For the second time in two weeks, the Bush administration made a challenge they could end up regretting. First we had Bush's "Bring 'em on" dare which the Iraqis have been more than happy to accept. Now his loose cannon mentor and political advisor Karl Rove spent his Fourth of July whacking another hornet's nest by doing his Flounder impersonation at a parade:
As a dozen people marched toward Dana Place wearing Dean for President T-shirts and carrying Dean for America signs, Rove told a companion, "Heh, heh, heh. Yeah, that's the one we want," according to Daniel J. Weiss, an environmental consultant, who was standing nearby. "How come no one is cheering for Dean?"
Then, Weiss said, Rove exhorted the marchers and the parade audience: "Come on, everybody! Go, Howard Dean!"
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This is classic perverse (yet transparent) Rovian psychology, plain and simple.
Rove is attempting to plant the notion that Dean's a pushover, causing potential backers and undecideds to think twice about him. Rove knows that Dean will plaster Bush in the debates, so he's starting his (ahem) pre-emptive strike now. One can only hope his wish blows up in his face like an Acme Rocket Sled come next November.
Bring it on, Karl. Few things will make us happier than to see you among the unemployed you've helped create.
