Yesterday it was announced that Karl Rove, the President’s chief political strategist, will be resigning from the White House on August 31st. This came as a surprise to everyone and many are wondering why and why now.
There are several reasons why he could be resigning. One could be, as he claims, to spend time with his family. Yet, most campaign consultants do not have much time for their families and know that before going into the business. Another could be to bolster Bush’s approval ratings and to make the Bush presidency seem more willing to work with democrats. Yet, if Bush wants to keep his Republican base, he must be more hostile to democrats (as he will be by vetoing every spending bill the Democrats send to him). A final reason for Rove’s departure could be to save his own image by jumping from an already sinking ship. But no matter how history views Bush, many agree that Rove is one of the greatest political strategists.
The other question raised from Rove’s departure is why now. September and October will be the final months that will shape Bush’s legacy. Many feel Rove is needed to fight for keeping troops in Iraq and for the fight to keep the Republican base on Bush’s side. This is a crucial time for Bush and he needs all the help he can get if he wants to turn around his Presidency. Since Rove has always been loyal to Bush, why has he chosen to leave Bush now when he may be needed more than ever before?
