Rove at work

Karl Rove's in the news again, using the power he got through Abramoff. This time it's for pressuring Mark Foley to run for office again by threatening him with loss of potential lobbying jobs.

Yesterday, a source close to Foley explained to THE NEW REPUBLIC that in early 2006 the congressman had all but decided to retire from the House and set up shop on K Street. "Mark's a friend of mine," says this source. "He told me, 'I'm thinking about getting out of it and becoming a lobbyist.'"

But when Foley's friend saw the Congressman again this spring, something had changed. To the source's surprise, Foley told him he would indeed be standing for re-election. What happened? Karl Rove intervened.

According to the source, Foley said he was being pressured by "the White House and Rove gang," who insisted that Foley run. If he didn't, Foley was told, it might impact his lobbying career.

So,do you think any of the investigations will ask Karl what he knew and when he knew it? Don't bet on it.