Keep Those Goalposts Moving

For anybody still following Jason Leopold's "scoop" that Karl Rove has been indicted (earlier discussion and mockery here) - the goalposts are being moved yet again, and may slip off below the horizon.

Mr. Leopold informed us last Saturday that Rove had already been indicted and had been given "24 hours" to "to get his affairs in order".  After nothing happened on Sunday, that was modified to "24 business hours".  Although somewhat unusual, "business hours" is apparently used by service centers and shipping firms and seems to mean, roughly, if a customer calls by 2PM on a business day, they will get service by 2PM the following business day.

However, additional caveats were heaped on top of that Leopold modification, and some commenters seriously suggested that, assuming an 8 hour business day, "24 business hours" means 3 business days.  Wow - I had made the same suggestion, but I at least was kidding.

Whatever - Steve Leser, having chatted with Mr. Leopold, now explains that Mr. Leopold stands by his story and:

I am going to hold off further speculation until the end of the day on Friday, May 19, or until, how shall I put it, events obviously dictate otherwise. I thank my readers for being patient until then.

Oh, stop - I predicted a May 19 indictment as well.  Does this mean I get to share credit with Leopold for his "scoop"?

Well, I may be wrong (No, really).  In which case, I await the next explanation, equivocation, or prevarication.

What I no longer expect is for the Leopold apologists to say "We were wrong."

MORE:  One suggestion that is no longer operative - Rove was told he would be indicted after the next episode of "24".  However - maybe Rove was told to get his affairs in order within the next 24 billable hours.  Although that would normally encompass only about 10 to 20 hours of human time.

Comments

[Lurker]

"I can not tell the entire contents of the conversation as much of it was off the record, but as a result of it, I am going to hold off further speculation until the end of the day on Friday, May 19, or until, how shall I put it, events obviously dictate otherwise."

Right.

We will see.

[Jim E.]

TM: "Does this mean I get to share credit with Leopold for his 'scoop'?"

Given that you and Leopold likely have the same exact high level sources on this story, I would say "yes" in answer to your question. You earned the scoop as much as he did! (As in, guessing which Wed or Friday you think something will happen.)

[Patton]

Jason Leopold has been indicted for public indecency and criminal ignorance in East Los Angeles County at 3:00 O'clock today.
Jeralyn Merritt witnessed the entire Mylee' and has been put under a gag order.

He was given 20.4 hours to clear his desk of all new scoops and prosecutor Scooter Deville presented his lawyer with a double super secret sealed indictment at his cats vets office.

I have this on good authority from at least two close to human sources and one mumbling bag lady that sleeps in the alley.

The indictment is to be unsealed, de-containerized and detailed at a press conference later on.
If this turns out to be untrue at some point I will out my sources, unless those sources give me more detailed reasons why they were right to be my sources the first time.

My sources won't talk to anyone else so don't expect this to hit the media soon, you will need to come back here for updates.

More to follow.

And, NO, do not e-mail me asking if I have pictures of a gagged Jeralyn Merritt...sickos.

[Lurker]

Here is one interesting post over at TruthOut:

"Fitzgerald Will Indict Eventually
Even if this story has some facts wrong, or the timeline is off... Rove will be indicted.

I was in Chicago when a truck driver was involved in accident that killed a family in a mini-van. An investigation by the local prosecutor into the truck driver revealed no paperwork on the guy from the State License Bureau. A deposition with the truck driver produced evidence he walked into the license bureau with cash at the instruction of his boss and he was issued a commerical drivers license without taking the state test.

The local prosecutor called Fitzgerald who said "I'll take care of it"

And result? 22 felony conviction for GOP Gov Ryan. All the wags said Ryan could never be touched. When he was indicted... All the wags said he would never be convicted.

1. Fitzgerald has never once in his career seated a Grand Jury and presented evidence into the record with indicting.
2. Karl Rove has been identified as "Official A" in the Libby indictment... In every case Fitzgerald has done this, "Offical A" was charged.

Fact of the matter is... Despite whatever Leopold has said on this... In my eyes, Rove is already convicted, because...

Fitzgerald has never missed a conviction on an indictment either."

[PeterUK]

Has no one worked flexible hours?

[Mickey]

Leoplold, Waas, Larry are old CIA guys? It's a retired CIA guy leaking?

[Kate]

From the posting on Talk Left I would have to guess if Rove:

1) was a Chicago truck driver who killed a family;
2) was a corrupt Illinois governor convicted on 22 counts
3) was a busy government official who forgot a two minute telephone call from the nuisance Cooper

Will the real Karl please stand up?

[BurbankErnie]

I have heard from unimpeachable sources in Texas that not only will the case against Libby be thrown out, but Fitz, Wilson, R. Beers, and the entire Circus of Clowns who have ever mentioned Outing CIA Gangster Plame wil be indicted for Stupidity, BDS, Lying to the Country, and drawing a paycheck whilst a Liberal.
John F'n Kerry was unavailable for comment, but Sean (I am playing Richard Clarke in a Movie) Penn appealed to the United Nations, presumably following character in the movie "The Interpeter". The World Peace organization(UN)has sanctioned the U.S., and will immediately add Iran to the Security Council.
Unimpeachable sources I tell you. All this will happen on Friday, 05/19/06. Super Cerial!

[topsecretk9]

He was given 20.4 hours to clear his desk of all new scoops and prosecutor Scooter Deville presented his lawyer with a double super secret sealed indictment at his cats vets office.

I want a copy of a stool sample test results, before BEFORE I EVEN BELIEVE YOU! Mister! Imean it! NOW!

[ghostcat]

"Super Cerial"

Omigod, its MANBEARPIG! We're all gonna DIE!!

[rob]

Oh, stop - I predicted a May 19 indictment as well

I re-read your link. I don't see where you predicted a May 19th indictment. I saw where you said there was a 70% chance of indictment, but with no date. Did I miss it, or wasn't it there?

[Bother - I fixed the link. I had made an earlier prediction of an indictment someday, and added a date in a subsequent post, which is now double-linked in this post]

[Bill in AZ]

This would be cruel and unusual punishment, but if Karl Rove has any kind of sense of humor he will leave the office on Friday in between a couple of policemen - then stop and thumb his nose at the gaggle of moonbat MSM reporters (er... that's redundant) before going home. Lib heads will explode the world over.

[topsecretk9]

truth-out (I kid you not DUM comment)

dmsRoar (1000+ posts) Wed May-17-06 02:42 PM
Original message
I don't give a f*** if Leopold is right!

As long as Darth is indicted.
As to who gets the credit for breaking the story or who deserves the credit or doesn't get the credit or whose credibility is temporarily affected or unaffected or permanently affected or whose hair gets messed up or who has to put on fresh eyeliner or has to get a new prom date after it's all over or who loses his press badge and magnifying glass or what six MSM companies look like f***king idiots when it's all said and done or which details are slightly mixed up or totally effed to hell or all dead on I DO NOT GIVE A F***. As long as Rove is indicted. (And sooner would be better than later.)

[maryrose]

BillinAZ
I like how you think.
Is this how it works on the lefty blogs?
Leopold's story is full of calumny and slander and he pulls a n Emily Litella on us with a "never mind"?It reminds me of the song:
The Joker Went Wild
And He Couldn't Smile
Because He Had Lost Everything Worthwhile
That about sums it up for this Jason character.

[Cecil Turner]

I re-read your link. I don't see where you predicted a May 19th indictment. I saw where you said there was a 70% chance of indictment, but with no date. Did I miss it, or wasn't it there?

He gave the wrong link. It's in the same one as the "(earlier discussion and mockery here)" link:

All that said, I am personally predicting (with 70% probability) a Rove indictment for this Friday, May 19, with a second guess of Wednesday, May 24.

[vanderleun]

You know, if this doesn't work out turthout may have launched a new Net meme, "That's Our Bullshit and We're Sticking to It."

[Sue]

Shoot fire, we should all just pick a day of the week we think Fitz will indict and then someone from JOM can claim a scoop.

[maryrose]

I'm predicting no Rove indictment but Fitz letting things dangle because it suits his purposes.

[BumperStickerist]

Maybe Leopold is talking about bicycle shop business hours.

24 of those hours could stretch into, like, July.

[MayBee]

I keep wondering how wrong he can be and still be right. If you read the Salon story, this is what he did then too. A few more days and he'll have a little more information...ad infinitum.

It is a horrible reflection on Wilson and Larry JJ Johnson that they are a part of this. I hope someone that matters is taking note.

Jeralyn needs her Oprah/James Frey moment with him. His story has not held up, no matter what happens from this point forward.

It is about moving goalposts, but the goalposts are actually rorschach inkblots that look like goalposts OR they look like Rove being frogmarched.

[ordi]

I'm predicting Rove indictment on June 31st! :-) It is as accurate as Leo"tard".

[maryrose]

ordi:
I agree with your date though the 12th of never is more accurate.

[PeterUK]

I predict that Rove will return to the mother ship and a Rovian battlecruiser will vapourise the Bay Area,there will be no singing and dancing.

[maryrose]

Beam me up Scotty!

[Neo]

That must be 24 banker's hours

[MayBee]

I predict a Rove indictment, if and/or when it occurs, will occur in a period of time that is encapsulated within a 24-hour period of time. Futhermore, it will happen within 24-business hours of a Wednesday. Rove will then have 24-business hours to get his affairs in order, so the actual indictment will come at some period of time AFTER he has gotten his affairs in order, which will be sometime between now and 2008.
So.

[topsecretk9]

I just remembered something...(because of Specter) but Raw Story and Chris Matthew's said last Thursday news crews were staked out at the CHouse for Friday...

Jason changed the story to have Fitz stopping by the CHouse around 11:30 and then dashing over to Patton Boggs for the marathon session. (or some close variation of this - can't bear to re-read)

UM...news crews. Were they all taking a lunch break when Fitz dashed out? Wasn't the point of them being there to witness Fitz at the courthouse? ... Wouldn't the media be reporting Fitz was at the courthouse -- because that is why their news crews were there?

[PaulV]

my prediction date: California 8th
birthdate of childhood friend

[windansea]

Update on the Rove Indictment Story
By Marc Ash (Truthout editor)

Wed May 17th, 2006

For the past few days, we have endured non-stop attacks on our credibility, and we have fought hard to defend our reputation. In addition, we have worked around the clock to provide additional information to our readership. People want to know more about this, and our job is to keep them informed. We take that responsibility seriously.

Here's what we now know: I spoke personally yesterday with both Rove's spokesman Mark Corallo and Rove's attorney Robert Luskin. Both men categorically denied all key points of our recent reporting on this issue. Both said, "Rove is not a target," "Rove did not inform the White House late last week that he would be indicted," and "Rove has not been indicted." Further, both Corallo and Luskin denied Leopold's account of events at the offices of Patton Boggs, the law firm that represents Karl Rove. They specifically stated again that no such meeting ever occurred, that Fitzgerald was not there, that Rove was not there, and that a major meeting did not take place. Both men were unequivocal on that point.

We can now report, however, that we have additional, independent sources that refute those denials by Corallo and Luskin. While we had only our own sources to work with in the beginning, additional sources have now come forward and offered corroboration to us.

We have been contacted by at least three reporters from mainstream media - network level organizations - who shared with us off-the-record confirmation and moral support. When we asked why they were not going public with this information, in each case they expressed frustration with superiors who would not allow it.

GoofOut Linky

Will Pitt of GoofOut posted the above at the DUmp...he also said this

When the documents come out
they will have dates on the top.

Those dates will be Friday May 12, 2006.

Just as we said.

[jerry]

FWIW I predicted May 18th, and I'm prepared to have fun regardless.

[Specter]

Gotta hand it to Karl. I mean he planted the indictment story with Joe so Joe could give it to Larry and Larry to Jason. I can hear it now...Karl says, "Joe? This is Joel Loria - I'm outside the Patton Boggs offices and it is 2:30 AM - hey listen - Fitz just came out. He's been in there in a locked down 4th floor since 11:30 this morning. He was singing and dancing and said something like '24-hour affair'. Not sure what he meant by that unless...."

The man is a genius....

[clarice]

Wouldn't the media be reporting Fitz was at the courthouse ? More evidence of the media being in Rove's pocket..

[windansea]

a source is a source of course of course

I hereby name Jason Mr Ed

[Lurker]

Ha! Somebody said at TO that Fitz has not denied the story.

Well, he hasn't confirmed it either.

How is this different from Tony Snow saying we will not confirm nor deny?

[topsecretk9]

At this point, the only source the truthnot people can rely on is someone IN FITZ's OFFICE with direct knowledge. That's it.

A friend of Karl - for them - is not reliable. A Rove attorney leaking is technically not reliable -- for them.

So either FITZ has a very leaky office all this long, long Jason reporting time OR it's BS.

[Specter]

lurker,

I wonder if that is because nobody asked him....Fitz I mean. Give the man a photo-op...reminds me of "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie"

[clarice]

Well, perhaps someone ought to email the info to Fitz with a warning that he's sprung a leak..

[MayBee]

The fact that he falsely identified himself as a London reporter seems not to bother any of his supporters, does it?

[Specter]

I got yelled at when I pointed that out....LOL

[Neo]

I predict that if TM starts no more threads that this thread could last until Karl Rove as died an old man at home in his bed, having never seen the inside of a jail cell.

Jason Leopold will join OJ in the search for his ex-wife's killer.

[Lurker]

Clarice, what a great idea!

Wonder how Fitz feels about his leaky department. Will he start an investigation among his own employees and indict his own people?

As for the false identification, they've already forgotten that. Specter, why don't you...remind them and again and again?

[Kate]

TS-I never saw the source referred to as a in Fitz office. I thought it was sources close to the case. Is this what they're saying now.

[Lurker]

Hey, Specter, I see you posting there. You should've said something like maybe Fitz was on the phone with Jason, no,...Joel Lorie?

[topsecretk9]

The fact that he falsely identified himself as a London reporter seems not to bother any of his supporters, does it?

Gee, no kidding...I know I keep making the Ben Demenche(sp) comparison, but I can't help it. The really mean spirited personal attacks and the silly moral high-ground the left took slicing and dicing Ben and despite Jason's past of vastly larger journalistic sins and present sleaziness practice they still let him linger with great hopes AND move the goal posts!

Not all, I should say...but you are right Maybee...no one has had the balls to call falsely presenting oneself out for what it is - fraudulent and unseemly tactics

[Sue]

Someone at TO made an excellent point, if you can believe someone at TO made an excellent point (besides our very own Specter). If Rove was indicted last Friday and is still in the WH making speeches, it will be a political nightmare for Bush.

[Specter]

fixed lurker

[topsecretk9]

Kate,

that is my own reasoning. I don't even know what they are calling other than a flipping fleet and layer upon layer of sources at this point...but no one else in the media can seem to get to ANY of them.

I'm am just saying...for them to be standing by the story -- at this point...the source is leaking from Fitz's office or BS.

[MayBee]

TS-
I wouldn't expect Truth Out to care, but has Jeralyn even called out Jason on that?

[Specter]

Here is what Marc Ash said:

In fact, the building was staked out by at least two major network news crews.

He was referring to the Patton Boggs offices and not the CH.

[Neo]

best quote of the week
After reportly taking his cat to the vet around the time that Jason Leopold claims this hard-boiled session with Fitz was taking place.

The cat’s fine, thanks. Her stool sample shows no evidence of harmful parasites, which is one of the big differences between my cat’s stools and this case.

Bob Luskin