( - promoted by mooncat)
Rove's college years (1969-1973) were mostly devoted to the GOP, in the form of the College Republicans. Though nominally a student of history, he never bothered to graduate despite attending several different universities, and indeed took significant time off from his studies whenever the Party called. He never took quite enough time off to be drafted, but he came very close. Somehow though, whenever Vietnam reared its ugly head, Karl was prepared with an enrollment form. While John Kerry was doing his tour of duty, Karl was sitting at the feet (well actually, sitting in a Volkswagon would be more accurate) of his two mentors, Lee Atwater and Donald Segretti. Since apples never fall far from their trees, except to roll downhill, I think it's worth taking a brief look at Lee and Donald. Rove spent many months in that VW with Atwater crisscrossing the Southern States in a relentless search for delegates who would propel him to the Chairmanship of the College Republicans. That's a pretty close bond. Six months in a VW is a lot like sharing a cell (except there's no toilet). People get to KNOW each other in these situations.
Lee Atwater (born in GA, educated in S. Carolina) would become a key political operative in both the Reagan and G.W. Bush campaigns. Well-versed in 'dirty tricks' campaigning, he made ample use of tactics such as The Southern Strategy, smashmouth politics, and push polling. Segretti, one of Tricky Dick's merry pranksters, would take up where Atwater left off, tutoring the Young One on How to Become a Criminal in the Pursuit of Campaign Victory. Too bad he wasn't quite able to learn his own lessons: Segretti did time. What for? Distributing Forged Campaign Literature. (3 misdemeanor convictions). Lest we begin to think that Karl was simply Pliable Clay in the hands of Evil Potters, let's have a look at the Alan J. Dixon incident. It's worth mentioning that the Young One (age 19) entered the campaign offices of a Democratic Candidate, stole letterhead (see Segretti/Muskie), and distributed it to various unsavory characters bearing the message "free food, free booze, and girls!" with the objective of disrupting a rally. Dixon won anyway. But then, he wasn't Karl's chief target at the time, either. Segretti was still in the future. That one was pure Essence of Rove. As Karl himself says, he's 'not fortunate' enough to be a 'person of faith'. If you're starting to think this is just ancient history with no relevance, see Mooncat's post on Harold See. Or how about this one?: I think it's classic Rove - happening in the very same state where his whisper campaign against John McCain took in most of the GOP electorate last time the Dub was in town. Re SC: Lee Atwater would be proud. Somehow, I don't think it's Hillary here, although that's what the original posters seem to think. Nope, as HerdingOldCats always says, "Smell the sulphur". 'Course, there's an awful LOT of sulphur coming off Capitol Hill these days. Try not to be downwind for the next year and a half or so. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here. The real turning point of Rove's college career was not draft dodging or stationery-stealing. It was his victory over Robert Edgeworth for Chairmanship of the College Republicans (God help you, Trent - are you SURE you want to hop into this cauldron?). In the company of Atwater, and with his help, Karl turned what should have been a normal college-level election into a complete donnybrook that took months to sort out, by challenging EVERY SINGLE ONE of Edgeworth's delegates. Two victories were proclaimed, and two acceptance speeches were given. In a fit of pique at the underhanded tactics, Terry Dolan, Edgeworth's running mate, leaked a tape to the Washington Post. It was Young Karl giving a Dirty Tricks and Nefarious Maneuvers seminar to College Republicans. Perhaps they were confident that, once the true character of Rove surfaced, the RNC would have no choice but to disavow such chicanery and Step Into the Light. Thus it fell upon George H. W. Bush, then Chairman of the RNC, to make a decision in favor of one of the young opponents. Rove got the Chairmanship. Edgeworth was banned from the Party FOREVER. He broke ranks, you see. He told the truth. And he WAS incredibly stupid. He trusted a Bush! Edgeworth moved to Australia for a few years. Poor lad. He's a Professor now at the University of Louisiana. He wears tweed. He speaks precisely. And, we hope, he votes Democrat.
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