Rove and Ashcroft phone call, circa 8:45 a.m. today:

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

Rove: "Hey, Johnnie, remember all the political work I did for you? Look, the heat's on; I need a favor. Why don't you guys fake like you're stepping it up a notch."

Ashcroft: "Karl, you know you're my idol. But I do have to ask you a question: How did you find out the name? You don't have clearance for that."

Rove: "Mr. Attorney General, you know I never reveal my sources."

Ashcroft: "Good answer. I want this to look professional, though. You didn't talk to Novak on the phone, did you?"

Rove: "I didn't just fall off the turnip truck."

Ashcroft: "Great. Then we'll subpoena phone records to make it seem like we're really digging ... one more thing, make sure you tell the whores that the boss wants to get to the bottom of it."

Rove: "I'm one step ahead of you, General Crisco. Ciao."

Ashcroft: "See you at the next fundraiser!"

[RobertSeattle]

1. I'd like to add...

Ashcroft: I'll be sending up my best investigator - he's a former deputy in this town of Mayberry, NC, his last name his Fife...