Posted on 07/14/2005 5:29:59 PM PDT by blogblogginaway
NY TIMES CLAIMS EXCLUSIVE NEW DETAILS OF EVENTS SURROUNDING CIA LEAK, SOURCES TELL DRUDGE... DEVELOPING LATE OUT OF WASHINGTON... MORE...
So Novak heard it from Unknown Source #1, Novak calls Rove and mentions WIlson's wife involved in sending Wilson on Niger trip, Rove says "Oh, you know about that", 3 days later Cooper calls Rove and brings up similar story, Rove says Wilson's lied about Cheney sending him and it was Wilson's wife. Novak (probably) and Rove basically say the same thing to the Grand Jury.
All Rove is guilty of is talking to reporters.
Now the open question is who was Novak Source #1. Obviously, Fitzgerald knows the source since it sounds like Novak told him. Now I am hoping the investigation is focusing on Wilson and his claims.
Let me see....Novak calls Rove.
Novak already has story.
Novak writes story.
And its Rove who leaked?!
Somebody needs to send a dictionary to the Times.
All Bush has to do is wait until some reporter asks him about this in a very public, live venue and say "You want me to fire a man who didn't break the law just because he confirmed something that everybody knew?" Put that simply, the American people will turn on the democrats so fast it'll make everyone's head spin. Persecuting someone for something they didn't do (firing them) will resonate with every single person who holds a job.
Yes, you could tell the Times is disappointed to tell this story since it almost fully exonerates Rove. The Times, however, is sitting on the real scoop of this whole case-Judy Miller.
NOPE.
You have to hand it to those reporters, however, for taking a story that says Rove didn't do anything illegal or even mentioned or knew Plame's name, and turning it into more problems for the administration - it raises questions, causes concerns, provides difficulties for Scott McClellan, etc.
That takes talented writing skills - faulty logic, short memories, a warped sense of what is right, sure - but an ability to spin like few can.
When was the Times added?
Which means he's guilty of having poor taste in telephone companions.
Yes. And it sounds like he needs to end this practice.
Except the fact that "Ms. Wilson" wasn't a "covert operative".
Mr. Bush was asked at a news conference whether "you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found" to have leaked the agent's name.
Except the fact that President Bush never said that he would fire anyone. He said that he would take care of it.
In addition to focusing new attention on Mr. Rove and whether he can survive the political fallout, the revelation is sure to create new partisan pressure on Mr. Bush.
By so-called "reporters" at the NYTimes.
Most recently, Mr. Rove has been at the center of the White House's deliberations over the choice of a nominee to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at the Supreme Court.
WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS CRAP IS ALL ABOUT!!!
Novak called Rove to talk about the situation, and he and Rove conversed about it, with Novak picking up bits and pieces.
Cooper called Rove, and after asking about his original points, brought up this subject.
Rove then used that info to pass on to Cooper (who stabbed him in the back with it by trying to spin it like Rove did something wrong, but no matter).
All of this about an agent who was not undercover.
Rove is free and clear.
Now--what about Miller?
As far as Rove is concerned, this story will be gone by next Tuesday.
I wonder about the difference between "Oh you know about that" which tends to confirm as opposed to "You heard that too?" which seems like it is the wink wink nudge nudge Washington insider way of confirming without confirming.
I hope that the end result of this is that all of the snot nosed Washington press corps types get SHUT OUT OF EVERYTHING and have to work for a living instead...
LOL! So he promoted it for hours and posted it before he even read it.
He didn't even confirm it. Rove heard it from another journalist. His response that he heard it too is just like saying, oh yeah, I heard that rumor also. That's not any kind of confirmation of anything, except that a rumor is going around.
And one more time, the Rove Runner stops just short of the edge of the cliff and Wiley Coyote charges off the edge of the cliff. Case closed. I'm going to bed.
Article comes complete with Rat talking points:
Point 1
The conversation between Mr. Novak and Mr. Rove seemed almost certain to intensify the question about whether one of Mr. Bush's closest political advisers played a role in what appeared to be an effort to undermine Mr. Wilson's credibility
Point 2
the White House press secretary, has refused in recent days to discuss any specifics of the case.
Point 3
The revelation of Mr. Rove's conversation with Mr. Novak raises a question the White House has never addressed: whether Mr. Rove ever described that conversation, or his conversation with Mr. Cooper, with the president.
Point 4
In June 2004, at Sea Island, Ga., soon after Vice President Dick Cheney met with investigators in the case, Mr. Bush was asked at a news conference whether "you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found" to have leaked the agent's name.
"Yes," Mr. Bush said. "And that's up to the U.S. attorney to find the facts."
Point 5
White House officials may argue that Mr. Rove's conversation with Mr. Novak did not amount to leaking the name of the agent. But to critics of Mr. Bush - including the Democrats who have called for Mr. Rove's resignation - that is splitting hairs, and Mr. Rove in effect confirmed her identity, even if he did not name her.
Point 6
it seems certain to add substantially to the political maelstrom that has engulfed the White House this week after the disclosure that Mr. Rove had discussed the matter with Mr. Cooper of Time magazine.
Point 7
Democrats have been pressing the president either to live up to his pledges to rid his administration of anyone found to have leaked the name of a covert operative, or to explain why he does not believe Mr. Rove's actions subject him to dismissal.
Point 8
The new revelation also leaves Mr. McClellan, the White House spokesman, in an increasingly awkward situation. Two years ago repeatedly assured reporters that neither Mr. Rove nor several other administration officials were responsible for the leak.
Point 9
The case has also threatened to become a distraction to the White House and Republicans as Mr. Bush struggles to keep his second-term agenda on track and as he prepares for one of the most pivotal battles of his presidency, over the nomination of a Supreme Court justice.
Point 10
Most recently, Mr. Rove has been at the center of the White House's deliberations over the choice of a nominee to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at the Supreme Court.
Don't know...but it's there now.
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