http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d34a18d6-4976-11dc-9ffe-0000779fd2ac.html Karl Rove, architect of President George W. Bush's two election victories, on Monday resigned after six years as one of the most powerful and influential political advisers ever to have served in the White House. His departure at the end of this month comes after a torrid year of political setbacks for the Bush presidency and mounting scrutiny of Mr Rove's role in a series of scandals and controversies surrounding the administration. Mr Rove is the latest of several senior officials to leave the White House this year as Mr Bush's second-term agenda has ground to a halt amid resistance from a Democratic-controlled Congress and deepening chaos in Iraq. The Texan, nicknamed the “Boy Genius†because of his skills as a political strategist, said he was leaving to spend more time with his family after 14 years of service to Mr Bush in Texas and Washington. “It's been an exhilarating and eventful time,†he said, standing beside Mr Bush outside the White House on Monday. “Now it seems the right time to start thinking about the next chapter in our family's life.†Describing Mr Rove as his “dear friendâ€, Mr Bush said: “We've known each other as youngsters, interested in serving our state. We worked together so we could be in a position to serve this country. And so I thank my friend. I'll be on the road behind you here in a little bit.†The White House said no decision had been made about whether Mr Rove would be replaced or whether his duties would be reallocated among existing staff. Analysts said his departure would increase the importance of Josh Bolten, chief of staff, and Ed Gillespie, White House counselor. Mr Gillespie, a veteran Republican strategist and lobbyist, was appointed in June after the resignation of Dan Bartlett, another of Mr Bush's longest-serving Texan allies. “Ed Gillespie is a very fine political mind who is likely to play an enhanced role in White House deliberations,†said Whit Ayres, a Republican political strategist. “But there's no way to replace Karl Rove because his breadth of political and policy experience and his relationship with the president are unmatched.†Mr Rove has been one of Mr Bush's closest friends and advisers since his successful run for governor of Texas in 1994. He was the last remaining member of the close-knit group of Texan aides that accompanied Mr Bush to the White House in 2001. “It's not been an easy decision,†said Mr Rove, adding that he had been considering his future since last summer. “It always seemed there was a better time to leave somewhere out there in the future. But now is the time.†Other senior aides to have left this year include Harriet Miers, former White House counsel, and Rob Portman, budget director. The exodus has come amid a slump in Mr Bush's approval ratings to around 30 per cent and a growing sense of crisis within the Republican party about its prospects in next year's presidential and Congressional elections. John Kerry, the Democratic senator whose defeat in the 2004 presidential election was masterminded by Mr Rove, said: “It's a tragedy that an administration that promised to unite Americans has instead left us more divided than ever before. Without doubt the architect of that political strategy was Karl Rove, who proved the politics of division may win some elections but cannot govern America.†Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, vowed to continue the investigation into Mr Rove's role in the controversial firing of several federal prosecutors last year. “Mr Rove's apparent attempts to manipulate elections and push out prosecutors citing bogus claims of voter fraud shows corruption of federal law enforcement for partisan political purposes, and the Senate judiciary committee will continue its investigation into this serious issue,†he said. “There is a cloud over this White House, and a gathering storm.†Mr Rove was also embroiled – but never indicted for wrongdoing – in the CIA leak case – an investigation into the leaking of a covert CIA agent's identity as part of the Bush administration's attempts to make the case for the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Lewis “Scooter†Libby, former chief of staff to vice-president Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury in connection with the case but had his jail sentence commuted by Mr Bush last month.
Rove once described abortions rights as an "industry of death" Nevermind the weapons manufacturers Really, rove leaving doesnt change a thing, the damage has already been done and theres nothing we can do about it.
