Karl Rove, like Tim Eyman, was wrong
We've already poked some fun at Karl Rove at being totally deluded about the outcome of the 2006 elections, but why stop at one post?
Here's a juicy excerpt from a somewhat contentious interview Rove did with Robert Siegel of National Public Radio (this was pre-election):
The problem with making boldfaced predictions is, of course, that you're taking a big gamble. And when you lose big, you end up looking pretty dumb.
There are a lot of similarities or parallels between Karl Rove and Tim Eyman. Both are unelected divisive figures who are very active in politics. Both have been embroiled in scandals. Both are experienced at media manipulation. And both have a reputation for shooting their mouths off and displaying a cocky swagger.
Tim Eyman has already been humbled in 2006 and in the immediate years preceding, with a growing list of failed initiatives. Now it's Karl Rove's turn. He didn't temper his political forecasting and he's paying the price. It's a huge blow to his reputation. Any political observer who dares to call him a genius is as deluded as he is.
A true genius would have found a way to accomplish a miracle for the right wing - saving a corrupt Republican majority from being swept out of power. Rove couldn't manage it, despite deploying an arsenal of dirty tricks. He was outplayed and outfought. His strategy, like Eyman's failed.
In September 2005, before the November elections, Tim Eyman famously declared to his supporters and to the media:
Karl Rove was wrong too. He and others - pundits who confidently followed him - lost big on Tuesday. They will have to contend with the realization that they are now the minority party. Democrats control both houses of the legislative branch in both Washingtons - our state and the District of Columbia.
We will move America and the Evergreen State forward in a new direction. The days of Republican fear are over. The days of Democratic hope have begun.
Here's a juicy excerpt from a somewhat contentious interview Rove did with Robert Siegel of National Public Radio (this was pre-election):
ROVE: Yeah, I'm looking at all these [polls], Robert, and adding them up, and I add up to a Republican Senate and Republican House. You may end up with a different math, but you're entitled to your math, I'm entitled to THE math.Well, guess what, Karl? Not only did we get the House, but we got the Senate, too. You were completely wrong. I'd like to see the "math" you were using.
SIEGEL: Well, I don't know if we're entitled to our different math, but you're certainly -
ROVE: I said THE math. I said you're entitled to yours.
The problem with making boldfaced predictions is, of course, that you're taking a big gamble. And when you lose big, you end up looking pretty dumb.
There are a lot of similarities or parallels between Karl Rove and Tim Eyman. Both are unelected divisive figures who are very active in politics. Both have been embroiled in scandals. Both are experienced at media manipulation. And both have a reputation for shooting their mouths off and displaying a cocky swagger.
Tim Eyman has already been humbled in 2006 and in the immediate years preceding, with a growing list of failed initiatives. Now it's Karl Rove's turn. He didn't temper his political forecasting and he's paying the price. It's a huge blow to his reputation. Any political observer who dares to call him a genius is as deluded as he is.
A true genius would have found a way to accomplish a miracle for the right wing - saving a corrupt Republican majority from being swept out of power. Rove couldn't manage it, despite deploying an arsenal of dirty tricks. He was outplayed and outfought. His strategy, like Eyman's failed.
In September 2005, before the November elections, Tim Eyman famously declared to his supporters and to the media:
"Same goes for I-912, the gas tax repeal initiative. Put a fork in it, it's done. It's going to be approved overwhelmingly in November. Why? Because we've beaten this coalition of opponents (Big Business, Big Labor, politicians, and the press) year after year after year in these same tax battles. Even opponents know it's over."And in the end, when it was in fact "over", Eyman was humiliated. His gleeful taunting came back to haunt him. He was dead wrong. I-912 didn't pass, it was defeated overwhelmingly, just as I-920 and I-933 were this year.
- Tim Eyman
Karl Rove was wrong too. He and others - pundits who confidently followed him - lost big on Tuesday. They will have to contend with the realization that they are now the minority party. Democrats control both houses of the legislative branch in both Washingtons - our state and the District of Columbia.
We will move America and the Evergreen State forward in a new direction. The days of Republican fear are over. The days of Democratic hope have begun.
