Karl Rove

Two things strike me about this clip. The first, and most glaring is the sychophantic tripe spewed by talking heads at Karl Rove's departure. Yes, he successfully marketed George W. Bush to the Texan and American public, and he's arguably a brilliant political strategist. But I'm left to wonder if someone with this much brilliance would or could leave a job half done. Lately I've heard the Shakespearean comparison between Bush and Henry V. There certainly seems to be an archetype there. But if that's the case, then Rove's archetype is clearly Richard III. And if that's the case, Rove's brilliance may really be his ability to be content with almost taking the throne. He may just survive to fight another day.

Let's be clear: Karl Rove is not dead. He resigned and I do not believe that he is owed any public praise. The political mantra, "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" is not something Rove would want uttered in his presence.

However, the second striking thing is the even-handed eulogy that Moyers delivers. I have not yet seen or heard anywhere except from this clip that Rove is not the gleaming Christian he purported to be. I'm not surprised. Is anyone surprised when the self-appointed God's chosen are discovered to be flawed? Still, I think that Rove deserves far more criticism than anyone has dished out.

It is possible to be an evil genius.