WaPo: Waiting Near an End for Rove in CIA Leak Case

[understandinglife]

Waiting Near an End for Rove in CIA Leak Case

By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 8, 2006; Page A01

Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald is wrapping up his investigation into White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove's role in the CIA leak case by weighing this central question:

Did Rove, who was deeply involved in defending President Bush's use of prewar intelligence about Iraq, lie about a key conversation with a reporter that was aimed at rebutting a tough White House critic?

<clip>

On July 11, the day Rove talked to Cooper and e-mailed Hadley, then-CIA Director George J. Tenet issued a statement that Bush's Africa claim should not have been made and accepted blame for failing to take it out of the State of the Union speech. Three days later, Novak wrote the now-famous column that unmasked Plame and ultimately sparked Fitzgerald's investigation.

Rove would publicly deny any involvement for the next year. Rove has argued he was upfront with Fitzgerald about his conversation with Novak and therefore was not trying to hide any larger role from investigators.

Link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/07/AR2006050700717.html

sure, Jim ...

[stellanoir]

1. yeah right. . .

[babylonsister]

2. I hope Rove is all wrapped in an indictment, and then Fitz goes

after Gonzales for lying! And then....and then....

[lovuian]

3. Singing the Party's OVER!!! It time to go to jail!!!

:toast: yeh Fitzy!!!

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

4. The "David Shuster-Jim VandeHei Steel Cage Death Match" continues...

Will David be first with the breaking news? Will Jim? If Rove gets off, will it matter? Will there be nutcases setting white doves free outside the courthouse after Fitz makes his announcement, a la the Michael Jackson trial?

Too many questions, too many possible outcomes.

:evilgrin:

[jjmalonejr]

5. This is a big scoop?

"Fitzgerald, according to sources close to the case, is reviewing testimony from Rove's five appearances before the grand jury."

Wow, what a shocking new fact. And then a summary of the story thus far.

Great reporting VandeHei.

Edited to add :sarcasm:

[understandinglife]

6. "Told ya, pool boy will believe anything."

Comment # 34 in a typically excellent post by Jane Hamsher at firedoglake:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/05/07/late-nite-fdl-gop-boogeymen-and-other-media-phantoms/#comment-94205

"pool boy" is a fondness some have for Jimmy Vandehei.

And, here's a bit of Jane Hamsher's post:

<clip>

I’d like to harken back to probably my favorite story I’ve ever written about. It has to do with a footnote in a Fitzgerald filing when Russert was fighting tooth and nail to keep from having to answer the Special Counsel’s questions. Russert was claiming that the general waiver signed by Scooter was "coerced," and that if he testified his "sources" would never trust him again. To which Fitzgerald said:

It is also relevant to note that Russert has treated an asserted waiver of the reporter’s privilege quite differently when convenient. When Richard Clarke published his book Against All Enemies and testified before the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (also known as the September 11 Commission), Clarke became subject to intense media scrutiny. On March 24, 2004, the White House disclosed Clarke’s identity as the "senior administration official" who gave a "background" briefing in August 2002. When Clarke appeared as a guest on Meet the Press on March 28, 2004, Russert noted the White House had been aggressive in attacking Clarke’s credibility and had identified Clarke as the source for the background briefing — without indicating any concern about the "voluntariness" of the waiver, in which Clarke apparently played no role. (Copy of the March 28, 2004, Meet the Press transcript, Exhibit 1).

Russert did not hesitate to broadcast out of any concern that such disclosure might chill future background sources.

I just love that tight, brutal paragraph. I just have to resurrect it every now and again if only for my own amusement.

Russert fucked Richard Clarke, Fitzgerald knew it and he called him on it. Russert was willing to sell the high journalistic principles he claims to cherish so much down the river for the party and the access he values even more. He fought tooth and nail to keep from helping Fitzgerald (and the public) nail Scooter Libby. How is he going to feel when people like John Conyers (whom he smeared this morning — and Conyers fires back here) start looking into the all-too-cozy relationship that the press had with the White House in leading the country down the garden path to war?

The next time Russert and Matthews start quaking in their shoes at the thought of Democrats with subpoena power,
...

Link:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/05/07/late-nite-fdl-gop-boogeymen-and-other-media-phantoms

Especially, in_deed, if it is wielding that subpoena Power!!


If You're pro-Bu$h, You're Anti-America

[understandinglife]

8. Rep Conyers: "If I become a Chairman again, I intend to push for oversight

... of this Administration. Our Constitutional system of government requires no less.

Link: http://www.conyersblog.us/archives/00000443.htm

This is something Jimmy, Timmy, Judith and all of Rove's other stenographers and their employers (yes, Jim; yes, Arthur ...) fear. They all know they are way beyond complicit in their collaboration with the Bush neoconster crime syndicate.


It Is Tribunal Time In The United State Of America

[zanne]

11. The problem with this is...

Russert got away with it. The only indictment so far targets Scooter Libby, and there's no guarantee that he won't just walk away from it. Even when the truth is revealed, members of the administration get a free pass.

[Lasher]

14. Did you see Nancy Pelosi on Meet the Press yesterday?

Russert was brutal, it was like a nonstop inquisition. Pelosi did OK, though. I would like to see Russert be that aggressive with just one puke, just one time. We'll never see it.

We need to bring back the Fairness Doctrine, at least until such time as we can force divestiture of the corporate news media. The present oligopoly has compromised the "multiplicity of voices in the marketplace" that the Reagan FCC cited as justification for discontinuing the Fairness Doctrine.

http://www.twf.org/News/Y1997/Fairness.html

[freesqueeze]

17. Where is Russert on this?

When does the press step over and become part of the story?



"It is also relevant to note that Russert has treated an asserted waiver of the reporter’s privilege quite differently when convenient." Sounds so neo-con of him.

[goclark]

19. ROTFL The Doggie Kingdom deserves better than

TimmyCON!

He must be coming out with one of his Father's Day books again.

How can America deserve such low life matter in our faces?

[TacticalPeek]

7. A no-news story from VandeHei to get Luskin's spin out to start the week.

Surprised I'm not.

:grr:

The aide said Rove's message was that "if there are no WMDs and some blame us, it will not be a pleasant election year."

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. You know things are bad

when you have try to spin your pending indictment.

[HuffleClaw]

10. i don't see how he's gonna walk on this

i think the only real question is the NUMBER of charges. hopefully we won't have to wait until friday for the good news.


how to know if its gonna happen: we'll be treated to a resounding chorus of terror scares.

[rodeodance]

12. It will all depend on how convincing Rove was.

Last Question Is Obstruction for Fitzgerald, Rove
By Jason Leopold
t r u t h o u t | Report

Sunday 07 April 2006

........

Rove testified last week that he still couldn't recall speaking to Cooper.

[Olney Blue]

13. This story was the Headliner in the Washington Post this morning--

although there was nothing new in the story, it is not a desirable
headline for the WH. I will be shocked if Rove is not indicted, and the
Decider will look even more corrupt for not dealing with this as he said he
would initially.

[savemefromdumbya]

15. so where does Gannon fit into all this?

knowing Rove he will try to wriggle out of this?

[doc mercer]

16. Rove

I can see this coming ... Rove is gonna walk

F_____ all this shit ... we are screwed as I no longer
think Fitz has balls and is gonna cater to these MFers
and once Rove walks might as well forget about winning
in November

GDamn ..... this really sucks as I truly hate these guys

Please, Fitz ... restore my faith in this country

[Catherine Vincent]

21. Have more faith in Fitzgerald.

He'll come through. This Washington Post article is a puff piece for Karl Rove so don't let it get you down.

[savemefromdumbya]

25. Did Rove leak to Gannon to Novak

which Novak though?

[jazzjunkysue]

18. Load Fecal Matter. Engage Circular Ventillation System: GUILTY!

This is the typical pre-spin we always get before a D.C. head goes in a noose.

My money says his ass is grass, and this is the warning shot across the bow.

If it weren't about to happen, it would read as such.

"Move along, people. Nothing to see, here."

That's not what this article "says."

It' "says," Time To Don The Disposable Rain Poncho in the seat pocket in front of you, keep your head down, and prepare for impact. INCOMING!!!! And it won't smell pretty, either.

"He's in the white Bronco, and it's heading down the highway with police in pursuit..."

This is the LA car chase of Bush's criminal career.

Stick a fork in George, he's done.

:hug:

[johnnyrocket]

20. Rove MUST be indicted in order to restore a full democracy...

...to this country. There is no true freedom with this guy running around unchecked.

[janx]

22. There's a lot of information in this article--

much of it new, at least to me.

[napi21]

23. We all have to remember, whatever leaks you hear from this case

ALL come from the LAWYERS working for Libby, Rove, Cheney & Shrub. Fitz has leaked NOTHING! Becaue of the obvious source, you're always going to get at least a bit of a positive slant in favor of their clients.

I say wait and watch for stories like, Fitz met with the Judge, Fitz met with the GJ, and finally, Fitz submitted apers to the judge! Those are observations that are seen and mean something.

[depakid]

24. People also need to remember

that the Post itself has ZERO credibility on this story- their staff is already up to their eyeballs giving out misinformation about this case.

[Imagevision]

26. Rove indicted/ and he is consultant to re-election stratagies?!! for GOP!

Bush's numbers will finally enter Nixon terrotory (24%)