White House Watch: Rove keeps influence
By Kenneth T. Walsh
Posted 8/17/05
White House insiders say Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove is as engaged as ever in high-level decision making. Rove is under harsh attack by his critics over whether he illegally or improperly leaked sensitive information in the Valerie Plame CIA case.
Charlie Archambault for USN&WR
But the insiders say Rove hasn't backed away from his powerful role as one of President Bush's most valued advisers. He has been active, for example, in winning passage of the recently enacted transportation and energy bills and is planning Bush's agenda for this fall and for 2006, which will include a renewed push for Social Security overhaul, changes in immigration law, and tax reform.
"He's as instrumental as he ever was," says a White House insider who talks to Rove regularly.