Karl Rove, who has perhaps done more than any one man to usher in close to a decade of murderous and corrupt Right-wing policies assaulting the planet, still prances about with the utmost hubris, defying Congressional subpoenas while wrapping himself in his own parody of the Constitution. But those whom the Gods would destroy they often first mock, and perhaps that is why there was some great guerrilla theater against Rove last Friday in Virginia Beach.

Rove was in Virginia Beach, Virginia, one of the most popular beach resorts in the country, on Friday, July 18 for a Rep. Thelma Drake fundraiser at a local steakhouse (for red meat Republicans only) located in the central area called Town Center. However, this routinely ritual event of passing the collection plate was greeted outside by some 40 plus protesters from across Eastern Virginia, who not only confronted Karl Rove and his adoring Republican donors with signs such as "Arrest Karl Rove" and "Rove Exposed CIA Agent", but who also engaged in verbal jousting with some of the Rove faithful, who were visibly upset as they entered the steakhouse. However, police were on hand to keep things peaceful.

Then, while those inside were carving away at hopefully cooked, not raw, portions of steak luncheons costing, I am told, $200 to $300 apiece, the protesters outside proceeded to put on some ingenuous guerrilla theater. This was a rather unique performance, one that had been perhaps two weeks in planning and rehearsing, with an actual script and costumes. Nader supporters, Obama supporters, Ron Paul followers, members from Code Pink, MoveOn.org, Iraq Veterans against the War, 9-11 Truthers and various other groups all assembled to stage an open-air, mock trial of Karl Rove. A judge in black robes and English white whig, a bailiff in a very realistic uniform with badge, the defendant Karl Rove portrayed by a tall woman with a Rove mask, devil’s horns and wearing a trademark tan suit, another woman playing Valerie Plame, plus a rather unsympathetic jury then acted out the ten minute script, while media video and digital cameras blinked, flashed and clicked away at the trial as Rove was charged, testimony heard and verdict reached, culminating with Rove being led off in chains and handcuffs. All the local TV stations were present, as well as The Virginian-Pilot and the Christian Science Monitor , among others.

During the mock trial, the bailiff charging Rove with a variety of crimes such as electoral fraud, treason, enabling a contrived war leading to vast human suffering, exposing the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame and defying a Congressional subpoena. I know that there are Rove watchers out there who could rattle off about another two dozen charges, but less is more in theater.

To all intents, the mock trial went really well and made its point, that Rove, the Neocon Machiavellian ringmaster, who has been using his own smoke and mirrors and political theater for years to promote the Right’s reactionary agenda while going far beyond the pale legally, ethically and morally, is due for a fall. Karl Rove arrogantly thinks he is above the law and should in turn be chastised by the law. If we want to set America right, then the thousands of lawless politicians, bureaucrats, business cronies and camp followers that Rove has helped spawn must be reigned in by the long arm of the law. Otherwise the downward spiral of destruction will continue.

After the luncheon and trial, some 15 protesters went around to the rear of the steakhouse to confront Rove when he was coming out. Things got rather noisy and saucy as Rove climbed back in his chauffeured car.

In response to the protest, Rove had this to say to the Virginian Pilot reporter on scene:

Asked about the protest, Rove called it "anemic." "I was sort of upset," he said. "There should have been more people." Drake said the protest was "misguided" and that it didn't bother her. ( source )

Drake herself has a strange definition of "guided". It is well known that her political guidance system is pegged to follow whatever comes out of George bush's mouth, that she is basically a hodge-podge of Republican clichés and banalities masquerading as policies.

Rove, meanwhile, might have been referring to the fifteen protesters in the rear, not the larger number at the mock trial. Be that as it may, perhaps America can soon hold a real trial of Mr. Rove in a real courtroom, one that is sure to garner the maximum attention he apparently craves.

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Following are various videos of the mock trial of Karl Rove: 1) Here is a protester's raw footage video of the mock trial. It could use some editing, but you can get the drift of the trial from it: ( Click here )

2) Another activist took some great photos of the event and created a YouTube video set to some telling music: ( Click here )

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