Karl Rove as Grendel???

[CatWoman]

The poisonous rhetorical legacy of Karl Rove
Even Fox's Chris Wallace wants to know why Bush's newly departed advisor had to paint Democrats as traitors.

By Juan Cole

Aug. 20, 2007 | On Fox News Sunday morning, Karl Rove played the victim. He told host Chris Wallace that in the wake of his resignation as White House deputy chief of staff, his enemies were on the hunt. Rove compared himself to a legendary monster whom the ancient Anglo-Saxon hero Beowulf sought to slay. "I mean, I'm a myth, and they're ... You know, I'm Grendel ... They're after me."

But Rove, who pursued his Democratic foes with a relentless repertoire of dirty tricks, smears and outright lies, won't win many sympathizers by depicting himself as unfairly maligned. He is likely to be remembered above all for his own expertise at demonization, specifically for his ability to paint his political opponents as unreliable partners in the "war on terror" -- as traitors to the United States. A master propagandist, he portrayed his rivals as fellow travelers with Osama bin Laden, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein. Like Cain, from whom Grendel was said to be descended, Rove was more interested in fratricide than in the welfare of his people.

While the Democrats were debating on ABC's "This Week" Sunday morning, Rove appeared on the other three political talk shows. Surprisingly, it was Wallace of "Fox News Sunday" who asked Rove to defend his rhetorical legacy. For about a fourth of his interview, Wallace pushed Rove again and again to explain his willingness to cast aspersions on the patriotism of Democrats.

First, he asked Rove about the decision of the White House to turn the "war on terror" into a campaign issue in the 2002 midterms. He cited as an example the Republican attacks on Democratic Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia as weak on national security.

Cleland, a veteran who lost an arm and both of his legs in Vietnam, faced Republican Saxby Chambliss, who had never worn a uniform. Yet Chambliss lashed out at Cleland "for breaking his oath to protect and defend the Constitution," accusing him of treason. Chambliss won the election. Many believe that Rove advised Chambliss and other Republican candidates to pursue this sort of smear campaign. Terrorism, Rove observed, is a good issue for the Republicans to take to the country.


http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2007/08/20/rove /

[YOY]

1. Except Karl's mother killed herself didn't she?

n/t

[C_U_L8R]

2. Delusions of Grandeur

KKKarl... no one cares about YOU

[whistle]

3. Actually KKKarl Rove is thinking of the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale

...What a complete schmuck!

[CJCRANE]

4. No Karl, you are not a myth - you *create* the myths

of the 21st century to feed to your gullible base.

[intaglio]

5. Grendel had his arm torn off

Ran back to his Ma and died. Then Ma tried to get revenge but Beowulf killed her too.

Grendels mother was supposed to be uglier and nastier than her son - now who does that remind you of??

[CatWoman]

6. Rove's "host"?

If Rove is the brain, what does that make Chimpy (besides Pinky)?

[kineneb]

12. Karl is pondscum to Grendal

A little of the original Saxon:
http://www8.georgetown.edu/departments/medieval/labyrin...

...
ac hine se modega mæg Hygelaces
hæfde be honda; wæs gehwæþer oðrum

815
lifigende lað. Licsar gebad
atol æglæca; him on eaxle wearð
syndolh sweotol, seonowe onsprungon,
burston banlocan. Beowulfe wearð
guðhreð gyfeþe; scolde Grendel þonan

820
feorhseoc fleon under fenhleoðu,
secean wynleas wic; wiste þe geornor
þæt his aldres wæs ende gegongen,
dogera dægrim. ...

According to the translation I have:

(Grendel's arms have been pinioned by Beowulf)
...
Bound fast, Higlac's brave follower tearing at
His hands. The monster's hatred rose higher,
But his power had gone. He twisted in pain,
And the bleeding sinews deep in shoulder
Snapped, muscle and bone split
And broke. The battle was over, Beowulf
Had been granted new glory: Grendel escaped,
But wounded as he was could flee to his den,
His miserable hole at the bottom of the marsh,
Only to die, to wait for the end
Of all his days.


Karl doesn't come close...

[Parche]

7. They are after him?

Why in the hell doesnt he shut the F up about Hillary then.......

Its ok for him to spout his crap about Hillary, but dont pick on Karl Rover...




OH MEOW

[CatWoman]

8. heh

that kitty has the right idea

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Has anybody read John Gardner's novel, Grendel

It was originally published in 1971. It tells the Beowulf story from Grendel's point of view. It's well worth the read.

Yes, I could portray Rove as Grendel. But then I don't think a monster who eats sleeping men is any more misunderstood than a rabid dog. Unlike Rove, Grendel couldn't help being what they was. The thing to do with him is put hims somewhere where he can't harm any one.

Unfortunately, as long as Rove has access to any communications device, he is to be feared.

[knitter4democracy]

10. That was a good book.

And no, Rove's not Grendel. Iago, maybe, but not Grendel.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Perhaps you're right

In Gardner's novel, Grendel is entirely too sympathetic. I'd have trouble feeling sorry for Rove if he were being boiled in oil.

Then again, I was thinking of Grendel as made out by the anonymous poet of Beowulf. That Grendel isn't very sympathetic.

Iago is definitely human. While Grendel just wants his supper, Iago is motivated by something more complex. Whatever it is, it's something higher than base instinct and definitely not pretty. The same can be said of Rove.

[blogslut]

14. I was thinking more of a reverse Iago

Iago meant to destroy Othello. KKKarl's advice is destroying Dubya but the intention was to help him.

[knitter4democracy]

17. Which literary character is that like, then.

I'm trying to think of one. A well-intentioned but poisonous friend. I can't think of one.

[blogslut]

18. Good question

Othello was one of Shakespeare's few honorable protagonists. His only flaw was jealousy and Iago preyed on that. Dubya is no Othello.

I dunno. Oedipus got bad advice but it was from the enemy Nemesis and Oedipus was fairly innocent. Peer Gynt just wouldn't listen and neither would Macbeth. Maybe Pelonious? Oh hell. I really just can't say.

[johnfunk]

16. Dool-dool!

Four out of five feral Saxon mother-beasts agree: "Dool-dool!"

[Plaid Adder]

13. Let's see. Grendel and Rove, a point by point comparison:

...slimy: check.
...evil: check.
...monstrous: check.
...eats warriors alive: well, if you count Swiftboating, check.
...lives in swamps and fens: check
...does most of his fell work under cover of darkness: check
...devoted to his even more fearsome mother: dude, I do not want to know what kind of Freudian psychodramatics went into creating this man's personality
...winds up getting his one good arm ripped off and nailed to the banquet hall door: well, hope springs eternal.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[johnfunk]

15. Allow me to elaborate on one of teh Adder's comparisons

Grendel: devoted to his even more fearsome mother
Rove: devoted to his gay stepfather who had a thing for genital piercing.
(WARNING: Link definitely not work-safe!)

[Lisa]

19. that would be an insult to Grendel!

The recent film "Beowulf and Grendel" portrayed Grendel as being quite reasonable (attacked Beowulf's men only after extreme provocation, because he knew that they were not the ones who had murdered his father).

[mdmc]

20. anyone read Grendel by John Garner

Gredel is the victim, not a monster...

[Jack Rabbit]

21. See post 11

. . . and the brief discussion that follows.

[mdmc]

22. thanks and cool avatar

www.arlo.net

[mdmc]

23. I recently saw a movie called Beuwolf and Grendal

it was pretty good...