# Here's to Karl Rove **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 8, 2012, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341 "2012-11-08T06:41:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/21 "2012-11-08T17:06:42Z")
BTW, **[here](http://www.rove.com/)** is Karl Rove’s website. He seems to have run out of money to pay his webmaster, as his grand election map is still up along with his last few days of articles predicting Romney’s great victory. His one recent edition to the site - an article for the Wall Street Journal - is enlightening and chock full of insane comments. Let’s just say “gracious loser” is not Karl’s strong suit. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/22 "2012-11-08T17:12:32Z")
_bows to **DigitalC** _ ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/23 "2012-11-08T17:21:11Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > I love it when Republicans eat their own. “Right now there is stunned disbelief that Republicans fared so poorly after all the money they invested,” said Brent Bozell, president of For America, an Alexandria-based nonprofit that advocates for Christian values in politics. “If I had 1/100th of Karl Rove’s money, I would have been more productive than he was.” > > Donald Trump posted a message on Twitter saying: “Congrats to @KarlRove on blowing $400 million this cycle. Every race @CrossroadsGPS ran ads in, the Republicans lost. What a waste of money.” > Don’t give money to that guy over there! Give money to me! You know, what strikes me about those quotes even more than the Rove-bashing (which admittedly delights me) is the tone of “Dammit, we bought this election fair and square! We got ripped off!” They really seem to have believed that all they had to do was throw money at the race, and it was theirs–and worse, that it was _supposed_ to be that way. > [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I wonder if all the money the campaigns and SuperPACs spent on the election actually provided the economic stimulus that kept the economy going enough for Obama to win. Now that would ironic, doncha think? Say that $800 million was spent on the Republican campaign. (That’s not dead on, but it’s close enough to work with.) That’s enough to pay a $50k salary to 16,000 people for a year. The last jobs report says that 171,000 jobs were added in October. If all $800 million had been spent hiring people in that one month at a fairly modest average salary, it would have improved that one report by about 9.4%. In a month with a weaker jobs report, like April (+115,000), the effect would have been larger (~14%), but still not huge. Obviously, it wasn’t spent that way. That’s just a case for maximum impact on numbers that would be noticeable to voters. Spread out as it was, I find it highly unlikely that it had any significant influence on the outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/24 "2012-11-08T17:45:50Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > You know, what strikes me about those quotes even more than the Rove-bashing (which admittedly delights me) is the tone of “Dammit, we bought this election fair and square! We got ripped off!” They really seem to have believed that all they had to do was throw money at the race, and it was theirs–and worse, that it was _supposed_ to be that way. > Say that $800 million was spent on the Republican campaign. (That’s not dead on, but it’s close enough to work with.) That’s enough to pay a $50k salary to 16,000 people for a year. The last jobs report says that 171,000 jobs were added in October. If all $800 million had been spent hiring people in that one month at a fairly modest average salary, it would have improved that one report by about 9.4%. In a month with a weaker jobs report, like April (+115,000), the effect would have been larger (~14%), but still not huge. > > Obviously, it wasn’t spent that way. That’s just a case for maximum impact on numbers that would be noticeable to voters. Spread out as it was, I find it highly unlikely that it had any significant influence on the outcome. Yeah, I know, but it is fun to think about. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/25 "2012-11-08T18:14:40Z")
Actually there is a greater benefit from just the initial jobs. That money gets recycled again and again through sales, pay to the cashiers, buying more supplies. It’s the motion/velocity of money that gets an economy going. That was one of the problems in the great depression and latest recession. Lack of money movement. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/26 "2012-11-08T18:39:59Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Bud light presents: Real Men of Genius! > > Today we salute you Mr “Spend 400 million and lose every race” > Because the only way to win an election is with ravening hordes of old scared white people (They are coming to take our medicare!) > Who needs facts, truth or reality when you have the 1% and Jesus on your side? (we got him locked up in the basement!) > After all getting your ass kicked slightly less than the last time technically means you won (It’s in the Constitution!) > So crack open a cold one, Oh champion of opinion based math because sometimes not even Fox News is crazy enough for you (mr spend 400 million and lose every race!) It’s not working for me. That post is coming through in the voice Patrick Stewart uses for those “you are a business traveler” rental car commercials. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/27 "2012-11-08T18:40:58Z")
[http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2012/return\_on\_investment/](http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2012/return_on_investment/) Read it and giggle. Cackle. Chortle. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/28 "2012-11-08T19:06:53Z")
Now now, don’t give Karl Rove all the credit! We owe a lot to the Tea Party as well! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/29 "2012-11-08T19:36:10Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > [Sunlight Foundation Reporting Group](http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2012/return_on_investment/) > > Read it and giggle. Cackle. Chortle. Um, isn’t “opposing losing candidates” the same as “supporting winning candidates”? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/30 "2012-11-08T19:38:27Z")
> [@marley23](#): > > remember when democrats used to shit their pants in fear at any mention of karl rove- or even the thought of what rove was going to do to defeat their candidate and crush their dreams? I guess maybe that’s finally over, and good riddance. It was embarrassing to read and it’s the kind of thing that makes me glad i’m not a democrat anymore. I Am The Great And Powerful ROVE!! Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain!! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/31 "2012-11-08T19:40:03Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Um, isn’t “opposing losing candidates” the same as “supporting winning candidates”? 'Struth, I find their prose a bit dense, so I’m not entirely sure. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/32 "2012-11-08T19:41:53Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [Jon Stewart was ecstatic over that clip.](http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-november-7-2012/post-democalypse-2012---america-takes-a-shower---karl-rove-s-math) The best part of that scene was Rove ranting about how the two candidates were only “991 votes apart” when the screen right next to him was showing a gap of something like 30K. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/33 "2012-11-08T19:45:56Z")
I saw him on Fox in last time, when he was standing at this electoral board and strategizing that if McCain can hold on in Ohio, and then pick up…and they broke in to tell him Ohio had just been called for Obama. What a moment. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/34 "2012-11-08T19:50:51Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Um, isn’t “opposing losing candidates” the same as “supporting winning candidates”? I think it’s breaking it down specifically into how much they spent on ads that boiled down to “Don’t vote Obama” vs. ads that said “Do vote Romney”. Those showed up as 2 different categories in FEC filings, even though they had the same purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/35 "2012-11-08T19:51:05Z")
How the mighty have fallen. Just a few years ago he was nearly universally considered a genius whether good or evil and now he’s merely a punch line. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/36 "2012-11-08T19:55:45Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > I Am The Great And Powerful ROVE!! Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain!! [I think Rove](http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/08/15007504-karl-roves-election-debacle-super-pacs-spending-was-nearly-for-naught?lite) and [the Wizard have the same hat size.](http://tendergraces.blogspot.com/2010/06/behind-wizards-curtain.html) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/37 "2012-11-08T19:56:28Z")
In a bad movie version of these events, the Karl Rove-esque character would end up somewhere in an alley with a couple of slugs in the back of his head. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/38 "2012-11-08T19:58:10Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > How the mighty have fallen. > > Just a few years ago he was nearly universally considered a genius whether good or evil and now he’s merely a punch line. The same guy who suggested poring a ton of money into California for a Republican upset? That guy? With the jar of library paste and a spoon? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/39 "2012-11-08T20:01:00Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > The same guy who suggested poring a ton of money into California for a Republican upset? That guy? With the jar of library paste and a spoon? I don’t… lol… I don’t even know what library paste is but I love it. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341/40 "2012-11-08T20:07:21Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Karl looked like a guy who knew the fix was in, and couldn’t believe that the fix didn’t actually come in. You know, a part of me thought the same thing. When he started going on about how they were calling Ohio too early, I flashed back to 2000. I can’t shake a tiny suspicion - and yes I know this is foil hat stuff - that the fix _was_ in, or at least was supposed to be, but somehow they were outsmarted by the Dems. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heres-to-karl-rove/640341.md?page=3)