BREAKING: Rove Aide Resigns (Sara Taylor)

[seafan]

Rove Aide Resigns
By Paul Kiel - March 30, 2007, 1:13 PM



Maybe it's a coincidence.

White House political director Sara Taylor is out the door at the White House, according to Washington Wire. Taylor came up a number of times yesterday during the Kyle Sampson hearing as having worked closely with Sampson (along with another Karl Rove aide Scott Jennings) to install Rove's former aide Tim Griffin as the U.S. Attorney in eastern Arkansas.

"Barry Jackson, a longtime aide to Karl Rove, also is thought to be leaving soon.... All the departures appear to be more-or-less routine turnover," reports the Washington Wire.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002927.php

[karlrschneider]

1. routine turnover?

Uh huh...

[bdamomma]

9. routine turnover, sure tell me another lie.

I wonder if Waxman will investigate this person?

the rats are fleeing!!!!!

[hvn_nbr_2]

32. Yeah, it's routine for rats to leave a sinking ship. nt

[Javaman]

56. yeah routine...perhaps...

as the heat gets turned up on these thugs, sudden departures to save their skins will, yes, become routine. LOL

[AndyA]

2. Something is up. This is not just a coincidence!

The heat is getting turned up, and a few feet are getting too hot for comfort! FLEE LOYAL BUSHIES!! FLEE!!!

[malaise]

Move away from that fan

Look what's flying! Here comes the stench! Down they go!


Bonzo will soon be leaving.

[AndyA]

30. I'm kind of enjoying this. It's sick, I realize that.

I don't want them to fall ill like Tony Snow has, or have anything horrible happen to them, I want them all healthy to answer questions and stand trial. I want them all to receive justice for their actions.

[WiseButAngrySara]

42. Loyal Bushies! Here's the link to TDS clip if you did'nt see it.

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Daily_Show_defines_term_l...

Daily Show explains how to become a 'loyal Bushie'
David Edwards
The term "loyal Bushie" recently turned up in discussions surrounding the White House Attorneygate scandal. In the video clip below, Jon Stewart talks with Daily Show reporter Rob Riggle, who defines the term and details the different types of "Bushies".
There are several ways to become a 'loyal Bushie. The first is emerging through Barbara Bush's vagina," jokes Riggle. "Obviously, that's the road less traveled." ' Stewart also poked fun at the more than 3,000 emails released by the Justice Department in relation to the firings, by quoting from mock versions.
One mock email read, "Let's fire U.S. attorneys for purely political reasons and make sure we keep all the emails. PS: I am cheating on my wife with an underage boy. PPS: Seriously, Don't delete this."

[Demeter]

78. My God! I'm Surprised We Haven't Had Retribution for Such Candor

Good thing Dubya's in bed before 10 and has no concept of the "Internets"

[yardwork]

3. Don't the door smack your little behinds on the way out.

[rateyes]

31. No, please do let the door hit you in the ass

on the way out!

[myrna minx]

4. Geez...gangway to the gangplank!

Who's next?

[IChing]

5. She worked on elections!!!!!!!

Sara Taylor is White House political director for President George W. Bush.

Beginning July 2, 2003, Taylor served as Deputy to the Chief Strategist, Matthew Dowd, for the Bush-Cheney '04 Inc. re-election campaign: "Taylor worked for the White House as an associate political director (Midwest) doing political and public affairs outreach. During the 2000 campaign she worked from late April 1999 through Januay 2000 as coalitions director for Bush's Iowa caucus campaign, then did field work in the SC, VA, WA and IL primaries, and finally served as executive director of the Michigan campaign. Previously Taylor worked for two years at the Tarrance Group, the No. Va. polling firm headed by Ed Goeas. In 1995-96 she worked on Sen. Phil Gramm's presidential campaign in Iowa." <1>

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sara_Taylor

[blm]

11. Head of Midwest political outreach, eh? As in Ohio and Iowa - both stolen states.

.

[IChing]

21. Yes, political outreach (election fraud)

Sara Taylor (born 1974) is Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs at the White House, making her one of George W. Bush's top political aides. She currently reports to Karl Rove. (source)

The pollster played a major role in both Bush presidential victories and is now poised to have a hand in a variety of major Senate and gubernatorial races in 2006. She began her political career as a toddler, helping her dad, Ray Taylor, a former Iowa state representative.

She is a graduate of Drake University. During her time at Drake, Taylor held the position of National Co-Chairman of the College Republicans.

[tridim]

35. This whole thing is about fixing elections

The WH couldn't care less about Gonzo and his impending departure, they just don't want the investigation to go past Gonzo because of the election fraud it will expose. Too late fuckers!

I'm calling checkmate. It might take awhile for BushCo to concede, but it is coming.

[IChing]

40. I agree just routine (election fraud) turnover

She has her hands dirty in this and
thinks she can get out now without culpability
when Rove goes down later.

[robinlynne]

47. and it looks like she will be continuing her dirty work... nt

[Vidar]

88. No doubt about it.

[seafan]

41. Susan Ralston served as White House Liaison to the Bush/Cheney '04 campaign.

Sara Taylor and Susan Ralston are tightly connected to the Bush-Cheney 04 campaign, as it was run from the WH. It's time to subpoena SUSAN B. RALSTON.


Subpoena SUSAN B. RALSTON. She holds the key to WH e-mail systems, election night '04 and Abramoff.

[WiseButAngrySara]

52. Waxman has called Ralston ....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[EVDebs]

66. BTW, Berenson is also Ralston's attny

Berenson himself should end up testifying (LOL !) given his WH background; and Monica Goodling's attny John Dowd is a great money laundering/white-collar-crime attorney...hmmm. Maybe the money aspect to the CIA/Cunningham/Wilkes/Foggo/GOP money-machine is something that smallfry, like Sampson and Goodling will be sacrificed for.

Sampson sure took one for the team yesterday.

Here's the Taylor story on RawStory

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Key_Rove_aide_fingered_in...

So another little blond 'R' will probably be taking the 5th ? Allofthem ?

[Supersedeas]

73. thanks for the link

[Emit]

76. More on Sara Taylor

~snip~
Sara Taylor (born 1974) is Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs at the White House, making her one of George W. Bush's top political aides. She currently reports to Karl Rove. (source)

The pollster played a major role in both Bush presidential victories and is now poised to have a hand in a variety of major Senate and gubernatorial races in 2006. She began her political career as a toddler, helping her dad, Ray Taylor, a former Iowa state representative.

She is a graduate of Drake University. During her time at Drake, Taylor held the position of National Co-Chairman of the College Republicans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Taylor


It's almost incestual with these folks:

Sara Taylor was John Weaver's (an old business partner/strategist of Rove's -- they since parted ways -- see below) protege and now working for Rove?

December 05, 2006
The Daily Troika: McCain's Christmas Party

Sen. John McCain's Straight Talk America PAC held a Christmas Party last night...

~snip~

Other names and faces seen at the party ... White House political director Sara Taylor, a protege of McCain adviser John Weaver's, made her way from the White House...

And according to many, Rove and Weaver had a falling out:

~snip~

Even more striking is Rove's estrangement from John Weaver, once such a close friend that Rove nearly went into business with him in Texas. But the two had a billing dispute, became rivals, and at some point Rove spread false rumors of personal misconduct on Weaver's part. After the 2000 campaign, when Weaver worked for McCain, Rove virtually blackballed him from Republican politics. Weaver went to work mostly for Democrats, though he is now masterminding McCain's presumed 2008 presidential campaign. Weaver and Rove had a much-publicized rapprochement during the 2004 presidential race, when Rove needed McCain to campaign hard for Bush, but the two have not talked in more than a year.

~snip~

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2006/12/rov...

~snip~

John McCain's cheif (sic) political advisor is a man named John Weaver. John Weaver is a brilliant campaign strategist, and is easily the "Darth Vader" to Karl Rove's "Emperor Palpatine". The power of the Sith flows freely through Weaver.

In fact, Weaver and Rove, who developed their political skills in the world of Texas politics, were partners in a political consulting/direct mail firm at one time. The partnership was successful, but ultimately self-defeating. For reasons I am still uncertain about, Weaver and Rove became vicious enemies. This blood fued lasts to this day.

Weaver and Rove went their seperate ways, but both continued to manage GOP campaigns into the late 1990's. And then Rove signed on with Bush 2000 and Weaver signed on with McCain, and the two went head to head for all the marbles.

Bush, and Rove by extension, won.

To the victors go the spoils. One of Rove's first acts (according to John Weaver) in 2000 was to contact GOP candidates who had used John Weaver's services in the past to inform them that the White House would not play ball with anyone associated with Weaver from that day forward.

I believe this happened. At one time, I worked for a candidate who had employed John Weaver, and was present for a discussion in which John Weaver's continued association with the candidate was discussed. Weaver was dismissed.

In fact, this happened so frequently that Weaver changed his party alignment. Having been a Republican consultant he became a Democrat as Republican officials and office seekers, wary of offending the White House, would not employ him.

To this day, Weaver is now predominantly a Democratic Campaign operative, McCain being the sole (as far as I know) exception. ~snip~

http://minx.cc/?post=220857

And, now Weaver marries Guilliani's ex-deputy chief of staff:

John Weaver, the senior strategist to Senator John McCain of Arizona, is marrying Angela Hession, who was the deputy chief of staff to Rudolph W. Giuliani right through his last day as mayor of New York at the end of 2001. Mr. Weaver and Ms. Hession met when he went to New York after the Sept. 11 attacks to help the city with communication efforts.
Ms. Hession left Mr. Giuliani’s inner circle when his term ended. In addition to marrying Mr. Weaver this summer, she is also now a strategist for Mr. McCain, who is Mr. Giuliani’s chief rival at this point for the Republican presidential nomination.

~snip~

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/12/political...

[Ron Green]

6. Whoa. Two minutes to the Greatest Page.

That may be a record.

[bemildred]

7. "more-or-less routine turnover"

Want to spend more time with their hamsters, who are neglected, no doubt.

[BeFree]

14. Its a routine

...we could all live with.

Lets not stop there. Lets turn the whole White House over!

[mikeytherat]

15. THIS is a routine turnover:

Cherry, unadorned, boring.

Methinks Rove's aide's resignation is a wee bit more.

mikey_the_rat

[Hardrada]

50. I like routine turnovers

am out of them now.

[cspanlovr]

8. Routine turnover? Sudden urge to spend more time with family?

The whole rotten machine is falling apart, and not a minute too soon.

[wake.up.america]

12. Please give me an interview!!

[Fresh_Start]

10. woo-hoo, kiss their executive privilege GOOD-BYE

supeonas will be on their way.

[benld74]

13. Its still the aides folks, we want the Aidee to leave don't we?

[madokie]

16. Yes the rats are fleeing the sinking ship

and I so hope some are a little disgruntled too, not to mention worried for their freedoms

[Spazito]

17. Oh my, her name comes up in the hearing yesterday....

when Sampson was asked about his e-mail stating that Karl and Harriet were very interested in getting Griffin in place in Arkansas. Sampson responded by saying it was from talking to Sara Taylor that he "assumed" Karl was interested.

I think we can assume there will be a letter to Ms. Taylor, requesting her presence in a hearing, on it's way very soon if not already.

It is like watching a ten-pin bowling game, the pins are toppling one by one, soon will be two by two until the final "strike".

Edited to correct spelling error.

[Roland99]

18. She was apparently planning to leave in the spring anyway. Yeah, planning since when?

When news of the partisan witch-hunt hit the press?

[NMDemDist2]

28. "partisan witch-hunt"

[Roland99]

37. *Their* partisan witch-hunt. Taking out US Attorneys for not being loyal Bushies.

[NMDemDist2]

45. OK thanks for the clarification!

I knew it wasn't what it sounded like hehee

[northzax]

62. no, she actually would be planning to leave

she's a campaign person, not a governing person. there are no more campaigns to work on in Bushville, spring of 07 a lot of them would leave and find other campaigns to work on.

[SharonRB]

19. Routine turnover?

So that's what they're calling it now? I'd like to see Rove routinely turn over -- when is that coming?

[rodeodance]

20. story and pic here:

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Key_Rove_aide_fingered_in...

[EVDebs]

70. She looks like she's only 19 ... child labor law being violated in DOJ/WH !!! LOL

[ProudDad]

91. She looks a lot like Monica

I guess they stamp out those fundie lawyers with a cookie cutter...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[rodeodance]

22. Sara Taylor, the White House political director,..........

Both the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire blog reported today that Sara Taylor, the White House political director, is set to resign soon.

"White House political director Sara M. Taylor, who has worked with Bush since April 1999, when he was starting his first presidential run, told Rove in December that she plans to leave in the spring, according to friends," wrote the Post's Peter Baker.

The Wall Street Journal's John D. McKinnon also stated that "persons familiar with the situation" said Taylor would exit soon.

Taylor's name had earlier been raised as a potential subject for House and Senate Judiciary Committee off the record interviews that White House Counsel Fred Fielding said could be permitted.

[rodeodance]

24. Taylor, who has worked with Bush since April 1999,

[rodeodance]

25. she must be a treasure for INformation--worked 8 years for Bush

[rodeodance]

29. Key Rove aide fingered in US Attorney investigation to step down; Could face subpoena

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Key_Rove_aide_fingered_in...

Key Rove aide fingered in US Attorney investigation to step down; Could face subpoena
Michael Roston
Published: Friday March 30, 2007
Print This Email This

Multiple sources reported today that a top aide to President George W. Bush's key adviser Karl Rove will soon step down from her job in the White House. The aide, Sara M. Taylor, was identified in yesterday's hearing with a former top Justice Department official as seeking the resignation of a US Attorney in Arkansas. She could still face a subpoena, RAW STORY learned.

Last week, the House and Senate Judiciary Committees authorized subpoenas of Scott Jennings, a deputy to Taylor, who is a top aide to Karl Rove. A House Judiciary Committee aide told RAW STORY she could still face a subpoena today.

"The people for whom subpoenas were authorized were a result of the document review, and it could be could be that Jennings' name was more prevalent," said a House Judiciary Committee aide. "Other subpoenas can be authorized or issued should any other names come up."

Taylor and Jennings were both fingered yesterday by Kyle Sampson, the former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, as playing key roles in the elevation of Tim Griffin, a top staffer in the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign and a Army Judge Advocate General, as the interim US Attorney for Arkansas in place of Bud Cummins.

[Patsy Stone]

23. Now isn't that a shame?

NOT!

What about Scott (gwb43.com) Jennings? Still chugging along and professionally undermining democracy?

[Jack Rabbit]

26. Friday. Right on schedule.

I think the White House is going to take a big dump today.

[windy252]

77. Sorry

but this phrase, "I think the White House is going to take a big dump today" brought a smile to my face.

[rateyes]

27. Routine turnover, my rosy red ass....

...well, on second thought, it might be routine turnover in the mob.

[yellowcanine]

33. She was born in 1974. 33 years old. A 33 year old political aide is going to leave

voluntarily the day after her name comes up in a major WH scandal. Yes of course it is "routine." Only if one is talking about this administration over the last 6 months. They are starting to drop like ripe cherries in a hail storm.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

55. And pulling in a tidy $133,000/yr.

Or at least in 2005:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/administr...

Guess corruption does pay.

[senseandsensibility]

87. And the taxpayer pays for her salary as well as Rove's

right?

[yardwork]

58. That means she's been working for bushie since she was 25 or younger

This crime machine has been raising their own generation of go-fers.

[Raksha]

86. She's a year younger than my son.

Of course, being a Democrat and an ethical person, he doesn't make anything remotely close to the kind of money she does, but I guess that's to be expected.

Damn, they start corrupting 'em young these days...imagine being a Repuke operative practically from the cradle! Sickening.

[Blackhatjack]

34. Yeah, it's routine for additional bodies to be thrown over the wall to protect the higherups...

This is how it works.

As the investigation begins to reach the upper levels, more and more underlings must be sacrificed in an attempt to break the connection between them and the real perpetrators of the crimes.

Sampson was not the 'lone wolf' in this matter, who has accepted all responsibility and resigned.

Rove's aide Sara Taylor will invoke her 5th Amendment Privilege, I can almost guarantee you that. I cannot imagine that she has not already retained private counsel, and will not be making any statements anytime soon.

So Susan Ralston cannot be found, Sara Taylor has resigned, and Barry Jackson will leave soon also. ANd they all have in common? Karl Rove and knowledge of what he was doing inside the White House.

[Bucky]

36. Maybe it's a coincidence. Uh-huh. And maybe Sasquatch is really a man-ape from Mars.

Look, it's the 2012 Republican ticket!

[Blackhatjack]

38. Sara Taylor and Monica Goodlin will have something in common....

both know too much to voluntarily testify under oath before Congress. And both will likely invoke their 5th Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.

[EVDebs]

69. Another moneylaundering expert will be hired, as with John Dowd and Goodling !

Sampson hiring Berenson, who should be testifying HIMSELF given his WH background, are proof to me that this leads directly to the CIA/GOP money-machine.

The Lam case broke just in time for the CIA and GOP to go into 'damage control'. Don't they know by now that blowback is even worse than the original offense politically ?

FBI probes Watergate prostitution allegations
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12634250 /

"It's all part of a growing ongoing investigation into corruption in defense and intelligence contracts, which already has sent former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham to prison and, legal sources say, may threaten others in Congress and the CIA. "

[WiseButAngrySara]

39. Anything but 'routine' and certainly not 'coincidence'. KNR! ...n/t

[PhilipShore]

43. Kick

[jwirr]

44. Sure, routine as in "damn they found our outside emails",

[seafan]

46. Chairmen Waxman and Leahy, please issue subpoenas to Sara Taylor and Susan Ralston.

These two individuals now hold the keys to the whole debacle.

[seafan]

49. Waxman Requests Deposition of Former White House Aide Susan Ralston!!!

See sabra's thread in GD!!!!

Waxman Requests Deposition of Former White House Aide Susan Ralston


Now we are cookin' with GAS!!!!


Thanks, sabra!!

[SteppingRazor]

48. Did anyone NOT snicker at that "routine turnover" line?

[Hardrada]

53. A routine turnover after being fingered.

Sounds vaguely naughty.

[Forkboy]

51. Another one looking to "spend time with family" I bet.

Funny how family doesn't seem to mean shit until the ship starts sinking.

[LSK]

54. maybe she dont like rap

[Chimichurri]

57. Routine my arse. She's been with Bush/Rove since 1999

[Ikonoklast]

59. Meanwhile, Karl Rove is interviewing replacements

for the position vacated by Ms. Taylor. Seems like a couple of good candidates from Young College Republicans applied.

Real 'up-and-comers' , I'm sure.

[truebrit71]

60. "routine turnover" my hairy white arse...

...rats deserting ( or being pushed) the sinking ship...

[in_cog_ni_to]

61. Ah! Another, "I need to spend more time with my family" resignations?

One more down. Keep 'em coming!

[sellitman]

63. Do I Have a club for Sara....

[radfringe]

64. BIG QUESTION!!!!

Will she remember even working for Rove? Or has she succumbed to the White House Amnesia Epidemic??????

[JNelson6563]

65. This just gets better and better!

[Marr]

67. It's so refreshing to see these criminals playing DEfense, for a change.

After years of constant offensives, always pushing, always demanding more and more and more- they're finally being forced to defend their actions. They can't *act*, but rather have to constantly react.

They just cannot cope with oversight- their corruption has been so deep and so unquestioned for so long. They were only ever capable of covering their crimes up because the Congress refused to conduct oversight, and the media refused to investigate their actions. Now that they're being challenged, they don't know what to do. It's like they're out of shape- like a bunch of doughy fat kids who've just arrived at bootcamp.

[EVDebs]

71. The CIA is busy behindthescenes providing coverstories

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12634250 /

They gotta work fast, though, since the blowback is catching up:

""It's all part of a growing ongoing investigation into corruption in defense and intelligence contracts, which already has sent former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham to prison and, legal sources say, may threaten others in Congress and the CIA. ""

Dems using committee hearings make the storylines trip all over themselves. Plus the datadump the other day was a huge tactical mistake by these stonewalling bastages.

[paparush]

68. Deer, meet headlights.... Headlights, meet Deer...

[BlackVelvet04]

72. As "V" would say.....

I don't believe in coincidences.

[yojon]

74. Wonder if they need a nice *event* in the Persian Gulf

to distract from all this. That would be their normal MO.

[19jet54]

75. Coincidence my ass!

"Maybe it's a coincidence"

[tiptoe]

79. "Rove aide" -- I bet she used the private email system(s) ("executive privilege may not apply")

"Executive privilege may not extend to private email accounts provided by the RNC."

[w4rma]

80. If it's so "routine" why isn't there somebody already set up to replace her. (nt)

[Imagevision]

81. Apparently the msm doesn't deem this story to be newsworthy??

[Gabi Hayes]

82. CNN is too busy showing South Park clips ripping into HIlary.

and they did it with RELISH

surprised?

[TacticalPeek]

83. Poor thing.

Does she keep her security clearance, as usual with these creeps?

[19jet54]

92. Not actually...

High level clearances are only valid while working at that level; they automatically drop to a lower level & the need to know goes away - Non-disclosure agreements still apply - Depending on level, may not work for private company and represent it to the US Government for 2 years... plus other things.

[bleever]

84. The snake sheds his skin, but alas:

The skin isn't what's being chased. In fact, the skin is annoyed and cooperates.

This snake has risen, as the Peter Principle predicts, to his level of incompetence.

[Generic Brad]

85. There goes executive priveledge

Right?

[frogcycle]

89. Executive privilege is a nebulous

concept - not defined anywhere. It has not historically been applied to "everyone in the executive branch, and every thing they've ever said" as this crowd is trying. So it would not apply to her anyway, except if/when she was talking to the president. And since he is still in, I would think that such a conversation would stay privileged even if she is in a different position (having turned over )

[ProudDad]

90. As a great American once said

"There's a Cancer on the Presidency"

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0330-06.htm

The executive body politic is riddled with it...

[gaspee]

93. The utter contempt

this administration has for the american people is astonishing.

[L. Coyote]

94. kick & cross post: Email-Gate FACTS: Felons, georgewbush.com, gwb43.com , et. al.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...