Stupid Question regarding Leak-Gate...

[Hippo_Tron]

Why can't they just force Bob Novak to say which Bush administration official gave him the information?

[Jim Sagle]

1. Because he's a Republican.

[Fleshdancer]

2. Some sort of journalist rule thingy

It's New Years, I'm drinkin' so don't expect a high quality post.

Novak, for some stupid, idiotic reason, is not considered the leaker because he is supposedly a journalist. Now every single one of us could pull opinions out of our assholes the way Novak does, but when we do it, it's different. Somehow, pulling opinions out of his fat ass is special and worthy of money. I have yet to understand why.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. But I'm not suggesting that Novak is guilty of anything...

I'm just saying why the hell don't we ask him who the leaker from the Bush administration and save the special prosecutor a hell of a lot of energy.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Technically they can

The 1972 Supreme Court decision Bransburg V Hayes recognizes a limited first amendment right regarding reporters revealing confidential sources..many states have sheild laws where the press is concerned but that can also be surpassed by a compelling public interest.

They just haven't. I do suspect they might.

[Booberdawg]

5. Because "sources" would not be willing to be "sources" if they were

subject to being revealed. That is why they get that protection with journalists.

I dunno, with Novak I wish there were a loophole though. Because he was a fucking worm to out a CIA agent and endanger her and so many other lives and operations the way he did. Novak is a fucking tyrant and treasonous bastard for what he did, and he knew what he was doing when he did it.

If there were a way to fry his ass I would look for it. Fucker.

[zbdent]

6. Gee, you'd think that any other (non-Repuke shill) reporter would

be thrown into jail until deciding to "volunteer" the information.

Hmm, how long was Susan McDougall in jail for refusing to testify?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. That is the thing. IF a grand jury were impaneled and he

refused to testify to them, he could be held in contempt...right now there is no contempt because NOTHING has been done.

[Eric J in MN]

7. Robert Novak was asked on a roundtable show if he would be

Robert Novak was asked on a roundtable show if he would be willing to go to jail to protect his source.

He just kept saying, "I don't think it will come to that," instead of answering the question.

Legally, he could be forced to testify if were given immunity, and if he still refused to say, he could go to jail.

[rasputin1952]

8. When I see him on "Crossfire"...

it is always, "Why won't you answer the question"?

Of course, when he's in the hot seat, it is different, as with all neo-cons. If I could interview him on TV, I would not let up; he would have to storm off the set, or answer the questions. My bet is, he'd walk.

In essence, Novak is a coward. Rather than adhere to any real moral standard, Novak pompously postulates on how the rest of the world should act, then does an act that borders on treason. As with most hypocrites, he will never own up to what he has done.

Novak is slime, he knows it, we all know it. Those in charge of the investigation should have him subpoenaed and placed in jail if he refuse to disclose his source. I am willing to bet that his "journalistic integrity" would crumble after 24 hours in the clink.

Novak is an immoral piece of humanity that crawled out of the mud, and returns to it whenever he feels the heat.

:grr:

[Oilwellian]

10. I can understand...

a journalist protecting his source. If he didn't have that right, I doubt we'd get the little news that does come out. But in Novak's case, he was used as a source of revenge, and he exposed a vital network that actually protected this country from the proliferation of wmd's. Novak needs to ask himself what's more important...the safety of this country, or hiding the identity of the scumbag that has put this country in greater peril of being attacked w/wmds. Exposing the scumbag would be the honorable thing to do. I just don't see where Novak thinks protecting his source in this case is the right and honorable thing to do.

[rustydog]

11. The question is:

Why isn't Novak in jail right NOW?
His printed article is proof HE outed a deep-cover CIA agent. Right now, who gave the info is moot, we all know Novak is guilty of treason, why isn't his sanctimonious ass in jail or Gitmo right now?

[rasputin1952]

12. While I agree that his act was treasonous...

It is a difficult charge to press and prove.

I am positive, he broke several other laws though, but I cannot be too sure as to what they are, as I am not that familiar with with the US Code. But to out a CIA operative, has to be a law breaker, (not to mention immoral to the core).

:grr: I can't stand that bag of wind!

:nuke: