Called "the architect" and the "boy genius" by some and "Bush's brain" by others, Karl Rove has been a standout member of the Bush administration since the president was first elected. Now, after helping Bush win two elections, the chief political strategist is calling it quits. He is expected to leave the administration at the end of August. Rove said he has been contemplating the decision for the past year, but when White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten told senior aides that if they stayed past Labor Day, they would be obligated to remain on staff until the end of Bush's term, Rove decided he was done. In the past year, Rove's reputation has suffered. The deputy White House chief of staff became entangled with the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Some speculated that Lewis "Scooter" Libby took the fall in order to protect Rove, but this was never proved. In addition, Rove's alter ego was caught on tape in March at the Radio and Television Correspondents Association dinner. "MC Rove" delighted the audience by dancing awkwardly and rapping on stage.
Two women among the 23 South Koreans being held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan were set free today. The women were apparently released because they were ill and negotiations that started Friday were going well. The women were part of a South Korean church group that was kidnapped by militants on July 19. Two male hostages were executed in late July.
Even with the absence of two major candidates, presidential candidate Mitt Romney said his win in the weekend's Iowa Republican straw poll was significant. Romney said Rudy Giuliani's and John McCain's decisions not to take part in the nonbinding poll, which is often telling of candidates' strength in the early caucus state, proved that he was running a tough campaign. In the poll, Romney received 31.5 percent. He was followed by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who picked up 18.1 percent, and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, with 15.3 percent. Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson decided to throw in the towel after coming in sixth in the straw poll. These next few weeks in Iowa are important for candidates who want to do well in the state that holds the earliest primary.
Reader Comments