WP: GOP on Offense in Defense of Rove

[kskiska]

Wednesday, July 13, 2005; A01

Republicans mounted an aggressive and coordinated defense of Karl Rove yesterday, contending that the White House's top political adviser did nothing improper or illegal when he discussed a covert CIA official with a reporter.

With a growing number of Democrats calling for Rove's resignation, the Republican National Committee and congressional Republicans sought to discredit Democratic critics and knock down allegations of possible criminal activity.

"The angry left is trying to smear" Rove, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, a Rove protege, said in an interview.

A federal grand jury is investigating whether anyone in the Bush administration unlawfully leaked the name of a CIA official, Valerie Plame, to the news media. Although the White House has previously said Rove was not involved in the episode, a recently disclosed internal Time magazine e-mail shows that Rove mentioned Plame, albeit not by name, to reporter Matthew Cooper before her name and affiliation became public in July 2003. The grand jury is scheduled to hear from Cooper today.

The emerging GOP strategy -- devised by Mehlman and other Rove loyalists outside of the White House -- is to try to undermine those Democrats calling for Rove's ouster, play down Rove's role and wait for President Bush's forthcoming Supreme Court selection to drown out the controversy, according to several high-level Republicans.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/12/AR2005071200093.html

[Mythsaje]

1. Is it working?

Damn straight!

Got 'em on the defensive. They're trying to turn the tables, but as long as none of the Democrats cave, it's not going to work.

[confludemocrat]

19. This is a rare one Dems WON"T cave on. YAHOO!

But where's the outrage at the phony outrage at the justified outrage? STRIKE BACK AT THEIR COUNTEROFFENSIVE!!!! Where are all these winner consultants? Or are they only there to help losers take the "high road" while getting their heads stove in.

[Mojambo]

2. I'd rather be known as the angry left

than as the LYING right.

And that's how this thing is playing.

[TankLV]

10. And why, exactly, are we ANGRY?!!!!

Maybe it has something to do with us "wild conspiracy nuts" have been shouting about this at the top of our lungs for a looooong time now and NOTHING has been said about it, let along DONE about it, until now?!!!

GET A FUCKING CLUE AS TO WHY WE'RE ANGRY!!!!!!

bush* IS A CRIMINAL!

A LYING, AWOL, COWARDLY, THIEVING, INCOMPETANT CRIMINAL!

And YOU idiots (press, dems in power) have been CODDLING, COVERING UP, MINCING WORDS about it!

[StuckinKS]

22. I call it

RIGHTEOUS ANGER.

I once was told in a particular situation that I had a problem with my anger. Since I had a very good reason to be angry, I explained to my antagonists that it was they who had a problem with my anger. I was just fine with it.

My anger, that is.

[geek tragedy]

3. "A Rove protege." Ya think Kenny Boy wants that tag? eom

[xray s]

4. Dumb asses

They are playing this like its a political campaign.

It's a criminal investigation, morons!

[Glorfindel]

9. Exactly! They don't see the difference...

EVERYTHING is a political campaign to these monsters, and so far it's worked brilliantly for them. Let's just hope and pray their campaign is about to come to a screeching halt!

:grr:

[BillZBubb]

5. You are damned right we are ANGRY!

Rove committed treason. Treason makes us very angry, unlike the Repugs, who think it is alright when done in the name of the dear leader.

[lasttrip]

6. i know the left are angry

just didnt realize that holding someone accountable was smearing.

[tk2kewl]

7. If it isn't wrong to out CIA agents...

why isn't Delay introducing legislation to repeal the law that makes it a felony?

[rustydog]

8. Rove may be responsible for the deaths of Plames contacts

and these hyper-"Patriotic", Jesus-loving, hypocritical fucks are excusing illegal and immoral behavior on the part of Rove.

This is the same group of GOPhers who had a circle-jerk over Lewinski and held impeachment proceedings over a lie about a blow job.

Treason in wartime and the GOP hands out Talking Points?

[Patchuli]

12. We'll woof to that, rustydog!

No sh*t, what absolute brass balls these liars have! But it was a big mistake to play fast and loose with the law, especially after forcing big government laws down our throats for the past 4 1/2 years.

Especially after subjecting this country to the Hunting of President Clinton for 8 plus years and they still talk sh*t about the Clintons. This is while they plunder our Clinton-caused surplus and cause deficit.

Especially after giving the polluters green lights to pollute full speed ahead, log pristine wilderness and drill it up for oil.

Especially after taking us into an illegal war and killing thousands of innocents.

You live by the 'sword' and you die by it.

[Gregorian]

13. I'm only talkin' bout Shaft.

He was "discussing" her name. What's so wrong about that? I'll bet I'd already be sitting in an electric chair if I'd done that "discussing".

[rustydog]

21. Would he have discussed her if she worked in Agriculture?

[Pithy Cherub]

11. The Angry Left is winning!

This is beautiful, it's what is NOT in there that is wonderful. The defenders of the as-yet-unindicted-potential-treasonous-traitor affectionately known as Turdblossom, is being defended by PAID partisan hacks. Where are the big smoking gun republican governors, the 24/7 yackity yak wingnut Senators, the crazy right's congress critters... crickets are chirping.

KKKarl where are your friends...they are hanging you out to dry.
:nopity:

[Zorra]

14. Do republicans EVER tell the truth about anything?

No. They all know damn well that Rove and the WH outed Valerie Plame for revenge. Republicans are the most corrupt, dishonest pieces of shit on this planet.

From the OP article:

Rove has maintained he neither knew Plame's name nor leaked it to anyone. In an interview yesterday, Wilson said his wife goes by Mrs. Wilson so it would be clear who Rove was talking about and noted how Rove attends the same church as the Wilson family. Wilson said Rove was part of a "smear campaign" designed to discredit him and others who undercut Bush's justification for war.

[NYC Liberal]

15. "On Offense in Defense"? WTF?

I bet that if a Dem was the subject of an investigation, that would read, "Democrats On the Defensive." Of course, now it's "Republicans on the offense in defense."

...

[faithnotgreed]

16. how are they "on offense" when theyre responding to calls for his firing

oh well no surprise

at least the article tells a few truths

eta: i LOVE how they describe that the gop is going to try to ride this scandal out (yet again)

this time its far different than anything they are used to. the legal process is involved which they most definitely arent used to

[applegrove]

17. More more more - how d'ya like it, how d'ya like it!!

As long as they refuse to fall for the 'frame' and keep reporting on it as "offensive" - I'm happy. They are reporting news!!

[Bumblebee]

18. Bill Kristol will be savagely attacked tomorrow for this WP quote.

William Kristol, a conservative commentator with close White House ties, said it would be hard to imagine a prosecutor conducting an investigation that has landed one reporter in jail and challenged the constitutional rights of the journalism profession without indicting someone. Special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald "is the problem for the White House, and we have no idea what he knows," Kristol said.


I hate his guts but he is smart -- too smart to be in denial or even pretend that he is... And for that he will pay.

[confludemocrat]

20. That's so sweet: "we have no idea what he knows" Squirm, Bush bastards.

Georgie is gonna start drinking again even harder.

[Carolab]

23. I like the way they phrased this.

"Wilson was a chief target of the new GOP offensive designed to take some pressure off Rove. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) said the White House did not have to discredit Wilson. "Nobody had to do that," he said, adding that "he discredited his own report" by including unfounded allegations. The RNC talking point memo included a list of anti-Wilson lines."

Basically calls the RNC out on their lies. They ARE discrediting Wilson.

Good report by the WP. I'm shocked. Also, I was amazed at the way the press kept hammering at McClellan this afternoon. Could it be the press is waking up, or do they see blood in the water?

[ebayfool]

25. I suspect it's more likely anger at seeing 'one of their own' going to ...

jail while the white house goes on their merry way not giving a shit, LOL! Most of the press isn't too concerned @ *ushco bending the population over, but they ain't too happy @ what they perceive as their ranks getting the same treatment - used like a kleenex & thrown away. That's fine by me, as long as they are nipping at the heels of these criminals. Rabies or jail for all of them - as long as there's finally some friggin' action on it!

Where was all this fine righteous indignation when they were reporting on the smear boat vets, invading Iraq, the lack of bin Laden, patriot act & on & on?

The press didn't get fired up 'till Cooper & Miller started going down. Waking up or blood in the water? Nah ... self preservation instinct finally kicked in! I do hope it reawakens the lost instinct for actually questioning authority & reporting the news in those who lost it ... that even after this is resolved, the schmucks continue w/some passion for real reporting. They got fat & lazy w/the Clenis being typed out & handed to them, the reporting muscles atrophied. You can almost hear the moans now, exercising those self-same reporting muscles. They're gonna be sore & tender for lack of use for awhile, LOL!

[deacon]

24. Disgusting- They've become the Pro Treason party n/t

[truthisfreedom]

26. smearing the ultimate smearer? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

silly thugs. tricks are for roves!