http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2...friday_the.htmlKarl Rove Visits Oregon on Friday the 13th, Met with Protesters By Jeff Musall
Published April 14, 2007
Probably the second most reviled member of the Bush Administration, Karl Rove, visited the Portland, Oregon suburb of Tigard as a guest of the Washington County Republican party. About 200 people paid to sit in and listen to Rove, and almost that many were outside protesting his visit. Many people are surprised that Rove came to Oregon at all, especially the Portland area.
No one except for Dick Cheney or the President himself are more disliked by the majority of people living here. Still, there are supporters.
The police presence was large at very visible. Secret Service, Tigard police, a SWAT team, and personnel from other area law enforcement agencies were involved in protecting the man who has been called "Bush's brain." After protesters at a college in Washington, D.C. last week brought national attention to a anti-Rove protest, the anticipation in Tigard was that there would be a vocal protest at the scene.
The location of Rove's appearance was kept under cover for the most part until this week, when bloggers and radio personalities started talking about it. Local and national radio host Thom Hartmann, host of the Thom Hartmann show on Air America radio, expressed that he was planning on attending. If he didn't get bumped out, that is. The Washington County Republican party in it's invitations stated that it had the right to decline anyone. Not surprising for a party who likes to make sure that the guest list is taken up only with those favorable. If your guest list always has to be vetted, you might be doing something wrong.
Rove is currently embroiled in another scandal, this one involving the political firings of U. S. attorneys. The scandal will most likely end the tenure of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. So far, Rove has dodged the bullet. It was just a few weeks ago that "Scooter" Libby was convicted for lying about the outing of Valerie Plame. Rove, although highly implicated, was not indicted. His behind the scenes machinations are thought by many to be brilliant, although he was unable to bring victories to the Republicans in the 2006 elections. Not that he didn't try. The failings of Bush and the Republican leadership were too much for even the master magician.