Kerik, Giuliani and a Rove Triangulation/Strangulation -- West Texas-style Whack Job
Thomas F. Schaller 12/17
gadflyer.com
What, at first blush, would appear to be a glaringly uncharacteristic degree of White House sloppiness in handling the Bernard Kerik appointment may, in fact, be just the reverse. Indeed, it's hard to imagine that Karl Rove would so horribly blunder this appointment, and that he and his White House sources could not obtain (with or without Kerik's help) some very basic, easy-to-find information about his background that newspaper reporters and bloggers, absent security clearances, are capable of finding.
All of which suggests to me that Rove -- who likes to stab his enemies as well as his "friends" in the front -- knew precisely how this would play out. Keep in mind that, coming out of a New York City convention and re-election campaign in which Bush had to distance himself from the Tom Delays and Trent Lotts and James Dobsons of his coaltion in favor of the John McCains and Rudy Giulianis and Arnold Schwarzeneggers, and despite the mythical "moral values" swing vote, it would be easy for people like Giuliani to feel that Bush owes them.
Ok, fine, says Rove. So they appoint Kerik, who blows himself up as the nation watches, leaving plenty of black powder burns on Rudy's face. It's the perfect two-fer, because Rudy has now cashed in his electoral chit, and in exchange damaged his own national reputation. Favor repaid, in full, via a West Texas-style double-hit whack job that would make the goons Rudy used to prosecute nod with grudging admiration.
Sure, the White House gets a little mud on its shoes. But they shift most of the blame to a conniving Kerik, which conforms with the profile of a guy who may turn out to be a bigamist with his first two wives who later cheated on his third with two women in a free apartment near Ground Zero provided to those working on the 9/11 wreckage. Besides, we're heading into the holidays, so soon enough this will be a negligible mark, at worst, on the president's appointment record.
But Rudy and Bernie will forever be damaged goods.
Guess what, Rudy: You just learned the McCain lesson -- never serve as a useful accomplice to an accomplished user. Because, you see, once they got you to help them lock down those moderate votes, they didn't need you anymore. You went from indispensable to disposable in a New York (or central Ohio, as it were) minute. And so they turned on you faster than you can say nine-one-one. Happy holidays, fellas. |
