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August 13, 2007

President Bush will Lose His Brain

U. S. President George W. Bush, left, puts his arm around Karl Rove. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari) Karl Rove, American President George W. Bush's advisor since before Bush ran for governor of Texas in 1993, is leaving August 31.

It's hard to overemphasize the importance of this move to the Bush Administration, and by extension to America and ultimately to any nation in the world. There's little doubt that Rove has been the primary architect of the Bush presidency. He is frequently referred to by the White House press corps as "Bush's Brain." There's even a book out by that name. Rove has been called the most powerful non-elected man in current American politics, possibly in all of America's history.

An example of how important Rove is to Bush is likely inadvertently shown in the article linked to below. When a member of the presidential cabinet leaves, a major news service article begins with something like, "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced today that...." The person's position is almost invariably listed in the first paragraph. In this article, Rove's title of deputy White House chief of staff isn't mentioned until paragraph 16 (that's as of this writing--these articles are sometimes rewritten). What is emphasized is his importance to Bush.

Personally, I've long seen Rove, who's known Bush since both of them were in their 20s, as Bush's brain. Since before Bush was elected president, I've told people to look at his eyes. When he's discussing politics, he wears a look of, "Am I saying this right?" Contrast that to his face as he discusses sports with bright eyes and a confident and knowing smile. I believe Bush knows sports; I don't believe he understands politics.

It's hard to tell what effect Rove's leaving will have on the last 1 1/2 years of Bush's lame-duck presidential administration, and on Bush himself. Without his primary advisor, who or what will fill the vacuum?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070813/ap_on_go_pr_wh/rove_resigning

Another question created by the impending departure is, will Rove be more influential after he leaves the White House?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-08-13-rove-legacy_N.htm?csp=1&POE=click-refer

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August 03, 2007

Separation of Powers: FBI vs. Supreme Court

FBI agents load evidence in the case against U. S. Representaive William Jefferson into a minivan on May 21, 2006 (AP photo by Lauren Victoria Burke)"'Today's opinion underscores the fact that the Department of Justice is required to follow the law, and that it is bound to abide by the Constitution,' defense attorney Robert Trout, said, promising more legal challenges to 'overreaching by the government in this case.'"

The case is that against U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, who has been accused of accepting $100,000 as a bribe from a telecommunications businessman.  But the issue the Supreme Court dealt with was whether or not the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which is part of the Department of Justice, violated the constitutional separation of the executive and legislative branch in the way it seized and examined legislative records.

The separation of power among the executive branch (president and vice president), legislative (House of Representatives and Senate) and the judicial branch (headed by the U. S. Supreme Court) is a fundamental part of the Constitution of the United States of America.  The system was designed to prevent one group or person from taking control of the country.

Ironically, the FBI's actions were condemned by both liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans, and supported by both liberals and conservatives.

To read the article by AP reporter Matt Apuzzo, go to http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070803/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/raid_on_congress

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