Who’s going to break ranks?

July 14, 2005

The general rule on scandals in Washington is that the accused can survive politically so long as his or her own party stays together. With this in mind, I’m wondering which Republicans, if any, will break ranks and condemn Karl Rove, perhaps even calling for his resignation.

Technically, I suppose Jim Holt is first.

“I think he should resign,” said Jim Holt, a GOP state senator from Arkansas who is running for lieutenant governor. He joked, “I hope Karl Rove doesn’t come gunning for me.”

OK, hardly anyone nationally knows who Holt is, so, with all due respect and with much appreciation for his comments, he doesn’t really count. So, who’s it going to be?

I’ve been keeping a close eye on Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.) and Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) because, well, they’re Chris Shays and Lincoln Chafee. Shays called for DeLay’s resignation, Chafee wouldn’t even vote for Bush, so I figure if someone is going to express some condemnation from that side of the aisle, it’d be one of these two. So far, however, nada.

There have been a few possible “mavericks” who seem like they types who might be willing to show some independence from someone who leaked classified information to spite a political opponent, but John McCain and Chuck Hagel would only “decline comment.”

Of course, silence shouldn’t be interpreted as confidence in this situation.

Republicans are nervously watching the fight over Karl Rove’s involvement in a news leak that exposed a CIA officer’s identity, fearing that President Bush’s chief adviser has become a major political problem. […]

[S]everal top GOP officials including some White House advisers said the fight was becoming a distraction to Bush’s agenda. The GOP officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to avoid looking disloyal, said the president may face a credibility problem because his spokesman said in September that anybody involved in the leak would be fired.

Who’ll be first to walk to the Rove plank? I wonder if someone who’s already been burned by Rove, and who might have a payback motive, might be interested.

There is breaking ranks publically and breaking ranks in private while keeping from getting quoted in the press or otherwise saying anything at all about it in public that can be used to bite someone on the a** if Rove doesn’t go down.

  • Republicans are too afraid of Rove to cross him. That Jim Holt will probably find a rat nailed to his frontdoor tonight.

    It would be funny, though, if Katherine Harris was mad enough to speak out.

  • Another yardstick is who hides behind the ongoing investigation line (A), who hides behind the “I don’t know much about it” line(B), and who defends him (C).

    (A) Bush
    (B) Frist
    (C) Delay

    Chips fall where they may, not many Republicans will hang him – at least until there’s a prevailing wind behind them. Category A is the safest, though it will eventually be impossible to stay there. Category B is safe for about three days, then must be ridiculed (i.e. pick up a paper or open the window you dipshit). Category C, the “Rove is a good man” is for the real robo-Republicans.

    So, for your scorecard: A’s a wimp, B’s an idiot, and C’s a….well, let’s keep this clean for the kids. But you see that the party’s now full of wimps, idiots and….

    A Democratic scorecard should be kept too. I’d actually be in favor of just sitting back, cracking a beer and watching if I was a Dem Senator right now. Why share any time with these lowlifes.

  • CB, you’re right as usual. While Rove is still probably deadly to Republicans who step out, neither are they obliged to exert themselves to protect him. It’s possible to be politely loyal. So far, only those congressional Republicans who have tied themselves too closely to the WH mast (or who are lunatic fringe) actually have gone on the talkshow circuit to spew the talking points. The others know a dog when they see it & don’t want the odium of having supported a member of the administration who is now manifestly criminal.

    What’s really amazing is that Frist, who takes it in the ass for Bush any day on any subject, is so cautious. That’s pretty telling.

  • Rove has proven time and time again how much trouble, destruction and animosity he can cause. He is a professional ruiner of career’s and reputations for all who stand against him. Unless it looks like he’s going down in some really solid, long-term, not coming back sort of way; I can’t imagine too many Republicans who are going to risk their political futures by giving him a full frontal rebuke.

    And if Rove survives this basically intact, Mr. Holt’s political life will be in serious trouble. Karl watches the Minors for both up and comers and losers. Mr. Holt’s statement has been noted.

  • here’s where heroes are made. the first to come out and tear into rove will be considered a hero should rove go down; call this, the yeltsin prize. of course, if rove doesn’t go down, the republican will be destroyed; call this, the rommel prize.

  • My vote would go to Voinovich. Rove and co. screwed with him, when he came out against the second round of tax cuts, by running ads comparing him to the french. Especially if Bolton is any where near involved in this. But then again, he has had other opportunities to pipe up and all he did was sit down.

  • I can’t see anyone making a move until Fitzgerald
    shows his hand. And even if Rove is indicted, what
    will it be for? Not likely the potential offense
    that spawned this investigation. No, more likely
    some kind of obstruction technicality. And then
    why would anyone condemn Rove before the verdict?
    And what if he were acquitted?

    So why would anyone walk the plank when it’s as
    likely as not that Rove will ultimately prevail?

    I also have read that Rove as built up an excellent
    relationship with the press and media. If this is
    true, then the Repigs could be the eventual PR
    winners, big time, as well as the legal victors.

    So I don’t see anyone turning on Rove.

  • Do you mean Chris Shays, not Chris Smith?

    Oops. Yes, absolutely, I meant Shays. It’s been changed throughout.

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