Where's the Newt? [Name the Rove "scandal"]

The New York Times ^ | July 16, 2005 | John Tierney

[timpad]

We are in the midst of a remarkable Washington scandal, and we still don't have a name for it. Leakgate, Rovegate, Wilsongate - none of the suggestions have stuck because none capture what's so special about the current frenzy to lock up reporters and public officials.

The closest parallel is the moment in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" when members of a mob eager to burn a witch are asked by the wise Sir Bedevere how they know she's a witch.

"Well, she turned me into a newt," the villager played by John Cleese says.

"A newt?" Sir Bedevere asks, looking puzzled.

"I got better," he explains.

"Burn her anyway!" another villager shouts.

That's what has happened since this scandal began so promisingly two summers ago. At first it looked like an outrageous crime harming innocent victims: a brave whistle-blower was smeared by a vicious White House politico who committed a felony by exposing the whistle-blower's wife as an undercover officer, endangering her and her contacts in the field.

But if you consider the facts today, you may feel like Sir Bedevere. Where's the newt? What did the witch actually do?

[timpad]

Submit your scandalous names...

[Normal4me]

Bullshitgate?

[timpad]

Did the search wrong. It's a dup, please delete.

[timpad]

I like Tierney's "Nadagate"

[handy old one]

Dumb Bass Gate that leads nowhere except in a large circle.

[airborne]

Rove-A-Dope!

[digger48]

Brokengate

It always smacks 'em in the ass when they think they're through it.

[Jazzman1]

---was smeared by a vicious White House politico who committed a felony by exposing the whistle-blower's wife---
you know which side of the fence this guy reports from!

[beyond the sea]

We are in the midst of a remarkable Washington scandal, and we still don't have a name for it. Leakgate, Rovegate, Wilsongate - none of the suggestions have stuck

Nonsensegate?

Bullsh*tgate?

TellTheLieLongEnoughGate?

[Darkwolf377]

YellowcakeintelthatWilsondidn'tiscredit. Gate.

[Darkwolf377]

Oh, I missed a d.

Misspellgate begins.

[lilylangtree]

screamin' hyenagate

[Political Junkie Too]

I was going to say "Yellowgate" for combining yellow journalism with yellowcake.

-PJ

[muir_redwoods]

"Zerogate"

"Nothinghappenedheregate"

[timpad]

"Yellowgate" for combining yellow journalism with yellowcake.

Good one. Propa-gate, for propagating propaganda.

[Shermy]

Le débâcle d'agent Niger Mint Tea

[You Dirty Rats]

Since finding a scandal to destroy Bush is the Master Plan of the 'Rats and the lamestream media, I suggest calling this episode "Mastergate".

[anniegetyourgun]

The libs and media are obviously in a quagmire.

[SpinyNorman]

It is just a crying shame when the President and his administration continually fail to live up to the liberal's hysteria! LOL!

It must really suck to be a liberal nowadays!! Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of lunatics.

[sofaman]

Looneyleftgate