Rove's Attorney Thumps The Blogosphere

Karl Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin, takes a victory lap with Anna Schneider-Mayerson of the NY Observer.  He is not kind to the blogosphere:

Actually, it’s the media—not the prosecutor’s office—that he’s angry at, and especially the bloggers. Mr. Luskin was eager to portray the suffering of his client as a function of media attention and speculation, rather than real danger of a conviction.

 

Mr. Rove, Mr. Luskin said, had fallen victim to partisans and—more importantly—the bloggers who became their enablers.

...“That is a function of the tension that there is now between the mainstream media and the blogosphere. On the one hand, it seems to me that the CBS National Guard stories were the poster child for the principle that sometimes the blogosphere keeps the mainstream media accountable, and it seems to me that this story is, if you will, the poster child for the fact that the blogosphere is itself often not accountable, and that there are a universe of folks out there who have got personal or political agendas who were masquerading as news sources. That is just as destructive in its own way, or more than the mainstream media’s insularity is on the flip side.”

Meanwhile, the Wash Times names names in the mainstream media:

Unfortunately, at times, some in the media sounded more like cheerleaders for Mr. Wilson, who said in 2003 that "it's of keen interest to me to see whether or not we can get Karl Rove frog-marched out of the White House in handcuffs." In October, New York Times columnist Bob Herbert referred to Mr. Rove as "the administration's resident sleazemeister, who is up to his ears in this mess but has managed so far to escape indictment"; in November he declared that Mr. Rove and Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, were "clowns" who had been "playing games with the identity of a CIA agent."

Keith Olbermann of MSNBC turned his TV show, "Countdown," into a veritable repository of misinformation: A Lexis-Nexis search shows that the subject of Karl Rove's demise was discussed 26 times on Mr. Olbermann's program. In an Oct. 28 appearance, Jim Vandehei of The Washington Post quoted "people close to Rove" who "are telling us that there's still a distinct possibility that he could be indicted, and that they probably will know soon." On the same broadcast, NBC News Correspondent Norah O'Donnell said that Mr. Rove "has come within a whisker of being indicted." But even though Mr. Rove had escaped indictment, Mrs. O'Donnell said it was still bad news, because he was still working at the White House: "In a way, it might have been even cleaner and more helpful to the president if Rove had gotten nipped with some minor level of indictment, so that you could just get rid of both of these people [Messrs. Rove and Libby] today." On the May 8 "Countdown" broadcast, MSNBC correspondent David Schuster said flatly, "I am convinced that Karl Rove will in fact be indicted."

How Chris Matthews escaped their lash I don't know.

Comments

[windansea]

way to go Jason Leopold, Will Pitt and Marc Ash, honorable mention the the hamsterwheel, schmearleft etc!!

Maybe they could be more explicit and say the "left" side of the blogosphere.

[Jane]

How pathetic the left is. They live in a world where facts don't matter. Delusion sells, and that is scary.

[Gary Maxwell]

So over the last couple years, how many of the highly exalted media have manged to drag their own reputation thru the mud?

Of course we have CBS and Dan Rather on Lucy Ramirez and Kinko's work products

And its seems to me Shuster and Olberman have made NBs and affiliate MSNBC look like ninnies on Rove to hear from the Judge.

I am sure I am missing some other major fubars. Help me build a list.

[verner]

I just checked out the emptywheel. Really pathetic. The guy must be wearing a faded Che t-shirt when he blogs.

The difference between the left and right blogsphere is that the right corrects the misinformation dished out by the MSM, while the left blogsphere FEEDS misinformation to the MSM.

[maryrose]

verner:
So true! Last night on Tucker Carlson he flat out told Rachel Maddow she was wrong about Rove. They keep repeating that he outed a covert agent. They build lie upon lie. It's disgusting. They feel Rove should be held accountable. When Matthews was told what would constitute a legal violation he acted as if he was hearing it for the first time! Baloney! He knows what the law is on this.

[BurbankErnie]

Where oh where is Matt Cooper???

tip o' the day.

[Extraneus]

Agree 100%, windandsea. The difference in the level of accuracy and integrity between the major left and right blogs is becoming clearer every day. This could and should have been noted more explicitly by Luskin.

[ordi]

Roger L Simon has a suggestion.

Let's get back to the real (Plame) story

(a HREF=http://www.rogerlsimon.com/mt-archives/2006/06/lets_back_to_th.ph
p

[ordi]

Sorry I hit the post button before I was done.

Let's get back to the real Plame story

[ordi]

Michelle Malkin and Pat Curley have a great vent today!

TM - your in it!

The Night Before Fitzmas

[Semanticleo]

If Luskin is taking a 'victory lap', as you say Maguire, why does it sound like the Book of Lamentations?

And if the Blogosphere and the Media (aka the Liberally Biased ,Larry David Prius Driving, Left Wing Commie Pinko, America Laster, Tax and Spend DemonRat moonbats) are the bad guys in the persecution
and villification of the
innocent babe-in-arms, Karl Rove, let's all support governmental regulation of the NET.

Then WingNut Nation can regain their monopolistic megaphone to peddle their wares
unchallenged. That will make everything peachy keen, neat-o once again.

[ARC: Brian]

Um, Leo, If I read any lamentations in the article its that he laments having to have to take a Victory Lap at all. The race should have never needed to be run.

[Sue]

aka the Liberally Biased ,Larry David Prius Driving, Left Wing Commie Pinko, America Laster, Tax and Spend DemonRat moonbats

Wow. Seems Leo can be right now and again...

[Sue]

Hey Leo,

Just to clarify...how many times have you seen one of your posts deleted at Tom's site? megaphone to peddle their wares
unchallenged. Now ask yourself why when any of us visit a lefty site, our posts are gone before we are? Get over yourself. The only megaphone to peddle wares unchallenged I've seen lately belong to Scary Larry, Truthout, Firdoglake, KOS, and the like.

[JM Hanes]

"Actually, it’s the media—not the prosecutor’s office—that he’s angry at, and especially the bloggers."

Wow, sounds like http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014835.html>TalkLeft really, really pissed him off! :)

[Jane]

Well the woman did call him at home at 10:00 on a Sat night. That would piss me off too.

[Semanticleo]

Sue;

All the aforementioned support Net Neutrality.

Do you?

[MayBee]

Can you imagine being an attorney, knowing your client could get 20 years if convicted of a crime, and watching Leopold, Johnson, and Wilson frolic about on the blogs.

You've got to seriously wish the kids would stop playing around.

[noah]

I'll repeat what I said yesterday: I think Fitz finally was embarassed into letting Rove go BECAUSE of the unhinged speculation in the MSM/moonbatsville. Cleo just doesn't get it.

Compared to your average moonbat/dem politician, Karl Rove is a saint.

They hate him because he helped put Bush in power.

[maryrose]

Ot:
Another slap on the wrist for a dem:
Kennedy has to pay $350 in a fine, 1 year probation random drug testing and a rehab stint which he already completed. The fine is chump change. Meanwhile Libby...

[Jim E.]

I'm unclear on the import of the excerpted Wash Times story. Are people now suggesting that Rove never had anything to worry about? That no eyebrows should have been raised over 5 GJ appearances? Heck, Tom Maguire himself (as he admits) could have been listed alongside Herbert, VandeHei (who was sourcing Luskin, for Pete's sake), and the others in expecting a Rove indictment.

[topsecretk9]

You've got to seriously wish the kids would stop playing around.

Well in a strange way Wilson, Larry and Leopold put Fitzy in the same position Wilson put the WH in, in July of '03.

[Sue]

Leo,

What does that have to do with deleting posts and banning posters? You seek to change the subject, because you know I'm right. The only megaphone to peddle wares unchallenged.

[ARC: Brian]

Top --

Well in a strange way Wilson, Larry and Leopold put Fitzy in the same position Wilson put the WH in, in July of '03.

Thats a great point. What irony.

[Specter]

Tic,

Try it for yourself. Go to one of the main lefty sites - Try KOS or Truthout - and pretend to be a vocal and insistent conservative - like you are here, but the other way. See how long it takes before you are banned. Empirical evidence.

[Sue]

Shoot Specter, Leo would rather pretend the VRW is keeping his side down, or as he put it, the only megaphone to peddle wares nchallenged. Otherwise, he would have to admit that the left is not the party where dissent is welcome. In fact, wander off the path just a degree and they boot you. Ask Joe Lieberman.

[sad]

A part of me wonders if speculation on this blog is The "sourcing" for JL. Or maybe scary and ray and mr. hairdo used this blog as conformation before they fed it to jl. Obviously, this is some whacky wondering but Hey!! not as weird as other parts of the blogoshpere.

[Semanticleo]

I take it the answer is NO.

[Sue]

My answer is what I said, Leo. You know which side of the blogosphere discourages an opposing POV. Which, BTW, was the discussion you and I were having, not whether they support net neutrality.

[topsecretk9]

---Try it for yourself. Go to one of the main lefty sites - Try KOS or Truthout - and pretend to be a vocal and insistent conservative ---

Gee no kidding. The funniest part is these lefties sites pee'd their pants at WAPO for censoring their profanity laced screeds but were deleting comments on their own site they very day!

[Semanticleo]

Like I thought, No.

[Gary Maxwell]

Leo as Sue pointed out you blantantly changed the subject, to something esoteric that was not under discussion here by anyone let alone Sue. Then you demand a yes or no answer and when you dont get one you provide one that you like. Nice work, Goebbels would have been proud of such artistic flair and deftness under pressure.

[Sue]

Leo,

Okay. No. I'm generally not in favor of government regulations. That would generally make me a conservative or libertarian. You pick. I really don't care which you decide. You know I'm right about who shuts down opposing views.

[Sue]

Besides, I don't get broadband services where I live anyway. ::grin:: You could say I'm hoping they invest in my area since the government decided to stay out of it. What's in it for me, baby!!!!

[Sue]

Gary,

He had to change the subject...quickly...because he knew he was losing the other one.

[TallDave]

But WAS Karl Rove indicted? Under the "many worlds" hypothesis of quantum mechanics, there may be an alternate reality where Karl Rove was in fact indicted.

And that, I am convinced, is where Jason Leopold, Keith Olbermann, DailyKos, and the rest of these people are living. It really is a reality-based community -- just not OUR reality.

[fitz]

Do you have any idea how hard it is to build a case, when every tinfoil hat in the universe feels it neccessary to email, phone, and stalk the prosecution, reminding me of what I need to look into?

I would have kept the case open longer, but somebody had to shut these morons up.

[noah]

If "net neutrality" means someone (anyone) gets to determine when that happy state exists and has the power to modify it then of course nobody with any sense, left or right, would support "it".

[Specter]

Tic,

The Rules of Disinformation

You keep using these:

9. Play Dumb. No matter what evidence or logical argument is offered, avoid discussing issues except with denials they have any credibility, make any sense, provide any proof, contain or make a point, have logic, or support a conclusion. Mix well for maximum effect. 14. Demand complete solutions. Avoid the issues by requiring opponents to solve the crime/issue at hand completely, a ploy which works best with issues qualifying for rule 10.17. Change the subject. [Specter Note: My Rule #1] Usually in connection with one of the other ploys listed here, find a way to side-track the discussion with abrasive or controversial comments in hopes of turning attention to a new, more manageable topic. This works especially well with companions who can 'argue' with you over the new topic and polarize the discussion arena in order to avoid discussing more key issues.

[rogera]

Seems to me that Leo is confusing bandwidth and carrier issues (net neutrality) with entertaining opposite points of view on blogs--or, of course, he is being disingeneous rather than merely ignorant.

[JM Hanes]

Hey Semanticleo

How many days (weeks, months) has it been since you refused to answer your own question about whether you believe ends justify means?

[Gary Maxwell]

specter

He is just missing a sock puppet er I mean companion to really put the strategy to full effect.

[Gary Maxwell]

Ralph Peters in the NY Post today on the Media's bad month. Might add in all lefties not just their talking head brethren.

http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/brave_prez_bests_media_know_it_alls_opedcolumnists_ralph_peters.htm> Media's Bad Month

[JJ]

Hold on!

The main event/day-of-reckoning for various media outlets is the Libby trial.

That is, if the Libby trial does proceed, Mr. Wells vs the various sources of the Exhibits should be accountability time.

A scolding from Luskin or The Washington Times shouldn't rate a blimp on the radar compared to the severe storm that various sources of news/"truth" are due on PlameGate.

[clarice]

Pretend you are Dan Abrams and have just taken over as manager of MSNBC. What do you do?
Do you stay with the Olbermann/Matthews/Shuster thoroughly discredited team and hang on to the small but dedicated moonbat audience? Or, do you decide to go for broke and clean house in the hope of attracting a larger, rational audience?

[clarice]

More tsouris for Abrams, a nasty email about Rita Cosby from Olbermann comes to light. http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/426477p-359629c.html

I predict Shuster and Olbermann might be in trouble, and Matthews will get a warning.

[BurbankErnie]

great question clarice.
I say they stay with their "core" audience.

[Rick Ballard]

Clarice,

I hope MSNBC leaves Tip's flack on the air. He actually helps discredit the balance of their reporting - not that it needs much help.

If health is the objective then cutting off a gangrenous limb is the proper thing to do. In this instance - Go Chris!

[Extraneus]

I liked the part at the end about how he answers to nobody. It's probably true.

[Gary Maxwell]

Dan Abrams is an attorney and a Duke grad. Give it to him that he is much brighter than those who are now reporting to him. Dan is a liberal. He went off the reservation early on the Duke case, but its his alma mater and as a trained attorney he could see the ethics that Nifong was ignoring.

He has a problem. No one watches his pathetic network and its not going to change with Olberman being exhibit one. But he could lose the moonbats while trying to fix the virus.

[Semanticleo]

JM;

I guess we're even since you EPU'd me on the Haditha thread.

[Karl]

Free! I'm Free!!! Hahaha

[Carol Herman]

A light shines on why Drudge won't call himself a "blogger." When I first heard him sound off (on his Sunday radio show), I shrugged.

But now I'm pissed.

How did the LEFT steal the word? It's not their's ya know? We beat the crap out of them!

So, who are we?

Well, we're like the farmers who woke up (when Paul Revere knocked). We got out of bed. And, we SHOT THE RED COATS WHEN WE COULD SEE THE WHITE'S OF THEIR EYES!

Call it a Revolution.

But the LEFT doesn't own the "bloggosphere. Instead, they propel the Internet, as people comeing here have noticed.

Drudge says we need another word.

Well, I guess if you think about it our ancestors (the farmers), weren't putting on uniforms when they headed to Breed Hill. Okay. Today, we call it BUNKER Hill. Why the name change? Our old ancestors did that. To commemorate their "starting" gate. Not bad.

We're (de)BUNKERS not bloggers. So there.

[clarice]

Sometimes it takes an incident in which one has more than a passing interest--in Abrams case it may be the Duke case--to see how badly off track things are and makeone more sceptical of the left.

In any event, he's young and ambitious and put in charge of a dying enterprise, one which is now being singled out for preposterous bias in reporting this case. Shuster's the most easily disposed of. I say he's out of there.
Olbermann is next in line. He has some fans, but not many, and if he's fighting so publicly with another network host, he's set himself up.
Matthews has a bigger base and longer history but he will--or should--get a talking to.
Of course, all this depends on their contract terms .

[Semanticleo]

Sue;

Sorry to ignore your beartrap question of
'Who is worse' and the inevitable stalemate that wastes everyone's time. Let me just
evacuate the 'tit-for-tat' game of Pong and
generalize to your point.

Give your definition of 'Liberal' and 'Conservative' or 'Libertarian', if you
prefer. Here's mine.

Liberal; Generous, open.

Conservative: Stingy, closed.

Then take a look at all the 'left wing' blogs and tell me how many don't allow
comments. Do the same with Wingnut Nation.

How's the tally? That issue is a little easier to discuss than how many commenters
have been banned from each category.

[Carol Herman]

NEW COUNTDOWN SUGGESTION FOR OUR PRESIDENT:

When does I. Scooter Libby return to his desk job at the White House?

How long does the farce continue?

And, why not have the President say that with what he's seen it's about time to end the charade. If Fitzgerald's got the goods, Libby will see him in Court. But it's about time he got back to working with the Veep.

Hopefully, Libby's back BEFORE election day!

[Gary Maxwell]

8:33 left field comment about Net Neutrality ( WTF?)

8:46 Sue rightly says WTF?

In between couple of lame non responses

11:13 another non response which claims the question was a trap.

And think about how long it too to even come up with this nonanswer answer. Its to laugh.

[Semanticleo]

Sue;

You don't have to ban anyone from a site.

All you need is people like Patton, PeterUK,
Gmaxwell etc. to shut down the debate with
adhom attacks that are a function of their
frustrated personal lives or some tax they had to pay. That is a far more effective way of
controlling the debate within a thread. God forbid, someone should introduce an idea that runs at cross-puirposes to the local
mainstream. And the rational commenters,
by their silence, enable the trolls to spew
and fulminate without checks and balances.

That tactic is much more prevelent on sites of BOTH the left and right. But, the locals
who wince at some of the assinine comments,
want to maintain 'unity' and keep the bonding strong, are complicit in that kind
of 'banning' which is even conjoined to the
Host (e.g-Althouse) when they like to keep
the yodeling in the valley constained to their favorite key. So, Sue, if you want to start bandyuing about stats on what sites 'Ban' more, you might want that more subtle form included.

[azredneck]

leo: give it up. we know that the rove decision is killing you and. quite frankly, most of us have enjoyed your discomfort. I am sure that sue has enjoyed your constant picking on her, but its getting a little tiring watching your infantile behavior.
From this point on, I will be ignoring any post you have to make.

[sad]

Sue

It is a badge of honor that leo has decided to harrass you. Clarice drives Jeff batty just by being right and now you have your own little minion going bonkers. I for one am very proud of you. You've arrived!!!

[sad]

Where is Jeff? Has anyone heard from him since the news broke?

[Semanticleo]

Arizonaredneck;

What Rove decsion are you referring to?

Oh, you mean the one where he agrees to testify to a specific factual thread and if
he deviates, he gets the book thrown at him?

[clarice]

leo, To my knowledge this is the most open-minded blogsite with the least amount of personal attacks of any I've ever seen. Most posters stick admirably to the substance of the arguments and facts presented. And that is a rare thing, indeed.

[sbw]

Cleo:

Leave the broad brush at home. The quality of JOM and the quest of most of the commenters for understanding outshines any of the aforementioned "Truthxxx" blogs hands down.

If you honestly care to sort out what is at issue, it has nothing to do with liberal or conservative and a lot to do with, valuing not your own ideas, but sound ideas. Your misuse of rhetoric gives away your own prejudices that, sadly, in the end only harm you.

[Sue]

So, Sue, if you want to start bandyuing about stats on what sites 'Ban' more, you might want that more subtle form included.

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2006/06/roves_attorney_.html#comment-18512799>Leo

Just a reminder as to what started this conversation between us. You seem to have wandered off the reservation and have attributed to me that which you began. ::grin::

[Sue]

pooey...

::grin::

[Semanticleo]

Sad;

On behalf of Sue let me thank you for the support. But if you had the context you would
understand that she was 'doggin' me for an
answer to a question, not the other way around.

So I guess the complement belongs to me!

[Sue]

Sad,

In Leo's defense, I generally start it. ::grin::

[Gary Maxwell]

Subject changing once again. And in a rare twist, come up with a specious argument unsupported by any fact, that it is others that are shutting down the debate.

Sue, at least he spells your name out and correctly.

[Sue]

'doggin' me for an answer to a question, not the other way around.

I laughed out loud at that Leo.

[Semanticleo]

It's a bitch when people don't let you control the debate.

Sue;

:::SMIRK::::

I didn't think you wanted to address your co-dependency with the resident trolls.

There I go. Changing the subject again!

[Sue]

I thought the smirk was for what I was going to find out in 24 hours, or some such nonsense. Now you are are smirking because you don't want to address the lock-step thinking demanded of liberals.

I didn't think you wanted to address your co-dependency with the resident trolls.

Yeah, that's me alright. ::grin::

[Gary Maxwell]

What the monopolization of the conversation is not going quite the way you planned it? Quick look over there is that a bird? No wait! How much does a $1.00 ice cream cone cost? What were we talking about again? Sheesh

[sad]

Sue
I feel honor bound to support you as I was also of the opinion that Fitz couldn't resist indicting Rove. And you are never malicious in your points. But you are right so often that it is bound to make people mad, human nature being what it is.

Do you think Joe is running around in a mad circle screaming "I was THIS Close!!!!!????"

What are the odds that any publisher is going to give them a seven figure advance now? For Joe this has always been all about the money. When Kerry dumped him, David Corn gave him the "outed my wife meme" which rolled nicely into the opportunity for a tell all book. Joe was nimble every step of the way, he just couldn't make the "rove was indicted" story true enough to last long enough to get the contract signed. Even with all of that support from the Lamestream media it didn't last quite long enough. Fitz rained all over this parade. He was "just this close"

[Sue]

Well Sad, I don't know how to respond to that praise. I don't feel it is deserved but I thank you for the kind words. I try not to be malicious, and don't think I am malicious. But I don't pull punches either. ::grin::

[dorf]

Olbermann is a robot that was planted and programmed by Rove.

[Sue]

Do you think Joe is running around in a mad circle screaming

When he isn't mugging for the camera, I suspect that he is...the man is a nutcase!

[Monkey Trainer]

Cleo,

"What Rove decsion are you referring to?

Oh, you mean the one where he agrees to testify to a specific factual thread and if
he deviates, he gets the book thrown at him?"

How can you just make sh** up and then expect to be taken seriously by anyone? Seriously, what is going on betweeen your ears? Do you believe every lefty conspiracy theory out there? Cite to one credible source for this ridiculous assertion - just one.

Why can't leftists ever deal in facts. Why must they always make stuff up? Is it because there are no facts to support any of their crazy arguments and political theories? Must be, otherwise they wouldn't do it.

[Sue]

Monkey,

Actually, I think someone explained it earlier. Maybe it was in another thread. They are a reality based community. It isn't their fault they are in a community that exists in an alternate universe.

[clarice]

You know, Luskin played this very well, taking the unusual step of testifying himself and allowing Rove to repeatedly teestify with no agreement not to prosecute by Fitz. He is a gutsy, excellent lawyer.

OT, I love James Lileks and want to share this with you. http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/lileks061406.html

[Coban]

The blogosphere was responding to Fitz, a DOJ criminal conspiracy investigator passing on Plame. Rove was another memo-leak that Plame planned since the beginning of the war; with Powell.

The intelligence community has been irrevocably changed since DOJ passed. All the CIA analysts are moving to NSA(DIA) under Alan(not Laurence) Foley-Plame's old boss. Larry and the other retired operations officers who came out under Plame and proved we wasted our money want Rove's clearance when Plame already ruined their careers having them questioned and banned for five years from committees.

ordi, the Directorate of Operations sent Wilson to Niger. Plame worked here and admitted it at 'Vanity Fair.' Larry johnson also confirmed she worked for Directorate of Operations just before the Iran desk was opened at State. Neither one has been indicted under criminal conspiracy laws when this was done with the intent of affecting other persons and governments-some are not around any more. Both could only get the results they wanted by leaking who they were in the media, not using US government officials as was planned.

DOJ passed and Plame and Johnson went ahead and leaked who they were to the media. This was done with intent. The results are in the news and any intelligence service can point to it and the change in US DOJ and the transfer of CIA analysts to NSA under Plame's old boss, Alan foley-not Laurence who, like others, studies Russia. So, how is he with Plame's and Johnson's outings.........he can't say it's okay.

I'd tell you this in comments, but you don't allow those without joining and some simply edit what does not reflect their opinion. This is where the blogsphere loses. MSM can do this all day long and is better at reporting, so don't go thinking that any favors are being done by requiring joining or editing. That is for losers in the blogoshere.

[Gary Maxwell]

Just when you think it cant get any better, this:

Democrats in disarray as Bush basks in glow of Iraq trip
Jun 14 9:54 AM US/Eastern

US President George W. Bush's triumphant return from his unannounced visit in Iraq found opposition Democrats more divided than ever on US policy in the wartorn country, and how best to capitalize on administration missteps there.

Republicans basked in the afterglow of the president's dramatic lightning visit Tuesday to meet with Iraq's new Prime Minister Nuri Maliki -- an event likely to figure prominently in a daylong debate Thursday in the House of Representatives on Iraq and the US "war on terror."

Bush's trip Tuesday followed last week's successes in Iraq, with the formation of the country's new unity government and the killing of Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

But Democrats -- who have disagreed about the war since the invasion more than three years ago -- continued to be riven by internal dissent, particularly on the critical question of an exit strategy from Iraq.

One of the party's most prominent figures, Senator John Kerry, is expected to introduce a resolution this week calling for a pullout of American forces by the end of the year.

The guy who goaded us to lose our will in Vietnam is going to do it again, right before elections.

Clarice is this the tin ear you so often point out or what?

[cathyf]

Well in a strange way Wilson, Larry and Leopold put Fitzy in the same position Wilson put the WH in, in July of '03

Yes, and Fitzgerald's reaction was to retaliate against a whistleblower (Cheney) by "outing" the confidential work (NIE declassification) of the whistleblower's (work-)wife (Libby).

It certainly does bring a certain logic to the curious blindness of Fitzgerald, who apparently can not conceive that there are people who don't act this way.

cathy :-)

[sad]

Gary

At least Kerry is finally "right" in dumping Joe Wilson. Wilson was a media darling for a couple of years right after Kerry booted him from the campaign. Kerry was probably kicking himself in the pants over it. (Or Teresa was) At least now he can point to one thing that went well for him and his tin ear.

[clarice]

Yes. His finger is always in the wind, but he seems to always be a week off in the direction it's blowing. It's uncanny, really.
(I have a similar talent of always being 180 degrees off in direction finding. My family knows this and uses it to good affect. When we get to an unfamiliar intersection they ask me which direction to go in, if I say right, for example, they go left, and that always proves to be the correct answer.)

[Gary Maxwell]

Here is a pretty good response to latest Leo nonsense:

"The other team thought they'd sacked the quarterback, and even if he came back he'd limp anyway," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and a Rove confidant, who had lunch with him yesterday. "Now he's back -- no limp."

The only saying was never poke the lion in the cage with a stick, on the theory that he might get out. He is out now.

[Gary Maxwell]

do the Democrats really want John Kerry as their public face and spokesman for this effort? Even if its sincere ( with Kerry there is plenty of reason to question that ) do you really want Eddie Haskell trying to sell your story?

[JM Hanes]

Leo

"I guess we're even since you EPU'd me on the Haditha thread."

Afraid I don't know what "EPU" stands for. Where have I demanded that others answer a question, compained mightily about the nature of the answers I received, and then refused to answer it myself?

[clarice]

I'm sorry, Coban, I find your post incomprehensible. In any event Alan Foley is not at NSA. He is heading up security at
a non-intel government operation.

[sad]

Gary

It probably doesn't matter what the Democrats want in terms of what Kerry chooses to do. He married the bankroll that keeps him independant of the need for dancing to the party tune in exchange for funding.

[Patton]

Switch out Olberman with Laurie Dhue....

[maryrose]

clarice;
I suffer from the same affliction. I've been going the opposite way for years now. I was only right once back in 1972 when on a cross country car trip returning from San Francisco I dared to speak up to tell my friends that we were going the wrong way.

[maryrose]

Gary:
You insult Eddie Haskell; a respectable policeman in California.

[clarice]

Well, maryrose, my record of always being 180 degrees off is perfect..so it's as good as being 100% correct if you account for the error.*wink*

[Rick Ballard]

Patton,

No way. Give'em Shep. Both shops improve.

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

The commenters are revoltin' at Angry Bear too:

'PGL, you need to be man enough to acknowledge and state clearly that we got our asses kicked on the Rove deal.

'Thus far, it would appear that we got our tails kicked on the Plame issue from one end of D.C. to the other.'

[azredneck]

Since no one is commenting about Matthews today, I assume you couldn't bear to watch. I did for 2 reasons: to laugh and because I have increasing difficulty watching Shep since his Katrina reporting.
It was a riot. It was obvious throughout the show that Tweety was struggling that someone he has already convicted couldn't even get indicted. Just ain't no justice!

[clarice]

How much time do you suppose Matthews spends personally researching what he reports? I figure maybe 15 minutes a week...tops.

[azredneck]

Clarice: Surely you are being generous!

[sad]

Clarice

****How much time do you suppose Matthews spends personally researching what he reports? I figure maybe 15 minutes a week...tops.***

Once again you have demonstrated your graciousness. I would have bet Tweety researches nothing, just cruises the highlights of Huffpo as his make-up is being sprayed into place.