Remember, the accusation that started the firestorm in 2003 was that the White House actively peddled Plame's name and relationship to Wilson in order to discredit and punish him. This was what Matt Cooper wrote about in his orignal article. This fantasy has now been completely demolished. So the next attack was that whoever "leaked" Plame's name to Novak committed a crime. Ooops, that one's out the window too.
Do they really think America is going to demand Karl Rove's head on a platter because he talked to a reporter?
Doesn't matter. The Left doesn't care about what is actually said or the actual facts. For them it's about what they THINK was said and what they BELIEVE to be the facts. And, of course, they always know their lies are reality.
From the article: "The disclosure of Mr. Rove's conversation with Mr. Novak raises a question the White House has never addressed: whether Mr. Rove ever discussed that conversation, or his exchange with Mr. Cooper, with the president. Mr. Bush has said several times that he wants all members of the White House staff to cooperate fully with Mr. Fitzgerald's investigation."
The only reason that the question is "raised" is because the Times wants it raised.