High water: Another rat flees the ship of state

The Internet is abuzz with the news that Karl Rove is leaving the White House at the end of the month. He is the latest Bush rat to escape the sinking ship of State, but my guess is he'll be back to roil the campaign seas before too long. See the Los Angeles Times story Rove to leave the White House, return to Texas for the basic scuttlebutt about the departure of George W's svengali.

I don't see Rove as the type to shrink from a fight for long. He'll probably lick his wounds and then go courting a new partner with presidential potential. None of the current crop of candidates could prove more challenging than the former Yale cheerleader with addiction issues that he molded into a Texas governor and US President. George W. Bush, the spoiled rich kid from Maine who skipped out on National Guard duty and bumbled his way through business, became a bible-thumping, plain-talking, can-do Texas cowboy shooting his way straight to conservative hearts.

After 6 plus years in office, however, the American people are starting to see through the charm of Bush's false persona. Being linked to the President isn't good for anyone's political future. As his disapproval rating rises ever higher and the 2008 election looms on the horizon, it's time to break anchor with Bush's floundering legacy. So, rather than going down with the vessel he captained to prominence, Karl Rove is scurrying away to seek shelter from the storm.

Sadly, even with a Congressional investigation nipping at his heels, Rove's escape stage right will probably succeed. Bush himself will also likely make it out mostly unscathed if he can endure the remaining 18 months of his lame duck tenure. After all, he's got a lap-dog Supreme Court and a spineless Congress to ensure a peaceful retirement wrapped in the comforting warmth of blanket executive privelege.

Unfortunately, the American people, and the rest of the world, won't be able to run away and hide from the repercussions of the Bushies time in office. The sand may be running out on his limited term, but the damage is done, the waters are rising, and we've got very few life-preservers left to grab on to. It's a predicament that brings to mind a song by Uncle Tupelo, and a longing for Rove's freedom to quit the game.

High Water
by Uncle Tupelo

Try to face up to the blinding sun
Racing for the final word to come
Facing up, it's hard to stay devout
I can see the sand and it's running out
And it's running out

We quote each other only when we're wrong
We tear out the threads and move along
We can't seem to find common ground
I can see the sand and it's running out

It was only circumstances
But it's the difference
It gets in the way
No race is run in this direction
You can't break even
You can't even quit the game

The current drags to the bottom
A hemorrhage that moves us around
It pulls and beckons in a strong direction
High water forever bringing us down
I can see the sand and it's running out
It's running out

It was only circumstances
But it's the difference
It gets in the way
No race is run in this direction
You can't break even
You can't even quit the game