Nope, Plame was in fact working covertly. The contact information was to a fictitious corporation made up so that she (and by extension her husband who was investigating the claims) had a reason to be in Niger.
I really can't quite see what the backlash here is for, "If Cheney ordered the disclosure of Plame's identity he should resign"
Yes, I'd say that someone working with the CIA being outed is reason to resign.
Ummm... No.
Plame wasn't "covert" under the definition of the statute, as far as I have been able to tell. Further, the motivation for the revelation has to be established as deliberately harming the nation.
Having someone who works at the CIA actively undermining an elected administration is a relevant fact - especially given the subterfuges that are coming to light on the Plame/Wilson side of the equation. If Cheney did break the law, there should be punishment. But to presume guilt in the face of outrageous lies from the other side is ludicrous.
See post #24. Fitzmas was last year. It already came and went.