Novak's Got Himself a Lawyer: Things Could Get Interesting, After All

[chiburb]

Inside Politics CNN

WOODRUFF: All right.

Separately from all that, we know the Justice Department is expanding the investigation. New e-mails sent out to the White House employees today. Have you, Bob Novak been contacted yet?

NOVAK: I'm going to give you an answer I don't think I ever give in my life. On advice of counsel, I am asked not to answer that question.

WOODRUFF: So you cannot say whether you have been contacted by investigators?

NOVAK: On the advice of my counsel.

WOODRUFF: All right. We will leave it there and duly noted.

(Thanks to Buzzflash! http://buzzflash.com/buzzscripts/buzz.dll/sub2

[Brucey]

1. Cool! Maybe we can nail this guy afterall.

He's been acting so nonchalant, I thought the fix was set, and he had been told there was no problem. Now it looks like there might be a problem. Naming undercover agents is illegal, it doesn't matter who you are. You can't hide behind freedom of the press. It's like libel laws: you are culpable.

[Zeke]

12. Mutiny on the Bounty Meets The Civil War...

Novak "should swing from the highest yardarm!" --- Capt. Blye.

Or we all should "hang him froma sour apple tree!" --- Ken Burns, "The Civil War," circa 1990.

[mumon]

15. "Phasers on destroy!"

- Capt. James T. Kirk

[Cocoa]

2. i guess his appearance on Meet the Press is going to be boring

He won't answer any of the good questions.

I wonder if he won't just cancel the appearance altogether, maybe he scheduled it without checking with his lawyers.

[Spazito]

3. Not only that, but in the same interview....

Novak screwed up yet again and said this:





The name of the CIA front company was broadcast yesterday by Novak, the syndicated journalist who originally identified Plame. Novak, highlighting Wilson's ties to Democrats, said on CNN that Wilson's "wife, the CIA employee, gave $1,000 to Gore and she listed herself as an employee of Brewster-Jennings & Associates."

"There is no such firm, I'm convinced," he continued. "CIA people are not supposed to list themselves with fictitious firms if they're under a deep cover -- they're supposed to be real firms, or so I'm told. Sort of adds to the little mystery."

and it turns out that the company Brewster-Jennings & Associates was a CIA front. He now has endangered even more lives!

[IndianaGreen]

6. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

This could lead to the impeachment of Dick Cheney!

[DrBB]

14. The point being: who gave Novak THAT information???

Did he come up with this info himself? Possibly. But isn't it all too possible that he got it from the same source as the original Plame info??? Is it possible this is not just a Novak blunder but evidence of a still-blundering WH smear machine, doing it all again even while they are under investigation?

[charlie]

4. Best advice he ever got

Everytime he opens his mouth, he blows someone else's cover. His Brewster and Jennings slip was incredible -- he can't be that dumb, he must think he's invincible.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Novak is smart to get a lawyer

He will need a lawyer if the feds decide to force him to reveal his sources, which I think they should.

[loudsue]

8. But Feds are Asskkrotch....

I wish the Feds WOULD force him to reveal sources, IG, but I SERIOUSLY doubt it unless the sharks start smelling even more blood in the water. Besides, we may never hear about it w/ the repuke owned press.

Gawd I hope I'm wrong!!!

:kick:

[IndianaGreen]

9. The more reason why we need a special prosecutor

to handle the case free of influence from Ashcroft.

[loudnclear]

7. I make no secret that I think Novak should stand trial for his release of

this information. It is treason of the highest order. There is no journalistic privilege for such actions and it is not protected by the Constitution. It is not 'freedom of speech' or press to endanger the security of the nation. If the RW really believes in patriotism they won't be making excuses for this behavior by either the leakers or Novak. If the RW truly believes in morality ethics they will not be spinning the drug probe of Rush and they should call for his removal from radio as a very bad example for our children and a hypocrite of the highest order. But guess what...THEY WON'T!!

[Brucey]

11. You are right.

Former CIA agent Larry Johnson, an admitted repug and supporter of Bush* is hopping mad and says that Bush* should call off the dogs and stop making this a political fight, stop bashing Wilson and his wife. Novak, of course, continues the bashing. If the reich-wing had any principles, they would listen to Johnson and end the political attacks. But, they don't and they won't. The result will be even repugs coming to the aid of Wilson and his wife. It is absolutely wrong for the government to be picking on one of its employees, and even endangering lives and intelligence gathering operations. That is not a political, partisan statement.

[kentuck]

10. Novak's got a lawyer.....Limbaugh's got a lawyer....Arnold may need...

..to get a lawyer...For a Party that hates lawyers, they sure like to use them a lot...

[Champion Jack]

13. Novak can probably get some new dentures in prison.

and meet all sorts of new friends!

[criticalmass]

16. Supply-Side Dartboard

David Stockman was Reagan's OMB director from 1981-85; in his book, "The Triumph of Politics: Why the Reagan Revolution Failed," published in 1986, he wrote:

'Going to war' meant it was time to call Bob Novak, the Prince of Darkness. The Evans and Novak syndicated column was a kind of supply-side dartboard. You could use it to stick somebody in the forehead fast, if you had to.