Rove's Retirement: To little notice in the national media, Bush presidential adviser Karl Rove disclosed during a Washington speaking engagement last week that he will not return to his lifetime profession as a political consultant when he leaves the White House. Rove referred to himself as "a former political consultant" and said that he was leaving the game.
Why would Rove retire from politics? What else would he do to support his family?
I have to wonder, is there an Indictment looming in his future? If there is, I suspect it is not for PlameGate, but for his dealings with Jack Abramoff. Remember, his former aide Susan Ralston resigned several months ago after details of her contacts with Abramoff, who was her boss before Rove, became public.
If there is an Indictment, Evans and Novak may be engaging in wishful thinking about the timing of his retirement. If Rove already knows he's in trouble, either he's already been indicted or been told it's imminent and unavoidable. I could see postponing the unsealing of an indictment until after the election, but not for two years.
If Rove is leaving politics, I bet it's going to be in weeks or months, well before Bush's term ends.
On November 16, US News reported:
The rumors that chief White House political architect Karl Rove will leave sometime next year are being bolstered with new insider reports that his partisan style is a hurdle to President Bush's new push for bipartisanship. "Karl represents the old style and he's got to go if the Democrats are going to believe Bush's talk of getting along," said a key Bush advisor.
Other elements are also at play: The election yesterday of Sen. Trent Lott to the number two GOP leadership position in the Senate is also a threat to the White House and Rove, who worked against him when he battled to save his majority leader's job after his insensitive remarks about Sen. Strom Thurmond. And insiders report that Bush counsel Harriet Miers isn't a fan, believing that Rove didn't do enough to help her failed Supreme Court nomination among conservatives.
In fact, one top West Wing advisor said that the unexpected ouster of Rove aide Susan Ralston over ethics questions was orchestrated by Miers as a signal to Rove to leave. The advisor said that Rove is aware of the situation and that a departure might come in "weeks, not months." A Rove ally, however, noted that he has a record of out-witting his critics. -- Bulletin exclusive from U.S. News
Then again, maybe Rove is home-free and has a non-political consulting job lined up for 2009.
Any bets?
