Huffington Magazine Issue 1 | Page 35

Voices HOWARD FINEMAN HUFFINGTON 06.17.12 SAUL LOEB/AFP/GETTY IMAGES (ROVE) Our Political Ringmaster, Large and In Charge KARL ROVE TOLD ME that he was going to be too busy to talk much. It was true. He had a hit on Fox to prepare, and a piece to write for The Wa ll Street Journal (“Due in 35 minutes,” he said.) The Super Pac he had founded was airing a new ad, featuring shattered glass and a list of the president’s “failed” promises. Rove had two speeches to give, traveling to do, Pac donors to woo and calls with friends throughout the Republican realm, including folks at party committees and in Romney headquarters. Once known as “Turd Blossom,” later as “the Architect,” Rove, at 61, is more powerful than ever: a ILLUSTRATION BY JULIEN PACAUD multi-dimensional, 21st century version of a 19th century Party Boss. Specifically, he is the reincarnation of Mark Hanna for our own corrupted, McKinley-style era, in which Gargantuan Money again is paralyzing our politics. “Karl has a lot of sway,” says former RNC Chairman Michael Steele. “Not swagger, but sway. He’s Svengali.” Long ago, a party boss operated in the shadows. But now, in the age of Twitter, cable television and Super Pacs, a party boss operates Howard Fineman is editorial director of the Huffington Post Media Group