[In Fair Verona]

A new thread, let the posting begin.

[TokyoNiGHTS]

I'm really happy that stations are starting to pick up on the reports that Rove leaked the CIA agents name. Like I said in the other thread, this is massive if its true. There should be absolutely no way that the Bush adminstration can spin out of this. He should be fired but that should only be the first step, there needs to be serious legal charges against him also. That NYT reporter is sitting in jail right now because she wouldn't disclose the source of the leak, despite her not even reporting it in her paper. So if she can be sent for something like that then the actual leaker should recieve serious jail time.

[ceilirose]

LOL...they's already spinning it that Moveon.org, Kerry and Dean are behind it. I'm watching Ken Mehlman, the RNC chair, on CNN and he's blaming them. Believe it or not Wolf Blitzer didn't let him finish that statement and is trying to ask some 'tough' questions.

BTW..I heard that the conservative sites, blogs are blaming Plame and Wilson for this.

Bush did say that he would fire anyone who had to do with the leak and not just the person who did it.

Heehee..now he just brought up Hillary Clinton as smearing Rove.

It's all a smear...an unprecedented one. *roll eyes* Has he forgotten the Clinton/Lewinsky story?

[TokyoNiGHTS]

I saw the Melhman thing on CNN also. It was pretty funny because he didn't want to answer alot of Wolf's questions. He'd be asked a question and start going on about how its all the Democrats fault. I also liked how he talked about how Democrats didn't want to talk about things that are important like social security and other things. Wasn't it a few months ago when Republicans were scrambling over the Schiavo case and trying to overturn every judges ruling to fit their own?

On a similar subject, why isn't Robert Novak sitting in jail right now? Isn't he the one that first published her name publically?

[ceilirose]

Originally Posted by TokyoNiGHTS On a similar subject, why isn't Robert Novak sitting in jail right now? Isn't he the one that first published her name publically?

It's a complicated case but from what I've heard/read is that Novak printed her name but technically didn't leak it. The leak came from someone at the WH. That person is the one that committed the crime. Novak is as sleazy as they come but technically he didn't commit a criminal act.

I saw Hardball last night and they had someone who used to work for Bush (Tucker Escew (sp) and he was babbling on about moveon.org, Kerry, Clinton etc. and not answering the real questions. The Repubs defense will be bringing up the "radical Democrats" and hoping to hide the fact of what Rove did and how the WH denied his involvement two years ago.

He said that this is the "silly summer season" and this really isn't news, nothing happens in the summer. Chris Matthews told him that Nixon resigned in August and he didn't have an answer for that.

As far as McClellan goes..I think he's really inept but the question is whether he lied for Rove/WH or was lied to by them and stuck his neck out based on a lie.

ETA..here is an article from the Washington Post on the Republican talking points in defense of Rove:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...071200093.html

This is an excerpt:

The emerging GOP strategy -- devised by Mehlman and other Rove loyalists outside of the White House -- is to try to undermine those Democrats calling for Rove's ouster, play down Rove's role and wait for President Bush's forthcoming Supreme Court selection to drown out the controversy, according to several high-level Republicans. The White House said Bush retains full confidence in Rove, but for a second day officials would not answer a barrage of questions about Rove's role in the leak scandal on the grounds that the investigation is not complete. But the RNC -- effectively Bush's political arm -- weighed into the controversy in a major fashion. Mehlman, who said he talked with Rove several times in recent days, instructed GOP legislators, lobbyists and state officials to accuse Democrats of dirty politics and argue Rove was guilty of nothing more than discouraging a reporter from writing an inaccurate story, according to RNC talking points circulated yesterday. "Republicans should stop holding back and go on the offense: fire enough bullets the other way until the Supreme Court overtakes" events, said Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.).

[Ms Carolyn]

The thing is, even if he didn't name her by name, he identified her as Wilson's wife, making it a pretty fast and easy Google search to find out who she was -- and the law states that one can't knowingly identify a CIA operative. Which Rove did!

If anyone out there is following the commentary on Air America Radio, not only did Rove's action compromise the security -- indeed, endanger the life -- of this one agent, it compromised our entire Homeland Security program. He endangered the entire country out of petty spite. That's treason, pure and simple. I don't care how the lawyers spin it. If Rove doesn't lose his job over this, all I can hope is that the backlash at the polls in 2006 is like nothing we've ever seen before.

So, go listen to Randi Rhodes or Al Francken or -- yes! -- Jerry Springer on Air America Radio, campers. You better believe THEY'RE covering this story! http://www.airamericaradio.com

[Jeny]

I've never posted here before, but I think I've found a new home

[In Fair Verona]

Welcome to the board/thread, Jeny!



I think I have found the most disturbing space of internet ever.

I was reading an interview with Wilson, and I really feel for him. I would be just as outraged with the whole ordeal, but even more enraged at the lack of justice.

Wilson was asked about statements by Rove's defenders noting that the e-mail describing Rove's conversation with Cooper indicated that Rove did not specifically mention Valerie Plame by name. "My wife's name is Mrs. Joseph Wilson," he replied. "It is Mrs. Valerie Wilson. He named her. He identified her," Wilson said. "So that argument doesn't stand the smell test ... What I do know is that Mr. Rove is talking to the press and he is saying things like my wife is fair game. That's an outrage. That's an abuse of power."

"The president has said repeatedly, "I am a man of my word,' " Wilson added. "He should stand up and prove that his word is his bond and fire Karl Rove."

- Wilson

It just irritates me that the president is letting a personal bias towards Karl Rove get in the way of administrating justice. It's obvious that Bush has his mind set that Rove should not be fired. He says he wants to wait until the investigations, I think in Bush's eyes the goal of which is to prove that Rove is not guilty of leaking the name. After this 'investigation' is finished, we'll get to see Bush make a though choice (sarcasm): Rove or homeland safety?

[Endless Rain]

But what more do you honestly expect from Bush? They all stick up for their buddies. only way Rove is getting out is with increased pressure from media/lobbyist/cabinet, etc

[TokyoNiGHTS]

Originally Posted by In Fair Verona It just irritates me that the president is letting a personal bias towards Karl Rove get in the way of administrating justice.

I try to not let it annoy me as much since its expected. There comes a point when loyalty should stop. And that point is when something illegal starts happenings. It's quite clear to most that Rove has done something wrong yet the White House is still spinning this as Democrats just being angry. Yah they're angry, every single person should be angry about this guy being defended on any level.

[ceilirose]

Originally Posted by In Fair Verona It just irritates me that the president is letting a personal bias towards Karl Rove get in the way of administrating justice. It's obvious that Bush has his mind set that Rove should not be fired. He says he wants to wait until the investigations, I think in Bush's eyes the goal of which is to prove that Rove is not guilty of leaking the name. After this 'investigation' is finished, we'll get to see Bush make a though choice (sarcasm): Rove or homeland safety?

A good question for Bush might be how long he's known that Rove gave the information to that reporter. Has it been two years, two months, two weeks etc.

I think the worst thing is that Rove let this investigation go on for years, let journalists face jail time, has let hundreds of thousands of dollars be expended in the investigation and he knows where the classified leak came from.

I just saw Wilson on CNN and he was good. He didn't let Wolf Blitzer go unchallenged as he repeated the RNC talking points.

[TokyoNiGHTS]

I was just watching the news, apparently Tom Delay has founda n ew person to blame for this? Who you ask? The guy that released the letters that mention Rove told him about the agent. Because that's a private conversation. Apparently its ok to leak a secret agents name, but releasing the name of the person that actually leaked that name? Ooh no that's bad.

[ceilirose]

LOL...don't you love it when the Republicans are saying it's a smear campaign when they in fact carried on a smear campaign against Joe Wilson to start this whole thing off?

There's now a report that says Rove's source was a media person. What I don't understand is why a highly placed government employee (Rove) heard from a reporter about the identity of a CIA agent (classified information) and didn't think there was something wrong. Why didn't Rove call the Justice Department and ask for an investigation on the leak?

Also Bob Novak says his source was a WH employee. Rove says it was a media person. Why is all this supposed classified information so easy to get out to all these people?

Why aren't the Republicans concerned about all this information out there instead of moaning about the personal attacks on Rove?

[coconutlime]

These are the same Republicans that think Kofi Annin is a weasel and should get booted, right?

[ceilirose]

This is a good but long article on Karl Rove from Newsweek:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8600327/site/newsweek/

From what I gather Rove signed an agreement whereby he could not confirm/deny classified information. When he told Matt Cooper of Time that Wilson's wife worked for the CIA with WMD that would break that agreement. He just should have given a no comment and reported the leak to whoever is in charge of security at the WH. LOL..Condi Rice?

Now I know the Republicans are spinning this one like crazy but I think most people understand that confirming classified information to a journalist isn't really in the best interests of the country and is a serious matter.

I doubt Bush would ever fire him but it could make it interesting for him over the next few weeks.