The crux of the recent U.S. Attorneygate, when eight Federal prosecutors were fired, is that there has been no actual illegal activity. Rove’s name is attached to the scandal because of emails sent between his office and the offices of Harriet Miers and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The plot to fire seven prosecutors at once has all the markings of a great political strategist. And such a strategist could be none other than Karl Rove.

Congress may in fact subpoena Rove’s testimony about the firings. But what they can do with any information Rove gives them is limited, unless Rove is under oath when he talks.

The White House says that if Rove talks, it will only be private testimony, none of which will be sworn. Unless the Senate can actually catch Rove lying, they have no constitutional recourse of retribution.

The fact is, few people have the guts to do what Rove does, and that is partially what makes him the best and safeguards him from being ousted.

His name came to the forefront of media attention in 2004 after Valerie Plame’s identity was leaked by the White House. Rove is accused of leaking Plame’s name in revenge after Plame’s husband, Joseph Wilson, criticized President Bush in 2003.

While it is clear that Rove, Vice-President Cheney, “Scooter” Libby and others were involved in the leak, the extent of Rove’s involvement has yet to be disclosed.

One might think that an employer in an otherwise normal work situation would challenge the future of Rove’s employment, but politics is not a normal work environment. Moreover, Karl Rove is no ordinary employee. Part of Rove’s job description is literally to create political scandals that shame and blame the Democrats.

But Rove is a pioneer of playing dirty politics the legal way, specifically by using legislative loopholes to his advantage. Rove has been nicknamed “Bush’s brain” by the media and “Boy Genius” by President Bush.

In fact, Rove has a long history of spinning dirty tricks for the Republican Party, strengthening their campaigns and helping them recover lost political territory. While his highly-strategic maneuvers are often shady and underhanded, bordering political sabotage, his ideas work.

Rove performed one of his earliest sabotage attempts at the age of 19 when he stole campaign letterhead belonging to Democrat Alan Dixon, who was campaigning at the time for State Treasurer of Illinois. Rove printed false information on the letterhead promising free beer, food and girls at one of Dixon’s political rallies. Rove circulated the fliers at homeless shelters and rock concerts, embarrassing Dixon.

Rove’s style mirrors that of Donald Segretti, who was unmasked during Watergate and later convicted in 1974 for distributing illegal campaign literature.

Rove’s 1970 performance for the Republican Party landed him top political positions including national chairman of the College Republican National Committee when he was just 23 years old. Since then he led countless successful campaigns against Democrats and has a laundry list of clientele that has consulted his strategic prowess. Now Rove is Bush’s number one man, acting as chief political advisor.

Because you can’t punish or impeach legal politics, it looks like Rove will never be fired.