How many citizens have tried to arrest Karl Rove?

Countdown to Crawford reported last night that a protestor tried to handcuff former White House politicial guru Karl Rove as part of a citizens' arrest in San Francisco yesterday, charging him with treason. She was hauled off.

This got us to wondering: how many times has this happened? Oh, sure, people have publicly complained about Rove -- for abusing his office by leaking Valerie Plame's identity to discredit her anti-war husband, for his role in firing U.S. attorneys who were not sufficiently Republican in their prosecutions. But how many people have actually tried to arrest him?

So today we did a little research. Here's what we found so far.

Rove left the White House -- where he was political advisor and deputy chief of staff -- in August 2007. It was an emotional send-off. He and President Bush hugged. And then Rove went off to make the Big Bucks that usually stick to former White House officials -- signing up as a Fox News analyst, writing columns for the Wall Street Journal and giving lucrative speeches.

On March 9, Rove gave a speech -- the fee was a reported $40,000 -- at the University of Iowa. What was described as a hostile crowd greeted his remarks, often interrupting with shouted questions. Replied Rove:

You got a chance to ask your questions later and make your stupid statements. Let me make mine.

Two people tried to make a citizens' arrest of Rove for his crimes as a member of the Bush administration. At one point, according to CNN, someone in the audience yelled, "Can we have our $40,000 back?" To which the man sometimes known as "Bush's Brain," replied, "No you can't."

Then on July 25, Rove went back to Iowa. Mistake. According to the anti-war group Washington Report on Middle East, Rove was to speak at a Republican luncheon fundraiser at the Wakonda Country Club in Des Moines, Iowa. Four antiwar activists -- aged 80, 61, 57 and 25 -- were arrested for trying to make a citizens' arrest, for war crimes. Two of them had been part of the earlier Iowa attempted bust.

"Major crimes are being committed by our government, and Rove has been one of the key players," explained retired Methodist minister Chester Guinn, the 80-year-old who was making his inaugural run at this. "I cannot be silent."

Then on Sept. 15, a group of students at Claremont McKenna College formed a "Karl Rove Welcoming Committee" to mark Rove's appearance on that California campus. They displayed banners with the words "Face the Charges," this a reference to Rove's refusal to testify before Congress, and "War Criminal," for his support of the Iraq war. Then, according to a progressive magazine called Claremont Portside, some students tried to deliver a citizens' arrest. Police pepper-sprayed them.

Hm. Maybe Karl should stay out of Iowa and California.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo: Charles Dharapak/Associated Press

Comments

[ginger]

he should be arrested, they are right. this farce has gone on long enough.

[Ryan]

The guy narrating this video is horrible. It is hard to even follow along and I could imagine it would be especially difficult for liberals. Listen... this guy is blaming Karl Rove for going to war? That was a Presidential decision backed by Congress. It was deemed necessary for the security of the nation. However, some left-wing activists use emotion rather than facts to call the President and Karl Rove criminals. I bet they aren't accusing Colin Powell of being a criminal even though he backed and presented the evidence against Saddam Hussein. I guess there are always going to be extremists, but jeez, give me a break.

[Charles Johnson]

It just isn't true that the students were pepper-sprayed.

Its a mockery of the school that they were detained. Most of the students enjoyed hearing Rove, or at the very least, were respectful. Those who weren't were students from our sister colleges, Pitzer and Pomona.

[Jim]

The Times has turned into such a rag. It's a crying shame what has become of the American newspaper industry.

[amen sista]

Amen, this is just an extension of the huff post. War criminal? How loaded. Give me a break

[Dani]

Ok so the comment blaming the 'sister colleges' sounds like the dad who won't accept his gay son. No, I don't think loud outbursts will get questions answered, but the administration leaves little other choices to make those of us that oppose the situation heard. Karl Rove SHOULD have to answer for his actions, and kudos to the individuals who are making their point through these actions, but I have to admit that I'd have to be pretty drunk to try to arrest him myself.

[Samfor truth]

Hey, someone made a great comment about Powell. Why not arrest him, oh that's because he isan Obama suporter, the do no wrong crowd. I bet these folks trying to make an arrest would not go and give their time or possibly their lives for their country. They don't even realize that people are giving their lives so that can stand up and make sure absurd comments. Lastly - What about the ANTI-AMERICAN REVEREND WRIGHT. DOES NY ONE NOT HAVE PROBLEM WITH TIS GUY. OH I FORGET, HE LOVES OBAMA, SO IT'S OKAY.

[W Is A War Criminal]

Jail Turd Blossom!

[STOPWAR]

If these butchers i.e. Bush, Cheany, Rumsfeld, Rice, Rove, et al are not held accountable for their war crimes then America is now and always will be a third rate Country at best. The First thing that Obama most do when sworn in as President is to name Vincent Bugliousi as Attorney General and let the "Bug" get down to work.

[Dan]

As an ex-Marine during the Nam years I saw some disgusting and anti-americanism, but these left-wing lulu's today beat them by a mile! (I didn't agree with being in nam at the time but served anyway).

If they think the USA is so bad wait and see what Hussein Obama will do to the economy, our security and world standing.

We have not been attacked (even though terrorists have tried very hard) during his admin. Our economy was very robust for most of the years, until the
Dem's controlled Congress (thanks Barney Fran, Chris Dodd, Pelosi, Dirty Harrry Reid etal) and most American families bought bigger homes, cars and vacations.

Materialism reigns!

[Ernest Adams]

Dan, I'll tell you what President Obama will do for America's world standing: repair it. The democratic nations of the world are appalled at America's behavior over the last 8 years. Torture? Detention without trial? Massacres of civilians? From the "leader of the free world"? The only countries that approve of Bush's approach are those that are dictatorships themselves: Russia and China.

No leader can ever afford to say "I don't care what you think" to the people he hopes to lead. That's why the rest of the world won't follow our lead any more -- and why our boys and girls have to fight without their help. You can be a "maverick" if you must, but it's an expensive and lonely business.

Oh, and do you think calling him "Hussein" Obama is going to do any good? Why don't you pay attention to his policies instead of the middle name someone else gave him when he was a baby.

Ernest "Hussein" Adams

[rod dodger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1JxlQpYoDk
check this link out for the Iowa angle....

[Jack Cohen-Joppa]

You might be interested to know that when the second Iowa group was in court for arraignment, Polk County Judge William Price asked the first defendant, “Ma’am, what were you doing at the Wakonda Country Club?”
“I was attempting to make a citizen’s arrest of Karl Rove, your honor,” she answered.
“Well,” the judge looked up and said, “it’s about time.”

[Confused (please post link)]

"This got us to wondering: how many times has this happened? Oh, sure, people have publicly complained about Rove -- for abusing his office by leaking Valerie Plame's identity to discredit her anti-war husband"

I'm somewhat confused. I thought Richard Armitage leaked the Valarie Plame info. Could someone post an updated news story where Rove was actually tied to this? Please no links to earlier speculation (predating the Armitage discovery) but if this changed and he was actually behind it, I would be very interested to read the story.

Thanks.

[susan long]

Karl Rove didn't go to court whaen he was subpeonad. I thought that was illega; in this country. Therefore he should be arrested like anyone else.

[Jon R]

It's sad when the kids from the art college are the only ones with the backbone to do the just thing. That being said, I'm not surprised that CMC students enjoyed his speech.

[Sundowner108]

The words "guru" and "Rove" are oxymorons...
Like "military" and "intelligence"
Please don't do that!

And thank you Jack Cohen-Joppa (above) for the posting that the Honorable Judge William Price said, "Well... It's about time (someone tried to arrest Rove)"
Right On!
Free the Des Moines Four!!

(oh & re: the other comments that this country was doing fine economically before the Dems got the majority two years ago... please, it had started to become bankrupt from the billions allocated for an illegal war for 6 years, Republican-regulated [or lack of...] Wall St., etc! How big was the economic surplus when Clinton left & how fast did the deficit shoot up after George Worthless Bush got selected president?!)

[John Adams]

Don't worry Rove will go free. Conyers and Pelosi will protect him.

Did I mention Republicans are scum?

Restore the draft today!