Why did Bob Novak reveal Wilson's Wife's Name? Aside from his WH Ties.....

[KoKo]

what would be his purpose in being the only one of the six journalists who were called to to reveal the name....when he knew that this would cause her network of CIA contacts to be revealed and possibly harmed?

Wolf Blitzer is all over this on CNN and keeps bringing up the severe penality for Novak's revelation. He's making this a HUGE story. Since Novak works for CNN why would Wolf be all over this story?

He's got people from Clinton's administration.....and he's focusing on pointing out that this has been part of the Bush Administration's way of paying back people for leaking and how it points out that the Administration wants revenge.

I heard the whole segment and it was hard to to believe what I was hearing. It almost sounded like they were blaming Novak for releasing Plane's name.........

Wolf says Novak will reveal more on Crossfire tonight.

What's up with this......CNN trashing it's own Political Operative Pundit? Something's afoot......but I'm at a loss to figure out what's going on here. Is Novak trying to bring down the Bush administration, exposing the faulty reasons for going into Iraq. Was Novak doing something noble? Exposing Bush Administration? or......something that will advantage Bush?

[NicoleM]

1. I'm not sure either.

I have a hard time believing that Novak did it for any reason other than personal gain. So what does he get out of this? At mimimum, some extra attention, but I don't think that's enough.

[msmcghee]

2. Novak's a RW jerkoff.

He's a bully and fully identifies with the power wielding bashers of the weaker and poorer classes.

He did it for the same reason dogs lick their cojones - because it feels good and they can.

[graham67]

3. Wow

good answer. :)

[Beetwasher]

4. Novak Is Being BACKSTABBED!

He did this probably because he thought he had a scoop and because he was told to do it. But now he's going to be made the scapegoat by the admin. The admin. is going to try to divert attention away from themselves and onto Novak. The admin. will hang him out to dry, mark my words...

[salin]

10. He was used. He LOVES to play the insider

the man who knows what the buzz is. Who has all the dirty details. That is what his columns are all about. Look at me... I am the insider... let me tell you what they are really saying.

Sorta the oldstyle Rona Barrett of DC.

Whoever called him - after getting rejected by real journalists (don't you bet that they tried to get this in the NYT or WPost - as it would get much more coverage - which they thought would immediately neutralize Wilson who had gone in the NYT) - knowing that he loves playing insider dishing the dirt.

His ego got the better of him.

[slater71]

13. they will hang him out to dry. But......

Someone in the administration had to give him the information so they will hang along with Novak.

[NoKingGeorge]

25. leaker had to be authorized to know identity.

Rove and Novak may take a fall to protect the deserter . Only two in WH are 'authorized' to have the identity information (and what she was working on). Those two are the deserter and Condi.
The puppet masters would sacrifice ANYONE to carry out their plans.

[SaintLouisBlues]

30. Condi and Shrub the only 2 with CIA contact info at the WH?

Wow!

Where does this information come from?

[Brian Sweat]

31. I doubt this is the case

First of all, the CIA comes under the auspices of one of the cabinet departments. The head of that department would certainly have clearance as would the president's chief of staff. Their top assistants would probably also have clearance.

[Brian Sweat]

5. The problem is that you are thinking of NoFacts as a journalist.

He is not a journalist. He is a Republican operative. He revealed the name because he was told to reveal the name.

[Brian Sweat]

6. The problem is that you are thinking of NoFacts as a journalist.

He is not a journalist. He is a Republican operative. He revealed the name because he was told to reveal the name.

[janekat]

41. Novak is NOT a Republican operative - he is waay too much of a

powderkeg to be an operative. Think "live wire" and impulsive.

Novak hates the Dems only a LITTLE bit more than he hates Bush. Basically - he hates everyone. The one thing you know about him is he does NOT do anybody's bidding (voluntarily anyways).

He is currently scared shitless and is trying to save his own skin. So he is currently "playing" along with the Bushies. I wouldn't count on that forever becasue Bob has this little habit of "blowing up" - especially if you push him too hard. Ought to be interesting.

[nn2004]

7. This whole Wilson thing will blow up in Democrats faces

I sense a setup. At the end of the day Bush is somehow going to
end up smelling like a rose and a Democrat downstream is going
to take the fall. This has setup written all over it.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Impossible.

All the main characters are Pugs, except for the victim. Try again.

[Beetwasher]

11. Bwhahahaha! Yeah, you wish!

The only set up here is the very careful set up the CIA has done in laying the groundwork for this story. There's a reason why there has been a series of leaks from the intel community lately, all revolving around a central theme. This is being coordinated by some very smart and powerful people who Bushco has really pissed off.

Again, Bwahahahahhaha, you wish!!!

[salin]

12. he won't smell like a rose

would have to make heads roll to do that - and he won't do that - its against his 'loyalty' thing (or showing "weakness"). He may, however, maintain the same stature (teflon) by playing the person far removed.

HOWEVER - if the public picks up the magnitude of what was leaked (intel network on WMD) - and listens to the WH message of - we didn't think it was a problem for three monts (re: denial of wrong doing) - and BY EXTENSION realize that HE and HIS WHITEHOUSE were UNCONCERNED about intelligence on the flow of WMDs (as in - getting into terrorist groups' hands) - then he might lose his luster for some of the voting public.

But unless the press hammers on that fact - the public won't put that together - and he remains aloof from the problem.

But he won't smell like a rose.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WilliamPitt]

22. How?

[Must_B_Free]

27. It will turn out to have been revealed elsewhere first,

thereby diffusing this and some other REAL scandal, just like "16 words" diffused thousands of lies.

[Brian Sweat]

29. The BFEE may deftly spin this away,

but that is much different than this being a setup. Also, don't assume that "16 words" diffused the yellow cake lie. Remember, this story is a result of the outing of the yellow cake lie.

[Brian Sweat]

28. It is not realistic to think that this is somehow a Bush (or a Rove) setup

There is simply nothing to indicate that it. If it is a setup, it is an extremely clumsy one and there is no way to keep it from backfiring.


Do not imput a sort of super human expertise on your opposition. It is not realistic and it is not healthy. Bush, Rove and the rest of these people do not possess political superpowers that allow them to always get the best of the Democrats. Thinking that they do is actually one of the elements of fascism as discussed in Umberto Eco's "Fourteen ways of looking at a black shirt."

[janekat]

42. Umberto Eco's "Fourteen ways of looking at a black shirt."

Wow. Have to look that up on the net. Sounds interesting (and scary). If you have any info on that I'd love to see it.

[Brian Sweat]

47. Not too scary, just informative.

It is not a novel, just an essay. Here is a link.


http://www.themodernword.com/eco/eco_blackshirt.html

[caledesi]

32. Setup? Get real, this is WilsonGate and these thugs are going down.

Just take a look at the WH Press Conference today. Scott was getting skewered...this ain't going away.

[janekat]

38. No way - they're not that clever... and it's gone waaay out of control

the only we'll screw ourselves is if we overplay our hand - which us Dems have been known to do.

[TennesseeWalker]

44. I don't see how.

How in the world can this blow up in the Democrats faces? She was a CIA agent, Novak leaked her name with help from those in high places, and ruined her career and her life. Ambassador Wilson has alse been abused.

All this is bad for those who usurped power. None of this BS is all right, or trivial. It's time for them to go.

[Scairp]

46. You are giving them far too much credit

I doubt they have the brains to think up a scam like this. No, to put in the vernacular, they have gotten their britches caught on their own pitchfork. I hope they are impaled with it(metaphorically of course).

[roguevalley]

8. since he obviously was old enough and experienced enough to know

that doing this was treason, it all comes down to being
a repug tool. He did it for his conservative side. Pure
and simple. Sometimes the simplest answer is the only
answer. He's a tool.

[AP]

14. Punishment

I remember thinking the reason was very obvious when it happened, but I've forgotten all the details now. Does anyone have Novak's article? If we reread it, it'll probably be clear why it was leaked.

I think the point was that it was punishment of Wilson for going against the administration.

Wilson's wife had told nobody that she was in the CIA, so the revelation was very disruptive to her private and professional life. Now, nobody will ever trust her.

Also, it's obviously quite lucrative to be in the CIA. Once your cover is blown, that's it. The money printing machine is closed down and locked up.

It was basically to destroy Wilson's families life, or at least make it more difficult. It sent a message to other people who might be thinking of blowing the whistle.

[mb7588a]

21. Novak article July 14th, 2003

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20030714.shtml

At your service, folks.

Hmm.. July 14th.. BASTILLE DAY!

I don't think Novak is as bad as you all make him out to be. Before anything he's a journalist and when a journalist gets some good shit under his nose and he gets a big wiff, nothing stopping that high from being manifested into a great political scandal: URANIUMGATE (copyright http://www.mbare.org - hah. kidding. you can use it.)

http://www.mbare.org

[mb7588a]

23. Novak article July 14th, 2003

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20030714.shtml

At your service, folks.

Hmm.. July 14th.. BASTILLE DAY!

I don't think Novak is as bad as you all make him out to be. Before anything he's a journalist and when a journalist gets some good shit under his nose and he gets a big wiff, nothing stopping that high from being manifested into a great political scandal: URANIUMGATE (copyright http://www.mbare.org - hah. kidding. you can use it.)

http://www.mbare.org

[wildwww2]

43. I have watched and read Bob Novak. Propagandist definitely.

But his journalistic skills remind me of Rush Limbaugh. A poor excuse for an informer of the public. From a supposed free press. That is my opinion anyway.
Peace
Wildman
Al Gore is My President

[janekat]

15. Novak was really po'd about Iraq - wrote several articles on it n/t

[Merlin]

16. This was a deliberate plot, involving the CIA, to take out the Neocons.

There's no doubt in my mind, this was a carefully placed trap to destroy Rove and the Neocons. A designated confidante plied the "outing" notion to Rove as an elegant way to simultaneously retaliate against Wilson and warn other potential recalcitrant spooks.

The CIA wants the Neocons heads on a large platter -- all of them! The litany of offenses by this administration against the professionals in US intelligence is endless and infamous.

Novak's part in the plot involved--for him--a calculated gamble that he can get rid of Rove and still hope to save the Bush presidency, sans neocons. But he must have realized the odds on that are long, and been willing nonetheless to play this phenomenal card.

I'm sure Novak, as well as other traditional conservatives like Pat Buchanan, have done the calculus on what will undoubtedly happen if the Rovians are given the free hand of a second term. It terrifies even them.

Novak knows, of course, that he himself is immune from prosecution. He has now become a latter day, undisguised Deep Throat.

Hang on to your hats folks! Watergate is comin' round again!

[caledesi]

33. Excellent analysis, Merlin. Only it's Wilsongate! LOL!

[KoKo]

34. Message deleted

n/t

[KoKo]

35. Check this Out! Novak gave Two Sources! Admin & CIA Separately!

From Novak's July Article, this quote where he says two different sources
said two different things. I had to read this paragraph about ten times before I got that Novak did point out that the administration said that Wilson's wife had "on her own" asked Wilson to go to Niger. But, in the following sentence Novak says that he was also told by the CIA that their own "Counter Proliferation Officials had selected Wilson for this Niger visit and has asked his wife to contact him.

The difference is that Novak is pointing out that there are two very different stories here. The administration saying that Valerie Plame on her own "selected" Wilson (thereby counteracting the story that Cheney asked him to go on the Niger Mission).........and then the CIA telling Novak that No! WE (the CIA) selected Wilson and just asked his wife to convince him he's the man for the job. (This is only my opinion after parsing.....but here's the quote from Novak's July article that started this whole firestorm.)

Wilson never worked for the CIA, but his wife, Valerie Plame, is
an Agency operative on weapons of mass destruction.
Two senior administration officials told me Wilson's wife suggested sending
him to Niger to investigate the Italian report.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The CIA says its
counter-proliferation officials selected Wilson and asked his wife
to contact him.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20030714.shtml

[ShaneGR]

17. There's a quote of Novak saying he was warned

That she would be in danger if the name was released. He felt that was a 'weak' reason to not run his column.

It was in the WP I think.

[proud patriot]

19. Because he wanted to be in the History Books

:shrug:

[BurtWorm]

20. Here is what the Post says today about Novak's article: It was an attempt

to change the focus away from the 16 words to Wilson's character.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17129-2003Sep29.html


An administration official said the leaks were "simply for revenge" for the trouble Wilson had caused Bush.

Wilson said that in the week after the Novak column appeared, several journalists told him that the White House was trying to call attention to his wife, apparently hoping to undermine his credibility by implying he had received the Niger assignment only because his wife had suggested the mission and recommended him for the job.

"Each of the reporters quoted the White House official as using some variation on, 'The real story isn't the 16 words. The real story is Wilson and his wife,' " Wilson said. "The time frame led me to deduce that the White House was continuing to try to push this story."

[DoYouEverWonder]

24. Focusing on Novak is a distraction

They are desparately trying to shine the spotlight anywhere other than on the White House.

Forgettabout Nofacts. The BIG NEWS is that the CIA wants the WH investigated. They didn't ask DOJ to investigate Novak.

[haymaker]

26. Because he does the bidding of a different group

of powerful people who know that this Bush thing has run its course and he MUST go, or things are really going down the crapper. Meaning they will use too much money.

[KoKo]

36. Kick......for the night crowd!

:kick:

[KoKo]

37. BTW......he was "backtracking" on Crossfire it seemed, but I didn't catch

but the last 5 minutes. Seemed like he was spinning instead of revealing any new info about why he really gave her name....when the other reporters who were contacted didn't even run the story.

[Kool Kitty]

39. The reason that Novak wrote this is because

Novak is a water-carrier for the Bush administration. He is so far up Bush's ass that if he farted, he'd send Novak into orbit. And I think that Novak looked distinctly uncomfortable today on "Crossfire". And well he should.

[Starpass]

40. Just a thought of how Rove could be involved

We know that "they" tried to peddle this to, I believe, six different reporters before hitting pay dirt with Novak. That makes me reflect on the time Rove was fired from Papa Bush campaign because of planting a story with the ever so helpful Mr. Novak. Therefore, could it be that as "they" were not getting any place with the other reporters who wouldn't handle it, Rove gave the directions to try his old, reliable scum bucket friend, Novak??? Is this how Novak ever got into the picture????????

[grasswire]

45. it is kind of odd...

....that they didn't call Novak first, considering his history of reliability.