All Intensive Purposes

Discussing Bush's radicalism, Billmon notes his willingness to place political expediency before ideological purity:

I see no reason to doubt the ultimate aim of Rovian politics is to dismantle the remaining framework of New Deal/Great Society liberalism. But most Rovians understand it's a long-term project. And if offering the seniors a third-rate drug benefit (and greasing Big Pharma in the process) helps the vanguard party tighten its grip on power here and now, so be it.

Rovian politics has an ultimate aim? I thought the ultimate aim was tightening the grip on power. Policy will always be subordinated to political ends. If Rovian politics has a long-term project, it's only because you need one to keep everyone working together.