Mr Kidder: brilliant! only your knowledge of geography is as useless as your sensitivity to Mr Rove's reputation.

arthur craven, washington, dc

I suppose the naive British will read stuff like

Four years later, another Vietnam hero, John Kerry, was simply no match for the stream of so-called "attack ads" from a group called the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth that questioned his war record.

and believe the implication that Karl Rove was behind it!

Michael Babb, Swansea,

The Times Online is unlikely to be an American publication due to the fact that London is the capital of England.

Comes to something when an American has to correct an Englishman on U.K. geography.

Jim Beach, Lawrence, Kansas

Um, Nat Kidder? This is the Times Online. London. Not New York. Different cities.

Daniel Arp, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

It would be interesting to know just to what extent karl Rove had an influence on George bush's policies over the years.

Deepan, London, U.K

Um... Nat? I do believe this particular Times hails from London, England. You know... Europe... Where the history comes from...

-mwm-

Mike Martone, Troy, NY, USA

Hmm, Mr. Kidder is using Rove tactics - attack and confuse vs. address the issue. The author of the article was not calling Mr. Rove names, he was reporting the various nicknames he has - some of the nicer ones actually. "...the nicknames "Bush's brain" and "the architect" but it was another sobriquet, "turd blossom", that may last the longest. The process by which a flower grows from a cowpat seemed to suit Mr Rove and he never objected to the name. ..."
Also, this is not a NYT article, it is a UK online news agency.

shannon m, Saratoga, ca

No blossom, just a turd!

Gerry, Tucson, AZ

Karl Rove was instrumental in the Bush League's devastation of America's international reputation. Only when the whole gang is gone can America's rehabilitation begin.

Richard Allman, Toronto, Canada

Ultimately most countries have the government they deserve.

GK, Calgary, Canada

to Nat Kidder, St. Petersburg, Florida

Are you joking?? first this is not eve the NYT!! This is The Times. Sometimes referted to as The Times of London. different paper!! i don't even care to read the rest of this rant. you can't even get that right, how can you trust your opinion?

Chris , Hudds,

Interesting name for Rove, but for the life of me I can't see what the "blossom" part might refer to -- ?

mj

Michael Johnston, Hamilton, NY USA

Voldemort comes to mind. Survived as many scandels as he has horcurx'es. His soul is split in many fragments Rove has caused much pain and suffering amongst the defenseless. He made the term "Christian" a hypocracy. Sees only adversaries and enemies. Deeply distrustfull. Even his history as an orphan matches that of Voldemort.

Peter Johnson, Omaha, Nebraska

I wonder if he is quitting ahead of a political scandal that is about to erupt? I wonder if his telephone number is listed on the DC Madam's telephone logs?? Watch this space. Things might start getting interesting.

Heather Dean Caine, Los Angeles, CA, USA

The Democrats trained Rove very well by using sleazy tactics on Republicans. Politics is war and like war it is very, very dirty. Rove copied, improved upon, and perfected their (the Democrats) sleaze tactics like push polling, etc. James Carville, the architect of Bill Clinton's two White House runs called Rove "the greatest political strategist of our generation" a title he (Carville) once held himself. Carville was honest enough to respect genius when he saw it and not hate the man who was even more skilled than himself. To those who hate Rove as an evil man and wonder where he came from, I say look in the mirror. Rove is no more evil than the person you are looking at in the mirror.

kjcjapan, Jackson, USA

Mr. Kidder, the article which you are criticizing is on the Times of London website, not the New York Times. Me thinks that in your haste to lambaste the New York Times, you were in so much of a hurry that you failed to look at the masthead!!

Gloria, Freehold, New Jersey, USA

Ms. Rice will be next to leave .... I wish !

rich, santa clara, usa

Um...you do realize it's the Times of London and not the New York Times? Nice try, though.

B. Delaney, Nashville, TN

I very much believe in someone wanting to spend time with his family, however, based upon Mr Rove's past history, I can't help thinking what is first to leave a sinking ship?

John Richards, Christchurch,

His father was unlikely to walk out of his Sparks Utah home due to the fact that Sparks is in Nevada.

Comes to something when an Englishman has to correct an American publication on US geography.

Bob Brooks, Reading , England

That's the way to be in this world. Nice guys finish last. Until we change our paradigm of success at all cost, turd blossoms will cover the landscape. If that's the only way to win, if that's how Bill Clinton won the presidency, then more power to the Architect.

Ali Mohyee, Novato, California

If you wanted lessons on how to be nasty... Carl Rove wrote the book. Cheap, sleazy, rotten to the core..... he was at home in the executive branch.

Bill Bailey, kittery Point , ME

is anyone really following this anymore?

danette, san diego, ca

Mystery? What mystery - the man is obviously just another stain in US history and an obvious example of what the GOP will do to to try hold on to power.

RJ Smothers, Chicago, IL

Mr. Knight pursues Mr. Rove using the same insidious tactics that he ascribes to his quarry. The circumstances of Mr. Rove's political intrigue pale before the blatant innuendo cooked up by the NYT to be the tar applied before the feathers. Turd Blossom? The only stench of turd emanates directly from this "profile." Alas, the descent of the NYT into its self-made cesspool continues.

Nat Kidder, St. Petersburg, Florida

Karl Rove is the Benedict Arnold of modern American history, a traitor to Democracy and to every principle of decency that was the foundation of the United States of America. Karl Rove will always be remembered as the Rasputin of Bush, and the reason that the USA became a Third World nation destroyed by debt.

Frank, Miami, Florida

Good riddance!

I can't imagine that a man who has engendered so much hatred and contempt will have a pleasant retirement.

For my part, I hope he is anguished for the rest of his life.

Dade Cariaga, Portland, OR