Whatever will the Democrats do with the Source of All Evil no longer in the West Wing?

Karl Rove, President Bush's longtime political adviser, is resigning as White House deputy chief of staff effective Aug. 31, and returning to Texas, marking a turning point for the Bush presidency.

Mr. Rove's departure removes one of the White House's most polarizing figures, and perhaps signals the effective end of the lame duck administration's role in shaping major domestic policy decisions. Mr. Rove revealed his plans in an interview with Paul Gigot, editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page.

Mr. Rove, who has held a senior post in the White House since President Bush took office in January 2001, told Mr. Gigot he first floated the idea of leaving a year ago. But he delayed his departure as, first, Democrats took Congress, and then as the White House tackled debates on immigration and Iraq, he said. He said he decided to leave after White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten told senior aides that if they stayed past Labor Day they would be obliged to remain through the end of the president's term in January 2009.

"I just think it's time," Mr. Rove said in the interview. "There's always something that can keep you here, and as much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family." Mr. Rove and his wife have a home in Ingram, Texas, and a son who attends college in nearby San Antonio.

Personally, this Republican is not sad to see Karl Rove go, nor do I think he is leaving too soon or showing disloyalty. Let's be honest here -- this is the time when Presidents get ready for the home stretch of their administrations, and if someone is planning to leave early the time to do so is now. Besides, an earlier departure would have looked like an admission of guilt in the Plame case or some other sign of weakness -- instead we have Rove leaving on his own terms.

Posted by: Greg at 03:27 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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