[mnehring]

Not exactly. If the President himself said it or Novak knew he and Rove were behind a conspiracy, his choice of words would most likely be different. It is the subtle words between the major words that make a difference. If Novak knew the President knew, he would have said 'The President knows.'

By saying 'I'm confident the President knows...' is a subconscious way of saying I believe, not I know.

Considering how in the loop Novak supposedly is, that is quite telling.. if he only 'believes' then he is tying the connection himself without any evidence.

[BikerNYC]

By saying 'I'm confident the President knows...' is a subconscious way of saying I believe, not I know.

Considering how in the loop Novak supposedly is, that is quite telling.. if he only 'believes' then he is tying the connection himself without any evidence.

There is a fine line between what you know and what you believe. If the President told Novak that he knows who the leaker is, does that mean that Novak knows that the President knows who the leaker is? Or just that the President says he knows who the leaker is?

[Willie Green]

If Novak knew the President knew, he would have said 'The President knows.'

No. Novak isn't as blunt and straightforward as someone like, say, Pat Buchanan.
Rather than coming right out and saying 'the president knows', Novak is more likely to "beat around the bush", so to speak.