[schrocat]

later dude...

[Ninong]

Alas, poor Karl. We hardly knew ye.

Don't let the door...

[almostdiva]

He's "leaving to spend more time with his family". He doesn't even have one, does he???

Such a sad shame. ....

Rebecca

[Ninong]

I wish I knew how to quit you.


It was love at first sight. Bush was wearing an Air National Guard flight jacket, blue jeans and cowboy boots and exuded "more charisma than any human being should be allowed to have at that age." They were both in their 20's then. It was Karl's job to "hand him the keys to the family car when he came down from Harvard Business School for Thanksgiving." (P.S. -- Schrocat first posted this version here. Rove has been asked about this several times, so there are various versions online.)


George W. Bush in high school -- head cheerleader for the boys' football team. (No, that's NOT what the "A" stands for! Shame on you! It stands for Phillips Andover Academy, current tuition $37,200/year!)


Karl Rove in high school. (Public high school in Utah.)

"He had every social disadvantage imaginable. Physically immature, no athletic ability, wasn't good with the girls, nothing." -- This is the recollection of the high school's student body president.

Grooming his public image, he posed for a yearbook photo holding hands with the senior class president's girlfriend. "I found him endearing, but he was too flippin' geeky," she recalls. "The truth is, he grabbed my hand just before the photo was taken."

A non-Mormon in a mostly Mormon town, the bespectacled nerd carried a briefcase and wore three-piece suits everywhere, even to football games, classmates tell James Ross Gardner in November's GQ.



Dan Rather interviewing Karl Rove, Chairman of the College Republicans (1973-1977). Rove actually dropped out of college so that he could devote all of his time to running the College Young Republicans.

Ken Mehlman is another well known former head of the College Republicans. And the College Republicans were most recently headed by Glenn Murphy but his tenure was short-lived. Paul Gourley was the head of the College Republicans in 2006. Another former head of the College Republicans is Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) -- holding the lollipop in that photo. Another famous former head of the College Republicans is Jack Abramoff, but he's straight. He's also in prison right now. In fact, the Grand Old Party has more members behind bars right now than the Gambino Family.

[schrocat]

Whew!

I was sure this thread update was going to mention his deceased father's estate...specificly jewelry.

[Ninong]

Your link wasn't working, so I fixed it for you!

[schrocat]

...my bad!
links are hard sometimes...

Hey. Wait a sec...
Rove's secret security name wasn't "Albert" by chance?

[Ninong]

More than you ever wanted to know about Karl Rove's Family Jewels: Part II

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by Ninong

More than you ever wanted to know about Karl Rove's Family Jewels: Part II

You ain't kidding...

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by zhenya

You ain't kidding...

Well, you can't say it wasn't informative.

37

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Ninong

And the College Republicans were most recently headed by Glenn Murphy but his tenure was short-lived. Paul Gourley was the head of the College Republicans in 2006. Another former head of the College Republicans is Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) -- holding the lollipop in that photo. Another famous former head of the College Republicans is Jack Abramoff, but he's straight. He's also in prison right now. In fact, the Grand Old Party has more members behind bars right now than the Gambino Family.

Speaking of former chairmen of the College Republicans, check out Glenn Murphy's campaign poster. Glenn Murphy headed the College Republicans until a couple of weeks ago when his tenure came to an unhappy ending.



Team Murphy.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by Ninong

Well, you can't say it wasn't informative.

37

That had to hurt...

[Ninong]

Speaking of GOP closet cases...

What's going on with the double-murder suicide of Ralph Gonzales, his roommate David Abrami and friend Robert Drake? You can read all about it here and here.

Schrocat, as our expert on everything GOP in Florida, do you have any ideas?

Gonzales served as executive director of the Georgia Republican Party from 2001-2002 and he managed U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney's 2002 campaign. His roommate, David Abrami, is a former president of the Central Florida Young Republicans.

Is this a love triangle thing? Did Drake shoot Gonzales and Abrami?

[Ninong]

Update from the Orlando Sentinel on the double-murder suicide involving GOP consultant Ralph Gonzales.

[Ninong]

Update from the Orlando Sentinel:

The bodies of Ralph Gonzalez, 36; David Abrami, 36; and Robert Jason Drake, 30, were discovered Thursday, about two days after the men are thought to have died. Authorities determined they perished in a double-murder and suicide but would not say which man was the killer.

Gonzalez and Abrami were longtime friends and conservative Republican allies who lived at the house on Hickory Oak Boulevard. Drake was a St. Cloud High School graduate and former Marine who was once featured in newspapers across the country during his service in Kosovo.

[Ninong]

Amsterdam??? Hmmm....

Photos of Gonzales and Abrami on one of their vacations together abroad. (From Abrami's blog.)

[Ninong]

From WFTV:

Drake's grieving aunt, who asked not to be identified, told Eyewitness News he lived with her and his uncle for six months in an east Orlando neighborhood. He did tile work for his uncle after spending four years in the Marine Corps. But, six weeks ago, Jason told them he was having problems with a friend and was going to kill them.

This sounds like a love triangle to me. (P.S. -- Looks like it was not exactly a love triangle because it now appears that David Abrami was not gay. Both Ralph Gonzales and Jason Drake apparently were gay but it's more complicated than that.)

[Ninong]

Closeted gay guys + lots of guns + killing as a solution = Republicans!

Did you know that the Florida House has a sort of open chat forum? Well, they do, and they all wanted to know what was going on with the Ralph Gonzales thing. This is from the Republican forum:

August 24, 2007 in Florida House, Republicans |
Comments

Does anyone have anymore info on who was murdered and who committed suicide?

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 08:54 AM

Shut up you idiot!

That doesnt matter, all that matters is that a tragedy has happened to one of us.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 08:57 AM

According to the Orlando Sentinel, in an article also linked by Jason, there were three dead. "They are Gonzalez's roommate David Abrami and friend Robert Drake." It doesn't say who was murdered and who committed suicide.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 09:04 AM

God Bless you Ralph. We will miss you.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 09:07 AM

8:57 it does matter to me, I knew Ralph since 98 and worked with him at the GOP in House campaigns. So stop calling people idiots for wanting to know what happened to a friend.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 09:33 AM

Rest in Peace, Ralph. I will miss you, my friend.

Posted by: Jamie Miller | August 24, 2007 at 09:39 AM

8:57 is a total idiot.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 09:40 AM

I am still stunned- gosh I will miss him-

Go Gators Ralph- Rest in Peace

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 09:51 AM

Ralph, we will miss you! I will forever cherish all the wonderful memories from our RPOF days. You were one of a kind.

Posted by: Eli | August 24, 2007 at 09:53 AM

What a tragedy but details would help.

By the way, Ralph won't be reading this but his family will.

Posted by: * | August 24, 2007 at 09:59 AM

Ralph was a great guy and a real professional. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He is with the Lord and that is solace to those of us who cared for him.

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." [2 Corinthians 5:8]

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 10:12 AM

WESH TV quoted Ralph's mother as saying the visitor killed Ralph, then his roommate and then himself. It's an apparent love triangle.

Ralph was a very good Republican operative. He'll be missed. May God rest his soul.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 10:29 AM

My prayers are with Ralph's family and friends.

Posted by: Peter | August 24, 2007 at 10:46 AM

I am shocked - I worked with Ralph at the RPOF for 3 years. My heart goes out to his loving family. May God be with them and all of his friends during this time.

Posted by: Stephanie | August 24, 2007 at 10:53 AM

I've known Ralph for about 8 years. He was always a 'stand-up' guy. Even if you were on the other side of a campaign or issue, he treated you the same. Incredibly sad day and I also wish his family peace in this tragic time, as others above have done.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 11:16 AM

"O Lord, grant those who have died the joy of Your Presence, and us who are living the happiness of knowing this."

It is a sad day. My thoughts and prayers are with Ralph's family and friends.

Posted by: Jim Johnson | August 24, 2007 at 11:20 AM

so sorry for the family
but it does sound like a "love gone wrong"
heh - another republican homosexual - maybe the party should be thinking more openly.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 12:40 PM

He was a good guy but an overrated consultant.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 12:52 PM

Guns, gays and republicans. Three things the media loves to talk about. This is going to get bad.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 12:54 PM

3 more good republicans

Posted by: Kudzu | August 24, 2007 at 01:14 PM

last couple of posts, REAL CLASSY.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 01:19 PM

12:40

If you are truly sorry for the family, why on earth would you follow that statement with such unfeeling babble?

12:54

I hope you never loose a faminly member under such tragic circumstances. Someone might be just as unfeeling and hateful as you have been on this blog.

Both of you could use some compassion and maturity.

I hope they close the postings on this thread.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 01:21 PM

Some people are sick. This is a tragedy - no matter what political affiliation, race, creed, gender, etc. Ralph was a well respected professional, an honest individual and a charismatic person. He will be missed by many.

For more information, read the Orlando Sentinel article.

Posted by: + | August 24, 2007 at 01:23 PM

It is a tragic day when anyone this young dies, much more so with three people. I could care less about the intimate details of the departeds' lives. It's still a tragedy.

However, I do agree with 12:54's assesment that his story will get worse and more coverage for all the wrong reasons.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 01:35 PM

Ralph was a dear friend and a beautiful person. We will all miss him and his larger than life personality.

My prayers and tears for his family. What a true tragedy.
We all love you Ralph.

Posted by: Kim S | August 24, 2007 at 01:55 PM

Ralph was a good friend and a true professional. I learned a great deal from him throughout the years. I'll miss you greatly, my friend.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 02:12 PM

I got to work with Ralph on a campaign and he was always professional, helpful, and one of the most enjoyable people in the business. He will be dearly missed.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 02:13 PM

I think its a tragedy that this story will get so much play because of homosexuality or political preference. So Ralph was a gay Republican. Big deal. The horrible part is that three young people who contributed to society are lost to us all.

Posted by: | August 24, 2007 at 03:11 PM

Ralph was a fine young man, a gentleman, and an honorable competitor for all of us in the business. I knew him as a Senate employee, a fellow consultant on the same side of a race, and on opposite sides. He was a good person whose family should be proud of his many accomplishments.

Posted by: Jack Latvala | August 24, 2007 at 10:07 PM

This is a real horrible thing to happen. Ralph was a great guy and helped many.

Posted by: | August 25, 2007 at 02:15 PM

Will miss you in North Carolina! So sad?

Posted by: Queen Patty in Republican Paradise | August 25, 2007 at 05:37 PM

[Ninong]

Killer Identified in Murder-Suicide

Monday, August 27, 2007 6:27:30 PM


Deputies know who pulled the trigger inside an Orange County home last week, killing two people before taking his own life.

They said forensic evidence proves Jason Drake killed GOP consultant Ralph Gonzalez and his roommate David Abrami, and then turned the gun on himself.

All three men died last Tuesday inside a home in Union Park, but their remains weren't found until Thursday.

Drake is a former Marine.

Investigators said they don't know yet why he committed the killings.

Gonzalez was buried on Monday in Miami.

P.S. -- I don't know if they're ever going to publish what they already know from talking to Gonzales' mother and his close friends. It now appears that David Abrami was not gay. Both Ralph Gonzales and Jason Drake were gay but the relationship is more complicated than originally believed. This investigation could take a very long time.

[Ninong]

Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove's car, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2007, after someone wrapped the car in plastic wrap and put eagles and stickers, including one with I love Obama on it. The car was parked on White House grounds.

P.S. -- Friday is T-Blossom's last day on the job. The circle will now have one less jerk.

P.P.S. -- I found a better picture online. That's a stuffed elephant on the front of the hood on top of the leaping pussy cat.