Of course Rove counted on reporters staying quiet

April 27, 2006

Faiz at Think Progress noticed what appears to be a pretty obvious flaw in [tag]Karl Rove[/tag]’s defense in the [tag]Plame[/tag] scandal.

Rove’s testimony focused almost exclusively on his conversation about Plame with Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper in 2003 and whether the top aide later tried to conceal it, the source [close to Rove] said. Rove testified, in essence, that “it would have been a suicide mission” to “deliberately lie” about his conversation with Cooper because he knew beforehand that it eventually would be revealed, the source said. (emphasis added)

That really doesn’t make a lot of sense. When Rove testified in 2003, reporters still felt compelled to protect their sources’ confidentiality.

All throughout late-2003 (when Ashcroft was still heading the investigation), the White House had reason to believe that the Plame investigation was not going to seek the testimony of reporters. Recall, special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was not even appointed until the beginning of 2004. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported it wasn’t until 2004 that journalists were contacted to testify. The evidence suggests that when Rove testified in October 2003, he did not believe Matt Cooper would be ultimately be forced to testify against him in July 2005.

It’s such an odd argument, and it’s so easily disproved, I can’t imagine why “sources close to Rove” would even make it.

For what it’s worth, the LA Times reported that Rove’s appearance “signaled that a perjury and obstruction investigation into his role in a CIA leak case remained alive,” while the WaPo explained Rove, his lawyer’s weaselly language notwithstanding, simply doesn’t know whether he’ll be indicted or not.

And, if you need a refresher, explaining the story as it relates to Rove and Time’s Viveca Novak, Kevin has an excellent summary.

It’s such an odd argument, and it’s so easily disproved, I can’t imagine why “sources close to Rove” would even make it.

They’re counting on the reporters to not connect the dots, and in fact most of them won’t; they’ll just parrot the spin.

The Rove strategy here is pretty clear. They’re probably going to lose the legal battle, so the backup plan is to win the PR battle, at least well enough to give Bush some cover when he pardons Rove after the midterms.

PR, lies and obfuscation are what they do best, so that is what they are doing now. The Wurlitzer will back them up, so they’ll continue using it for all it’s worth.

  • So right, CB. And remember how the Chimp in Chief, early on, even reminded reporters that, though he badly wanted to get to the bottom of the leak problem, unfortunately leakers were RARELY EVER CAUGHT in Washington. Somebody smarter than I am about finding these quotes should get that one. I think it would show that the administration felt safe using this as a tactic because they didn’t believe reporters would reveal their sources. So, the liars lie again. Rove must have stayed up all night with his lawyer to think of that pathetic excuse to support his innocence. One can only hope that Fitz’s eyes were rolling.

  • My prediction (not that it’s of any import):

    No true bill.

    I admit that unlike Round Libby, I haven’t followed
    Round Rove, in the tradition of “Fool me once . . . ”
    I felt really let down, as in “Not with a bang but a
    whimper,” after the overly hyped Libby affair, and
    vowed not to be sucked into this speculation
    business again. It was a kind of Chicken Little
    thing, but where you wanted the sky to be falling
    in.

  • Why is Bush off the hook? He has the power to declassify secrets for national security reasons, but this was part of a re-election campaign, not for national security.

    He cannot declassify opponent’s medical records, so why their wife’s CIA cover? What national security purpose was served by betraying Valerie Plame?

    He admitted that this leak was strictly to improve public perception of his decision.

  • This comment by Immanentize at FDL makes an interesting argument:

    The spin, as I have before theorized, is to keep the country from believing that Rove is beyond a doubt, without a question, guilty. The spin is not aimed at Fitzgerald, but at you (and me and every other citizen) via the media “news/commentariat.” Like you say, “Who cares if it doesn’t effect legal outcome?”

    Well, if this can be put off just about six more months, then the President (post-election) will be able to issue pardons. If the Republicans retain control of Congress, then the current spin will help them go out and support the pardons:

    “This is an investigation that has gone on too long and produced very few results. We know less now than we did when the entire issue arose. I applaud the President in putting an end to this costly and unproductive process.” And as we all know, that is the civil version.

    If Dems take control of one or both houses, the current spin and confusion still allows the President (who will be the lamest of lame ducks in history) to still make that same argument and the vast majority of people will agree. They will know something is fishy, but they will be happy to have that investigation — which is just so darn confusing — behind them.

    So, the spin is for the Winter 2006 pardon strategy. Hence, Comstock’s involvement at every turn.

    This fits what we have seen: delay and mislead

  • ‘Twas the night before Fitzmas, and all through D.C.
    The Senate stood empty, just waiting to see.
    The Grand Jury listened to Fitz with much care,
    He hoped that the votes all would be there.

    Ken Mehlman and Rover all snug in their beds,
    While visions of November danced in their heads,
    And Dick in his bunker, as “W” did sip,
    A drink from the flask he poured through his lips.

    When out at the Post arose such a clatter,
    They sprung from their cubes to see what was the matter.
    Away to the phones they flew like a flash,
    Called up their sources who asked for some cash.

    The Times of New York had the lights all aglow,
    As they savored the scuttle they knew soon would flow.
    When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
    But a signature sheet with twelve names written so clear.

    With Old Crow in his throat, George W then spits,
    He knew in an instant it must be the Fitz.
    More rapid he guzzled, his Party might lose,
    So he bristled and shouted while chugging his booze.

    Now Karl! First Libby!
    Damn Fitz you vixen!
    Lost Browny then Scotty!
    Who else are you fixin’
    To topple from power!
    We’re takin’ a lickin!
    Now damn Fitzy, damn you!
    Damn you this hour!

    If not for those levees and Katrina’s wrath,
    Dear God, why all these obstacles, who chose her path?
    You live in the big house, but the White House is blue,
    What else can go wrong, will Dick Cheney go too?

    And then in a tantrum, he ran to the roof,
    The stomping and kicking of each little hoof.
    As he pulled out his hair and was turning around,
    Up through the hatch big Barbara came with a bound.

    In blue robe with white dots, from her head to her toes,
    Yes her clothes were old fashioned, but everyone knows.
    A bag of buckshot she held in her hand,
    Then she told him that Karl could not take the stand.

    His jaw how it twitched, his chin to and fro,
    His cheeks were like roses, his nose white from blow!
    His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
    She pulled on his ear…you’re back on the snow!
    The shaft of a pen he held tight in his fist,
    And the smoke it encircled, man was he pissed.
    He made a mad face, then reached for the lead,
    He shook and he scowled, I wish he were dead.

    Righteous and pompous, a nasty old soul,
    She slapped him and said, pull Cheney from the hole.
    A wink of his eye and a grin on his face,
    Soon Fitz he would show that he should stay in his place.

    He spoke not a word but went straight to his work,
    And filled all the shotguns, then turned with a jerk,
    And with shaking fingers, he dialed the phone,
    Dick Cheney I need you, he said with a groan.

    Dick called for his chopper, to his team gave a whistle,
    And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
    But I heard him exclaim as he flew out of sight,

    Happy Fitzmas to all and we’ll get him tonight!

    read more observations here:

    http://www.thoughttheater.com

  • I mean, how many years did it take to nab any mobster who’s ever spent time in prison? How long did it take before the Israeli’s finally nabbed those Nazi war criminals and brought them to trial? Weren’t some of them in their 80’s by the time they finally were caught?

    Good police work is a long, slow, painstaking, arduous process. It’s not fun, it’s not glamorous, and it fucking takes forever. Even longer if you do it all by the book– the right way.

    This is why, for example, bombing the shit out of Afghanistan was a dumb idea, as was taking over Iraq. As was torturing hundreds or thousands of random people who had nothing to do with any crime.

    If you want to catch an international criminal– like Osama Bin Laden for instance– it takes a long time. You gotta be patient. It’s not a big media event and it’s not flashy.

    Same is true for criminals like Rove, Cheney, and Shrub. They were a lot more careful and sly than, say, Abrahamoff, Delay, and Cunningham, who were so brazenly stupid in their crimes that the prosecution has been able to move along fairly quickly.

    The Criminals In Chief may be very old– or in Cheney’s case, as dead as Williamn Casey– before they ever face justice for what they’ve done.

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