Ah, the Memories... Legacy-Making at the End of the Bush Years

News Notes:

—It’s make-a-legacy time at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. One of today’s stories is the question of the Architect’s lasting influence. Will his aura of devious alchemy last, or will incompetence rule after Karl leaves? Peter Wallsten’s LA Times piece today takes on White House devaluation spin about Rove’s role, now that he’s going back to Texas. Will his departure make the Bush Administration a harder target to hit, or a less imposing, weaker foe for Congressional Democrats?

—Meanwhile, over at Justice, Alberto Gonzales is fast-tracking executions as a way of giving us all something else to remember about the Bush years. Just as they did In Texas, the Bushies want to crank up the death penalty to push the US ahead in prisoners it kills. Andrew Gumbel of the Independent writes about the regulatory changes which the Administration hopes will move it ahead of its only rivals in executions: Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, and China. Something for us to remember you by, Alberto.