Why Rove let Cooper squeal.

[Must_B_Free]

My take it that they had already analysed the event model and calculate that they could let Cooper talk because they had devised a strategy to spin what he could reveal.

There is a clear classic attempt involving Wolf to trap Wilson and they fortunatley produced this mispercieved artifact that the Neocon base is desparately clinging on to.

With Miller, knowing the details, they decided to let her sit in the tank until they could try to whether this storm out. Or she's involved in an entirely different manner.

But I think they figured they could use what miller knew as part of their attemtp to confuse and vindicate.

[napi21]

1. That's possible, but I don't think so.

I think somebody at Time let them know that the editors were going to cave and release Cooper's email records, so they decided they HAD to let Cooper talk; the info would be out there anyway! Then they formed the spin to be used to muddy the water enough so most people would loose interest and it would just go away.

Miller is another story. I think Judy is much more deeply involved in this plot, and if she talked, she would also incriminate herself.

[JohnnyRingo]

2. I don't know how reliable it was....

...But the next day on CNN, Cooper's atty said that he used Rove's own lawyer's admission of Karl's involvement that morning as permission to disclose.

It sounds like Cooper revealed his source and retained his ethics against Rove's wishes.
I think Judy Miller's protecting someone higher up.

My lawyer had better use the same creative interpetation if I were in the same position.

[hootinholler]

3. Rove let Cooper go because

His (Rove's) involvement with the whole affair was as a fringe player. I seriously doubt that Rove is the primary leak here. His role was comfirmation at best.

My theory is here.

-Hoot

[Spinzonner]

4. I suspect that they've calculated, based upon historical experience

that the biggest criminal risk in these matters is the coverup and lying that follow the original events. SO they've chosen to let it filter out and avoid that - if marginally - and try and weather the political consequences given that they dominate key aspects of the congress and courts and that they're not facing reelection.

Whetehr that calculation stands up to Fitzgerald and the facts and the loyalty and guts of the COngress remains to be seen.

[applegrove]

5. Plus the email to Rice's office admitting he had talked to Cooper.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. Maybe, just maybe Rove gave permission for Cooper but didn't

expect him to take him up on it?

[Garbo 2004]

7. Rove already signed a blanket waiver of confidentiality and despite

Cooper's claims that he would only accept a direct personal specific waiver from Rove himself, it appears he instead got a sign off from Rove's attorney Lushkin which Lushkin characterized as simply a "reaffirmation" of the original blanket waiver.

And at that point, after Lushkin's previous comments to the press about Rove having nothing to hide, it would look like Rove was hiding something if there wasn't some "reaffirmation" that the general waiver applied to Cooper. Lushkin apparently was a little too chatty and cocky with the press.

Bottom line, it was always Cooper's choice whether or not to testify.