It's a good piece, you've written. I find one major flaw in it: That you presuppose Karl Rove did this thing. It does not fit AT ALL with Karl Rove's character. Whatsoever. Karl Rove NEVER lays down with "fleas". Period. He doesn't do the talk show "circuit"; if ever at all. He hardly does talk radio. He generally stays out of the public eye and does what he's paid to do. Karl Rove would NOT, IMHO, have dealings with reporters he knows to clearly be "in bed" with the anti-America information propogandists msm megaphones.
They are reporters. They pay HIM court. It doesn't work the other way around. He'd have no substantive dealings with them.
On worst case scenario in re your supposition -- Karl Rove could have a zillion players fit the "leak" role. But still, he wouldn't do this. This is a very politically astute man.