Here we go again. In 1992 Karl Rove was fired by the first President George Bush for allegedly leaking a negative story about a Bush contributor to Robert Novak. Of course, just like today, Rove and Novak both deny the allegations. Wasn't it Twain that said history doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme?
In the '92 incident Rove leaked the name of Robert Mosbacher, who apparently did not raise enough money for Bush in Texas. After Mosbacher alleged Rove was the one who leaked his name to the press, Rove was subsequently fired.
It's evident that Rove has a history of leaking names to Novak to produce false stories or to cover them up. Just so we all are on the same page, leaking stories to the press is probably one of the most common political strategies known to mankind. Mayors running for small town offices commonly leak stories to the available press. A political leak is nothing new. The leak itself is not so much the issue, it's the information contained within the leak. Leaking the names of covert agents is a federal crime. Leaking the name of a bad fundraiser is a personal vendetta. Rove and Novak go back a long way in the press/insider relationship. Again, though, when classified material is leaked, especially concerning a counter-terrorism operation, it's serious business.
Republican Talking Points
A 27-point Republican talking points memo has surfaced with credit to Raw Story and Cranky Liberal. In it, Republicans aim to discredit Wilson, the husband of Valerie Plame, while blaming Moveon.org and Democrats for "Blatant Political Attacks."
The memo is mainly for the talking heads of the neocon movement, so that they all may get their stories straight when talking about the Rove leak. I'm sure Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, well all of Fox News, have already read the memo and begun their propaganda pitch to the country.
I will probably write more about this memo later. But, one of the talking points that really jump out at me is:
Vice President Dick Cheney: "I don't know Joe Wilson. I've never met Joe Wilson. ...And Joe Wilson- I don't [know] who sent Joe Wilson. He never submitted a report that I ever saw when he came back." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 9/14/03)
Doesn't that eerily sound very similar to Cheney claiming during the vice presidential debate that he had never met John Edwards either; when in fact he had met Edwards, but his stern exclamation that Edwards was an absent senator convinced many people of a false statement. Again, another case of history rhyming.
7.13.2005
Bush Fired Rove in '92 for Leaking to Novak
Posted by Chris at 10:17 AM
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11 comments:
Very interesting, MJ. It's interesting watching things develop / unravel on this story. Blog ON...
As Fox news has repeatedly said, when noting that unless what he did is illegal, there is no use defending it or assuming it will lead to his ousting. However, I can't imagine a Republican party having him, overtly anyway; running anything even if what he did was do was illegal. I mean legal is not the same as ethical or justifiable and surely the conservative public will see that. This would do them more harm with the thinking conservatives out there as I see it. Maybe this is just wishful thinking.
Thanks GTL for reading.
Joseph, I don't know if this will lead to his ousting or not. I actually think it might be better if Rove stays. Only hardcore Repubs are in love with the guy. 75% of the public thinks he is the dirtiest person to ever do politics. I wouldn't mind if he stayed. Stay or go, this is some serious stuff. Thanks for reading.
Alice, so far it is up in the air about Rove leaking names as being illegal. I honestly do not think the whole issue revolves around this being an illegal activity. It's a national security issue, not necessarily a legal one. However, whether it's illegal or not, Bush said if someone in his administration was responsible for leaking anything, then they would no longer be in his administration. I'm holding Bush to his words.
So far the email from Rove to Novak does not mention the name of Plame only that the agent is the wife of Joe Wilson, nonetheless that would be Valerie Plame. Name or not, she is the only wife of Ambassador Joe Wilson. Rove did leak the identity, the name is irrelevant. Of course this all depends on one's interpretation of the law.
Again, though, there is more than just that email. Novak has been quoted in an interview and I believe during grand jury testimony that he was giving a name, not just the wife of someone, at another point not including the email.
I think to stay on top of this, the Dems need to make this a national security issue. Let the grand jury and the courts work out the rest, because this is going to explode real soon like.
Thanks for reading Alice, your site is always fun.
Oh, and I have been drinking too tonight so forgive me if this sounds all screwed up.
Okay, this is so dirty. You know I really really dislike most politicians. It's this stuff that just irks me. It will be interesting when Bush fires Rove. I will be in the States as of next Tuesday, and be able to enjoy all the fanfare. Just dirty stuff. I mean, I like it that Bush doesn't fire someone just because the public demands it, like with Rumsfeld...however, this is a case where Rove did something illegal (if this is true, which is seems to be), and I am sure that Bush will deal with it accordingly, once the investigation comes to a conclusion.
In Cheney's defense, he is very old. Maybe, he had a mild stroke or heart attack during his meetings with Edwards and Wilson. :)
Yeah, I thought that too about DICK. He apparently doesn't remember meeting anyone. If he is THAT senile then he should step down.
Also, I agree with you MJ that having Rove around for the 2006 elections will probably help the democrats get elected. So we win either way. We win if he is ousted and we win if he stays. My op anyway. Keep bangin' away MJ.
Hey, that rhymed.
Look at me go.
Looks like Rove has been cleared of any wrong doing. Why won't Liberals start being as creative at fixing America's problems as they are to making up lies about this administration. Because, as it seems to me, they could really do alot to promote our country.
It seems to me that if it can be proven that someone in the administration leaked the info, it will come down to whether they were "aware" she was undercover. Ya know, a technicality. Like what the definition of is is.
As far as Rove being cleared, he has asserted that he learned Plame was a CIA agent from someone in the media. But does that then mean it was OK to pass that info along to someone else in the media?
To me it all comes down to the administration insisting no one had anything to do with the situation, when there were at least a couple of high level officials involved. They may not have done anything "wrong", but then why didn't they just give all these lame excuses 2 years ago before all the money was spent on the investigation?
Craig I think that Rove is back in the hot seat after hearing Matt Cooper this weekend. He and now Lewis "Scooter" Libby is in it up to his eye-balls too. Which is REALLY interesting given Libby is the V.P. Cheney's chief of staff. Hmmm.
I've been out of town for a few days, so I must have missed the Rove being cleared of any wrong doing. I'm not sure how he can be cleared of anything when he's not even under investigation. Who cleared him?
I think there should be an investigation into the Rove leak. Then let the investigation clear him or prosecute him.
I do agree with James, after Cooper's article in Time and everything else that is happening, I don't think Rove is in the clear just yet.
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