Karl Rove Visits Oregon on Friday the 13th, Met with Protesters

Probably the second most reviled member of the Bush Administration, Karl Rove, visited the Portland, Oregon suburb of Tigard as a guest of the Washington County Republican party. About 200 people paid to sit in and listen to Rove, and almost that many were outside protesting his visit. Many people are surprised that Rove came to Oregon at all, especially the Portland area. No one except for Dick Cheney or the President himself are more disliked by the majority of people living here. Still, there are supporters.

The police presence was large at very visible. Secret Service, Tigard police, a SWAT team, and personnel from other area law enforcement agencies were involved in protecting the man who has been called "Bush's brain." After protesters at a college in Washington, D.C. last week brought national attention to a anti-Rove protest, the anticipation in Tigard was that there would be a vocal protest at the scene.

The location of Rove's appearance was kept under cover for the most part until this week, when bloggers and radio personalities started talking about it. Local and national radio host Thom Hartmann, host of the Thom Hartmann show on Air America radio, expressed that he was planning on attending. If he didn't get bumped out, that is. The Washington County Republican party in it's invitations stated that it had the right to decline anyone. Not surprising for a party who likes to make sure that the guest list is taken up only with those favorable. If your guest list always has to be vetted, you might be doing something wrong.

Rove is currently embroiled in another scandal, this one involving the political firings of U. S. attorneys. The scandal will most likely end the tenure of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. So far, Rove has dodged the bullet. It was just a few weeks ago that "Scooter" Libby was convicted for lying about the outing of Valerie Plame. Rove, although highly implicated, was not indicted. His behind the scenes machinations are thought by many to be brilliant, although he was unable to bring victories to the Republicans in the 2006 elections. Not that he didn't try. The failings of Bush and the Republican leadership were too much for even the master magician.

The fact that he did come here on Friday the 13th did bring some laughs around here from some locals. One comment I overheard at work was that the "Evil Warlock" was coming. That is a disservice to warlocks everywhere. The Portland Mercury printed the headline "The mouth of Hell opens in Tigard: Karl Rove is coming." Writer Scott Moore begins with "By now, you may have heard that Satan has given Karl Rove - the maniacal genius behind the Bush machine, and one helluva mc - permission to leave the fiery, sulfur-choked depths of Hades to pay the Portland area a little visit."

The progressive blog Blue Oregon - www.blueoregon.com - has been sponsoring a photo caption contest using some pictures of the mad political scientist that brought in some very funny entries. The site also has some good Rove quotes. While you are there, read around, there is alot of good information.