Rove predicts * WILL move back up in the polls, fissure within Dem party

[babylonsister]

'The Mark of Rove'
By PAUL A. GIGOT
August 13, 2007; Page A15

Washington

These are the days of Republican doubt, with President Bush fighting an unpopular war, Congress in opposition hands, and a 2008 presidential field trailing Democrats in nearly every poll. But don't tell that to Karl Rove, Mr. Bush's political alter ego, who even as he prepares to resign from the White House after six and a half years sees recovery ahead.

Sitting in the book-lined living room of his townhome on Saturday afternoon, a relaxed, cheerful and typically rambunctious Mr. Rove hands over two sheets of paper on which he has tapped out a pair of outlines. One says "Up to Now," and summarizes what he thinks are the achievements to date of the Bush presidency. The second, "Months Ahead," lays out an agenda for the next year and a half.

"He will move back up in the polls," says Mr. Rove, who interrupts my reference to Mr. Bush's 30% approval rating by saying it's heading close to "40%," and "higher than Congress."

Looking ahead, he adds, "Iraq will be in a better place" as the surge continues. Come the autumn, too, "we'll see in the battle over FISA" -- the wiretapping of foreign terrorists -- "a fissure in the Democratic Party." Also in the fall, "the budget fight will have been fought to our advantage," helping the GOP restore, through a series of presidential vetoes, its brand name on spending restraint and taxes.

As for the Democrats, "They are likely to nominate a tough, tenacious, fatally flawed candidate" by the name of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Holding the White House for a third term is always difficult given the pent-up desire for change, he says, but "I think we've got a very good chance to do so."

If that quinella pays off, however, Mr. Rove will have to savor it from somewhere other than his West Wing office. He's resigning effective Aug. 31 -- 14 years after he began working with Mr. Bush on his campaign for Texas governor, 10 years after they began planning a White House run, and after 79 months in the political cockpit of a tumultuous presidency.

more...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118697458949295744.html

[Botany]

1. Short list

One says "Up to Now," and summarizes what he thinks are the achievements to date of the Bush presidency.

Iraq
2 stolen elections
Plame
California (Grey out Arnold in)
Media Manipulation
Katrina
Domestic Spying

[liberal N proud]

2. That may be the reason Rove is "leaving" his position

He is going to work on pressuring the media and pollsters to report only positive things about bu$h and the republicons.

This is not just a simple adviser resignation, this man is the devil himself and has some plan up his sleeve.

All the joy here over his departure should be tempered with some worry and caution. This creep is still dangerous.

[Kolesar]

3. And Turd starts with the friendliest media for the gops: Paul Gigot at WSJ

Gigot was behind Kenneth Tomlinson's purge of Bill Moyers from public television. He conceived of the counter/gop message program that was put together to counter Bill Moyers' NOW program.

[Bongo Prophet]

4. Gosh, Rove is so vain, he is telegraphing prophecies and showing his hand...or is he?

Muaaah ha ha. Evil prophet rove. Boogah.

Most of this is old hat or obvious by now:

He knows the PR campaign to come.
(There was some "chatter" between Hewitt and Mike Allen about the O'Hanlon and other PR pushes to come, by Rove clones, in Iraq...)

He also might know the likelihood of terror false flags or sting/entrapments, or attack plans or the like.

--
The battle over FISA and splitting the party are related. Some have suspected this was part of the famous Rove squeeze.
(Dems vote FOR = party split, AGAINST = PR push against dems re:terror wimps, other threats (perhaps quite devious threats)

--
The budget fight goes with Grover's advice some months ago about blocking every single measure the dems put up, and yell "PORK" at EVERY opportunity.
That "do nothing, tax and spend party" BS....
--
The Hillary comment could be taken either at face value or reverse psychology. It also could be a tool to further split the party over that very question.
Another squeeze play.

The dude is not magic, but like a magician or con man, ya gotta know there will be misdirections and twists.
"Ooh look, my office is bugged by the bad ol dems"

My 2 cents, knowing his wascally ways since his Texas days.

[MisterHowdy]

5. didn't Karl say the Republicans would hold the house and senate during the last elections?

I think part of his job is to hype up his party.
But his predictions don't seem to be consistent with reality.

If he thinks Republicans will hold on to the white house,
he overestimates the stupidity of American voters.

[soothsayer]

6. yup, and I think he's leaving so he's not tarnished by the coming Dem sweep.

he can blame the next guy ("well, they had over a year to run the election....!")