The Powers of the Unelected Career Politician

This is more than a little frightening.

Elizabeth Reyes, 30, was terminated Sept. 6 after being quoted in The Washington Post three days earlier saying it was potential vote fraud to register in a place where you don't actually live. Ms. Reyes said that she was answering a hypothetical question, that she didn't know she talking with a reporter and that Mr. Rove's name never came up. The Post acknowledged that Mr. Rove's name was not mentioned but said the reporter did identify herself as working for the newspaper.

...

Secretary of State Roger Williams said that he decided to dismiss the lawyer after talking with Mr. Rove but that the White House adviser didn't request that he do so. "Absolutely not," said Mr. Williams, a longtime supporter of President Bush and a major GOP fundraiser. "Karl called me. He had read the article and wanted to know if it was our stance" that his voter registration status in Texas might be in jeopardy, he said. "I told him it wasn't and that the person who gave that opinion was not authorized to do so."

Not frightening because it's boogy-man Rove, frightening because a) it gives the strong appearance of being done at Rove's request and b) he's not an official elected to do anything. Just a guy who advises the President. There was a time in this country where people got all het-up around even the appearance of impropriety.

I remember the "scandal" at the beginning of the Clinton administration when elected officials fired some career bureaucrats from the WH Travel Office. This lead to Congressional Investigations even though everyone was perfectly within their charter and, it lead to nothing. Again the 'liberal' press had a field day throwing mud at the President and nothing was accomplished.

I somehow doubt that's going to happen here.