“The balance of power is tipping,” said Assistant Professor of Sociology, Martha Lang.

Two of Americas leading political powers, Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzalez, recently resigned leaving the president in a weakened state. These recent resignations marked an immense leap forward for Democrats.

Gonzalez had spent 13 years in office as President Bush’s attorney general, and was often said to be one of the president’s closest advisors. Karl Rove worked hand in hand with Gonzales as the White House’s chief deputy of staff and one of George W. Bush’s chief strategists.

The fact that the inner circle of leading power in America is jumping ship just as a presidential term is coming to a close makes some American citizens wonder what this could mean for their future. As the elections of 2008 creep closer, it seems as if the core circle of leading politicians is slowly beginning to crumble beneath its own power

“The analogy of Iraq leading a sinking ship comes to mind,” said Robert Duncan, assistant professor of political science.Rove and Gonzalez were leading supporters of the Iraq war and have now left President Bush and other members of office to continue alone. According to BBC News, Karl Rove said that he left for the sake of his family, yet also revealed that he has been consistently under investigations dealing with the leaking of a CIA agent’s identity, and various “underhanded political tactics” throughout the years.

Rove said of President Bush to Fox News, “I have seen a man of far-sighted courage put America on a war footing to protect us against a brutal enemy in a dangerous conflict that will shape this new century.”

The echoes of this controversy have forced people to think about the possibilities that lay within the upcoming election. Most Americans are hoping for leaders that will stay in office and follow through with their actions, no matter what political party they belong to. For many students at Guilford this will be the first presidential election they are able to vote in, and for many it will be a difficult decision.

“I think it’s an obligation of every citizen who can vote to do their research, to find a candidate that reflects their beliefs regardless of political party and support them, not just on election day,” said Duncan. “You get what you work for.”

To learn about each presidential candidate, students can Google “project vote smart.