Rove and the Republicans

I've read quite a bit of analysis of Rove's role, as he exits the White House. Unfortunately, it was none other than David Frum, conservative mouthpiece and infamous coiner of the phrase "axis of evil" (a man I truly despise) whose comments most stuck in my head and helped coalese my own thoughts about Rove: about how completely he epitomizes the current Republican strategy (which has been operating at least since Bush came on the scene and perhaps even before that), i.e. - they are very good at winning elections, but very poor at governing. They have spent mind-boggling amounts of money (China's money as it turns out, since they cut American taxes as we fight an almost endless war), and our domestic scene is in disarray - immigration, healthcare, education, global warming, government oversight of imports, even the ability of Americans to buy a home - all these areas have suffered during the Bush Administration and the consequences are abundantly clear all around us.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/opinion/14frum.html

August 14, 2007
NY Times
Op-Ed Contributor
Building a Coalition, Forgetting to Rule
By DAVID FRUM

AS a political strategist, Karl Rove offered a brilliant answer to the wrong question.

The question he answered so successfully was a political one: How could Republicans win elections after Bill Clinton steered the Democrats to the center?

The question he unfortunately ignored was a policy question: What does the nation need — and how can conservatives achieve it?

DM: Indeed, how can our government, our nation, achieve it? It is the question we should be answering as we go forward - this is the question that should always be in the forefront of our minds - our legislators' minds, our citizens' minds. This question should guide every choice we make!