ROVE RESIGNS (effective Aug. 31)
by Mike Emanuel (excerpt)

FOX NEWS

WASHINGTON — Karl Rove, President Bush's chief political strategist and good friend, has announced his resignation, effective Aug. 31.

Bush wished Rove, his friend of 34 years, "all the very best" after brief remarks that noted Rove had made a "tremendous sacrifice" to come to Washington.

"We've been friends for a long time, and we're still going to be friends. I would call Karl Rove a dear friend. We've known each other as youngsters, interested in serving our state. We worked together so we could be in a position to serve this country. And so I thank my friend. I'll be on the road behind you here in a little bit," Bush said.

The man who alternately has been called "the architect" and "Bush's brain," among other things, first disclosed his plans to The Wall Street Journal, which published the story in Monday morning editions.

For outgoing predictions, the characteristically sunny Rove told interviewers that he expects Bush to regain his popularity, which has sunk to record lows because of the war in Iraq; that conditions in Iraq will improve; and that Democrats will nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton for president. He called her "a tough, tenacious, fatally flawed candidate."