Will Rove retire on a hot summer afternnon in Friday? Stay tuned.

[skip fox]

Is he even now checking over a draft of his pardon with his lawyer?

He orchestrated the KNOWING and DELIBERATE leak of a covert CIA official, one whose identity the agency was actively concealing, as we found out in the past two days.

In fact we learn more daily and each new piece of evidence suggests that a number of administrative officials will face multiple indictments in the leak of Plame's identity. Rove will receive probably more than one.

1. The inanity and hysteria of the RNC's (and others') spinning has been noted by reporters across the nation as indicative a party which "off its game." Expecting a terrible outcome, they had been stalling for time, hoping the Supreme Court Nominee would bump the story off the front pages. (For a day it did . . . until Walter Pincus's story yesterday about classifications on the State Department memo sent to Air Force One.) Now they're just stalling. Al Franken told us yesterday (7/21) that after some difficulty he was able to demonstrate to the RNC staff that the story on their web-site which states Wilson claimed the Vice President sent him to Niger was simply false, a lie (showing the context for Wilson's quote yet again). What was the RNC's reaction? "We're standing by it." Simple as that. My point is, when they are willing to be so consciously and blatantly dishonestin public (which can be used against them) they are very distressed about the future.

2. We know there were at least 6 initial reporters contacted (including Novak, Miller, Cooper, and Pincus) and that 3 of those contacted called at least one secondary source the confirm the story (Cooper implies he had more than single confirming source named as Scooter Libby). We know that Cooper's initial source (Rove) specifically released him, but that Miller's would not do so for her. Since we already know Novak's initial source is Libby, there would be no reason for him not to release Miller if he were her source (unless the crime was more obvious). Therefore we know that there were two (Libby and Rove) initial sources and probably at least another. Already we are deeply into the terrain of collaboration. But when we realize that to have 3 confirming sources available, since the "conspiracy" (it becomes the unavoidable word) could not insure who the reporters would call to confirm their stories, they had to have several primed (ready and willing to confirm). (Of course a confirming source for one reporter could be a primary course for another.)

Impossible to accomplish these 9 (or 9+) calls by at least 2, probably 3 or more initial callers, with others ready to confirm, without coordination. Designing a plan for leaks wouldn't be rocket science for Rove's Machiavellian machine he calls a mind, but it certainly would be mastery of Rove of all people in the administration (probably composed of the White House Iraq Group) that would assign him a leadership role. Rove, then, would direct (mastermind) the entire, making sure no two officials attempted to act as an initial source for a single reporter (that would appear too eager), that the story be believable (pitched nonchalantly, briefly), that the story is given in slightly different forms, and that the confirming sources were in place and with the story somewhat different in non-substantive matters (so it doesn't sound like story leaked by rote.) Therefore it was deliberately leaked.

3. We know Rove has had multiple visits by the FBI and to the grand jury. The implication is as loud as it gets.


4. The State Department memo, said to be at least one origin of the information concerning the Plame-Wilson-Niger connection and reputedly of high interest to the grand jury, was reported by Wlater Pincus yesterday to me clearly marked "S" for "Secret." Today's reports in fact indicate it was marked "TS," "Top Secret." Therefore the official who disseminated the identity from this source was highly aware that the CIA was actively trying to conceal Plame's identity. Therefore it was knowingly leaked.

Therefore, RNC's spin, the numbers of callers, the deliberate and repetitive acts, Rove's visits with FBI and grand jury, and the knowing intent behind the leak = Rove will go down in Plames. Likely he is guilty of leaking (with knowledge), leading a conspiracy to leak, and perjury.

There's no way out of this for Rove. The best he can hope for is the softest landing t5hat does the least damage for other officials and the Republican Party. (On a hot summer afternoon?)

[wakeme2008]

1. Did you write this or is there a link to it :) nt

[ixion]

2. Rove will retire to 'spend more time' with Jeff Gannon.

:evilgrin:

[Atman]

3. SOURCE! We need a source!

I can go blabbing this to others if I can't back it up!

[skip fox]

4. Self written, but including 3 weeks information from public record

I put it in Editorials because it does contain an summary of the last two weeks as new fact come out, all of which confirmmy belief in the administration's need in the summer of 2003 for collaboration in the leaks and that Rove was the mastermind who will probably receive indictments revealing his role as a leaker and a conspirator at least.

Check it out yourself.

Walter Pincus wrote the item in WP about the "S" mark on the State Department memo. Franken information taken from his show. All other information verified.

Now we hear on Bloomberg this morning that Rove's and Libby's testimony to the grand jury is at odds with the testimony of reporters. Both Rove and Libby claimed to have learned Plames name from reporters. The two presumptive reporters (Novak and Russert) claim otherwise.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/economy/usgovernment.html

So we can even make the claim about perjury with more confidence.

[KoKo]

17. Nicely written, skip fox. Thanks. ....makes sense and there's been

speculation about this all fitting together from our well-known bloggers but nothing has been put together in one place.

I wonder if Rove can get out of this by "falling on a sword, taking the blame" and be the only one. As you say there are so many others implicated...wouldn't all of them have to take some blame? If the WHIG is implicated then Matalin, Hughes and the rest were "conspiring" to out an agent, wheren't they? A conspiracy to alter or thwart intelligence information by political operatives working inside the WH would be "treason" wouldn't it?

Given that the Repugs won't allow any investigation it's up to the public to push the news out and hope that Fitzgerald doesn't just go for Rove when he knows there are others. :shrug:

[leveymg]

5. Rove's political calculus would tell him to hang in there, survive the

initial firestorm, and the story should burn itself out in a couple weeks. Of course, the flames are going to become absolutely unbearable when, and if, he's actually indicted.

They're counting on getting Roberts confirmed before Fitz unseals the indictments. If Rove, Scooter, or other Administ. officials are indicted first, they know it's going to at least delay and interfere with the SCOTUS nomination. :7

Excellent article, Skipfox! Reads well.

[skip fox]

6. But one wants to think that Rove is right now with his lawyer reviewing

his resignation letter and the letter of pardon for him that he drafted for the president last night.

Seriously, I know your point. One of my friends thinks W. has no concept of himself without Rove and thus can't give him up (maybe not even if the Republican leadership of the Congress approach him). So . . . I do understand your way of thinking, but I think he'll try to minimize damage to the party by ducking out the back door if he can.

[leveymg]

7. But, the back door is blocked by a bunch of federal agents

Resignation is not an option at this point. Rove is going to be indicted, or he won't. If he's not, why would he resign?

If he's going to be indicted, the resignation has to be timed to minimize the political damage - that tells me, he's hoping to stay in there until after the Roberts nomination is a done deal. If Rove leaves too soon, it will make things harder for Bush to get his way with the SCOTUS appointment.

That's my take, anyway.

[skip fox]

8. But he'll be pardoned. Ironically he will probably be in charge of

drafting his own pardon for "all matters relating to the dissemination of . . . . including all statements made to the special grand jury and FBI agents . . . "

I think he knows it's coming. The least damage to the administration and the party would be now, I figure. Roberts does not appear in any danger. W., however, may have the discression of when to date and sign the pardon.

(I revised some of the original post to read easier.)

[leveymg]

9. I believe, he has to be indicted before he can be pardoned.

In fact, it may be that he would have to be convicted. I'm not absolutely positive about that. Anyone know the answer?

[skip fox]

10. That's why I depict him drafting the letter now, while he's still there.

More of a sweet fictional touch than anything.

[leveymg]

11. That's allowed. I write briefs, and there's a suggestion of literature

in there, sometimes.

Enjoyed your article (and our chat). You should repost it at some other boards - DailyKos, ZNet, etc. - and submit it to Raw Story, Capitol Hill Blue, etc.

Gotta get back to work:hi:

[leveymg]

13. Ford's pardon of Nixon was "pre-indictment, pre-conviction"

Your suggestion that Bush may pardon Rove and the others at will appears to be correct. The political consequences might be severe, however, if history is a guide. See below.

www.jewishworldreview.com/0501/witcover052301.asp
When President Gerald Ford in 1974 pardoned former President Richard Nixon of all his Watergate crimes, Sen. Ted Kennedy said the "pre-indictment, pre-conviction pardon" had led "many Americans to believe it was a culmination of the Watergate cover-up." A Gallup Poll taken three weeks later showed a 21-point nosedive in Ford's popularity, the sharpest plunge ever recorded over that short a period.

[skip fox]

15. Great. Another question: Will Rove have to testify if he is pardoned?

He will no longer be able to plead the 5th, but could the pardon be drafted in such a way (or be deferred to such a time) that Rove will not have to talk to the grand jury???

I'd not put it above the administration, especially if his truthful testimony might implicate Cheney or Bush.

[skip fox]

12. Correction: Plame/State Dept. memo labelled "SNF" meaning

"Secret, no foreigners" (not even friendly intelligence officers in Isreal or England).

[skip fox]

14. If Rove is pardoned, will he have to talk to the grand jury?

He will no longer be able to plead the 5th, but could the pardon be drafted in such a way (or be deferred to such a time) that Rove will not have to talk to the grand jury???

If Rove talked, who would be brought in? Cheney? W.?

[skip fox]

16. And to follow up, would it be impeachable to pardon someone

in order that they would not have to testify that the president was engaged in illegal activities?

[skip fox]

18. Who would be the most likely to spill the beans? . . . GANNON!!

We know Gannon was in on the spin after Novak's article because he, like Novak, put out the story that Plame's identity was well known inside the beltway (interestingly, no one else said so).

But if he was in on the original leaking . . . or had knowledge of the plan from inside the administration . . . he might be given immunity and be made to talk. I'm guessing he'd "cut a deal." (And he's certainly the smallest fish! I say that not having visited his gay porn site.)

[mandomom]

19. Maybe he'll enlist for the upcoming Iran war.

[Skittles]

20. he has always done his dirty work behind the scenes like the coward he is

the publicity zeroing in on his smarmy ass must be excruciating to him

hey Skip Fox, what's your opinion of this Buzzflash piece? http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/05/07/con05252.html

[skip fox]

22. Good item.

Along those lines, here's what a colleague (Clai Rice) thought as an interesting possibility in the Supreme Court nomination. W. may well have wanted to nominate the woman everyone was speculating he would name, but she was not thoroughly vetted. So he had to go with Roberts, who was a second choice and thoroughly vetted, in order to through dust in the reporters eyes concerning Rove and Plame.

Interestingly, he speculated, the nation may be forever changed as a rusult of a choice W. made for the wrong reasons.

[Skittles]

27. SKIP!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am APPALLED that the press has not made hay of the fact A SUPREME COURT NOMINEE WAS RUSHED to cover PUBLICITY ABOUT TREASON - I tell you skip my alarms go off like crazy over this wackjob Roberts - I think your colleague is dead on - they had to rush the choice and they went with the most obviously loyal wingnut. And I already knew the nation would be forever changed the day they let that incompentent asshole be installed into the White House. :(

[WhiteTara]

21. Miller's refusal to talk indicates to me

that Cheney was her unreportable source.

[skip fox]

23. I think that's possible too. Or that

Rove was and his crime was so much more apparent with her. Perhaps he called her and even said what he was up to?

[WhiteTara]

26. umm, maybe

Cooper did say that he was scared, the "government" was too strong. But I am still going for Heartless.

[skip fox]

24. Today (Sat.) it's reported that investigation has turned to perjury and

obstruction of justice. First of all, it may be that the prosecutor has "nailed down" the leak portion of the investigation and has turned to possible crimes which occurred after the leaks. And if there was a conspiracy, guess who would have been in charge? We're back in the same position: multiple indictments and at least two for Rove.

[skip fox]

25. And today we're told there were 11 contacts (original & confirming calls).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1950809

Tell me Rove was not involved in the leaks when we know there were eleven contacts. This is DELIBERATE and KNOWING release over and over and takes coordination.


Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove Rove etc.