So, on an otherwise cool and enjoyable evening, I come across Karl Rove saying Barack Obama and the Democrats are coming after the beer. Defending the downtrodden insurance industry, Rove said even beer makers make a bigger profit, blah, blah, blah.
Karl, if we were in a bar together I’d be tempted to crack a bottle of the stuff over your head. Even one of those breakaway bottles in the movies would be satisfying. I bet you couldn’t find a jury of my peers who would convict me. Your peers wouldn’t, either. Trust me.
Karl, you are a tiresome old nag, and I want you to go away. I’d say you remind me of Lawyer Gas in the movie, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, except you’re not a lawyer. You are just one of the guys who hated guys like me in high school because our parties were better. Maybe it was simply because we had parties.
You moved to Texas, hustled the Bush family, rode the crest of a 30-year GOP campaign, took credit for it, and designed the lies that led the nation into the Iraq War, destroyed the economy and polarized the nation. You wrecked the house, Karl. What fear is it that drives you to try to impose your will on the rest of us?
You are said to be a history buff. Haven’t you read that every tinpot blowhard in history ultimately failed at the despot game? As my mom would say, it always comes to no good.
I suppose your one accomplishment has been to convince the national press that your tactics are legitimate, that your neuroses are mainstream. Back in the early ‘80s, you helped design various Texas voter suppression campaigns to subvert the public will (that’s public will, Karl). I was in the press corps then. When word came that you’d discovered an eavesdropping device hidden behind a picture in your office, I was on vacation, sitting on my porch reading…history. I told the reporter who worked in my bureau that the bug was yours, that you planted it yourself so you could accuse your opponent of doing it. Turns out I wasn’t the only one to come that easy conclusion. You’ve never been much of a mystery.
Oh, well. The subject bores. Before I leave off, though, I’d like to remind you that your “generation of Republican rule” failed to materialize. Like your soul.
Karl, you are a bothersome horse-fly of a man, just annoying enough to make the hide of the national horseflesh twitch. Bush left America in trouble, Karl, and when the jury gets around to wonderin’ why, the verdict is, the blue tail fly.
Glenn W. Smith has spent the past 30 years in journalism and politics, where he’s made a name for himself as a writer, campaign manager, activist, think tank analyst and, as Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas says, a “legendary political consultant and all-around good guy.” “There’s no one like him,” says author George Lakoff. CNN commentator Paul Begala says, “He has unmatched experience, a graceful pen (or pixel nowadays) and deep insight into the best and worst of us.” Novelist Sarah Bird speaks of his “lucid and lyrical” prose. And, she says, he’s fun. Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington says Glenn writes with “grace and abundant humor” and “uses his colorful experiences in Texas to enlighten us all.”
Smith led Ann Richards’ successful 1990 campaign for Governor of Texas. He worked for former Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Earlier, Smith was a political reporter for the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Post. He’s coordinated national campaigns for groups such as MoveOn.org. In 2004, he authored the highly acclaimed book, The Politics of Deceit: Saving Freedom and Democracy from Extinction. He also wrote Unfit Commander, a book that detailed George W. Bush’s mysterious disappearance from military service.
In 2004, Smith was featured in the film, Bush’s Brain, a documentary about Karl Rove. Smith provided commentary on Rove’s role as then-President Bush’s senior advisor. He has made numerous media appearances with Chris Mathews on Hardball, Joe Scarborough, Brit Hume, and many others. He writes a regularly for top national web sites, including FireDogLake and Huffington Post.
As a senior fellow at George Lakoff’s prestigious Rockridge Institute in Berkeley he studied, wrote and taught on the power of metaphor and narrative in political communications. He also lectured on religion and politics at the Starr King School for Ministry in Berkeley. As a sponsor and organizer, he has pulled together numerous national events with progressive religious leaders. He also organized a celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King at Riverside Church in New York City as well as “Freedom and Faith” bus tours, which was a nationwide campaign for social justice and progressive values.
Smith’s play, Double Play, which explored American Western myths and legends, was held over to sold-out audiences. He’s even written and performed songs in the Americana tradition, such as his best-known song, “Helping Marty Robbins,” a tribute to his hometown, Houston.
Most recently, Smith is the creator of DogCanyon, a political and cultural web site covering state, national and global issues from a Texas perspective. DogCanyon is an exhilarating and unique site that gets the connections between politics and culture and explores both the personal side of politics and the ups, down, craziness and beauty of “life its ownself,” as humorist Dan Jenkins would say. DogCanyon offers heartfelt personal essays, hard-hitting political analysis, and, most importantly, laughs.
As Paul Begala said, Smith writes in “the finest, firmest, fearless tradition of Texas essayists like Molly Ivins.”
Well now Glenn, it’s not like I have the political accumen of yourself, but let’s just look at what you’ve asserted (and the spirit in which you’ve done so)…”Hustled the Bush family”? Got any proof or specifics you’d care to share? Self-planted bugs??? Neuroses? I know you’re an accomplished writer, but when’d you get your medical liscense? Voter supression? (Forget proof for now.) How about directing some of that vitriol at ACORN. If you’re gonna be outraged at someone playing fast and loose with voters and committing fraud……haven’t heard a peep outta you about them. Hmmmm. Still Your Pal, Doug
After reading your bio I anticipated that you would be most open minded. However, after seeing your Karl Rove comments you actually seem to hate not just his ideas but the man.
So, on an otherwise cool and enjoyable evening, I come across Karl Rove saying Barack Obama and the Democrats are coming after the beer. Defending the downtrodden insurance industry, Rove said even beer makers make a bigger profit, blah, blah, blah.
I think you should keep an eye on Rister’s HD20 race if you want to witness the Rove legacy’s refresh cycle.
This business of agreeing with you is becoming annoying. we may have to find a bar and settle our similarities.
Don’t hold back, Glenn. Tell us what you really think.
And pass me one of those beers, will you?
Well now Glenn, it’s not like I have the political accumen of yourself, but let’s just look at what you’ve asserted (and the spirit in which you’ve done so)…”Hustled the Bush family”? Got any proof or specifics you’d care to share? Self-planted bugs???
Neuroses? I know you’re an accomplished writer, but when’d you get your medical liscense?
Voter supression? (Forget proof for now.) How about directing some of that vitriol at ACORN. If you’re gonna be outraged at someone playing fast and loose with voters and committing fraud……haven’t heard a peep outta you about them. Hmmmm.
Still Your Pal,
Doug
Doug- Why is ACORN such a big bad wolf?
If Karl Rove is so horrible, then why is he interviewed on FOX News so often?
THAT’s the sense of humor I remember so well from so many years ago! Thanks, Ralph, for the chuckle.
After reading your bio I anticipated that you would be most open minded. However, after seeing your Karl Rove comments you actually seem to hate not just his ideas but the man.
well, wayne, that’s because it’s hard to be open minded about rattlesnakes, but they do fry up good