Republicans Ready to Slime Fitzgerald [Is this true?]

NY Observer ^ | Aug 1, 2005 | Joe Conason

[summer]

Karl Rove

Under the harsh but savvy tutelage of Karl Rove, Republicans have repeatedly demonstrated their adherence to a venerable cliché: In politics, as in sports and warfare, the best defense is always a good offense—and the more offensive, the better. It’s an effective strategy, as John Kerry and many other hapless victims have learned, and at this point also a highly predictable one.

Circled in a bristling perimeter around the White House, the friends and allies of Mr. Rove can soon be expected to fire their rhetorical mortars at Patrick Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor investigating the White House exposure of C.I.A. operative Valerie Wilson. Indeed, the preparations for that assault began months ago in the editorial columns of The Wall Street Journal, which has tarred Mr. Fitzgerald as a “loose cannon” and an “unguided missile.” 

Evidently Senator Pat Roberts, the Kansas Republican who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, will lead the next foray against the special prosecutor. This week the Senator’s press office announced his plan to hold hearings on the Fitzgerald probe. That means interfering with an “ongoing investigation,” as the White House press secretary might say, but such considerations won’t deter the highly partisan Kansan...

If only they were candid, the Rove Republicans would say that was then, this is now—and ethical consistency is strictly for losers.

[summer]

I have repeatedly seen this angle on the liberal sites lately -- that the GOP is about to "slime" Fitzgerald. Does anyone know what the liberals are talking about?

[summer]

Also from this editorial:

Finally, there’s an issue of investigative duration. If Mr. Fitzgerald seeks to extend the term of the grand jury sitting in Washington, which expires next October, Republicans will instantly complain that this has all dragged on long enough and must be wrapped up forthwith.

[Rodney King]

It's Joe Conason. Don't believe a word he says.

[summer]

I have heard his name before, but I really didn't know what he writes.

[Bernard]

Everybody has been complaining about special prosecutors. That's just not special any more.

[Just mythoughts]

I do not believe anything the talking through the nose conason has to say or write.

For this to be the accusation of the day their well plotted trap/snare must be coming apart.

[Rodney King]

He is the worst Clinton suck up of them all, really bad. Well, him and Gene Lyons anyway.

[FlingWingFlyer]

This is Crazy Joe Conason, the Clintonista buttboy. This guy doesn't even have a clue what day of the week it is.

[summer]

Yeah, I wish everyone would just leave this prosecutor alone and let him do his job already!!!

[rockrr]

"In politics, as in sports and warfare, the best defense is always a good offense..."

Of course the 'rats are true believers in this axiom (too bad they're always shooting blanks)....

[summer]

But I have to say he is not the only one writing this lately. There must be some memo circulating telling people to write this or something.

[randog]

Joe Conason--proof that you can be consistently wrong and still have a career as an opinion columnist.

[nopardons]

LOL...I was just about to type that. It's a good thing I saw your post. GMTA

[Terpfen]

The libs think that Fitzgerald's investigation will reveal that Rove leaked Plame's name, and therefore Rove has to attack Fitzgerald to save himself.

Ignore them.

[mware]

consider the source.

[Mannaggia l'America]

Maybe the Dims are having flashbacks to what they did to Ken Starr...

[nopardons]

All you need to know, is that he was a Clinton apologist.

[summer]

Thank you for that explanation there! It just seems odd to me that they can not wait until October for the prosecutor's findings. Maybe this is just a way to keep this matter in the press. I know the liberals want to hang Rove, whether he's guilty of a crime or not!!

[summer]

Yeah, there are some ramblings in this editorial about Whitewater, Starr, etc.

[summer]

Joe Conason--proof that you can be consistently wrong and still have a career as an opinion columnist.

LOL...