Quotable: Reaction to Karl Rove resigning

Reaction to Karl Rove's announcement Monday that he is resigning as President Bush's top political strategist:

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"Karl Rove was an architect of a political strategy that has left the country more divided, the special interests more powerful and the American people more shut out from their government than any time in memory." — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

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"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." — President Bush.

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"Karl Rove's resignation signals the final chapter in the Bush administration's betrayal of the identity of a covert CIA officer. ... Rove, identified by the prosecutors as one of the leakers, not only was not summarily dismissed but has been allowed to leave on his own terms, to praise from the president." — Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, whose wife, Valerie Plame, was the CIA officer whose name was disclosed.

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"Karl Rove has made an enormous contribution to our country and our party." — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

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"He is brilliant, he is funny and he is a passionate advocate for the president and his policies, and I know that he will continue to play that role outside of the administration. ... He was always upbeat. I don't recall ever seeing him down." — Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes.

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"Goodbye, good riddance." — Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

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"He will be remembered most for engineering two successful presidential campaigns, but those of us who have worked closely with Karl know that his dedication to politics was not for its own sake: Karl was and is, at heart, a policy person, someone who has strong beliefs and a deep commitment to making our nation better." — Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan.

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"Now is the time for the country to put the politics of division behind it." — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.