[Diver Dave]

How about this for a scenario...

Wilson's op-ed was published critical of the Bush Administration.

Novak does some fact checking and discovers that Wilson is a well connected Dem, possibly a big bucks contributor. Some crosschecking reveals that another person at the same household is also a contributor but bears a different name. So he snoops or hires a snoop to find this mysterious woman named Valerie. The snooping involves a tail following her to her workplace in Langley. Hmmmm. Arrives at 8, leaves at 5 everyday, must be an employee.

More snooping reveals that this Valerie chick is married to Wilson. Hmmmmm again.

Works for me.

[Howlin]

From what I have read on here -- though I've never seen it -- Wilson had her listed on HIS web site and in that Who's Who book!

[RobFromGa]

Or he just looks at the Wilson bio on the Middle East

For those interested, a copy of the Wilson bio formerly on the Middle East Institute website is archived here: Wilson bio outing Valerie Plame as his wife's name

And her campaign contributions outed her CIA front group- Brewster-Jennings...

Wilson, Joseph C. Mr. IV
4/22/1999 -$1,000.00
Washington, DC 20007
J. C. Wilson Intl. Ventures/Strateg -[Contribution]
GORE 2000 INC

Wilson, Valerie E. Ms.
4/22/1999 $1,000.00
Washington, DC 20007
Brewster-Jennings & Assoc. -[Contribution]
GORE 2000 INC

These two records show that GORE 2000 INC refunded $1,000.00 of the $2,000 he contributed on 3/26/99; the limit at the time was $1,000. On the same darn date of the refund, Wilson's wife was credited with a $1K contribution. Perfectly legal as far as campaign finance law goes, but note the employer listed for his wife. As we all should now know, Brewster-Jennings & Assoc was a CIA front company (see below). According to D&B, it was established in Boston, MA in May 1994.

According to NYT Nicholas Kristoff, himself suckered by Ambassador Wilson, in a 10/11/03 column:
First, the C.I.A. suspected that Aldrich Ames had given Mrs. Wilson's name (along with those of other spies) to the Russians before his espionage arrest in 1994. So her undercover security was undermined at that time, and she was brought back to Washington for safety reasons.

Ames was arrested in February, 1994. B-J,A was established in May of the same year? Does it seems likely that B-J,A was set up as cover for Ms. Plame and others in her situation? So did the good ambassador spill some of the beans in order to keep the $1k with Gore? Did he know she was covert, when she was covert, and when did he know it?

BTW, I should add that it was the FEC record and Wilson’s bio at the Saudi-funded Middle East Institute that allowed enterprising journalists to connect “Ms. Valerie E. Wilson” with Valerie Plame and B-J,A, exposing the latter as a CIA front as easy as 1-2-3, A-B-C.

from http://www.justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2004/07/the_wsj_apprais.html

[normy]

Novak does some fact checking and discovers that Wilson is a well connected Dem, possibly a big bucks contributor. Some crosschecking reveals that another person at the same household is also a contributor but bears a different name. So he snoops or hires a snoop to find this mysterious woman named Valerie. The snooping involves a tail following her to her workplace in Langley. Hmmmm. Arrives at 8, leaves at 5 everyday, must be an employee

I don't think any MS reporter would do that much work to find the truth. If they did we would never even have this story to talk about.

[Raycpa]

political contributors are required to list employer.

[WOSG]

You mean ... Novak actually engaged in (gasp) Journalism?!!?
And not just talking point regurgitation to benefit the Democrats and hurt the Republicans?

Ah, the real scandal reveals itself!