even after Joe McCarthy was discredited and disgraced, his chief aide, Roy Cohn, remained a powerful - and much feared - figure in politics until he was about to die of AIDS
Buying Rove is like buying insurance. Political observers should learn from history: even after Joe McCarthy was discredited and disgraced, his chief aide, Roy Cohn, remained a powerful - and much feared - figure in politics until he was about to die of AIDS
12
Why is none of this money taxed?
Joe McCarthy was never discredited and disgraced; in fact, he outed several bad actors in the State Department. That is Democratic revisionist history you are quoting.
This article was too kind to Rove and Crossroads. They had a disastrous 2012 election and never fully recovered. The money and the talent have moved on to other players.
37
Rove has always run a fear and hate machine that manufactures ignorance. It's a shame that what's replaced him are yet other fear and hate machines that manufacture ignorance.
95
Wow Mark you sound like an open minded guy. What is your political philosophy? "Everyone who has a viewpoint other than mine is just spreading fear and hate." It just warms my heart to see the tolerance and acceptance of liberals on display again. Believe I'm no Rove fan, he isn't even a conservative, he is king RINO. He endorses wishy-washy RINO candidates that are losers. But if you want to talk about fear and hate the current administration has tried to get the population to fear and hate the police while widening racial division. A president's job is to unite not take sides before a trial has even taken place. I'm sure the police are more of a threat than actual terrorist. Should DHS watch out for the police now? Add in class warfare and making deals with our enemies that have already been broken and this administration has clearly been all about the love. Open your eyes there is no right and wrong side, in politics they all have dirty hands.
The decline in influence of Rove's group is irrelevant. It is but one of many groups that increasingly pollute American political life, thanks largely Citizens United. That judicial coup d'état transformed the first amendment from a shield that defends our democracy into a club that beats it down.
145
Unless it's used by liberals. Then it's "A-Ok" !
This reminds of the movie I saw last week.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Although this is a lot scarier.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Although this is a lot scarier.
22
Just like the dry erase board he carries and displays on his regular Fox News appearances - Karl is behind the times and way past his prime. The Republican brand of Rove's era is getting older and shrinking. and he knows it! Another 10 years and we can finally put this silly mess to bed- and ultimately behind us.
31
Karl "The Architect" never won a national election by more than a few percentage points. One wound up in court in Florida. Remember Algore and the 'hanging chads?'
It's the evolutionary reality that the base that Rove depends upon, at work.
Big dog becomes little yapper.
Ankle biter status arrives shortly.
Big dog becomes little yapper.
Ankle biter status arrives shortly.
17
At first glance this seems like good news, but in fact it is irrelevant, if not a sign of worse things to come. In the grand scheme nothing is changing except that use of Super Pacs is growing to where now every candidate has their own Super Pac, most of which are bigger than Crossroads and even less independent.
Sad days to come.
Sad days to come.
47
With two Presidential elections coming out soundly for President Obama, the Karl Rove brand was bound to lose its luster(such as it was).
18
Mr. Rove may no longer be, as you say, the big dog, but he continues to have a vicious bark, as evidenced by his op-ed in the Wall Street Journal attacking President Obama and Hillary Clinton ("When Politicians Loathe the Press," May 20, 2015). I can't recall reading a more distasteful, divisive, misleading, and venomous article by a major political actor. One could almost see him angrily - or gleefully - typing away. The result was, in a word, shameful. Democrats would be wise not to underestimate this particular attack dog.
70
You should try reading liberal thought if such can be called. Now THAT is distasteful, divisive, misleading and venomous !
Why does anyone still read the WSJ. My advice: read Bloomberg instead. Everything necessary in business news that WSJ provides is available at Bloomberg, for free rather than subscription, and you get to skip WSJ's parallel universe op-ed pages (not that the NYT also doesn't go into the opposite parallel universe with some liberal wishful thinking writers, and I simply skip those Op-Ed writers who ignore facts and evidence, or present clearly skewed or poorly conceived "studies" to push ideology these days. a first step, and if it gets too oppressive... there is a media explosion out there ...).
Those of us whose ancestors sweated and bled to build and defend this Republic will do a happy dance when Rove dies.
3
Rove and his Crossroads are a plague on America, not because he is forever finding new ways to win for Republicans, but because he doesn't care how or why he wins, as long as he has power and makes a lot of money in the process. Devious means, once known as dirty tricks, are Rove's specialty. In 2004, when most of the American public had not yet fully realized what a disaster the Iraq war was for America and the world, Rove managed to get G.W. Bush elected by encouraging 13 states to put gay marriage on the ballot. This brought out Catholics and other socially conservative groups, especially in the key state of Ohio, to vote against gay marriage and for Bush. (The first Bush term, 2000, can not be considered a true election, since it was thrown to Bush by the highly political Republicans on the Supreme Court.)
The big money donors to these groups are being played for fools. The actual results Crossroads could point to from 2012 were minimal, despite hundreds of millions spent, but now they are ready to go to the well again.
Outside, third party campaign groups represent a corruption of American democracy because they lack accountability and can say and do almost anything without it being traced back to the candidate they are trying to get elected. As these practices expand and mature, there is going to be hell to pay when the public fully understands that their democracy has been stolen from them bit by bit, hundred million dollars at a time.
The big money donors to these groups are being played for fools. The actual results Crossroads could point to from 2012 were minimal, despite hundreds of millions spent, but now they are ready to go to the well again.
Outside, third party campaign groups represent a corruption of American democracy because they lack accountability and can say and do almost anything without it being traced back to the candidate they are trying to get elected. As these practices expand and mature, there is going to be hell to pay when the public fully understands that their democracy has been stolen from them bit by bit, hundred million dollars at a time.
62
We can learn from others. 2016 will have marijuana initiatives.
Karl Rove delivered us (and was part of) the worst presidency in the history of modern times, a presidency that watched our country fall to its knees economically, fiscally and on the world stage. In early 2009 we were losing 750,000 jobs per month and the S&P 500 stood Index stood at 735 (today it's at 2,130). It's astounding that he's still a factor in politics.
98
Add to that the following:
Bush turned the $127 Billion budget surplus, that he inherited from Pres. Clinton, into a deficit in his first year in office.
The poverty rate rose each year of the Bush Administration.
In 2006, 12.7% of Americans were living in poverty.
Child poverty rose as well.
From 2000 to 2004 , median household income dropped 5.9%.
The Bush tax cuts added greatly to the deficit and to the national debt, especially during a time of war.
All of the above is just for starters.
www.costofwar.com (Scroll down to see the ongoing costs of the Bush initiatives.)
www.costsofwar.org (the larger picture)
Let us not unleash another Bush - Jeb - upon ourselves.
It wouldn't be prudent.
Bush turned the $127 Billion budget surplus, that he inherited from Pres. Clinton, into a deficit in his first year in office.
The poverty rate rose each year of the Bush Administration.
In 2006, 12.7% of Americans were living in poverty.
Child poverty rose as well.
From 2000 to 2004 , median household income dropped 5.9%.
The Bush tax cuts added greatly to the deficit and to the national debt, especially during a time of war.
All of the above is just for starters.
www.costofwar.com (Scroll down to see the ongoing costs of the Bush initiatives.)
www.costsofwar.org (the larger picture)
Let us not unleash another Bush - Jeb - upon ourselves.
It wouldn't be prudent.
2
Add to that the following:
Bush turned the $127 Billion budget surplus, that he inherited from Pres. Clinton, into a deficit in his first year in office.
The poverty rate rose each year of the Bush Administration.
In 2006, 12.7% of Americans were living in poverty.
Child poverty rose as well.
From 2000 to 2004 , median household income dropped 5.9%.
The Bush tax cuts added greatly to the deficit and to the national debt, especially during a time of war.
All of the above is just for starters.
www.costofwar.com (Scroll down to see the ongoing costs of the Bush initiatives.)
www.costsofwar.org (The larger picture)
Let us not unleash another Bush - Jeb - upon ourselves.
It wouldn't be prudent.
Bush turned the $127 Billion budget surplus, that he inherited from Pres. Clinton, into a deficit in his first year in office.
The poverty rate rose each year of the Bush Administration.
In 2006, 12.7% of Americans were living in poverty.
Child poverty rose as well.
From 2000 to 2004 , median household income dropped 5.9%.
The Bush tax cuts added greatly to the deficit and to the national debt, especially during a time of war.
All of the above is just for starters.
www.costofwar.com (Scroll down to see the ongoing costs of the Bush initiatives.)
www.costsofwar.org (The larger picture)
Let us not unleash another Bush - Jeb - upon ourselves.
It wouldn't be prudent.
How much longer are the apathetic voters of this country going to let corporations and wealthy individuals drive the election cycle? When will we demand that free speech does not include the right to drown out all other voices and that anonymous speech should never be protected? Dark money should never be allowed in political campaigns and there should be strict donation and spending limits on campaign speech.
73
The Kochs make money fracking
And Rove by Super Pac-ing,
Top Dog no more
Viewers deplore
The skills he's sadly lacking.
And Rove by Super Pac-ing,
Top Dog no more
Viewers deplore
The skills he's sadly lacking.
52
As John Lennon said, " what he needs is a damn good whacking!"
1
karl is a master strategist. and he's not working for minimum wage at 65(?) either. he understands the game. and is a good Christian family man too.
You seem to have forgotten George Soros.
" Crossroads pitches over the last four years said the group had been fairly quiet on the fund-raising circuit since the 2014 midterms. "
Campaign expenses have cut into salaries, fees, honorariums, publishing costs, speakers' payments ....
Campaign expenses have cut into salaries, fees, honorariums, publishing costs, speakers' payments ....
6
Don't you love the hypocrisy?
The group will use polling data and opposition research to paint her as “a typical politician who would say or do anything to get elected,”
Amazing. Republicans attacking Hillary Clinton for being willing to "say or do anything to get elected."
So. let's ask the Republican candidates about evolution, gay marriage, climate change, support for transportation and infrastructure, minimum wage and immigration and see how they fall in line, being willing to "say or do" anything, as long as it panders to the far right. When backed into a corner on ridiculous positions they hide behind "I'm not a scientist" and other such nonsense.
Hillary stands up pretty well against the folks Crossroads will support. They may just be hoisting their candidates on their own petard.
The group will use polling data and opposition research to paint her as “a typical politician who would say or do anything to get elected,”
Amazing. Republicans attacking Hillary Clinton for being willing to "say or do anything to get elected."
So. let's ask the Republican candidates about evolution, gay marriage, climate change, support for transportation and infrastructure, minimum wage and immigration and see how they fall in line, being willing to "say or do" anything, as long as it panders to the far right. When backed into a corner on ridiculous positions they hide behind "I'm not a scientist" and other such nonsense.
Hillary stands up pretty well against the folks Crossroads will support. They may just be hoisting their candidates on their own petard.
134
Hillary is as crooked as the Republicans. There is no real difference between the two parties in the grand scheme. Campaign financiers get what they want.
What I would like to see is CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
What I would like to see is CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.
Anything hat makes Karl Rove irrelevant is good news.
88
Yes, we've suffered long enough!
16
Yes, that's my gut reaction also. But, we should be careful what we wish for--what replaces him, these multiple super-PACs--could end up being much worse.
This doesn't sound much like government for the people and by the people does it?
92
It's about time. Rove and his cronies have done some much damage to the political landscape.
55
Starting with the fact that it Karl Rove was the one whispering lies into the earphone of a FOX NOISE analyst in Florida on that fateful election night in November 2000.
A FOX analyst who just happened to be George W. Bush's first cousin, John Ellis, who just happened to be "analyzing" the electoral college in the state where George W. Bush's brother just happened to be governor.
It's still a mystery as to WHY did ALL the other major networks and major media caved so quickly to Rove's malicious efforts. It's a fact that George W. Bush was the first president in over a 100 years to take office without winning the popular vote.* If it's ever proven that Rove did indeed steal the electoral college as well, then W's entire presidency will be blacklisted as an illegitimate sham. Someday historians will be shaking their heads at how this ever happened.
*Obama was the first prez since Eisenhower to win 52% of the popular vote in BOTH elections. Can you imagine how the wing nuts would have reacted if Obama hadn't won the popular vote?
A FOX analyst who just happened to be George W. Bush's first cousin, John Ellis, who just happened to be "analyzing" the electoral college in the state where George W. Bush's brother just happened to be governor.
It's still a mystery as to WHY did ALL the other major networks and major media caved so quickly to Rove's malicious efforts. It's a fact that George W. Bush was the first president in over a 100 years to take office without winning the popular vote.* If it's ever proven that Rove did indeed steal the electoral college as well, then W's entire presidency will be blacklisted as an illegitimate sham. Someday historians will be shaking their heads at how this ever happened.
*Obama was the first prez since Eisenhower to win 52% of the popular vote in BOTH elections. Can you imagine how the wing nuts would have reacted if Obama hadn't won the popular vote?
This is not democracy. Furtive figures, wealthy donors with outsize political influence, malleable candidates serving as mouthpieces for their sponsors and not for citizens. This is an industry needing regulation, not representative governance.
67
Karl Rove seemed diminished even among Republicans, when he made a fool of himself election night 2012, refusing to believe the results in front of him. For those of us who resented how he served as "Bush's Brain" and his concept of a permanent Republican majority, his downfall cannot come soon enough.
183
That was an epic scene. Highlight of the election night coverage.
67
I don't usually like conspiracy theories, but I think Rove has tried (and been successful previously) in rigging elections. But, in 2012, "Anonymous" intervened and Rove couldn't believe it. http://www.salon.com/2012/11/20/did_anonymous_stop_rove_stealing_the_ele...
I'm sure the wealthy donors who witnessed Rove's meltdown on Fox news on 2012 election night will look elsewhere to spend their money.
75
We can only hope, but many of them cannot alter their deranged minds.
We must move to public funding of elections. In the meantime, we must overturn Citizens United, one of the worst Supreme Court decisions. Bernie Sanders spoke about it during an interview on Face the Nation:
“If elected president, I will have a ‘litmus test’ in terms of my nominee to be a Supreme Court justice. And that nominee will say that we are going to overturn this disastrous Supreme Court decision on Citizens United because that decision is undermining American democracy. I do not believe that billionaires should be able to buy politicians.”
“If elected president, I will have a ‘litmus test’ in terms of my nominee to be a Supreme Court justice. And that nominee will say that we are going to overturn this disastrous Supreme Court decision on Citizens United because that decision is undermining American democracy. I do not believe that billionaires should be able to buy politicians.”
191
All too true. The buying and selling of elections is clearly not what the 'framers' had in mind, but it was apparently what a majority of the Supreme Court had in mind. It will take a monumental effort to overturn this decision but it has to start somewhere.
115
All very true, but the influence of the rich precedes Citizens United by decades.
19
Unless of course those politicians are liberals, then hey ! Cheaper by the dozen !
Eclectic Pragmatist — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/