Goodbye Karl Rove

The President's long-time political adviser is resigning August 31st according to the Wall Street Journal.

Karl Rove, President Bush's longtime political adviser, is resigning as White House deputy chief of staff effective Aug. 31, and returning to Texas, marking a turning point for the Bush presidency.

Mr. Rove's departure removes one of the White House's most polarizing figures, and perhaps signals the effective end of the lame duck administration's role in shaping major domestic policy decisions. Mr. Rove revealed his plans in an interview with Paul Gigot, editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page. (See related commentary.)

Mr. Rove, who has held a senior post in the White House since President Bush took office in January 2001, told Mr. Gigot he first floated the idea of leaving a year ago. But he delayed his departure as, first, Democrats took Congress, and then as the White House tackled debates on immigration and Iraq, he said. He said he decided to leave after White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten told senior aides that if they stayed past Labor Day they would be obliged to remain through the end of the president's term in January 2009.

"I just think it's time," Mr. Rove said in the interview. "There's always something that can keep you here, and as much as I'd like to be here, I've got to do this for the sake of my family." Mr. Rove and his wife have a home in Ingram, Texas, and a son who attends college in nearby San Antonio.

I don't know what to make of the news. President Bush's popularity has been tanking for two years, and it looks like he'll get little done politically during his last 17 months in office. Maybe Rove simply decided it was time to seek some other line of work.

Two questions do remain-

1- Who will replace Rove as one of the favorite punching bags for liberals and Democrats?
2- Will AP give us an update on the contents of Rove's garage? Inquiring minds want to know.

Jason Leopold will now have to find honest work.

Also discussing Rove's resignation- A Blog for All, Below the Beltway, Betsy, Bright & Early, California Conservative, Gay Patriot, Hot Air, Iowa Voice, Leaning Straight Up, Michelle Malkin, Moderate Voice, MVRWC, Outside the Beltway, Pirate's Cove, Poliblog, Right Voices, Sister Toldjah, The Glittering Eye, Kim at Wizbang,