Is Genius Self-Limiting?

Genius and effectiveness do not seem to go hand in hand.

A recent study discovered that there is absolutely no correlation between genius and wealth.

Perhaps genius conceives worlds so complex that practical implementation is not worth the expense.

Perhaps genius conceives projects to fit into a world of its own conniving, and failing ever to have taken a hammer to a nail, misses the point.

The farther from the ground, the better the vision. But the harder the fall.

So it appears with Karl Rove, the retired former chief advisor to Mr. Bush, who still occupies the Office of the President. He has written a book. But he almost couldn't sell it to a publisher. Got half of what he wanted.

He visited publisher after publisher with "One of the premier authors' representatives in the world", Washington lawyer Robert Barnett at his side, only to discover that interest was slack.

Two weeks ago, Mr. Rove told the world the amazing news that the run-up to the Iraq war was Congress' fault, not the fault of the White House. Never mind that in the year before the war, the U.S. Air Force took every opportunity to soften the Iraqi air defenses.

Assuming a handle on the valve of history, Mr. Rove has set himself apart from usual realities and appears to have put his work under suspicion as well.

Having warned us in advance that he rewrites history, who will now read his?

He lives in a world of his own conceiving. Such power.

But then, don't we all?