Karl Rove’s stature and influence within “movement conservatism” appears to be deflating like a punctured balloon. I say “appears to be” because he no doubt still is respected in the upper echelons of the GOP. But among the tea partiers, he is cow pie non grata.

After Tuesday’s primaries, Rove got on Faux News and slammed nominee Christine O’Donnell with the firm conviction of a man certain of his own importance. Twenty-four hours later, he was taking it back and claiming he was one of the first people to endorse O’Donnell.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. There was a time Karl could blastfax the movers and shakers of the Right that the sky was orange, and by the end of the day every right-wing media outlet and blogger would be marching behind the “sky is orange” meme. Now even Rush Limbaugh thinks Rove is too “establishment” and has betrayed conservatism.

Rove must have been chagrined when Moosewoman went after him this week. After all, he was the primary architect of the bleeped-up political culture that made her national career possible. How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child!

BTW, did anyone else catch the video on Real time with Bill Maher in which O’Donnell admitted to practicing witchcraft?