Bush says leaker is "senior administration official"

[diplomats]

Did anyone else see this? In that article someone posted about Bush saying the leaker may never be found, he's quoted thusly:
"I don't know if we're going to find out the senior administration official," Bush said. "I don't have any idea. I'd like to. I want to know the truth."
Bush is admitting it's a senior administration official? That's a story in itself. If he knows it's a senior administration official, that means he sure as hell knows exactly who it is. And how many senior administration officials are there? For him to say the leaker may never be found but narrow the field down to a senior official is proof of a coverup.
What's everyone else's take on this?

[roughsatori]

1. I think you are absolutely correct

It indicates that he knows precisely who was responsible. It is a shame that the "journalists" and TV info-tainment pundits won't pounce on what you point out.

[diplomats]

2. Maybe somebody will

I'm sure Bush wasn't supposed to blab that, but he did.

[qwertyMike]

8. I forgot

how absolutely dumb Bush is.
I mean stoopid. Thick as a brick.

[diplomats]

9. He is a doofus

There's no doubt about it.

[Junkdrawer]

3. They're going to pin it on whoever talked to the WaPo...

Oh, Rove wants to find the WH leaker alright…

[SlavesandBulldozers]

4. this is why

the Administration shits their pants when he goes to speak.

[Stephanie]

5. Does anyone have a link for this?

I can't find it on the WH site.

[diplomats]

7. Stephanie, here's the link to the yahoo news story

that has the quote:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=3&u=/ap/20031007/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_115

[Stephanie]

14. Thanks. Let the stonewalling begin:

A - Call it a "leak" over and over to spin away from the fact that it was treason.

B- Express doubt that the "leaker" will ever be found. And anyway, everybody does it.

C- Repeat your desire to find the "real" leaker over and over in clear contradiction to your obstructionist actions.
.
D- Showcase your poor grammar in an effort to distract the press from the subject at hand.

"This is a town where a lot of people leak, and I've constantly expressed my displeasure with leaks, particularly of classified information," Bush said. "I hope we can get this investigation done in a thorough way, as quickly as possible."

Bush told reporters at the end of a Cabinet meeting: "You tell me, how many sources have you had that's leaked information that you've exposed? Probably none."

"I don't know if we're going to find out the senior administration official," Bush said. "I don't have any idea. I'd like to. I want to know the truth."

Bush said: "I have no idea whether we'll find out who the leaker is."

[Zero Gravitas]

6. Unka Dick

Told him who it was, but he forgot already.

[Padraig18]

10. I'm sorry, but...

... I think you keep missing the obvious: he really doesn't know! They've cut him out of the loop now---completely.

[radfringe]

12. and.....

if someone in the media jumps on his statement - his handlers will just say that he "mispoke"

he does that ALOT

[diplomats]

13. All I know is, Bush confirmed it was a senior admin. official

whether that revelation was intentional or not. That's why they're covering it up and confirms that this goes all the way near (or to) the top.

[qb]

11. As usual, the press will assume he misspoke, "correct" the transcript,

and move on.

[jobycom]

17. Well. he is pretty stupid, so that's a strong possibility, too.

But mostly he's just reciting what is public knowledge. Novak claimed it was a senior administration official, so Bush is just using that phrase rather than having to think for himself.

You guys overestimate him if you think he knows most of what he is saying, or that anyone tells him anything. His administration all know he's an idiot, too.

[lovedems]

15. From what I gather, it is a VERY short list of Sr. advisors

who would be privvy to Plame's CIA status. They don't have to look very far from the President and that is what is frustrating. They don't have to investigate the entire staff, just the FEW who would know that classified information. GRRR! I hate this administration!

[Stephanie]

18. Sometimes it's the lower level staffers who have the incriminating evidenc

Such as appointment & schedule books, telephone memo logs, etc.

[alfredo]

16. Bush said he's already cleared his top advisors.

As if he's the one running the investigation.
He said he asked them if they leaked the name and they said no.
Case closed.

[Junkdrawer]

19. Freudian Slip: They're hunting for the official who talked to the WaPo...

It was in the WaPo article that the phrase "senior administration official" was used to describe the whistle blower. Again:

Oh, Rove wants to find the WH leaker alright…

[ByeDick]

20. Nice Call, Diplomats...And Why Isn't He Crying POLITICS?

"Diplomats" is noticing an amazing pattern with this story. The White House keeps admitting there's a problem. This is so unusual.

But what it all comes down to, is that Cheney is the leak:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=461221

Next week will hopefully be Dick Leak Week (if California takes a rest).

Are you all making plans for possible Dick Leak Week celebrations.

[diplomats]

21. Yeas, they're tactics keep changing

Though Bush still makes the beside-the-point argument that "everyone leaks" in Washington, they've ratcheted down the political rhetoric (or so it seems). As for Cheney, the WH hasn't publicly mentioned his name as they have with Rove, Libby and Abrams, so maybe he is the leaker.

[diplomats]

23. Just read your thread, ByeDick

You make some very interesting points!

[mark0rama]

22. By all means, Chimpy, just add the leaker to the list...

...of things you can't find:

Osama bin Laden
Saddam Hussein
Anthrax terrorist
Weapons of mass destruction