[Carling]

President Bush needs to get out on this immediately and explain the difference between declassifying documents and having subordinates leak still-classified docs. This is a pre-emptive strike by the MSM to diminish the public's reaction to real leaks that actually harm national security. The worst part of this? Fitzgerald CLEARLY wrote this Libby admission in such a way for this to be the desired result. He must be taken out of his position immediately.

[Carling]

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/ftp/Saturday-A1.pdf

Here is the front page image I woke up to today.

[ez]

A leak is an unauthorized release of information. If the Pres authorized it, IT AIN'T A LEAK.

[MNJohnnie]

Why? Every single talking head, radio talk show host and columnist on the Conservative side is finally remembering which side they are suppose to be on and making this point over and over. Ah but that right, it not about the facts, it about finding the next thing to squeal at Bush about.

[Bernard]

President Bush needs to get out on this issue, and every other issue as well, as often as he can. Otherwise, he lets the media and Democrats define his image. The President only seems to worry about his image toward the end of election campaigns. He needs to treat every day the same way.

And he needs to veto spending bills.

And he needs to control the border.

And ...

[HarleyLady27]

Just ANOTHER slap at President Bush, we were having 1 a week, then it went to 3 a week, then 1 a day and now 3 or more a day....

Just the DemoRATS crying wolf...like Rush always says: "Everytime the Democrats do or say anything, it always comes back to bite them in the rear"

They just can't be content not being in charge, but if the pubbies don't get off dead center, they WILL be in charge....

I have just written my 2 senators, specter and santorum and frist, to let them know how upset I am over them taking another 16 day vacation....no immigration bill, no tax bill, no nothing....just alot of hot air....maybe WE should take over while they are out of Washington and do the work ourselves.....

[new yorker 77]

MORE FAKE NEWS FROM A LYING MEDIA - NO NEED FOR THE PRESIDENT TO RESPOND TO THESE LIARS - ANOTHER FAKE POLL WILL FOLLOW THE FAKE NEWS

[drypowder]

Bush is getting bad advice, he should have admitted his culpability / responsibility in this at the on set. How much has this cost us tax payers so far?

[hgro]

Fitzgerald is an opportunist clear and simple. If this so-called CIA agent was compromised, lets have an indictment. Trapping someone by clever interrogation by the FBI is a joke.

[ExcursionGuy84]

He must be taken out of his position immediately

Yeah, 'cause Patrick Fitzgerald is basically a modern-day, American GUY FAWKES doing everyhting possible to stretch the law & his authority to destroy our current administration.

[pabianice]

More lies from . The old floozy needs some new tricks.

[backhoe]

This story is just another MSM hamster wheel--

http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/006694.php

Still Crying Over The Lost Fitzmas

I understand how disappointing it was to the BDS sufferers that Fitzmas turned into Fizzlemas, but this report is just another non-story in a controversy full of them.

The New York Sun reported today that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has testified that he released information from a National Intelligence Estimate in 2003 to a reporter prior to its publication. Predictably, the media and the blogosphere has overreacted, proving once again that most people do not understand classified materials, unclassified materials, and the process used to classify documents...Austin Bay: "So what’s the story here? That someone who worked in the White House selectively passed properly declassified material to the press? That’s not a scandal; that’s Beltway business as usual...Power Line: "This is the same "scandal" the press tried to sell a few months ago. I wrote about it here...David Ensor at CNN:If the president decides to declassify information, he has that legal right. So, it's not about a law being broken here, and it's not about Valerie Plame-Wilson's name.

UPDATE: Once again, the President has the authority to declassify materials at his discretion, a point hammered home by the Washington Post as well:   Comments (43) 

'The media has one mode: "Get Bush."'

"Anyone who has ever worked in intelligence for the US government knows perfectly well that a President, any President, can declassify anything they wish for any reason. Any President can delegate declassification authority down to any level they wish, down to the most newly minted second lieutenant, if they wish, as well."

http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/

"Demagoguery, not journalism"

Why do we need bloggers to fill in the relevant legal details on news stories...The sudden press flap over Scooter Libby’s alleged “revelation” that President Bush declassified intelligence information related to Iraq is silly but all too predictable...Read the original to access the background links mentioned...(Via Instapundit)...Byron York concurs...More for the reading-comprehension-challenged in the peanut gallery - CNN's David Ensor;  Comments (5) |

The Return of the Son of Plamegate

As usual when one of these stories comes out, my esteemed colleagues on the loony left email me gloating about how Bush is going DOWN this time, man! Usually a few obscenities thrown in for emotional impact.

Wish I had a dollar for every pumped-up soon-debunked half-baked pseudo-scandal they’ve gloated over.

Because here we go again: Bush Authorized Leaks About Iraq, Libby Testified.  link: 81 comments

[CyberAnt]

Here's the truth:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1611378/posts

[Raycpa]

We are being allowed to lose context in this issue. The proper context is that ALL information gathered by government should be available to the public. Only in extraoridinary circumstances should information be classified.

Declassifying documents should occur as quickly as possible.

[lowbridge]

bump

[MNJohnnie]

Right, The fact that it is NOT a leak when the President releases information to head off a smear job PR campaign by treasonous CIA bureaucrats set on subverting HIS policy just flys right past this ignorant little DNC directed bubble world doesn't it?

Joe Wilson was running around LYING that the VP office sent him to Niger. We STILL do not know who at CIA sent this butt clown there to subvert the policy of the ELECTED Representatives of the people. The President declassified the information so the press could KNOW the FACT rather then Wilson's lies. The Press continually scream "the people's right to know".

Well Bush, using his POWER as President allowed the people to know, what in his judgment could safely be released. All the squealing by the ignorant and bigoted DNC mouthpieces to the contrary, THOSE are the facts. The President acted as President. Deal with it.

[Reactionary]

Ooo. Another media induced lather.

What will we do?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[That President Bush authorized an aide to disclose classified intelligence on Iraqi weapons...]
The first sentence (and premise) of the article is a bold faced lie. The President, who has the authority, declassified the information and Libbey was authorized to disclose (not "leak") same to the MSM.

You are right, this is a preemptive strike in an attempt to immunize themselves (Washington ComPost, NY Slimes) from harm owing to the ongoing investigation into their ACTUAL, TAITOROUS, AND DAMAGING DISCLOSURE OF ACTUALLY LEAKED INFORMATION.

[weegee]

That President Bush desclassified authorized an aide to disclose classified intelligence on Iraqi weapons...

More sour grapes from the "selected not elected" liars.

[Milligan]

"President Bush needs to get out on this immediately and explain the difference between declassifying documents and having subordinates leak still-classified docs."

The public will figure it out with the help of freepers.