Karl Rove? Isn't it time to "move on"?

Dear Jonathan,

I know that progressives who fail to make ritualistic denunciations of Karl Rove risk having their Good Liberal Seal of Approval revoked, but is it really necessary to follow PETA's lead and condemn the man for hunting doves?

For the record, I hold no great love for Karl Rove. He is, as far as I'm concerned, just one more political strategist -- a rather amoral bunch, as a class, no matter which party or pols happen to be paying their paychecks. It's hard to love a hired gun. But by the same token, I've never understood why the left so despises this hired gun so much. Is he really worse than any of the others?

I know, you fire off a litany of reasons, but they all seem rather flimsy: "His permanent Republican majority lasted 6 years"; (you yourself have noted that politics is a short-term game). "His legacy is a quagmire of broken conservative hearts"; (no, his legacy is batting .750 in national elections -- an impressive record by any measure). "His technique of ruling by dividing has divided our nation against itself" (what political operative doesn't "divide" -- Clinton's sainted team of James Carville and Paul Begala?). "He dodged prosecution in Plamegate" (an aggressive special prosecutor had nothing on him because no crime was committed), "but is still vulnerable on lost emails" (dream on) "and the political firing of Federal Prosecutors" (which is not against the law).

But of all the reasons to denounce the man, is there any weaker than the fact that he plans to hunt doves on Labor Day Weekend? We expect as much from PETA, but from an admitted hunter like yourself?

As far as I can tell, Rove's only crime is that he did his job very well, winning several big elections, often against great odds. Bill Clinton had the same talent, and similarly drove Republicans into fits of rage. But as Democrats said back then, perhaps it's time to "move on." The guy's out of the White House, already.

And let's not pretend Rove was any more calculating, amoral, or divisive than any other high-powered politico. He was just more effective.

Best,
Chris

PS -- To give credit where it is due: "This is not Bush’s Brain triangulating. This is the Turdblossom strangulating" was a great line!