* No Comment surprises some WH advisors...expected a vote of confidence

[maddezmom]

~snip~
Bush's statement was a surprise for some White House advisers and senior Republicans who had expected the president to deliver a vote of confidence for Rove, his deputy chief of staff. Two Bush advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity because they did not want to pre-empt the president, said shortly before his remarks that the president intended to signal his support of Rove — without prejudging the merits of the case — during that picture-taking session. Indeed, they said, he was prepared to do so a day earlier but the question was not posed in the question-and-answer session Tuesday.

However, other senior aides to the president said he had been prepared to show his confidence in Rove but, they said, the question from reporters focused on the investigation. Yet, Bush has never appeared constrained to limit his answers strictly to questions asked. The aides said Bush does have full confidence in Rove.

Bush said last year he would fire anyone found to have leaked Plame's identity.

Bush refused to directly answer questions about whether he had spoken to Rove about his discussion with Cooper.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050713/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_investigation_21

[Straight Shooter]

1. The space between the rock and the hard place where bush is standing

is getting narrower and narrower. :)

[Marnieworld]

2. He's being careful with his words...

per the advice of the private lawyer he had to hire to represent him in this case. They all know that they are tip-toeing about serious crimes. Hence Scotty's closed mouth. It's all CYA.