Humpty Dumpty Head

The first time I saw a picture of Karl Rove, I thought, "wow, that man looks like Humpty Dumpty!" Then I laughed to myself because how could a real man look like a nursery rhyme egg? But that pale, oval, balding head and contemptuous grin must have inspired the same imagery in roughly 6000 other minds. At least that's how many Google hits I get on +"Karl Rove" +"Humpty Dumpty."

Although I prefer to use the moniker "Humpty Dumpty Head," Rove's more common nickname is "Bush's Brain." Here are some of the brainiac maneuvers he's linked to:

During the 2000 Republican Primary, Karl Rove, working as Bush's chief strategist, allegedly spread rumors about John McCain implying that McCain had committed treason while a prisoner of war, and had fathered a child by a black prostitute.

Rove allegedly leaked the identity of Valerie Plame as an undercover CIA agent -- a political move that compromised U.S. security.

Rove has been accused of election fraud through tactics like voter caging.

Rove is also accused of targetting Alabama Governor Don Siegelman in a selective, politically motivated prosecution.

Rove was possibly involved in firing nine U.S. attorneys in a purge designed to turn the Department of Justice into a Republican reelection machine.

Did I call these brainiac maneuvers? I'm sorry. What I meant to say was mountain of crime committed with complete disregard to the U.S., its people, its institutions, and its constitution.

Last May, the House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Karl Rove to testify explicitly about the attorney purge. That testimony was scheduled to take place July 10. He didn't show. In fact, he was out of the country.

The Bush administration claims that high-level aides to the president are completely immune from compelled congressional testimony. The administration is not claiming that there exists sensitive subjects that cannot be discussed due to national security. They are declaring that these people are above the law and answer to nobody.

This outrageous defiance threatens the pillar of our democracy -- equal justice for all.

So last Thursday, lawmakers faced an empty chair, an untouched glass of ice water, and a little printed sign that read "Mr. Karl Rove."

I don't know what the next step is. The committee has again ordered Rove to appear, but this thing will drag out long after Bush leaves the White House.

Will Humpty Dumpty ever take his fall? Or will he be rescued? I'm reminded of Through the Looking Glass when Humpty Dumpty exclaims "Yes, all his horses and all his men... They'd pick me up again in a minute, they would!" And that's what I'm afraid of.