FDL Smacks Down Kurtz

[Me.]

“Hmmmm…interesting. How is it that the Hair Boy on The Corner knew about the Kurtz piece on Leopold — at least by 7:35 pm ET last night — when Howie’s piece was only published this morning at 7:42 am ET this morning, according to the WaPo’s own time stamp?

Unless, of course, Byron York has become a source of "Wurlitzer Wisdom and Pundit Perspective" for Howie’s columns.” cont…

“But none of this explains how York knew about the Kurtz piece. Unless, of course, you factor in what Jeralyn learned yesterday: that it was Rove legal spokesperson Mark Corallo who fed Howard Kurtz the phone number of Truthout’s Mark Ash. (And isn’t this starting to sound like a horribly written soap opera at this point?)

Now I’m not one for tin foil hats and conspiracy theories. It’s just not my nature. But a hatchet job this obvious — trying to paint the whole of the liberal blogosphere with a jaundiced brush, especially when the painting is a joint venture between Byron York, Mark Corallo, and Howard Kurtz, is pitiful at best. (And I have to wonder if Murray Waas was ever contacted for this Kurtz piece — since he’s really been the gold standard of reporting on this case from day one. My guess is no, but I don’t know that for certain.)” cont…

http://www.firedoglake.com/

*shadow governemnt*

[Kagemusha]

1. See? I said as much. They're gonna smear the left on the net anyway.

It doesn't matter how many people on DU, Kos, Atrios, FDL, etc, try to distance themselves from Leopold; he will be shackled to everyone's collective feet while the blogs and boards are pushed over the wharf. There's no point in self-pity. Belly button gazing won't do one bit of good, and if blogs think that the Kurtzes of the world are going to give them respect, well... look somewhere else for it, that's all I want to say.

And Rove going down is independent of what anyone says outside of a grand jury room.

[lyonn]

4. Is this another Dan Rather type story?

The Leopold/Rove story became big on this site. Was it big in other places? Don't really have an opinion on Leopold but the way this story is evolving it sounds "Ratherish" to me. So, how about finding out If Leo was set up.

[Kagemusha]

6. If Rove didn't start it, he sure as hell took full advantage.

Seems like he went through a lot of trouble to ensure the story was not killed on the weekend before he had his trumphant, crotch thrusting AEI speech on Monday and no sign of any indictment came out. Now he has released the light cavalry via Kurtz to trample the defeated foe (you, others here) into the ground.

[bunny planet]

2. the 'swiftboating' begins.

K and R

[Me.]

7. Primed To Strike

Lying in wait, for any opportunity. Set to go.

*shadow government*

[redqueen]

3. Oooh what a shock!

The press is in bed with Rove & the GOPranos?

You don't say!

[bleever]

5. Howard Kurtz: "Boil that dust speck."

[Me.]

8. !

*shadow governemnt*

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. It certainly is starting to look alot like a Get Rather/CBS operation. n/t

[H2O Man]

10. It seems that

a lot of people have quite an investment in this. Gosh.

[Me.]

11. It Does

The emoticons are running high.

*shadow government*

[Catrina]

12. Yes, and if there's no truth to it, why bother? Surely if it was untrue

that would have become obvious without Rove's assistance.

Seems like Ash may have some good sources after all. He was right about Howard Kurtz.

I wonder why CBS eg, did not do it's own independent reporting, and chose to refer to Howard Kurtz's article. He doesn't work for CBS does he? If they're going to participate in a smear campaign, at least they shouldn't make it so obvious that this is apparently, a conspiracy.

Good for Firedoglake. Christie H. Smith was AAR yesterday and while she did not endorse TO's article, she did not totally dismiss it ~ seemed like a fair position to take at this point in time.

[Me.]

15. The Time Lapse

The Libby indictment was followed closely upon by the announcement by FitzG. yet we are closing upon a month since Rove's last appearance. Surely if he had gotten off we would have heard by now. The net would be filled with the gloating sounds of rw "I told you so's". And I would bet dollars to doughnuts that Luskin wouldn't be at the vet's tending to his cat.

*shadow government*

[Supersedeas]

13. cozy huh?

[Garbo 2004]

14. What? Reporters were calling Luskin "through Saturday night?"

Did Luskin throw a hissy with them about how outrageous it was calling him on a Saturday night as he did with Jeralyn Merritt, hanging up on her before she could properly frame the question she wanted to ask him?

;)

[Kagemusha]

17. Yes he did.

And Kurtz seems to be taking Luskin's side in part that he shouldn't have been bothered by reporters calling on a Saturday night, forced by their mean editors. I mean, what do people think, his being a defense lawyer for the most notorious national advisor since uh Rasputin or something, means that people have a right to call him up when he's off duty? Talk to the hand. (That is, Corallo.)

After all if there's a nationally breaking story, it can wait for business hours.

[Garbo 2004]

18. I didn't get the impression that Luskin was outraged that reporters were

calling him on a Saturday night, certainly not from Kurtz's piece. Luskin's a very understanding fellow, he knew those poor reporters were forced by their editors to call him:

As the phone inquiries continued through that Saturday night, Luskin says, "some of the reporters felt somewhat demeaned by having to call. It's the editors saying to them, 'I don't care what you think; call up and get some kind of response.'

[Kagemusha]

20. Either way, that part of Kurtz' piece is really thick with media self-pity

Pity us, we're forced by the evil leftist bloggers to check out stories that aren't true! We're bothering a good man who was taking his beloved cat to the vet that day! Evil leftist bloggers! Evil!!

...Yawn.

[Kagemusha]

16. Another comment.

When I first replied I hadn't read more than a snippet of Kurtz' piece. He really unloads with both barrels, working very hard to make Luskin seem like the most credible lawyer, well, pretty much ever. Oh and his cat's doing fine! Unlike Leopold's story which is leaving litter everywhere. Subtle. Real subtle. ...Well kind of, yeah, it sort of is subtle, but sends a strong message. Kurtz really unloaded with every literary tool at his disposal and the full weight of his credibility, even pounding on how MSM reporters were forced to try and confirm a story they didn't believe in because their crummy editors ordered them to based on a loser like Leopold.

Kurtz is truly a master at trying to create conventional wisdom. But, unfortunately, he has a lot of help here. That his shot is self-serving and egotistical does not make it unjust or unfair. To those still hoping for a Rove indictment, suck it up in the gut, take a deep breath, and move on. Hopefully Rove's time will still come, because I'm not buying his forgetful genius defense.

[robertpaulsen]

19. Horribly written soap opera.

Amen to that. For those of us who've seen the same writing on the wall before, its very reassuring that firedoglake can see the forest for the trees.