The spread of Rove’s PowerPoint.
One overlooked detail in today’s Office of Special Counsel story: as was long suspected, the partisan PowerPoint presentation created by Karl Rove’s office and presented to appointees at the General Services Administration in January was actually shown widely throughout the administration:
The Los Angeles Times has learned that similar presentations were made by other White House staff members, including Rove, to other Cabinet agencies. During such presentations, employees said they got a not-so-subtle message about helping endangered Republicans.
Such presentations likely violate the Hatch Act, which explicitly prohibits partisan campaign activities on federal property.
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19 Responses to “The spread of Rove’s PowerPoint.”
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Since when does the breaking of our laws stop these guys from doing anything?
April 24th, 2007 at 11:48 amWhy would you expect anything different. All these guys are interested in is staying in power.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:53 amDING!
ring that bell!
give the karl-rove-er a cookie!
and, if shown to be
aprt of a wide pattern-of-conduct, as
willful and knowing violations, those
violations of the federal hatch act are FELONIES.
you heard it here first.
April 24th, 2007 at 11:55 amRICO! RICO! RICO!
RICO! RICO! RICO!
RICO! RICO! RICO!
RICO! RICO! RICO!
If the the Bush Admin doesn’t fit the criteria for being declared a “racketeer-influenced and criminal organization” by now, what’s the point of the frickin’ law?
April 24th, 2007 at 11:58 amMy question is still out there, maybe some one can answer it for me….How does a presidential advisor get to be so powerful.? How can he call the shot’s.? I don’t remember any other advisor in our history that was a mini dictator in place of the head dictator in charge….Oh I forgot he’s the number 2 as in shit, guy right after the number 1 guy, cheney who pisses on us daily…..Blessings all, we realy need them.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:05 pmagain- So What. Hatch smatch. does anyone think that for one single second that anything will happen as a result of these obvious violations?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:08 pmWake up folks. Keep one thing in mind- Jan 9 08!
Bush is Cheney’s hand puppet. Just makes me wonder where Cheney sticks his hand to make the lips move when George speaks.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:09 pmMy question is still out there, maybe some one can answer it for me….How does a presidential advisor get to be so powerful?
Comment by Sharon — April 24, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
I don’t think it’s so hard to understand. You have a weak, stupid and insecure chief executive, and he’s going to surround himself with those who make him feel safe. The louder and more overbearing they are, the more the CE wiill listent to them.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:10 pmrepublicans will just claim ignorance of the Hatch Act, declare themselves innocent, and blame Democrats for trying to score political points for trying to make them accountable. Same old routine.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:13 pmHow else can they maintain a permanent GOP majority without bending the rules in their favor? Everyday Karl Rove stays in the White House is another day of shame on this country.
April 24th, 2007 at 12:16 pmComment by Sharon — April 24, 2007 @ 12:05 pm
“. . . My question is still out there, maybe some one can answer it for me….How does a presidential advisor get to be so powerful?. . .”
hmm. . . my theory is that he operates much
as j. edgar hoover did — he has dirt on every-
body — i mean real dirt on everybody that
matters. . . see he’s always been the one
called in to do the political oppo work no one
else has the stomach for. . . so, he prolly has
dirt on each of his bosses (from those missions
putatively assessing “vulnerabilities”), as well
dirt on the opponents targeted. . .
[all of the above, qualified by the word “allegedly. . .”]
so, he’s a mini-me
of hoover, if you will. . .
and now, we are learning that he
had — strike that HAS! — astonishing
access to DoJ criminal and civil investigation
files — all granted him by atty. gen. alberto
gonzales — back when he was white house
counsel, last term. . .
amazin’, ain’t it?
April 24th, 2007 at 12:17 pmagain- So What. Hatch smatch. does anyone think that for one single second that anything will happen as a result of these obvious violations?
Wake up folks. Keep one thing in mind- Jan 9 08!
Comment by billjpa — April 24, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
i disagree — this is like trying capone
for income tax evasion — you take
the case you can prove. . . just as
fitzgerald took libby down for lying,
not the predicate acts. . . i’ll take a
willful-pattern-of-conduct-prosecution
of the hatch act on rove. i think they are
all guilty of much worse, but this much
proves itself. it is in the documents.
but i do agree — bring on january 2009!
April 24th, 2007 at 12:23 pmdid anyone ever doubt that the .ppt presentation was crafted for the express purpose of being used throughout executive branch agencies…?
And, yes, I DO take it personally
April 24th, 2007 at 12:28 pmThis is among the most clear-cut, open-and-shut crimes. We’ve got the presentation, we know who made it, we know the presenters, and we have the witnesses. It’s a two-day trial, at most.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:20 pmI would love to see Rove in handcuffs heading to prison. If we could get Cheney and Bush as well that would be one hell of a trifecta.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:38 pmSadly, I have two words:
April 24th, 2007 at 1:42 pmPresidential pardon.
“likely violate the Hatch Act”? Come on. Call it what it is. It’s a blatant violation of the Hatch Act. It’s time to start calling things what they are. Not dancing the same old dance for fear of offending. Rove hijacked the government for his own partisan purposes. He was always, is, and will always be a poltical opportunist willing to do ANYTHING to have his way. The idea that a political machine can separate its politics from its administation when one or two people hold all the power on both sides is ridiculous. We should acknowledge it for what it is since no one seems willing to take personal responsibility for policing their own ethics.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:53 pmAnswer to question “How does a presidential advisor get to be so powerful?”
There is a vacuum at the top….Hence, there is no “there” there where our president is concerned. Rove simply filled the vacuum. GWB has never been in charge. Amazing that the media are only now beginning to do their job in exposing this mess of an administration. As hopeful as I am that the Office of the Special Counsel is finally disgusted enough to at least threaten to expose these guys, (where have they been all this time???) I have to agree with SKdeA….nothing will come of this latest scandal because of presidential pardon power. So it goes……
April 24th, 2007 at 3:21 pmDon’t get too excited by this investigation. It is probably orchestrated by the Rovester himself. Special Counsel Bloch once authored an article entitled “Don’t Buy the Hatch Act: Hidden Dangers for the Unwary and Politically Active Prosecutor’s Office Employee.” He was also the former Deputy Director and Counsel to the Task Force on Faith Based Initiatives before landing this plum position. Looks like this guy is a true Bush believer, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see his investigation of being a complete white wash. He has also been accused of intimidating witnesses as recently as February 2007 in an investigation lodged against his management of the Office of Special Counsel including allegations that he dumped a bunch of pending whistle blower cases.
April 24th, 2007 at 4:20 pm