To: i-node who wrote (257417 ) 10/28/2005 2:45:51 PM From: tejek Read Replies (1) | Respond to ‘Indispensible’ Rove not yet off the hook He may have to wait a little longer. Patrick Fitzgerald, special prosecutor, on Friday did not indict Mr Rove, chief political strategist to President George W. Bush who has testified before the grand jury four times during the investigation. For White House officials who had hoped the indictments would end the distractions and tensions that have dogged the administration in recent weeks, the move to extend the grand jury is hardly an ideal outcome. In the past few weeks Mr Rove has become less high profile. In spite of his role in co-ordinating domestic policy, he was not involved in the selection this week of Ben Bernanke to succeed Alan Greenspan as chairman of the Federal Reserve. “He is a truly indispensible man,” said David Frum, a former speechwriter for Mr Bush and fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. “The distraction over the past weeks with Hurricane Katrina and Harriet Miers shows White House decision-making without him. There would be a real talent gap in the administration. He is one of the few who had ‘the clearest vision of what he is trying to accomplish and was always focused on something bigger than managing his inbox’.” He will remain that for some time. But for how long, remains in the hands of Mr Fitzgerald. news.ft.com
