When we think of Karl Rove and his cadre of cronies today we forget the Karl Rove who started as the drippy nosed kid on the play ground, scared of the bullies but determined to win. Now, when it looks as if George W. might be going down it is doubly important not to make the mistake of underestimating what they are willing to do to hold on to power. Think about it. Losing will not be just leaving office; it will be prison time.

Someone like Rove, who thinks in terms of seven layers of contingency, and who has had years to plan his game will now be introducing those plans, seeing how they float, and then abandoning those that aren't working to focus on those that are. He will pull out every trick he has ever learned, relying heavily on the network of political operatives who he can trust because he owns them. J. Edgar Hoover's files of nasty facts look like trivia compared to what Rove has assembled over the years.

Get ready to really find out who these people are. Consider every facet of government and the corporate world aligned with them and consider how their policies, programs, and power could be converted to other purposes. Team Turd Blossom will apply the NeoCon Lesson Plan in ways that would not occur to any decent American. And they learned it from experts.

Who and what the NeoCons are is a continuation of grade school on steroids. They did not grow up, they simply lost their hair and plumped out. So it is time to consider again in more detail the lessons Rove learned and is following.

Rove was an eager learner, observing the schemes and ploys of those he got to know who were successful. Rove was first hired on, still sprouting a full fledged case of teen aged acne, by George Bush. Senior because of his promise as a political trickster. Rove had successfully stolen a Young Republican election. Bush Prime recognized his potential.

Rove therefore had a front seat in studying successful aftermath of the clever machinations of Bush Prime. That was the early 70s and Bush was then basking in the successful take over of the Environmental Movement, a move he, Maurice Strong and OR Anderson had planned to stave off the ominous threat of solar power, ensuring that the bottom line of petroleum profits stayed burnished. That move happened in 1970.

You can just see Rove, his eyes alight with excitement, making note of how to hijack a movement by quickly building an alternative in its place to deflect credit, interest and income. Adding this sneak attack to his growing book of dirty tricks must have sent shivers of delight down his spine.

America fell for it. They probably conned you, too.

If you celebrate Earth Day in April you were conned by the people who taught Rove his trade. The real Earth Day takes place at the United Nations on the Spring Equinox with the ringing of the Peace Bell; the commercialized Gas the Earth Day takes place a month later.

It was a cheap operation from their perspective. And they gained a political operative who has continued to be useful to them, Dennis Hayes.

Dennis Hayes was himself a pimply kid when he was recruited to become the head of the Gas the Earth Movement. That career choice has made him a millionaire and enormously improved his dating life. The people Hayes displaced included long time environmental activists and Margaret Mead.

This sleight of hand, combined with the buying up of as many patents for solar energy as possible by petroleum companies sent Rove into orgasmic spasms. He took notes feverishly.

The original Environmental Movement, focused on educating people to the alternatives they could use to lower their own costs, fizzled out like a wet fire cracker. Most of the Left accepted Hayes as one of them and sent checks. You can't give the Left any credit for discernment; They had been raped and did not even notice.

Rove finished his note taking and went on to apply them elsewhere. Not being any too creative himself Rove always endlessly recycles the tricks he has learned.

That is what happened. You heard it here. Stay tuned for Rove's use of character assassination, Slandering for Fund and Profit: 102.

When you have been had its time to get mad.

Melinda Pillsbury-Foster is the author of GREED: The NeoConning of America and A Tour of Old Yosemite. The former is a novel about the lives of the NeoCons with a strong autobiographical component. The latter is a non-fiction book about her father and grandfather.

Ms. Pillsbury-Foster has been active in politics since the Goldwater Campaign. She left the Republican Party to join and become active in the Libertarian Party in 1973, working as an activist and party officer until she left the Libertarian Party in 1988. She received 5% of the vote in a four way race in 1982 for California's 20th State Senate Race while also serving as Southern Vice-Chairman for the California Libertarian Party. She was elected to six terms as a state officer, eventually serving on National Committee.

In 1988 she rejoined the Republican Party and became a member and country officer for the National Federation of Republican Women and also served as a Regent for several years.

She is also the the founder of the Arthur C. Pillsbury Foundation.