Machiavellian Monday

Arrrr, hope ye're havin' a fun-blasted Talk Like a Pirate Day! Ye've still got several hours t'go, so make the best of 'em, ye barnacle-crusted salty dogs!

 

A big thanks to Linda over at Linda's World for including my link (and Ken's) in her Guest Editor write-up this week. Thanks, Linda!

 

After a quick trip to my doctor's office, I picked up a few things at the grocery store. When I got home and was putting things away, Ken called from work. He said, "Guess what we're doing Monday?" Of course, I had no idea, and not enough time to come up something clever, so I said, "Uhhh...I dunno." He said, "Remember that Economics Club?" I do...they have guest speakers up at one of the Michigan colleges, and a while back, we went to hear John Glenn speak. Well, Ken got us tickets to hear the guest speaker on Monday, who is none other than...Karl Rove.

 

That's right, brilliant political strategist to some, the Prince of Darkness's understudy to others.

 

Whether you love him or hate him, he certainly figured out how to get Pres. Bush elected to two terms. However, his Machiavellian techniques left a very bad taste in many mouths (just ask John McCain).

 

Rove was in the news just this week, for this (from Frank James of The Chicago Tribune):

 

Karl Rove was asked this morning on Fox New Sunday about truth in advertising, specifically campaign advertising, and he had something unexpected to say.

 

He said Obama's campaign had ranged too far from the truth in at least one of its TV ads, the one in which it accused Sen. John McCain of being out of touch because he admitted to not knowing how to use e-mail. That was predictably Rovian.

 

But here was the surprise. Rove went on to say McCain's campaign had veered too far from the truth as well in attacking Obama. According to Rove:

 

"McCain has gone, in some of his ads, similarly gone one step too far in sort of attributing to Obama things that are, you know, beyond the 100% truth test."

 

This prompted a response from Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera:

 

"When Karl Rove says your campaign is dishonest, maybe it's time to reevaluate."

 

Ouch man. But how true. The King of the Smear Campaign said that Obama's ads stretch the truth--not surprising that he'd say that (although they're actually mostly factual, according to FactCheck), because of his party affiliation. But to go on to say that McCain's ads--the guy in his own party--is stretching the truth...well, that was a surprise!

 

Considering the highly charged atmosphere of this election, this speech could get pretty lively. It's a dinner speech, so I wonder if someone will throw a roll at him? I wonder if he'll get some tough questions? I'd like to ask something like, "You said that McCain's ads have gone too far. Is this your way of saying that Sen. McCain has lied about things?" Maybe someone will ask, "You've sold your soul to the devil. Do you think your lawyers will be able to get you out of your contract?" Ha ha!

 

I'm obviously not a fan of the guy--I think "Rovian" has entered America's lexicon as a word that means using questionable, if not downright dishonest, tactics, and using whatever weapons you can--real or fictitious--to win. If you don't have facts, make something up. It's detestable, but the sad  truth is that it often works. What does that say about US?

 

I think it should be an interesting speech, though. And we get dinner. Ken told me that for next year, they're trying to get Bush, as well as Condi. I would definitely love to hear Condi speak!

 

 

 

Tags: Talk Like a Pirate Day, Karl Rove, John McCain