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| Rove's legacy touches Tracy politics |
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| Written by Tracy Press / | |
| Thursday, 16 August 2007 | |
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Second Thoughts: a column by Jon Mendelson. When Karl Rove announced he would leave the White House at the end of August, one thought ran through my mind: "Goodbye, Karl. I won’t cry if the door hits you on your way out." Speaking in terms of pure utility, I have a lot of respect for what Rove did. His job was to get his man, George W. Bush, elected president and secure him a majority in Congress. Before 2006, he had a streak of success that anyone in any profession could envy and admire. But the cost of his victories was high. And not just to the president he served (whose popularity is somewhere between raw spinach and root canals). The cost was high to America.  Press columnist Jon Mendelson Our acrimonious political atmosphere? Don’t just blame the opposition party of President Bush’s first six years. Rove is as responsible as anyone. He was the Great Wizard who made Bush’s original campaign slogan, "I’m a uniter, not a divider," as believable as Barry Bonds’ steroid claims. He was one of the people most responsible for turning national security into a "you’re either with us or against us" issue instead of one to be thought about logically by reasonable people. That was how Rove played the game. You were either on his side or not. And if you weren’t, you were free to take your toys home and wait until a warrantless wiretapping program caught you doing something naughty. That’s a terrible way to run a government. Although it worked for a while. While it worked, it earned him glorious national victories and nicknames, including "The Genius," "The Architect," and "Satan Incarnate." (Guess which one the Democrats used?) Now, it’s earned him a ride into a sunset of sagging polls and dismal presidential prospects for the Republican Party in 2008. But I’m guessing it’s just the first bow before the encore. Rove won’t be out of politics for very long. Even if he does stay home, content to play with his kids instead of campaigns, his influence has left an indelible mark on San Joaquin County politics. The political climate Rove helped create was one of the reasons Rep. Jerry McNerney unseated longtime incumbent Richard Pombo of Tracy. The Pleasanton politician rode a wave of discontent with an unpopular GOP war policy and Rovian politics. And Rove’s ghost will continue to loom large over the 2008 11th Congressional District race. While living his double life as a political operative masquerading as a public servant, Rove helped Republican strategists put together a list of who to target and who to protect in the upcoming congressional election. McNerney was No. 2 on the takedown list. You can see why the GOP would target the 11th District: • As of February 2007, registered Republicans outnumbered their Democratic counterparts 148,492 to 129,448 in the district — thanks to the 2000 gerrymandering that both Democrats and Republicans agreed to. • Republicans typically raise more money than Democrats, an advantage in a race in which both national parties will likely throw their weight around. • McNerney won’t be able to count on the support of the anti-Pombo environmental groups that pumped up his campaign in 2006, as the target of their hatred has moved on to other pastures. That bodes well for a Republican campaign, and former Assemblyman Dean Andal is trying to carry the torch as the GOP frontrunner. But don’t expect McNerney to be a pushover. As of June 30, he had more than $600,000 cash on hand in his campaign coffers (compared with just more than $200,000 for Andal) with almost 63 percent of McNerney’s total donations coming from individuals (a greater percentage of Andal’s cash came from individual donors). McNerney has run strong campaigns before, capitalizing on Pombo’s 2006 effort that was less-than-aggressive early on. As a freshman, he’s been effective in getting local issues — notably the Veterans Affairs centers in Livermore and French Camp and regional job creation — on the national radar. And he’s tried to bring to the district about $66 million in federal spending that doesn’t include any "bridges to nowhere." His biggest political weaknesses in this conservative district are his support for withdrawing from Iraq and his opposition to making permanent the Bush tax cuts — Andal has already (and somewhat misleadingly) taken McNerney to task for the latter. Even though few people survive the Rovian black spot, McNerney is in good shape to take on his challenger. The campaign won’t likely heat up until 2008. A lot can happen between now and then. One thing, though, you can be sure of: Karl Rove will be watching. • Visit Jon's blog at www.jmendelson05.blogspot.com or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Trackback(0)
Comments
(16)
 written by Trent , August 17, 2007
"McNerdy"...how witty. Boy, you rednecks know humor. AguyinTracy, stick to dating your cousin and listening to Darryl Worley.
written by Army4545 , August 17, 2007
Catch AguyinTracy in the "Product of Inbreeding Comedy Tour"
 written by aguyinTracy , August 17, 2007
Good comeback there, Trent. How about defending McNerdy? Don't succumb to the normal lib tactic of denegrating the opponent when you don't have a valid argument to put up.
 written by IntergralSensory , August 17, 2007
Rove - brilliant?, HARDLY.... Incompentent malevolent turdbloosum.
If I were Bush and Rove were my Brain, I'd want a Labotamy. It was the PRESS that built him up to more that he was and is worth. Rove knew how stupid Americans can be and took advantage of that, it wasn't about making America stronger it was about making himself and those who advised, win. What has happened now is that stupid America has gotten themselves in a big mess and Rove doesn't know how to clean it up. I hope someone comes along that does. PRAY.  written by RPG , August 17, 2007
When I lived in Tracy, I don't recall an abundance of millionairs there. Any candidate promoting the repeal of Bush tax cuts is really protecting the common, everyday, hard working people whom I recall as the back bone of Tracy and the county.
Wake up folks! If the tax breaks which mostly favored the super, super rich are revoked, that will ultimately allow for increase in benefits and programs which are so despertly needed. And those programs would not be upon the backs of the ever deminishing middle class. Be honest with yourselves. How much better off are you now than you were 8 years ago? What has the current administration, or the Republican party done for you lately?  written by Vernon , August 17, 2007
I'm glad Rove is gone, but we all know he is still in the background.
I have no problem with an increase in taxes if the government spends the money responsibly. It's those billions spent to keep "terrorists" in check, the 190,000 missing U.S. funded weapons that have found their way into the hands of terrorists and criminals, the wasted millions spent to reconstruct Iraq and STILL they don't have reliable sources of water, and the priceless lives of young U.S.soldiers killed EVERYDAY that make me cringe. Look at the headlines. The country needs to understand that there are many programs which need an increase in their budgets -- food safety inspection, consumer safety inspection, highway and bridge maintenance, Medicare -- and arguably some form of universal health care. NONE of these can even be considered without some form of a tax increase and yet... most taxpayers dismiss ANY candidate who even mentions a possible "tax increase." Correct me if I'm wrong, but who (besides wealthy landowners, wealthy developers, wealthy Indian tribes, wealthy mining interests, and his own family) benefited from Pombo's years in Congress? I know all politicians take money to finance their campaigns, but I still want someone to represent ME who WILL VOTE HIS CONSCIENCE, for godsakes, no matter the source of his money. (more, below) written by Vernon , August 17, 2007
(Vernon comment continued)
Much has been written about his $4000 use of a motor home in 2003 to accommodate his family while visiting National Parks as chairman of the House Resource Committee conducting "official business" -- I had a problem with the fact that none of the officials at Kings Canyon, Sequoia, or Joshua Tree National Parks could recall meeting with him. I had a problem with him forking over $375,000 from his campaign funds to his wife and brother for campaign help in his last 3 re-elections(the fair market value of services is allowable, excessive amounts becomes "personal use," which is not allowable). Regarding McNerney's support of a change in the current U.S. policy in Iraq -- he, along with a majority of U.S. citizens, no longer has confidence in President Bush's plan (if there ever was one). We've been lied to, misled, dismissed, and labelled uninformed traitors. We've been told to wait until General Petraeus gives is his report mid-September -- oh, but wait, the White House will write the report. (Isn't that conflict-of-interest?) It's like asking your boyfriend's mother to give an honest critique of his character... What did Pombo say during his re-election campaign about the U.S. Iraq policy? He parroted Bush's "we must stay the course... So, no, don't blame the "Berkeley carpetbaggers" for kicking Pombo out. He only has himself to blame... written by aguyinTracy , August 17, 2007
There's the problem Vernon, none of our elected officials can spend money responsibly, so why give them more?
Rehashing charges against Pombo will not get McNerdy re-elected. Opposing the war in Iraq will not do it either. I see what you did there BTW. Sullying the Gen Petraeus report before it even comes out, now that info is emerging that the surge is having the desired effect. I was proud to vote for a Representative in Congress who is willing to exhibit leadership and stay the course, instead of a cut-and-run chickenhawk who will vote for a war before they vote against it. Dems, lick the finger and put it in the air, that will tell you which way the wind is blowing. Then you can turn your back on it, just like you all did to our troops after sending them to Iraq. written by Vernon , August 17, 2007
That's a pretty harsh condemnation -- "none of our elected officials"? So are you saying we shouldn't try to make this government act more responsibly by electing officials whom we think are as honest as humanly possible?
It's admirable to "stay the course," to be unswayed by public opinion -- that IS what we look for in leadership. But it takes more of a leader to realize and acknowledge mistakes in judgement and to correct the course he is leading his nation and his troops. (Ever been in a car with a driver who is lost, but refuses to make a U-turn and chooses to continue forward hoping there is another way to his destination further down the road? Nothing is more foolish than to continue steadfastly down a path that even his closest advisors caution against. Bush says he trusts his generals. But what happens when the generals have opposing opinions? Bush fires them... Is it so hard to remember that Congress and the American people were FOR sending U.S. troops to AFGHANISTAN to find Bin Laden to avenge the Twin Towers. You remember Bin Laden, right?... the guy responsible for 9/11! But then U.S. policy inexplicably changed and we focused on Saddam and Iraq -- IRAQ?! You can bet, I would've changed my vote, too -- nothing to do with "which way the wind was blowing," we just don't like the old bait-and-switch routine. No pre-judgement on Petraeus' report, but if Bush is going to say "listen to Petraeus' report," then let the general GIVE the report, in his own words.  written by tom benigno , August 17, 2007
I hate to remind you guys that I help Pombo get elected in 1992 and all the way up to 2002. That's when he took a wrong road to the left, I then ran against him in 2002, 2004 ,2006. I lost the primary but endorsed Mc Nerney, for reasons you will never understand.
When Mc Nerney was elected he promised that he wood work on the 205 - 580 corridor, the levees, hospitals for the the injured troops, health care. He did state that he would vote for funds for the war, but said some would go to the troops for fighting the war. He has done all these things in less than a year in office. If he should change his stand on any of those issues, we will go after him. The real truth is accountability and ethics, for me it is oversight. Benigno  written by Ubbo Coty , August 17, 2007
It's humorous for me as an enlisted person in the military to read Jon's uneducated comments while he sits safely behind a desk. Jon, if you really think that "warrantless wiretapping program's" are a bad thing, why don't you do more research and learn who (and what) it was directed at. Why does the media feed off of misinformation? In reality, if its something you can't say in front of your wife or mother, maybe it shouldn't be said. Ever think about that one? If my government wants to listen to telephone conversations between terrorists and save your butt, then it should. If my government wants to hear me tell my wife and kids that I love them, they can. And slam President Bush all you want Jon, at least he wasn't impeached. I couldn't think of a more qualifed Commander in Chief to work for right now. My last Commander in Chief lied about cheating on his wife, instead of going after terrorists. Sleep well in your freedoms Jon. If you think you can do a better job, why don't you?
 written by K.L. Vosburg , August 17, 2007
"Karl Rove is movin on down the road." -President George Walker Bush.
And a goodnight too you to Director Gonzales, wherever you are...?  written by luridlloyd , August 18, 2007
1) Any servant of the US, and all the Military take an oath to defend the Constitution. This includes the fourth ammendment. If our liberties continue to be taken away, in the name of safety, what will we have left to fight for?
2) Karl Rove has helped the Democratic Party more than anyone gives him credit for. It will be a long time before Republicans get close to having 50% of people identifying themselves with the GOP. This content has been locked. You can no longer post any comment.
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At least Jon M can come straight out and admit that McNerdy is for raising taxes and also in favor of surrendering to the terrorists in Iraq. The campaign to kick McNerdy out starts Sept 5th. Thanks Jon!!!