coldcash.jpgChuck Todd on MSNBC just said that Rove's role outside the WH will be as the guardian of Bush's legacy -- a role that he has played up to now with relish, as we all know.  And that Rove will be more valuable outside the Beltway bubble, both to the WH and the GOP as an independent dirty tricks operator, and also as an outside the beltway informational source for those who are still on cocktail weenie circuit.

As reader Carl from L.A. astutely points out:

I saw a comment several months ago- I wish I could remember where- that predicted that Rove would resign within the next few months, for a simple reason: If Rove was going to make his pile through influence peddling, he needed to do it before Bush was gone and there was no influence to peddle.

Makes sense to me.

Greed is a powerful motivation, especially with this crowd. I'd say it certainly can't be counted out as a big factor, especially given the rushed timing. We'll keep an eye on where Rove's feet seem to land but, as always with this Beltway kabuki, the initial landing isn't likely the whole story -- not by a long shot.

Rick Perlstein comes up with some similar thoughts, in comparisons between Rove and Bush and the machinations of the Nixon White House.  Makes for some very intriguing reading this morning, that's for sure.  Much more to come, of that I am certain.