DU Activist Corps, July 12, 2005 -- Letters to the Editor about Karl Rove

[Skinner]

In 2003 the White House assured America - on several occasions - that Karl Rove, the senior adviser to the president, never discussed CIA operative Valerie Plame with members of the media. But last week it was proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that Mr. Rove was, in fact, a major player in the Plame Affair.

George W. Bush promised honesty and integrity in the White House, and promised to fire any individuals involved in the Plame Affair. If Karl Rove has committed a crime, which will be up to investigators to decide, he has threatened the national security of the United States and must face the fullest consequences of the law. But that still doesn't explain why the White House lied about his involvement in the affair, and why they are now stonewalling all questions about Mr. Rove. Why did the White House lie to the American people for two years? Why are they now refusing to answer questions? What do they have to hide?

It's very simple - now that it is clear that Mr. Rove was a major player in the affair, the president should revoke his security clearances and dismiss him from the White House. The president and vice president also need to come clean about their knowledge of Mr. Rove's activities. Anything less would be a major betrayal of trust, and smells of a conspiracy by the White House to cover up a major breach of national security.

DU ACTIVIST CORPS TASK: JULY 12, 2005

TASK:

Write a letter to the editor of at least one newspaper in your area. You may use snail mail or email -- check to find out how your paper prefers to receive letters.

POSSIBLE THEMES:

1) The White House is lying to the American people about Karl Rove's involvement in the Plame Affair.
2) Now that we know Karl Rove is responsible for the leak, President Bush should keep his word and fire him.
3) Karl Rove puts politics ahead of national security.
4) Knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law, and an act of treason.

Feel free to hit any or all of the themes.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS:

Be brief... be polite... be coherent!!
You may want to check the Letters to the Editor page of your local newspaper for specific requirements.

THIS IS OUR FIRST EVER DU ACTIVIST CORPS TASK.

Currently, 1455 DU members have pledged to participate in this task, so get writing, and let's make it a success! You don't need to be a member of the DU Activist Corps in order to participate.

AFTER YOU ARE FINISHED

If you are a registered member of our activist corps, please click here when you are finished so we can keep track of how many people completed the task.

DEADLINE

Complete this task by 8:00 PM ET, Thursday July 14.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

The following quotes are accurate, and have been reported by the mainstream media:

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan commenting on Karl Rove in 2003

"I've made it very clear, he (Karl Rove) was not involved, that there's no truth to the suggestion that he was." -- Scott McClellan, Sept. 2003

"I spoke with them (Karl Rove, Lewis Libby, and Elliot Abrams), so that I could come back to you and say that they were not involved. I had no doubt with that in the beginning, but I like to check my information to make sure it’s accurate before I report back to you, and that’s exactly what I did." -- Scott McClellan, Oct. 2003

"I spoke with those individuals (Karl Rove, Lewis Libby, and Elliot Abrams), as I pointed out, and those individuals assured me they were not involved in this. And that’s where it stands." -- Scott McClellan, Oct. 2003

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan stonewalling on Karl Rove in 2005

Q: Do you want to retract your statement that Rove, Karl Rove, was not involved in the Valerie Plame expose?
A: I appreciate the question. This is an ongoing investigation at this point. The president directed the White House to cooperate fully with the investigation, and as part of cooperating fully with the investigation, that means we’re not going to be commenting on it while it is ongoing. -- Scott McClellan, White House press briefing, July 2005

What Scott McClellan and George W. Bush believe should be done with Karl Rove:

"I made that very clear last week. The topic came up, and I said that if anyone in this administration was responsible for the leaking of classified information, they would no longer work in this administration. This is a very serious matter." -- Scott McClellan, Oct. 2003

"If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 2003

What George Bush Sr. had to say about those who reveal the identity of CIA agents:

"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors." -- George H.W. Bush, April 1999


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[auburngrad82]

1. Done

To the Raleigh News and Observer, the Durham Herald Sun, and the Fayetteville Observer.

[Carla in Ca]

210. Here is mine. Tell me what you think

I kept it short for 2 reasons. Better chance to get it published at the LA times, and, because the OC Register won't publish it anyway.

ANOTHER DAY (OF SILENCE) AT THE WHITE HOUSE

This administration has yet again chosen to not be honest with the American People. Although prosecutor Fitzgerald has yet to conclude his investigation, we now know enough, from Cooper's notes, that, at the very least, Karl Rove revealed the identity of a CIA agent. It is worthy of his immediate resignation.

Regardless of the outcome, the silence from the White House is shameful. And contrary to Mr. Bush's promise to "restore integrity to the White House", he has done quite the opposite. This is just the newest example of that failure.

[Carla in Ca]

318. Above letter sent to LAT and OC Register

n/t

[Im with Rosey]

429. Sent mine too

Chances of anything in the OC Register- 0. Hope springs eternally.

[KnaveRupe]

244. Erie (PA) Times-News..... THAT should have an impact!

Dear Editors,

In an era when republicans throw around the word "Treason" like baseball stadium vendors yell "Budweiser!" I find it appalling that there is so little outrage on the right regarding the inarguably treasonous acts of highly placed officials in the current administration.

Regardless of the other sources who may eventually be implicated in the Valerie Plame Affair, we know with certainty (from the statements of his own lawyer) that "Bush's Brain", Karl Rove, was involved to some extent.

Rove is one of the most powerful men in Washington; he is an "Old Skool" master of Nixonian dirty tricks, he is one of the closest advisors to the president, and it now appears he violated National security by compromising the identity of an undercover CIA agent and the network of contacts she had developed over her years of service.

Whether or not Rove is eventually found guilty of violating the very narrowly-defined law regarding the outing of covert agents, it is certain that his actions did more harm to this nation than any of the words spoken by Senator Durbin on the Senate floor.

Treason indeed. I hope that Congressman English will put loyalty to the nation ahead of loyalty to his party and support the inevitable call for Congressional investigations.

[frictionlessO]

2. Lets punch that clock, my fellow DU'ers. The time is nigh!

DU Activist Corps is fully operational!

[auburngrad82]

4. Uh, the time is not nigh, it's, uh, 4:38

:evilgrin:

[frictionlessO]

9. actually it was 4:20 for me when I read the advisory!

:smoke: :bounce:

[Bucky]

411. It's a quarter to nigh... and there's no one in this place but you and I

...and of course our local lurking freepers. I'll get the Raid.

Raid?!

Kills bugs dead.

[RandomKoolzip]

3. By thursday?

All right then. I'm on it.

[back2basics909]

6. GOOD JOB PEOPLE!

When i have more time i will be signing up for the corp.

Keep up the good work! You people rock.

[wryter2000]

57. Welcome basics

:hi:

Sign up for the corps. It'll make you feel good. :woohoo:

[Lorien]

52. I'll have to send mine Saturday

I have an insane deadline I'm trying to meet-but I'll be on it Sat. Morning!

[Radio_Lady]

69. If you are too busy to create an "original" activist letter --

Copy someone else's excellent work -- main thing is to get it done.

I had to work with 150 words or less. See Post # 66 and plagarize mine if you wish!!!

[Cobalt Violet]

205. May I use yours?

I'm on the other coast. I would like to send it to a local paper here. I have a very busy week this week yet it is very important to me to keep my commitment to the Corp.

[Radio_Lady]

358. Go right ahead... thanks. I do a lot of copyrwriting and had to

put this into 150 words. Nice exercise for me!

[Cobalt Violet]

378. Thanks so much! Done.

I sent it to the MetroWest Daily News. It covers the suburbs of Boston. I will let you know if they publish it.

[Radio_Lady]

379. Cobalt, I used to live in Sudbury, Mass. for 30 years!

I know that paper well! Thanks!

(OT: Your cat has spooky eyes....

PS I collect cobalt colored glassware...)

[Cobalt Violet]

383. I figured that since I am a Framingham resident they may print it.

I hope so.

Thanks again.:patriot: :yourock:

I've been just working crazy hours, 10 days in a row. Putting my thoughts down in words just seems hard for me at this time. Your letter seemed so perfect to me.


I love your photograph. It's the kind of place I'd just love to spend sometime at. Maybe then I could come up with original words.
:) :patriot:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

5. Dunno... too US-centric for me, I guess.

It isn't news in Brazilian media. What do you think?

[EarlG]

7. I think

any national newspaper editor in the United States would probably be very interested to get the Brazilian perspective on Karl Rove's crimes :)

Try Newsweek or Time or something like that.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. OK, done. I warn you, it has a "Nelson" tone

as in, "ha ha!" :silly:

[orleans]

184. i was just thinking that it would be a possibly welcome p.o.v. too

i'll be writing my letters tonight--chicago tribune & chicago sun times. if i send out more i'll edit this.

[justinsb]

12. It's kinda news in Canada

but not a huge story, and I don't think the papers here are going to run a LTTE about what I think the US should do with someone in their government.

[xmas74]

31. Send to an American paper,

especially a midsize market one in a red state. They might take it.

[John Q. Citizen]

44. Frame it as "US Government hypocrasy in war on terror" and you have

any number of natural allies in Canada.

Use the "bush administration destroying US capibilities to fight WMD" as they go to war in threory to stop WMD" angle.

No credibility. How high does the crime go? Where did Rove get Top Secret; Need To Know information from?

[justinsb]

47. Well I was thinking of framing it like this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=17687&mesg_id=17720

But I'm waiting for some feedback.

[BenTrem]

219. Hey Justin

"Not enough posts to send personal messages" (I cannot buddy yet either) so I'm putting this here.
I just replied at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=17687&mesg_id=17955 about trying to angle the story for a Canadian context ... this is going to come up again!

cheers
ben

[Rhiannon12866]

418. Welcome to DU, Ben!

It's great to have another Canadian with us!:toast:

[auburngrad82]

17. I don't think it hurts to have the news in papers around the world

The worst the Bush administration looks, the harder it will be for them to pull another Iraq.

[terrya]

8. Ok...will do.

It will be done...by Thursday.

[Vincardog]

10. Done. That was not hard

[Miami Liberal]

11. Will be sending snail mail

to the Miami Herald.

[i miss america]

369. In that case, mine will go to the Sun-Sentinel :-)

:hi:

[Miami Liberal]

388. We'll rotate

you get the Herald next time. :) :hi:

[LastKnight]

13. so it shall be written, so it shall be done...

now im borrowing from charelton heston movies... uh oh. ill get on it this evening.

[emcguffie]

19. Will do.

[rasputin1952]

14. Will do...it takes a few hours to get the wording right...

:D

[Bill219]

21. sent letters to the following CT papers

The Advocate
Bloomfield Journal
The Branford Review
The Bristol Press
The Brookfield Journal
Business Times
The Chronicle
Clinton Recorder
The Commercial Record
Connecticut Jewish Ledger
Connecticut Post
The Day
East Hartford Gazette
East Haven Advertiser
Fairfield Citizen-News
Fairfield County Weekly
Fairfield Minuteman
Greenwich Time
Hartford Advocate
Hartford Business Journal
Hartford Courant
Hometown Publications
The Hour
Journal Inquirer
Kent Dispatch
Litchfield Enquirer
The Middletown Press
New Britain Herald
New Haven Advocate
New Haven Register
The New London Day
New Milford Times
Newington Town Crier
Newtown Bee
The News-Times
Pictorial-Gazette
Record-Journal
Redding Pilot
Regional Standard
The Register Citizen
Reminder
Ridgefield Press
Rocky Hill Post
Shore Line Times
The Spectrum
Stonington Intelligencer
Valley News
Voices News
Waterbury Republican-American
West Hartford News
West Haven Voice
Westport Minuteman
Weston Forum
Wethersfield Post
Wilton Bulletin
Windsor Journal
Windsor Locks Journal
Yale Daily News
Yale Herald

[rasputin1952]

141. WOW!!!!!! Nice to live in an area w/more than 25,000 people...

:hi:...:woohoo:

[rocktivity]

314. Hope you didn't send the same letter

Remember back when we caught the Repubs doing that, and gave them hell?

:headbang:
rocknation

[rasputin1952]

139. Done...

quick and easy...:D

[nickgutierrez]

16. I'm on it. (First draft finished and a question)

A first draft:

When the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame was leaked to the media in 2003, President Bush promised that if the person responsible for the leak was found to be a part of his administration, he would fire that person. "If there is a leak out of my administration," the President said, "I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."

It is widely speculated that Ms. Plame was outed as an act of revenge against her husband, Joseph Wilson. Mr. Wilson is responsible for the discovery of forged memos that suggested that Iraq was getting "yellowcake" from Niger, a material necessary for the production of nuclear weapons. This discovery was made during the run-up to the Iraq war, and after discovering that the documents were forged, Mr. Wilson fast became a target of conservative criticism. Given Ms. Plame's apparent role in tracking weapons of mass destruction, this leak is a huge hit to America's national security. If this leak happened for political reasons, it is nothing short of an act of treason.

The White House is now refusing to answer questions about the source that outed Ms. Plame. Despite the initial denials of White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, recent news reports are focusing on one man: chief political advisor Karl Rove. It is strongly suspected that Mr. Rove is the source of the leak. If this turns out to be true, President Bush would do well to follow up on his promise and show Mr. Rove the door.



(Now, a question:

I want to say that Ms. Plame was stationed in the satellite nations of the former Soviet Union. Am I right in that? I don't have Mr. Wilson's book with me right now, and I can't look it up at the moment. I would like to be able to add that information to the second paragraph, to back up the idea that Ms. Plame was working to keep WMDs out of the hands of terrorists.)

[proud patriot]

78. I don't know but hopefully someone else will

:hi:

[William Seger]

201. One correction

"Mr. Wilson is responsible for the discovery of forged memos that suggested that Iraq was getting 'yellowcake' from Niger, a material necessary for the production of nuclear weapons."

That is not correct. The CIA did not have the forged documents until about 8 months after Wilson's trip to Niger. How they came by them is still murky, but Wilson was not involved with that. When first shown the documents (which was before they were proven by others to be forged), he said that based on his investigation, the transaction did not happen and could not have happened, so the documents could not be authentic.

[nickgutierrez]

202. Thank you.

That's what a first draft is all about. :)

I'll fix it in the final version.

[Lars39]

204. You're good!

Excellent letter. I used yours for a little inspiration. :yoiks:

Here's mine:
Whoever blew the cover of CIA operative Valerie Plame struck a severe blow
to our national security, an act of treason apparently done for political revenge.

Valerie Plame was in charge of a network of operatives that kept track of terrorists
and those who might give weapons of mass destruction to terrorists for the Southeast Asia region,

Her husband is responsible for the discovery and expose of forged memos
that suggested Iraq was getting “yellowcake”, a material necessary
for the production of nuclear weapons.

These forged memos were put forth by the White House
as one of the ever-changing reasons to go to war.

The White House is now refusing to answer questions about the source that outed Ms. Plame,
and blew the cover of the CIA network that kept the US safer,
putting those operatives' lives' in grave danger.

Our national security compromised has been sorely compromised.
Why is the White House protecting Karl Rove?
Why hasn’t Karl Rove been fired as President Bush promised?

[Rhiannon12866]

420. Joseph Wilson did not discover the forged memos.

He traveled to Niger and determined that Iraq was not attempting to buy yellow cake uranium there for use in nuclear weapons. See my post #419. Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=17687&mesg_id=18412

[Lars39]

449. Thanks!

Just when I think I've got this stuff down cold...:dunce:

[Rhiannon12866]

476. This is a complicated issue

And I worried about that when Skinner posted the topic. You're far from the only one, which I'm sure that you can figure out by my posting my post, LOL! What concerns me is that, if DU members can get confused by this, what must be the views of those who aren't paying attention?! You're hardly a dunce; you're a member of DU! Good luck and I hope that this helped!:hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

419. Former Acting Ambassador to Iraq Joseph Wilson traveled to the

African country of Niger, at the behest of the vice president's office and the CIA, in February 2002, to determine whether the Iraqis were buying "yellow cake" uranium for use in nuclear weapons. He reported back that they were not. However, the 16 words indicating that they were (though he cited British intelligence) appeared in Bush*'s January 2003 State of the Union Address, to build the case for war. Wilson checked into this, got upset, and on July 6, 2003, published an Op/Ed piece in the NY Times, titled "What I Didn't Find in Africa." It was subsequent to this that his wife's name was leaked, ostensibly in retribution. I believe Bob Novak's column, which revealed her name and that she was deep cover CIA, appeared on July 13th. The forged memos are another issue.

Also, Karl Rove is now deputy chief of staff. And it has been revealed through internal e-mails that he was the source for Matt Cooper of Time Magazine. Apparently he didn't name her, but referred to Valerie Plame as "Wilson's wife," as if that makes a difference.

Sorry, but I wanted your piece to be completely accurate.

Rhiannon:hi:

[nickgutierrez]

455. Reworked second paragraph: (final-ish version):

When the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame was leaked to the media in 2003, President Bush promised that if the person responsible for the leak was found to be a part of his administration, he would fire that person. "If there is a leak out of my administration," the President said, "I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."

It is widely speculated that Ms. Plame was outed as an act of revenge against her husband, Joseph Wilson. Mr. Wilson traveled to Niger in February of 2002, finding no evidence that Iraq sought to obtain "yellowcake", a material necessary for the production of nuclear weapons, from the African nation. Despite his findings, President Bush used this claim in the 2003 State of the Union address, to help build the case for war. Wilson, in response to the now-famous "sixteen words", checked into the information the Bush administration presented, and wrote a New York Times op-ed on July 6th, entitled "What I Didn't Find in Niger". A week later, Ms. Plame was outed as a CIA operative. Given Ms. Plame's apparent role in tracking weapons of mass destruction, this leak is a huge hit to America's national security. If this leak happened for political reasons, as it would appear given the timing, it is nothing short of an act of treason.

The White House is now refusing to answer questions about the source that outed Ms. Plame. Despite the initial denials of White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, recent news reports are focusing on one man: chief political advisor Karl Rove. It is strongly suspected that Mr. Rove is the source of the leak. If this turns out to be true, President Bush would do well to follow up on his promise and show Mr. Rove the door.

[Rhiannon12866]

488. Great! One correction and a clarification.

The title of Joseph Wilson's 2003 NY Times Op/Ed piece was "What I Didn't Find in Africa"

Here's the original, if you missed it:
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0706-02.htm

And Rove is not merely suspected, but it's been revealed that he was the source for Matt Cooper of Time Magazine. This is the reason that this is big news. It's suspected that he was the source for others, despite White House denials going back to 2003. Also, Rove is now White House deputy chief of staff.

Great job!:toast:

[nickgutierrez]

516. Thanks, and thanks again

I made those changes before I sent the letter off. :)

[Rhiannon12866]

520. You're welcome, anytime! Great! Glad you noticed my post!

I have been listening to the news, tonight, and the distortions are so prevalent that it's a wonder that anyone, unless they do their own research, is able to discern the real truths of this case. Hopefully, all our letters will help to clarify matters.:-)

[smiley_glad_hands]

505. Hope you don't mind but I adapted your letter. eom

[sandnsea]

18. Excellent, another idea

When/if your letter is printed, come back and add it so people can read what got printed which might help in writing future letters.

[LeftNYC]

20. New York Times

I just fired off a letter. Here 'tis...Short and to the point...

Dear Editor:

It is troubling that the Bush administration continues to not follow through on their statements. I am referring to the President's claim that he would "take care of" anyone who leaked information about Valerie Plame. Now that we know the leaker is Karl Rove, why is the President and his staff, including Press Secretary Scott McClellan, pleading the fifth? The White House was open to making comments denying Rove was the leaker, yet when the other hand was dropped, they are now backing off and zipping their lips. The American people do not deserve to be lied to by people that are elected and chosen to lead this country. In 2000, Bush ran on a platform of "restoring decency" to the White House. When is he going to make good on that promise?

[Rhiannon12866]

421. Very good! Much shorter than mine, no matter how I tried.

Welcome to DU, LeftNYC! It's great to have you with us!:toast:

[LeftNYC]

442. Thanks for the compliment...

I tried to keep it short and sweet because I figured the Times is getting barraged with similar letters and the Post probably wouldnt print it. Its great to be here. Thanks for the warm welcome.

[Rhiannon12866]

475. Yes, the Times must get more letters than they can possibly print!

I live in a small town upstate and I wonder how many of my neighbors have the slightest idea who any of the players are or what this is really even about! Mine is far too long, but I felt compelled to explain some of the facts of the case.:shrug:

And you're most welcome here! You're not the only new DU member who's participating in this and I think it's terrific! Great job and great to have you with us!:hi:

[Maraya1969]

73. emmmmm How do you know if your letter is printed if you don't

read the newspaper? Do they send you a note? I get all my news from the net.

[dmr]

80. They usually call you up to verify

you wrote the letter, although that doesn't necessarily mean they will print it. At least that has been my experience with the larger papers.

[sandnsea]

120. People call me

"Hey, I saw your letter!!!" It was really cool when one got published in People Magazine. Surely somebody will call you if they see your letter in the local paper, won't they?

[NoSheep]

372. Yes LOUDER! Here's one I got published in the Raleigh NC N&O

after an incident involving protest and alleged property damage in front of the repuke party headquarters: This is the exact letter I sent. They did edit it for clarity, but they did not spoil my intent in any way...

Nov 9, 2004

Dear Editors:

The improprieties of recent voting, reported by Keith Olbermann on MSNBC’s Countdown Monday night, have left me feeling helpless to right the proven wrongs of this administration: lying to justify Iraq; Abu Grab; Halliburton contracts; tax cuts for the rich; blind dependence upon foreign oil; job loss; arrogance and ignorance evidenced by Bush’s refusal to cooperate with members of our government who don’t agree with his agenda.
However, short of anarchy, which we saw in our youth this weekend in Raleigh, what is one to do about another suspicious election? If I sit by and watch our military die for a democracy in Iraq, while I watch ours erode, what conclusions do I draw? Where does one begin to counter the lawlessness of one’s own government?
It is at this crossroads that I find myself.
Melanie Sill writes in this past Sunday’s N&O, “…the only question answered Tuesday was who will lead our government….”. I say that question remains unanswered and I challenge journalists to prove whether or not this election was fraudulent. In light of these reports and a narrow margin, until a thorough investigation is done, we will never be sure if we are a democracy or farce.
We cannot set an example for youth by abandoning this issue. If we do, what choices do we leave them as far as expressing their discontent? We are all left waiting for the strength that the press can give this call for truth.

[matcom]

22. The Boston Globe has now been "DUed"

:bounce:

:yourock:

[sniffa]

43. damn you!

i'LL take the metro or the heraLd then?

i've never written an LTTE and sad to say i'm Lacking for confidence in writing one. doh!

[matcom]

56. take the Herald

like they would post it anyway :D

[President Kerry]

207. no kidding.. they prefer the Michelle Malkin/Cliff May kind of scrud n/t

[Cobalt Violet]

208. Does that mean I have to do the Worcester Telegram?

[ScamUSA.Com]

325. done.... I sent it to the Metro Boston

since you guys already did the herald and globe

[notadmblnd]

23. The Detroit News

done

[banana pancakes]

24. I'll get on it tonight...

and it will be sent off to The Oregonian by Thursday.

:bounce:

[UrbScotty]

58. Welcome to DU

:toast:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

181. Welcome to DU!

always nice to meet a neighbor! :)

You are Portland DU'er #17 that I've run into here :hi:

[patdem]

25. VA Pilot...150 words or less...critiques welcomed!

July 12, 2005


Letters to the Editor
P.O. Box 449
Norfolk, VA 23501-0449.

RE: Karl Rove and Valerie Plame

Dear Editor:

Karl Rove's preemptive attack on Democrats has been outted for all to examine.

Karl Rove, and the hawks in the White House, saw the attacks on 9/11 and decided to attack Iraq and all people who were against attacking Iraq. Up to and including putting our national security at risk. That should be reason for his firing.

Valerie Plame was an undercover agent whose expertise was to disclose the proliferation of WMD by counties and individuals that were against the United States. The very bogeyman used to scare us into invading Iraq.

President Bush promised to fire anyone involved in disclosing the identity of this agent and I hold him now to his promise.

Name
Address
Address
Phone Number

[WMliberal]

279. mine hasn't made it into the Virginian Pravda or Times Disgrace yet.

I'll have to reword and resend.

[Jara sang]

390. To the Loudoun Times/Mirror (many in Loudoun Co. work for CIA)

To the Editor:

Living in Loudoun County, we all know somebody that is connected to the Intelligence Community. They are our friends and in some cases our family. Karl Rove has seriously compromised the security of our
country. In this post 9/11 age, an intelligence agent needs to know
that their covert status will be protected especially by those within
the Federal government. A covert agent must be equipped with the means necessary to protect U.S. citizens from those that would do us harm. One of the tools necessary is trust in our government. Karl Rove betrayed that trust when he leaked the name of Valerie Plame to a newspaper reporter. Karl Rove, an adviser to the President has betrayed the national security of the United States of America. For his treasonous acts he should be thrown in jail. It is unfortunate that George Bush feels as if his loyalty to Rove outweighs his loyalty to the country. These words do not fully express my disappointment in Karl Rove.

[Ysolde]

I "borrowed" your letter...

It was short and sweet. Hope that's okay?

Sent to the Tulsa World (in lovely redder-than-ketchup OK), so don't know if it'll be published.

[uppityperson]

26. here's mine. It'll be in SeattleTimes tomorrow

Edited to add: SeattleTimes just called, will be in tomorrow's paper with a bunch more. She was just putting a bunch together and mine came in.
-------------------------------------------------------
I am amazed at the continuing White House cover up of Karl Rove's
involvement in leaking an undercover CIA agent's name (Valerie Plame) to the press. Aside from the fact that knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law and an act of treason, the agent who was revealed was high up in the group researching WMD development around the world. Leaking her name has possibly destroyed the ability of the network to keep an eye on WMD development and endangered us all.

Mr. Rove has not only commited treason, but endangered national security. Mr. Rove needs to be held accountable for his actions. As Mr. Bush stated in September 2003, "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."

We deserve answers. The White House needs to quit lying and
start honestly doing what is right.

Sincerely,

[oldtime dfl_er]

71. I just wrote the Times too

Hope it's not too late for my little piece!

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/702950

[eridani]

431. Me too--just sent the fax

If someone wants to copy this to the P-I, go ahead.

Letters Editor
The Seattle Times
PO Box 70
Seattle, WA 98111

To the editor:

The Bush administration seems to have an ongoing habit of sacrificing American security for political gain. If Karl Rove did not release WMD undercover agent Valerie Plame’s name to Novak, he ought to either say so or deny it under oath, or be fired for treason. Whether Rove or someone else leaked this information, they have continued this disastrous pattern.

In summer of 2004, one or more senior American officials leaked details of the capture of Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan, a 25-year-old Al Qaeda computer engineer, to the news media, purely to justify faking a higher level terror alert just before the Republican national convention. Mr. Khan had been providing invaluable information to our allies, because he continued to maintain contact with Al Qaeda operatives even after his capture.

His usefulness as a double agent, like that of Valerie Plame’s work, was ended for the trivial goal of political advantage. If information from this source about British-Pakistani Al Qaeda agents could have prevented the London bombing, there is yet an extra ration of blood on the hands of this administration, on top of the 1700+ American soldiers and 100,000+ Iraqis who have died for a lie.

[Horse with no Name]

27. Noted.

Sending LTTE to Texarkana and Paris, TX.

[sinkingfeeling]

28. Done. The Morning News in NW Arkansas.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. Done San Diego Union Tribune

[xmas74]

30. Already did one a few days back.

I write LTTE's all the time to my local newspaper. A few days back I wrote one about Rove (and an additional one about Faux News, especially since my town plays them all day long at the community center). They have yet to publish even one.
I will make a few changes to the original and send to three other papers. There is one about a half an hour away from me that has published my LTTEs in the past. Maybe they will this time too.

On edit: already sent to Warrensburg Star-Journal. Will send to Knob Noster (home of Whiteman AFB), Sedalia, Marshall, Clinton, Kansas City Star, St Louis Post-Dispatch and the Columbia paper (have to look it up online). Might also send it to a few other papers, depending on how much time I have (since many around here are only snail mail).

[CAcyclist]

32. My LTTE

Dear Editor,


"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors." -- George H.W. Bush, April 1999

Karl Rove , by outing "Wilson's wife" , (what, he had 2 wives? Rove can't weasel out of this that easily), is guilty of nothing less that treason. Those who are covering up for him are likewise guilty.

[justinsb]

33. Advice Please

I'm in Toronto. What if I sent a letter basically saying -

The white house wants it's allies to share intelligence, but how are your allies supposed to feel comfortable sharing intelligence when the White House is protecting an obvious intelligence leak?

Should I send and to whom?

[patdem]

37. Good Point;..to share intelligence is a risk for this WH, cause they might

decide they do not like the person providing the intelligence and use the information against the intelligence rather than to protect their source...VERY INTERESTING TAKE FROM our allies!!! WOW!!!!

[Dickie Flatt]

65. Try Newsweek, Time, The New York Times

[justinsb]

72. Maybe but I don't think any of them would publish it

unless I was a part of the Canadian Government or something

[FourStarDemocrat]

104. Location of readers don't matter for the big papers and nat'l. magazines..

Tell them you're a regular reader in your letter, that's really all they care about.

If you're writing to Time or Newsweek, mention that your opinion is in response to one their leading articles of the week and name the article and author (for instance the new one by Isikoff in Newsweek, or the one in Time magazine about how the Iraq war made us less safe). Then go into the importance of why Karl Rove must be fired.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

34. Done

The Oregonian

[wildeyed]

35. Charlotte Observer

done :toast:

Let's get this Activist Corp off to a roarin' start!

[Jo March]

246. wildeyed, I wrote the Observer too!

I think I'll write the Cabbarus paper as well. I'll try to get the paper from Gastonia as well.

[wildeyed]

324. The more the merrier! :-)

They didn't print any ltte on this today, but they did have a short opinion piece which seemed a little wishy-washy until the last line, which I liked.

This is clear: Mr. Rove and any other executive branch officials who may be involved in this incident work for President Bush. The president has the power to get the facts and tell the public the truth. He should use it.

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/opinion/12119273.htm

[Jo March]

362. Yes, some of the stuff that they print is wishy-washy

I'm hoping that they print at least one of our letters!!

[UrbScotty]

36. I'm writing about BUSH'S FLIP-FLOPS

What about all of you?

[Stinky The Clown]

38. Done - to the Baltimore Sun ..... with a twist .....

Dear Editor,

As more and more bad news comes to us from Washington, including the British meeting minutes about the run-up to the War in Iraq, known popularly as the Downing Street Memos. These memos indicate a 'fixing' of intelligence to fit the policy (presumably of President Bush to invade Iraq). Then there is the recent news that the President's adviser, Karl Rove, may have disclosed the identity of a Non-Official Cover CIA asset for purely political thuggery. While there are these, and many more stories, I am concerned even more for my basic right to vote and to have my vote counted.

Maryland has a new voting system that relies on 'black boxes' to count and tally our votes. The flaw in the system is the complete lack of a system by which voting irregularities can be checked. Indeed, the current system allows for no recount. I won't even discuss the vulnerability of the system to electronic mischief.

We can all hold opinions on the news of the day, but can anyone deny the vital importance of our vote? Surely all of Maryland is in agreement that our vote needs to be counted, and counted accurately. Surely every voter can agree that they want full and complete confidence in that fact that their vote, as cast, was counted.

The Baltimore Sun, as the state's newspaper of record has a duty to the community to keep us informed about this issue. The first question I might ask is why a change to our voting system that would provide us with paper printouts and a paper record of our vote is being held up in committee in Annapolis. A committee, I might add, that is chaired by a Democrat.

I am concerned for our very democracy, the life breath of which is the vote of my fellow citizens.

<Stinky the Clown>
<Stinkyville>, Maryland

[patdem]

40. My take on the 'black boxes'..is that the people in power count the votes

and not the people...I think people can understand that rather than the 'voting irregularities'. I think people do not want the people in power counting their votes. It has always been the 'people's business' to count the votes.

I understand exactly, I have just been rumination about that and how to simplify the message..and thought about that??

Just my thoughts..please forgive me for being arrogant! :hi:

[Stinky The Clown]

51. Not arrogant at all ........

I suspect the reason we post letters here is to refine and edit and hone the message ....... and that's excatly what you did in replying .... and exactly why I posted the entire letter.

[ralps]

39. Done, sent an e-mail to jsonline.com The online version of the

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The 5th guideline for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says "Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months." so we'll see what happens. :hi: :loveya: :hug: :pals: :woohoo:

[mcscajun]

62. I wish one of our local papers had that policy.

There's a RW lunatic in a nearby town that I swear, has a screed-of-the-week published every freakin' week. It's nearly laughable, except there might be folks out there who agree with him.

[catmandu57]

41. I'll be on it tonight

However, our local paper stands very far to the right, so, I'm not going to promise results. If mine is a snowflake in a blizzard though, maybe it will get through.

[lostnfound]

42. Done! Houston Chronicle. nt

[eleny]

45. Sent an opinion email to the Denver Post

I appreciate the suggestions provided. I used them but added my own tone to the letter. Thanks for a great first topic!

[Burma Jones]

46. I sent a letter to the Washington Post

[Midlodemocrat]

48. Done.

[ronnykmarshall]

49. Done!

I gave it one of my short and to the point ditties.

In 2000 George W. Bush promised to "return integrity and trust" to the White House. So far with the help of Karl Rove and company he has:

1. Put the nation in dept that will take decades to pay off.

2.. Lied to the American to go war with Iraq.

3. Outed a CIA agent to cover up the lies about the war.

4. Used the lives of the victims of September 11th for political purposes.

This is "integrity"? I guess in the eyes of the neo-conservatives it is. Just as long as you don't have sex.

Ronny K. Marshall

[wryter2000]

50. To the SF Chronicle

Editor,

In April of 1999, President George Hebert Walker Bush called anyone who would expose the name of a CIA undercover operative "the most insidious of traitors."

Recent revelations point to Karl Rove as one source of Robert Novak's column exposing Valerie Plame as a CIA undercover operative in the field of weapons of mass destruction. George W. Bush's response to the fact that one of his closest advisers has acted like a traitor? Silence.

It seems that the son has much to learn from the father.

[Duncan Grant]

399. Nicely done.

:applause: :hi:

[terrya]

53. Done - to the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times

[Dastard Stepchild]

140. Me too

I'll keep my eye out for ya. :)

[Coastie for Truth]

54. Letter to Merc + e-mails to Bernie Ward and Ray Taliafero

--done

[Melinda]

55. My letter to the Sacramento Bee:

In 2004, President Bush stated "We need a president who will finally stand up and fight against the lies and corruption. It's time to renew the faith the people once had in the White House. If elected, I pledge to usher in a new era of integrity inside the Oval Office."

During this same time, VP Cheney stated "... we need to rebuild a government based on old-fashioned American values: duty, dignity, and responsibility".

George Bush has an apparent traitor working at the highest levels within our White House. Karl Rove, by playing politics, exposed the identity of an undercover CIA agent at a crucial time in our National Security. Mr. Rove's political trick exposed secret operations, cost millions of dollars, and quite possibly an unknown number of human lives.

Karl Rove is a man who treats the national security of our country & the lives of its citizens as expendable pieces in his political games, and by ignoring Mr Rove's actions, Mr. Bush has broken the promise he made to this nation just a few short months ago.

Faith, duty, honor, dignity, integrity, and responsibility are foreign concepts with this administration. Remember those values? Where's the Conservative outrage now?

Melinda B
Carmichael CA

[pnwbi]

387. Excellent Letter :-) but one question ....

Was the quote from Bush in 2004 at re-election or in 2000?

[mcscajun]

59. Done! My letter to the Daily Record

(BTW, this was perfect timing: this question was the Poll of the Day at the Daily Record website: "Should President Bush fire Karl Rove if he is found to be the leak in the Valerie Plame case?" 90.9% are voting Yes!)

My letter:

President Bush had this to say about the Valerie Plame case: "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 2003.

Well, we now know who that person is: Karl Rove. The White House has repeatedly assured us that Karl Rove, a senior adviser to the President, never discussed CIA operative Valerie Plame with members of the media. Rove's lawyer has recently admitted that his client had a conversation with a Time magazine reporter in 2003 during which they discussed the fact that the wife of a prominent Bush administration critic worked for the CIA.

Two years on, the White House is still stonewalling. This administration has had two years to clean up its own mess, and instead of doing so, they've protected and even promoted Karl Rove. George W. Bush promised honesty and integrity in the White House, and promised to fire any individuals involved in the Plame affair. His press secretary, Scott McClellan: "I made that very clear last week. The topic came up, and I said that if anyone in this administration was responsible for the leaking of classified information, they would no longer work in this administration. This is a very serious matter." (Oct. 2003)

It's time for President Bush to fire Karl Rove, and to come clean about the entire Plame affair. The American people deserve no less.


(I'll post back here if it gets printed.)

[proud2BlibKansan]

60. My little local suburban paper

has a 'Talk Back' feature where you can call and record a message. I have called in several over the last 10 years and they have always printed them.

Here is what I said (borrowed heavily from Skinner's suggestions):

The White House is lying to the American people about Karl Rove's involvement in the Valerie Plame Affair. Knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law, and an act of treason. Karl Rove put politics ahead of national security. Now that we know Karl Rove is responsible for the leak, President Bush should keep his word and fire him.

If anyone else wants to call, the number is 913-381-4884

[Terran]

61. Done--here it is if any other Missourians want to use it

I reminded 'em of Harry "The Buck Stops Here" Truman--seemed very appropriate.
***
A great Missourian who was once President of the United States is associated with the motto, "The Buck Stops Here." By that he meant that he alone took responsibility for what went on in his administration. I think this is a sentiment just about everyone agrees is a good idea.

In recent days, it has been shown conclusively that President Bush's Chief Advisor, Karl Rove, was responsible for blowing the cover of CIA operative Valerie Plame solely for the purpose of achieving a cheap political payback. Rove's actions, which may now prove to be quite costly for him, were unethical, probably broke federal law, and may even constitute treason. One thing is certain: Karl Rove compromised our national security.

Mr. Bush promised, back in October 2003, to fire anyone in his administration who was found to be responsible for blowing Ms. Plame's cover. And yet, at this writing, the President has yet to act on his promise. On July 12th, he declared through his press secretary that Karl Rove "has the confidence of the President."

So, at this point, you really have to wonder: where exactly does the "buck" stop in this matter, Mr. President? Will you do the clearly right thing and keep your promise and fire Karl Rove, or will you put your own administration above national security...and above the law?

[Lochloosa]

458. Terran

I'm in Florida but snagged you letter anyway. Just sent it in. I thought it might hit the "older" crowd by using Truman.
Good Job and Thanks

[Dr Fate]

63. Will do tonight. I'll notify The Old Bossman when it is sent off.

Thanks Old Bossman.

[EFerrari]

64. Oh, happy day!

:)

[savannahana]

128. chance of meatballs in redsauce county, ya think??

requesting full advance muu-muu guard
before next Wednesday

:yoiks:

:smoke:

[EFerrari]

232. ana

LOL!

Lookit what I found: :rant: :yoiks:

[Radio_Lady]

66. The Portland Oregonian is covered... easy do ...

Here's how I handled it in 150 words or less --

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Dear Editor:

The situation with our Republican national government is worsening. We are drowning in corruption.

The latest insult was the White House Press Conference July 11th. This charade exposed total chaos. The electorate tries to place good people in government, but the White House is lying to the American people about Karl Rove's involvement in the Valerie Plame matter.

If Karl Rove is responsible for the leak, President Bush should fire him. Mr. Rove puts politics ahead of national security. Knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law, and an act of treason.

I hope the grand jury gets the information it needs to indict those who are guilty. Some say we must wait until this investigation is over. I call on this President to make good on his promise to fire any White House staffer who is complicit in this ugly affair.

Sincerely,

<Radio_Lady>

[orleans]

224. btw--i love that picture on your post (did you take it/where was it taken)

and for the thread record--here's my letter sent to Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, State Journal Register in Springfield & Illinois Times:

It doesn't matter whether or not Karl Rove mentioned her by name. According to Matt Cooper's emails she was identified by Rove as Joe Wilson's wife working at the C.I.A. on WMD issues. Wilson only has one wife--how hard could it be to get her name? Once you do a simple google search on Joe Wilson for his bio you learn his wife's name.

C.I.A., WMDs, national security; a leak, jeporidizing national security, putting lives at risk for partisian reasons--they were mad at Joe Wilson for claiming there was no evidence that Saddam Hussein was seeking nuclear materials.

And once the world learned the name of Joe Wilson's wife Scott McCullan said: "I've made it very clear, he (Karl Rove) was not involved, that there's no truth to the suggestion that he was" (Sept. 2003), and "That is not the way this White House operates. The president expects everyone in his Administration to adhere to the highest standards of conduct No one would be authorized to do such a thing" (Sept. 2003), and, speaking for Bush, "...if anyone in this administration was responsible for the leaking of classified information, they would no longer work in this administration. This is a very serious matter" (Oct. 2003).

But now we learn the White House was lying to us--the American people--about Rove's involvement in the Plame Affair. Now we know Karl Rove puts politics ahead of national security. And we also know that to knowingly reveal the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law and is an act of treason.

Karl Rove should have his security clearance revoked. Karl Rove should be fired.

We do not know if Rove lied to McCullan, to Bush, or to both. After all, McCullan said "the president knows" that Karl Rove was not involved with the Plame issue. We do not know if McCullan was purposefully misinforming the public. But if he was then he should be fired too.

[Radio_Lady]

357. Orleans, it's not my picture -- just kind of a moss-covered fence and

had that Oregon green look I liked. I can't recall where it came from. I think it got it from the daily photos they post on my ISP, Comcast.net, but not sure. Glad you like it. Hope I'm not violating any copyright rules.

[orleans]

402. i really love it. it's a place i wish i knew and walked often. n/t

[proud patriot]

67. done , here's my letter

After two years of waiting we now know that it was Karl Rove Senior White house
Advisor who leaked the identity of CIA NOC Valerie Plame . NOC stands for
no operational cover . She ran a clandestine worldwide network of assets .
Keeping Weapons of Mass Destruction out of Terrorists hands was her job .
How many contacts have been killed as result of Karl Rove playing vengeful
politics with our National Security ? Did the recent London bombings happen
because Valerie Plame's network of intelligence assets was destroyed ?

This is not a red or blue , democratic or republican , left or right issue this
is about all Americans safety and security . I sure hope bush is a man of his
word and fires Karl Rove like he said he would . I consider Rove a traitor to
America for what he did . Rove has jeopardized every American including our
Soldiers serving honorably on the battlefield . Rove did this to all Americans
because The White House was mad at Joseph Wilson (Plame's husband) for
disagreeing with Bush's false claim that "Saddam had sought Uranium from Africa " .

Republicans need to put Country ahead of Partisan Politics and "restore honor
and integrity to White House" like they promised .

[TOhioLiberal]

177. Hi PP!

I cribbed your letter, I hope you don't mind. :blush:

[proud patriot]

200. 50 lashes w/ a wet noodle

:spank: LOL That's fine

[jamesinca]

213. Sent to the Fresno Bee

Proud Patriot, I like your letter so much I used it. I hope you don't mind.

[proud patriot]

336. Wow , thanks for the compliment

:hi:

[ProudDad]

557. I hope you don't mind

I used it as the basis of my letter to the S.F. Chronicle...

(Better late than never -- didn't see the thread until this evening...

-------------------------

After two years of waiting we now know that it was Karl Rove Senior White house
Advisor who leaked the identity of CIA NOC Valerie Plame. NOC stands for
no operational cover. She ran a clandestine worldwide network of assets.
Keeping Weapons of Mass Destruction out of Terrorists hands was her job.
How many contacts have been killed as result of Karl Rove playing revenge
politics with our National Security?

This is not a democratic or republican, left or right issue, this
is about American's safety and security. I hope Bush is a man of his
word and fires Rove as he said he would. I consider Rove a traitor to
America for what he did. Rove has jeopardized every American including our
Soldiers serving honorably on the battlefield. Rove did this to all Americans
because the White House was mad at Joseph Wilson (Plame's husband) for
proving that Bush's claim that "Saddam had sought Uranium from Africa" was false.

Bush needs to put Country ahead of Partisan Politics and "restore honor
and integrity to White House" as he promised.

[Maraya1969]

68. OK done - just sent it to the local paper though. I have to find the

link to all the media around here.


Here is my letter: If someone finds any grammar mistakes please tell. I often make them and can't see them. :dunce:

Dear Editor:

The Bush Administration is one of the most corrupt American government institutions in history. First we are told that Iraq is a grave threat and we must make a pre-emptive attack so as to secure us as a nation. Then we find out that Iraq was not a threat. And no one screamed. Then we find out that George Bush fixed the intelligence information from the CIA to “prove” to the Senate and Congress and the American people that the war was justified. And no one screamed.

Now we find out that the head advisor to the President of our country has committed as serious a felony as treason and no one is screaming. Karl Rove put Valerie Plane and all of her associate’s lives in jeopardy in grave danger.

Where is the outrage? What is the matter with us? I find it horrifying that the Republican Party spent 60 Million dollars trying to find “something” that President Clinton did wrong yet turn a blind eye to the far worse behavior of their own Republican leaders.

I think it is high time that Republicans start putting accountability and integrity as their aspiration and leave stem cells and gay marriage for another day.

Sincerely,

EDIT - wow left my name on

[Viva_La_Revolution]

187. one little booboo...

Otherwise... spot on!

"Where is the outrage?" This will be the theme of my letter, Thanks!



oh, this...
all of her associate’s lives in jeopardy in grave danger.

[Rhiannon12866]

422. It's Valerie PlaMe! You had Plane.

Just wanted you to know!:-)

[Maraya1969]

472. Well shit. I should have looked here. I actually did a GOOGLE

and some pages spelled her name Plane but I suppose if I had put in PLAME I would have gotten a lot more results. :dunce:

(I seem to be using that dunce emoticon a lot lately. Must not be getting enough sleep!)

[Rhiannon12866]

473. Oh, dear! I wish I'd known, since I could have directed you to some

Excellent articles, if you are unfamiliar with the case. I did worry about this when Skinner first posted the topic, since it's a complicated one, and I worried about writing a brief letter, because I felt like I ought to explain the facts of the case. I've been following it since the beginning, but it was still hard for me to cut to the chase. I've run across several letters here that are just inaccurate, unlike your one misspelling, and I hope I was able to explain to them sufficiently exactly what had transpired. If DU folks are confused, what must be the view of those who aren't paying attention? Anyway, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me. As for getting enough sleep, my brain was so fried when I wrote that (after writing mine), I'm lucky I was able to make one more post!
:dunce:

[Sparkly]

70. Done

Baltimore Sun and Washington Post. :)

[Beaverhausen]

74. LA Times - done

:kick:

[BeHereNow]

105. GREAT letters fellow DU Activist Corps members!

It's great to read everyone's letters!
What an inspiration.
BHN

[ronnykmarshall]

113. Same here!

That would be cool if we both get ours printed in the Times!

[Beaverhausen]

116. totally OT but did you see that editorial about adults who read Harry Pott

oops...Harry Potter books that was in the paper on sunday? That Josh Stein is an asshole. The editorial department there is going wacky!

[ronnykmarshall]

196. I missed it

For some reason I could not find the Opinion section of the Times. Some time my sunday paper is missing sections.

[MadisonProgressive]

75. Just fired one off to The Capital Times, Madison, WI

[Dave Reynolds]

76. Sent online to the Lansing (Michigan) State Journal,

and thanks to Skinner for a little inspiration.

The text of my letter:

George Bush promised honesty and integrity in the White House, and vowed to fire any individual involved in the felonious identification of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame. Now that Karl Rove is implicated, the president should keep his word. Failure to do so would be a betrayal of the trust given him by the voters. This incident has been a serious breach of national security and must be dealt with.

[crispini]

77. Done!

That was quick. Here's mine.

Karl Rove, Texans will remember, has a long history of dirty tricks. Way back in 1986, he may very well have changed the outcome of our gubernatorial race by allegedly bugging his own office. The Dallas Morning News' own Wayne Slater even authored a book in 2003 detailing Mr. Rove's political machinations.

Now it has become clear that Mr. Rove has fallen to new depths. He was intimately involved in blowing the cover of CIA agent Valerie Plame, apparently as an act of political retribution. In doing so, Karl Rove put his partisan political agenda ahead of American national security interests. And the White House has repeatedly LIED about his involvement in the Plame affair ever since it was alleged: "I've made it very clear, he (Karl Rove) was not involved, that there's no truth to the suggestion that he was." -- Scott McClellan, Sept. 2003

As President George Bush Sr., said, those who reveal the identity of CIA agents are "the most insidious of traitors."

Why is the White House continuing to protect Karl Rove, this "insidious traitor?"

[Maestro]

79. Crispini

Did you send that to the DMN and Star-Telegram? To what others ones as well did you send that?

[crispini]

90. Just DMN.

I'm lazy. And I tend to forget about the Startlegram. :P

[Ariana Celeste]

81. Done! my 1st ltte :)

Over the last couple of years, President Bush and Press Secretary Scott McClellan have been covering up Rove's part in the Plame Affair, with comments such as:

"I spoke with them (Karl Rove, Lewis Libby, and Elliot Abrams), so that I could come back to you and say that they were not involved. I had no doubt with that in the beginning, but I like to check my information to make sure it’s accurate before I report back to you, and that’s exactly what I did." -- Scott McClellan, Oct. 2003

Now, facing proof that Rove had his part in all of this, the White House is not answering any questions on the matter. Rather, the Press Secretary has been stonewalling the press.

Revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is not only illegal, but treasonous. The American people deserve to know what happened, why it happened, and if in fact Rove has done this- President Bush needs to keep his word.

In September of 2003, President Bush said, "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."

[SerutNorellet]

82. My first LTTE's ever!

sent to the LA Times and LA Daily News.

[in_cog_ni_to]

83. UGH! I hate writing letters and I'm NOT good at it. :( Please critique?

Is this too long? If so, what should I delete? If it sucks, just say so, OK? :) And if I have any facts wrong, please correct me.
Thanks.

on edit. I'm sending this by snail mail to my local paper The Daily Journal.

Karl Rove puts politics ahead of National Security?

Valerie Plame was a covert CIA Agent for 20 years until Karl Rove decided her husband needed to pay for writing an Op Ed piece about the lies President Bush had told in his State of the Union speech about the Niger Yellow-cake.

For revenge, Karl Rove took it upon himself to release Ms. Plame's name to 6 journalists. By doing this, he not only destroyed the 20 year career of Valerie Plame, he also committed a Treasonous act. By releasing her name, he wasted 20 years of important work Ms. Plame had done in investigating Weapons of Mass Destruction (that was her job) and he endangered every life of every person Ms. Plame ever worked with in her undercover investigations.

Remember this statement? "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 2003

Well, we now know who it is, Karl Rove. When will he be asked for his resignation? Perhaps President Bush could take a hint from his father?

"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors." -- George H.W. Bush, April 1999

Please, George, listen to your dad for once in your life and do the right thing. Karl Rove is a traitor. Fire him and demand a Congressional investigation.

[sandnsea]

124. One thing

We're losing Scooter Libby and Dick Cheney's office in all of this. Rove is ONE of the leakers, there were two. I'd put "we know who at least one of them are, Karl Rove." Just my penny.

[IndyOp]

272. What do you mean you are NOT good at it?

Geez. Your LTTE has a kick to it - a good one!

:kick:

[Rhiannon12866]

423. Very good!

But I am only sure that Rove was the source for Matt Cooper of Time Magazine. I don't know if they have officially revealed that he leaked to anyone else, yet. I particularly like your use of quotes.:-)

[cally]

84. Done to

Marin IJ. I guessed that many others would write to the SF Chronicle.

[Chichiri]

85. My first draft -- any comments before I dash it off?

In October of 2003, the White House, in a statement regarding the Valerie Plame affair, said that "if anyone in this administration was responsible for the leaking of classified information, they would no longer work in this administration." President Bush himself said, "If there is a leak out of my administration . . . the person will be taken care of."

Apparently, they didn't mean it.

Assuming that Karl Rove was indeed responsible for the leak, which the investigators will determine, his was not only an illegal act; it was an act of treason. Former President George H.W. Bush calls people who do such things "the most insidious of traitors," for whom he has "nothing but contempt and anger" (April, 1999).

President Bush should make good on his word: he should revoke Rove's security clearances, fire him, and see that he is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But if the White House statement of July 12th that Rove "has the confidence of the President" is any indication, that's no going to happen. We need leadership that does not put itself and its petty politics above national security. As the greatest nation on Earth, we must demand nothing less.

[in_cog_ni_to]

100. Great letter...send!

:hi:

[Chichiri]

103. Done! Sent to:

Fargo, Grand Forks, Devil's Lake, Bismarck, Minot and Wahpeton in ND, and St. Paul, Alexandria, Fergus Falls and Brainerd in MN.

[Carla in Ca]

136. I love your letter...

Mind if I borrow some of it? I'm in OC.

[Chichiri]

167. Feel free.

[EarlG]

86. Here's mine

To the Washington Times, like that's going to get printed, LOL.

White House Pleads the Fifth?

We now know, despite White House claims to the contrary, that Karl Rove was deeply involved in the Valerie Plame affair. In September of 2003, the president said "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." When it comes to a member of the administration potentially jeopardizing our national security, I would like to think that President Bush did not intend "taken care of" to mean "protected from the prying eyes of the press."

[Pirate Smile]

344. That's great. Can I borrow some of it?

My letter will be going to The Cedar Rapids Gazette.

[primavera]

381. Tell me about it

It's tough on us DC DUers - there's no chance the Times will print anything critical of conservatives, and the Post won't print unless you're a former UN Secretary General or higher in stature.

[MountainLaurel]

456. Perhaps you can try

That new free paper, the Washington Examiner.

[Jara sang]

393. I sent mine to the Washington Times too.

Along with the Loudoun Times/Mirror. Gonna fire one off to the Post here as well.

[Rhiannon12866]

424. Wonderful!

I just wish that mine was that brief and to the point.:-(

[Terran1212]

87. I think it's a bad story but... DONE - AJC alerted

You asked me to do it and I'm part of the corps.. so:

" I trust in the ability of the AJC to discern important news topics and report about them accordingly. I have become aware of the incredible possibility that Karl Rove, the President's close adviser, leaked a covert CIA agent's identity in an act of revenge against dissent. I hope the President will respond accordingly, considering his remarks:

""If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 2003"

The president would be issuing an attack on democracy and public good will if he allowed such conduct -- which is in stark violation of US law and dignity -- within his Administration. It would be an insult to our nation and the belief in a country "of the people, by the people, and for the people."


AJC

[justinsb]

88. Short and Humble to Buffalo News

To the Editor;

A lot has been said about the Rove case, and I won’t go back over all of it. However, as an American living in Canada I would like to ask this: What kind of message is sent when a White House that has asked for it’s allies to share intelligence since 9/11 then protects an apparent intelligence leak. Anyone in the Administration who is even suspected of leaking should at least have their security clearance suspended until the mess is cleaned up.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

190. :) short and sweet!

[hiley]

89. completed.

:applause: for everyone !

[Tommymac]

91. Is DU Media Blaster still okay to use for this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/cu/cu.php?az=blaster

I noticed for my area - Pittsburgh, it is very incomplete. I have a doc with all the email addies for most print media large and small in western PA...if anyone needs it please let me know.

[BeHereNow]

92. My Letter to LA Times-

Protecting National Security or Karl Rove:
The question must be asked.

We are a country at war, how we got there is
questionable at best, given what we have learned
from the Downing Street Memos which reveal
plans to "fix intelligence" (months prior to it) to justify the illegal
invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq.

Fast forward to the recent "ongoing investigation"
and the clear involvement of Karl Rove in revealing the
identity of Valerie Plame as a CIA operative working
undercover on National Security Intelligence in the area of
enemy proliferation of WMDs, which interestingly enough was
the very basis for going to war in Iraq, despite the fact that
they have never been discovered and are simply no longer
discussed.

What many Americans do not know is this:
Joseph Wilson, the husband of CIA agent Valerie Plame,
was the person sent to Nigeria to investigate
the "yellow cake" claims falsely made by
White House officials and the President of the United States
prior to sending our troops to war.

Joseph Wilson was also the first and
most qualified person to dispute those claims.
Shortly after he did so, his wife's identity and covert CIA status was
revealed in the press. No connection? Even after Rove was
quoted as referring to Wilson's wife as "fair game?"

That's what the White House would have us now believe
despite the mounting evidence against Karl Rove
who has a well documented history of precisely such
retaliatory behavior against political opponents.

Apparently, we have reached a point where the policy of
deception,
vindictive political actions and cover ups take precedence over
national
security and protecting the men and women who serve our
country, both in
uniform and in our intelligence agencies.

Anyone with the courage and patriotism to point out that this
administration has lied to the American people will be punished,
even at
the cost of national security.

In what was once America,
this would have been called treason.

[UrbScotty]

93. Sent to the Grand Rapids Press!

:-)

[w8liftinglady]

94. Done-DMN and Star-Telegram

What is the usual cut-off time for ltte...anyone know?

[il_lilac]

95. Am I a real activist now?

Letters sent to Chicago Tribune and SunTimes. Will also send to local papers! Bring it on Skinner!

[tishaLA]

96. LA Times and OC Register

To the Editor,

The White House's cover-up of Karl Rove's involvement in leaking a CIA agent's name appalls me. The past two days, we have seen the White House press secretary stonewall the press as they try to find answers to questions that matter to the American people. What did Rove leak and to whom? Does he maintain his security clearance even though he has leaked an agents name? Does he still have the President's confidence?

We know this though: Rove endangered national security. And we demand answers.

Sincerely,

[sniffa]

97. can i get some heLp here

critique, reaLLy. suggestions, or reassurrance.
is it too short? wiLL joe average understand what i'm speaking of?


Rove Plays Politics With National Security

Senior White House Advisor Karl Rove has put our nation's security
in jeapordy by revealing the identity of Valerie Plame, a covert
agent investigating weapons of mass destruction programs and
proliferation. It is astonishing that a person so close to our
president could disregard our homeland security, as well as the
security of our closest allies, in an effort to achieve political
retribution on Plame's husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, for his
(now proven correct) rebuke of the Iraqi-Nigerian yellowcake claim
in the build up to the Iraq War. I can only hope President Bush is a
man who puts our nation's security ahead of politics, and rids his
administration of Rove and any others who would betray our country
on such a whim.

[savannahana]

119. IMHO, it's really good, sniffa :-)

since i've had only one LTTE published in my life, & that was long ago (1986), please take this FWIW ...(feeling challenged myself :blush: re letter-writing efforts in rah-rah-redville here where i live)

my single suggestion is that your closing sentence can be stated with more of a direct punch... section out the solid central thought from the first four words and the last four words, and i bet you'll easily find a stronger way to... express righteous expectation, perhaps?... that it's high time * lives up (HA! even minimally HA!... but we're in LTTE World here) to both his own rhetoric and his prior statements of public record regarding "leakers"


"short" is effective, here - you've hit all the salient points; & no prob i can see for joe average

hope this helps even a bit; & hey, it's really fine just as it is, too :-) :thumbsup:

now, wish me luck? :yoiks:

:toast:

ana in KY

[sniffa]

123. good Luck to you

:hi:

i kept the ending with the thought, that it wouLd have more effect if i'm not teLLing others what to think, and onLy speaking for myseLf.

[savannahana]

131. that exact thought crossed my mind, too

and i do admire your approach in that respect
(my first 10 drafts set off fire alarms, i'm afraid LOL)

so once again :thumbsup: & off it goes! :toast:

& thanks :hi:

[Dave Reynolds]

121. Looks good to me, sniffa.

Send it off.

[sniffa]

127. done

:hi:

[kansasblue]

98. Kansas City Star

short and sweet.

[jarnocan]

99. rove letters/ post cards contact

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=111 good source for some media links but not local
Sent a letter the NJ Star Ledger.
Post cards aren't good as a letter to the editor of course, but as a way to plea for fairness in the media in general, and to make a brief point to congress, they might help
http://jarnocan.blogspot.com/ several Rove petitions here and 5 Supreme Court ones. BUT I did right my letter also, and hang out my signs. now back to just the impeach ones. That was just to celebrate on July 4th weekend when Bu**S**INC.'s greased pig was caught

[ClintonTyree]

101. I'm way ahead of you.............

well, not WAY, but I sent one yesterday. It's usually 2 days after they receive it before they call for identity confirmation. (I've had 3 printed in the last year). I'm looking forward to a call tomorrow. Oh, by the way, my hometown paper is the "Rochester Democrat and Chronicle". Rochester, NY that is.

Consider my first DU Activist Corps assignment....DONE! :headbang:

[cloudythescribbler]

102. Here's my letter to the editor of THE BOSTON GLOBE

(like it'll ever get published in my lifetime)

To the editor:

THE W BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S EXPLOITATION OF THE PLAME AFFAIR

It has now become clear that Karl Rove, and quite probably George Bush have been once again lying to the country, and using the power of the Executive branch to place politics ahead of the national interest, and ahead of the Constitution that they are sworn to uphold. This one-sided pursuit of their own agenda is something the Presidency does now but must never be permitted to pursue with such impunity.

And this hideous hypocrisy is heightened by the fact that while Karl Rove, whose involvement in the vindictive outing of a CIA operative to promote the political agenda of his boss, W Bush, is almost surely to go without punishment, this very same travesty is used to further punish the enemies of the president reflected in the incarceration of Judith Miller.

What we have is a Tory doctrine of 'we-are-the-law' suppression of the press for its independence of expression, and an Administration whose "teflon" is not one of public opinion, but composed 100% of the power of an invincible political machine. And most of the supposed opposition seems too devoted to getting with the program to seriously seek to do anything about it.

[johannes1984]

106. Suggestions?

Sent an opinion letter to the national paper most concerned with geo-politics .De standaard ,concerning the rapid deterioration of democracy in America under this administration .Ending of with the fact that the 'moral decay' they screamed about ever so loud during the clinton era , is now happening at their hands , with effects that will be felt for
generations .


Any suggestions?

Anyone taking on the IHT?

[shugah]

107. Lansing State Journal

done! (i noticed that someone up-thread already hit the detroit news).

[Dave Reynolds]

122. We have blanketed the State Urinal, ooops Journal

maybe one or both of us make it!

[savannahana]

108. working on it - ground mail by Thurs. morning, latest

:applause: :applause: :applause:
everybody's efforts here!! :loveya:

[Tommymac]

109. Here's mine - Constructive Cricism encouraged.

(Hope Skinner doesn't mind me stealing a bit from his - paraphrased, of coarse. Also got some stuff from the DNC website.)

"If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 2003

In 2003 the Bush Administration reassured the American People numerous times that Karl Rove, the senior adviser to the president, never discussed CIA operative Valerie Plame with members of the media. George W. Bush told us that his White House was honest and above board. He promised us he would fire any individuals who leaked this information; information which could affect the security of the USA. But last week it was proven beyond any reasonable doubt that Mr. Rove was, in fact, a key player in the Plame Affair.

Karl Rove's clandestine revelations to the media of Valerie Plame’s role as a CIA operative put partisan politics above the security of our nation. In my humble opinion, he chose to recklessly reveal Mrs. Plame's identity as a CIA agent, with no thought to the consequences to America’s national security, because it provided an opportunity to both smear her husband Ambassador Joe Wilson who was a critic of the administration’s policies, and possibly worse, to discredit the work Mrs. Plame herself was doing at the time involving the proliferation of WMD’s - facts her group had possibly submitted to the administration which couldn’t be fixed around the policy of promoting war with Iraq.

Now that it has been proven that Mr. Rove was involved in a security leak of this magnitude, the President needs to clean house. He should revoke Mr. Rove’s security clearances AND dismiss him from White House service. He also needs to address the following questions, why did the White house lie about Mr. Rove’s involvement for two years? Why are they now stonewalling the press about this issue? President Bush and Vice President Cheney need to look the American People in the eye and tell the truth about their knowledge of Mr. Rove’s actives. Anything less smacks of a conspiracy to cover up a major breach of America’s Security.

[cloudythescribbler]

111. constructive crit

First, I THINK Skinner is Nancy Skinner (a she) if I am not mistaken. (I have been totally wrong before, but I'm pretty sure I recall seeing that somewhere)

Second -- letters to the editor rarely get printed if they are over 300 words. The longer the letter, the better idea it is to go to a more local newspaper, like eg the Gannett newspapers in Westchester. As they move up the media food chain, the letters usually get shorter.

One possible idea is to figure you have four or five points to make. You could break it down into four or five letters, and then send them all out to medium likely publications, and then send a longer one to your local paper.

That IS a lot of work, sorry.
But as Thomas Jefferson reportedly once said -- "If I'd had more time, I'd have written a shorter letter"

[Tommymac]

118. Thanks!

I am going to send this one to a local paper - a weekly here in Pittsburgh.

I'll copy it to the larger pubs...not so much in the hope it gets published there but more for editorial consumption. But I'll take your suggestion to divide it up if I can....great idea.

I wish I was one who could write short letters, but alas, try as I may, I always spout too much. sigh.

[Tommymac]

168. My 'cut down' second draft

In 2003 the Bush Administration reassured the American People numerous times that Karl Rove never discussed CIA operative Valerie Plame with members of the media. Mr. Bush promised us he would fire any individuals who leaked this information which could affect the security of the USA. Last week it was proven beyond any reasonable doubt that Mr. Rove was a key player in the Plame Affair.

Karl Rove's clandestine leaks to the media of Ms. Plame’s role as an undercover CIA operative working on WMD proliferation issues put partisan politics above America's security. The President needs to clean house - revoke Mr. Rove’s security clearances AND dismiss him from White House service. And these questions need answers: Why did the White house lie about Mr. Rove’s involvement for two years? Why are they now stonewalling the press's questions? President Bush and Vice President Cheney need to look the American People in the eye and tell the truth about their knowledge of Mr. Rove’s actives. Anything less smacks of a conspiracy to cover up a major breach of America’s Security.

[PittLib]

233. Hi Tommymac!

I'll be hitting the Pgh press as well. One of us has to get through!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

110. Excellent idea

So good in fact that I've already done so. I have about a 50% success rate of my letters being published. I used to work at this paper so I think they favor me, not that I'm complaining. :)

I'll send one off to another publication later tonight and check back in after that. It feels too much like cheating to use the letter I've already sent.

[Alizaryn]

112. How's this sound before I hit send?

When Valerie Plame's cover was blown, so was that of her cover company, Brewster, Jennings & Associates. The CIA explained that her mission had been connected to weapons of mass destruction and that the company was indeed a CIA front. We have heard assurances from both our President and his Press Secretary that no one in the Administration had a hand in the leaking of her name to as many as six journalists and that if anyone were found to have been involved they would be dismissed. They also claimed that the timing of her outing which immediately followed her husband Joe Wilson’s public disagreement with the administration as to the facts in regards to Iraq and their Nuclear capability was just a coincidence and had nothing to do with revenge or a smear campaign.

Regardless of what end of the semantic game you are there is now proof that Karl Rove was indeed involved. He may have referred to Valerie Plame only as "Joe Wilson’s wife a CIA operative" but as any 10 year old can tell you a Google search would quickly decode her identity. President Bush cannot with any shred of integrity allow Karl Rove to remain in his position.

I look forward to the Grand Jury’s conclusion and could not even begin to guess as to what if any actual laws have been broken. What I do know is that Mr. Rove’s actions were wrong and harmed our Nation’s national security; even the cleverest Washington word games will not hide the facts. Shame on him.

[ronnykmarshall]

114. Great letters everyone!

Let us know if they get printed!

[HockeyMom]

115. As someone who lived through Nixon and Watergate,

I am in the process of trying to compose my piece to Newsday to try to compare the two. In my mind's eye, this is far worse since the Rove/Plume outing is a direct attempt to punish and cover up the reasons for going to war with Iraq. Far, far worse than Watergate.

[HockeyMom]

148. Sent to Newsday 8:31 PM Eastern Standard Time

Titled, "No One is Above the Law"

[Mythsaje]

117. Sent--do you think this one has bite?

If Karl Rove leaked Valerie Plame's identity to reporters, knowing it endangered her life, the life of agents under her, and compromised the search for WMDs, in Iraq and elsewhere, he deserves more than to be fired...he deserves to be prosecuted as a traitor. As does anyone who shields him.

I find it highly suggestive that both Plame and her husband, the former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, were outspoken in their opposition to this administration's claims of WMDs in Iraq, and such a move as 'outing' Plame was apparently calculated to effectively silence them.

Plame’s branch of the CIA was telling the administration that there weren’t any WMDs in Iraq. Tracking such information WAS her job, after all. And we have every reason to believe she was good at it.

The fact that we haven't found WMDs in Iraq wasn't because of an intelligence failure. It was, rather, due to deliberate sabotage of CIA operations in the area guilty of uncovering information the Bush administration didn’t want to hear.

So it appears the ‘outing’ had two purposes. To get back at Joe Wilson for not going along with the script regarding the alleged fissionable materials purchased from Niger, and for Valerie Plame herself daring to contradict the administration’s stance on Iraq and WMDs.

I, personally, find it not only deplorable, but deeply disturbing.

[Dave Reynolds]

126. Good one.

Yep, I see bite there.

[bettyellen]

125. Combat these RW Talking Points from Raw Story

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Exclusive_GOP_talking_points_on_Rove_seek_to_discre_0712.html

[WolverineDG]

129. Laredo & Corpus Christi papers done!

I hope someone can get the San Antonio paper ( www.mysa.com ). They are running a letter I wrote last week & they'll only run you once every 30 days.

dg

on edit: oh yeah, here's what i wrote:

Pres. Bush promised that he would fire the person who blew Valerie Plame's cover as an undercover CIA operative.

It has been several days since it was revealed and proven that Karl Rove was the source of that leak, yet he is still on the payroll.

By keeping Karl Rove in his employ, Pres. Bush is telling the American people that he places a higher value on political expediency than the safety of our country.

[_testify_]

130. done and done

Sent it to both dailies in my city.

[LSK]

132. Joe Wilsons testimoney at the DSM hearing is a good resource

Im not sure where to find it online (cspan archives?) but I taped it.

Now how am i going to limit my letter to 300 words?? LOL

[Lecky]

133. Done :) n/t

[gizmo1979]

134. Done Sheboygan press

Sheboygan WI!

[Warren Stupidity]

135. DONE. WITH. PLEASURE.

I like this. It is an ass-kicking to get me to do something. It works.

[_testify_]

137. also sent to Newsweek and USA Today n/t

[ElsewheresDaughter]

138. done.......Albany Times Union

Send a letter to the editor

All letters to the Times Union are subject to editing for length, taste and accuracy. Only letters written exclusively to the Times Union will be used, and only if the writer's name can also be published. To be considered for publication, letters must include the writer's name, address and daytime phone number. Contributors should specify whether they want their e-mail addresses published. Letters published in the newspaper will also appear in the opinion section of timesunion.com. If you want to express your opinion online only, please visit our forums.

Your letter to the editor
has been submitted
All letters are considered for publication.
If your letter is going to be published, you will receive a phone call from the Times Union for verification purposes within 3 to 5 days of submission.

[Nite Owl]

214. Thanks

that's where I am sending mine.

Reply to this:

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=378411&category=OPINION&BCCode=&newsdate=7/12/2005

Will write it tomorrow, I need sleep real bad.

[annabanana]

142. done, short & sweet

....we can't afford to have someone with security clearance with "loose lips" in the Whitehouse.....
(also noted vindictiveness in putting party loyalty above National Security)

[LSK]

143. Help! I think this is too long!!!

In the leadup to the Iraq invasion in 2003, Bush tried to make it sound like Iraq was seeking nuclear materials. In his State of the Union address that same year, Bush said: "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."

In February of 2002 Ambassador Wilson was asked by the CIA to investigate this issue. In March 2002, Joe Wilson traveled to Niger and after meeting with the Government officials of Niger reported to the CIA that such a sale by Iraq was unlikely.

In response to the President's 2003 State of the Union inaccurate claim, Wilson tried to contact the Bush administration and having failed, wrote a NY Times Op-Ed article "What I Didn't Find in Africa", published July 6, 2003.

Shortly afterwards, in response, Robert Novak revealed in an article: "Wilson never worked for the CIA, but his wife, Valerie Plame, is an Agency operative on weapons of mass destruction. Two senior administration officials told me Wilson's wife suggested sending him to Niger to investigate the Italian report." CIA officials have since denied that it was Plame who suggested Wilson go to Niger.

Releasing the name of a CIA operative is a serious threat to the safety of that person, and ruins the work of that operative and others who he/she works with. Considering Plame was working on WMD issues, this move by adminstration officials is a serious threat to National Security and a major blow in the War on Terror.

George W. Bush promised honesty and integrity in the White House, and promised to fire any individuals involved in the Plame Affair. Now that it is becoming quite clear that Karl Rove, Senior Advisor to the President was a major player in the affair. Yet the White House remains silent on the issue.

How can we take President Bush seriously on his word or his commitment on the War on Terror and protecting America if he continues to allow a man such as Rove to have security clearance and access to the White House. It is quite clear Karl Rove puts politics ahead of National Security. If Bush continues to employ Mr Rove, does he also have the same belief that politics is more important than the security of The United States?

[LSK]

161. Done!!

Sent to Suburban Chicago's Daily Herald and Chicago Tribune:

Ambassador Joe Wilson was asked in 2002 to travel to Niger, Africa to investigate the claim that Iraq sought to purchase uranium from Africa. He came back concluding that it was not likely. Upon seeing Bush’s 2003 State of the Union address, Wilson, tried to contact administration officials regarding the claim. Unable to, he wrote a NY Times Op-Ed article "What I Didn't Find in Africa", published July 6, 2003.

Shortly afterwards, in response, Robert Novak revealed in an article: "Wilson never worked for the CIA, but his wife, Valerie Plame, is an Agency operative on weapons of mass destruction. Two senior administration officials told me Wilson's wife suggested sending him to Niger to investigate the Italian report." CIA officials have since denied that it was Plame who suggested Wilson go to Niger.

Releasing the name of a CIA operative is a serious crime. Considering Plame was working on WMD issues, this move by adminstration officials is a serious threat to National Security and a major blow in the War on Terror.

George W. Bush promised honesty and integrity in the White House, and promised to fire any individuals involved in the Plame Affair. Now that it is becoming quite clear that Karl Rove, Senior Advisor to the President was a major player in the affair. Yet the White House remains silent on the issue.

How can we take President Bush seriously on his word or his commitment in protecting America if he continues to allow a man such as Rove to have security clearance and access to the White House. It is quite clear Karl Rove puts politics ahead of National Security. If Bush continues to employ Mr. Rove, does he also have the same belief that politics is more important than the security of The United States?

[reprobate]

144. Sorry Dave, but I jumped the gun by a few days.

That was the theme of the LTTE I sent to the Orlando Slantinel Friday, and much to my amazement it was published in Saturday's edition.



You were certainly correct when you said that journalists must have the right to protect their sources. However, the protection of her source is not the question in the case of Judith Miller.

When she refused to testify before the grand jury she in effect participated in the cover up of a felony, which is a crime. And while source protection is an important part of our society, NO journalist has ever had the right to cover up a crime.

Certainly Judith Miller has the right not to testify before the grand jury. But she, and by extension, all journalists who place themselves in the same situation, must be prepared to pay the price for her actions.

In fact, in my opinion, she will not only spend time in jail for refusing to testify, she is also leaving herself open for a charge of conspiracyin the case of the revealing of the name of an undercover CIA operative.

I think your editorial was right as far as it went. This case is just far more complex than you had admitted.

[reprobate]

203. On re-reading, this wasn't really on point, so I'll write another.

It will help with opinion count, but they won't print it since they have a 60 day publication policy (one letter per writer each 60 days).

[Immad2]

145. Done - Sent letter 5:25 pacific time today N/T

[rogue emissary]

146. I'm sending this letter to the Potomac News a local Northern VA paper.

Any suggestions or critiques?

Editor,

During President Bush's first month in office, he spoke about meeting high legal and ethical standards for the White House's staff. It's disappointing that the President will not live up to his own words as he puts a political friend above the nation's security.

Karl Rove's involvement in leaking the identity of a CIA agent is clear. His presence in the White House sends the wrong message to the rest of the administration. Apparently the President finds it acceptable for his staff to skate around laws as long as it helps the President's agenda.

[GreenPartyVoter]

147. Here's my letter going out to the Bangor Daily news

There are many questions surrounding the issue of who blew CIA agent Valerie Plame’s cover in retaliation for her husband, Ambassador Wilson, revealing as forgeries the Niger yellowcake uranium documents that provided "proof" for pushing forward with the Iraq war.

For example, are these forgeries what was meant by the Downing Street memo which stated that the “intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy" of going to war in Iraq?

Who authorized the revelation of Ambassador Wilson’s wife as an undercover weapons of mass destruction operative for the CIA, thus putting her mission and dozens of other operatives at risk?

Why did former Attorney General Ashcroft remove himself from the leak investigation?

If the leak indeed came from a member or members of his staff will President Bush, who promised honor and integrity in the White House, stand by his word and “deal” with the person who created the leak as he promised way back in 2003?

And why is the White House changing its story from “it’s ridiculous” to think that Karl Rove is involved in the leak, that they’ve “made it very clear, he was not involved, that there's no truth to the suggestion that he was” to “This is an ongoing investigation at this point. The president directed the White House to cooperate fully with the investigation, and as part of cooperating fully with the investigation, that means we're not going to be commenting on it while it is ongoing.”

Have they been hiding something for two years, or does President Bush have so little control over what his staff does, including Karl Rove, a man his own father once fired for leaking a negative story about Bush supporter Robert Mosbacher to none other than columnist Bob Novak, who features in the Plame story as well?

[sniffa]

149. EVERYBODY

don't forget (as i did with the first paper) - each news paper has their own requirements for an LTTE to be printed; usuaLLy name, address and phone number.

[NMDemDist2]

150. Arizona Republic just received this:

Bringing Honor and Integrity to the White House?

If President Bush truly means to keep his campaign promise from 2000, he will keep this promise from 2003. ""If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 2003"

Although I suppose it depends on your definition of "taken care of." Will we see a high paying Halliburton job in Carl Rove's future?

[ulysses]

151. done (AJC)

I'll find some smaller papers around here for the next round.

edited to add copy:

Since 9/11, President Bush has made much of the need for national security, yet now we find out that top Bush advisor Karl Rove has been playing politics with that same national security in the interest of punishing an ambassador who wasn't playing his game. This is treasonous. Rove should be fired.

[democrank]

152. Excellent first project.

Mission accomplished.

[NoSheep]

153. WoooHoooo! I'm ready to go!!!

:bounce: You make it easy Skinner! I love this place. Power to the People:thumbsup: :kick:

[Zen Democrat]

154. Done. That felt good.

I commented that unless Joe Wilson has more than one wife, Rove's comments specifically identified her.

[UCSBLiberalCat53]

155. My letter to the LA Times (I let Cicero talk for me)

"A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banners openly.
But the traitor moves among those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the galleys, heard in the very hall of government itself.
For the traitor appears not a traitor. . . He speaks in the accents familiar to his victims, and wears their face and their garment, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men.
He rots the soul of a nation. . . he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city. . . he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared."

Cicero believed so much in loyalty to the state that he was even not willing to let a friendship get in the way if it meant endangering the state. His antithesis was Coriolanus who made war upon his own city after being exiled. Given that Valerie Plame was working on monitoring weapons of mass destruction, Karl Rove endangered the country’s national security for political payback. Karl Rove is a modern day Coriolanus in that he put vengeance upon Joe Wilson over the national security of the country.

Edit: ugh, sounds a bit repetitive.

[Gold Metal Flake]

156. This is my first LTTE!

I sent it to a local paper. It's short and sweet and non-partisan. Should "nation" be capitalized?

>>>

It is now clear to everyone that Karl Rove is at the center of a tremendous crime against our nation, but the White House continues to stonewall.

Mr. Rove exposed not only a deep undercover United States Secret Agent working for the CIA on tracking the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but also Brewster-Jennings & Associates, the CIA front company she was associated with, and her associated agents, contacts and informants. We may never know fully the extent of the damage Mr. Rove’s rash act of attempted political revenge against Ambassador Joseph Wilson wreaked on our nation’s intelligence community.

It is unbelievable that someone so high up in the United States government would commit such a treacherous act, but what's worse is the way the White house has lied, stonewalled and covered up what is surely a terrible crime against us all. At the very least, Karl Rove must resign, along with anyone else involved in this foul act.

>>>

[brokensymmetry]

172. Me too!

And, let me tell you, it feels great! Even if it's only a LTTE, at least we're doing something!

[Gold Metal Flake]

176. Good on both of us!

I hope it gets published.

[Not_Giving_Up]

157. Done

The question is...Will the Houston Chronicle print it?

[Liberty Belle]

158. My letter to the San Diego Union-Tribune

Re: Karl Rove's treachery

Dear Editor:

President Bush promised to fire whoever was responsible for leaking CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity to the media.
Now, Newsweek reports that none other than Karl Rove, the president's advisor, is responsible for this treachery. MSNBC confirms the report.

The Constitution defines such an act as treason. Valerie Plame was investigating weapons of mass destruction. By leaking her identity to the press in a blatant partisan attempt to discredit her husband, Joe Wilson, Karl Rove clearly jeopardized national security as well as Plame's life.

President Bush should prove that he is a man of his word and fire Karl Rove, who belongs in prison -- not in the White House.

[TBreeze]

159. Done - Dayton Daily News (Ohio)

My very first letter to an editor. That felt great. :)

[Timshel]

160. Done - Sent to the Austin American Statesman

LEAKS IN THE CEILING

We know now that Karl Rove was the source of the leak in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plume. Revealing the identity of a CIA operative is illegal, and an act of treason. In 2003 George W Bush stated, "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of.” Did he mean to add “with a slap on the hand” to that statement?
George H.W. Bush once said, "I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors." I await on pins and needles to be shown that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
I fear I may be waiting a long, long time.

[Timshel]

543. Update

Got an e-mail asking me to verify everything and I did, but it hasn't been in the paper... ;-(. But, on the upside, over the past few days there has been MANY demands for Rove's resignation in the paper. Alot of people are pissed!

[tyedyeto]

162. Sent a LTTE of the Tucson Citizen.

Now, will it be published? I hope so.

Edit to add letter:

Our 'President' made it very clear in September of 2003: "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 2003

It it now clear that Karl Rove was the person who outed Valerie Plame as an agent for the CIA, A criminal offense. What does our 'president' say about this? NOTHING! When did he know about this? Is he also complicit in this action? Is our 'vice-president' also a party to this action?

This administration, from advisors to the actual presidency, have denied from the beginning that they were involved in knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative. This is a criminal and treasonous offense. The firing of Karl Rove and the impeachment of Bush and Cheney should take place immediately.

[symbolman]

163. I'll send something to the Hawaiian papers here..

In the meantime I'm creating a DVD for Conyers office for his house parties, they are contacting MoveOn about it - that covers the whole subject..

I'm thinking of calling it "Rove's War" :)

I would advise anyone here in the DU Activist Group to watch "Bush's Brain" if you haven't already, you'll see the pattern, and how it's grown to a larger scale, but still the same pattern repeated, very enlightening..

But I'll take the time to send some emails as well.. GLAD to help!

[Name removed]

164. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[i have issues]

165. Done!

Letter to the Seattle Times..Love to post it but my stupid e-mail wont let me save a draft... I'll let ya know if it was published...Hee, this is fun. It's good to have a fire lit under ones ass!

[seito]

166. Sent to Baltimore Sun n/t

[DanCa]

169. How is this

Let me know what you guys think? If it is worthy I while sent it to the Daily Herald.

To Whom it may concern,
I am deeply concerned about the nature of partisan politics in our country. It nows seems that the majority party can now over look the act of treason within it's own ranks. I am of course refering to the actions of one Karl Rove when he maliciously outted CIA Agent Valerie Plame.

I am amazed at the latest act of hypocrisy of the Bush administration. During the last election cycle the accused a great man named John Kerry of "flip flopping" on issues and making issues based on political expediency. President Bush on the other hand ran as someone who means what he says.

Mr President you promised the nation that your administration would not tolerate a leaker in the white house. I am asking you as one christian to another to do the right thing. Karl Rove put a woman's innocent life in danger. He needs to go.

Sincerly yours
Daniel XXXXXXXXXX

[DancingBear]

170. Here is mine - to The Washington Post

(title: Will This White House Ever Come Clean?)

As the lies coming from The White House now spin hopelessly out of control, it is becoming more and more clear that a cover-up of Watergate proportions is going on with regard to what is now being referred to as Plamegate.

Mr. Bush, after vowing to bring a new level and of honor and respect to The White House, has instead sullied it to a degree not seen since Richard Milhous Nixon resided there. By allowing Karl Rove access to highly classified information, and by allowing him to leak it to the press, Mr. Bush has jeopardized the life of an undercover agent in his petty quest for revenge. By outing Valerie Plame, Mr. Rove (and by extension those within The White House circle who knew of this) has also committed an act of treason, punishable by impeachment.

If impeachment was tried not too long ago over a sexual indiscretion, than I expect placing our national security at risk in order to extract political revenge should be cause to at least broach the subject once again, this time for a truly impeachable offense.

Perhaps the elder Mr. Bush said it best:

"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors." -- George H.W. Bush, April 1999

xxxxxxx
xxxxxxx

[Pachamama]

241. I wrote a letter to the WP and the SF Chronicle re. Rove

I actually sent two different letters, and the one to the WP specifically in reference to today (Wednesday)'s article about "GOP on Offense in Defense of Rove"...I basically asked the question why would anyone in the GOP try to defend such traitorous actions of an individual and that it is disgusting how the GOP defends everything this administration, even something that risks National Security.

Even though Skinner only asked for one letter, I think I'll do a letter a day, to different papers, but atleast send one. The GOP is hoping this story will go away...no effing way...I'm not going to be silent about my disgust for this or anything else from this administration....

[leveymg]

171. Here's My LTTE - WP, NYT, E&P, The Nation, others

Why Does Rove Still Have His Security Clearance?

If Karl Rove were anyone else, it would have been taken away the second the WH security office learned about his role in the Plame matter, and he would have been out the door.

Has he even been questioned about it at work? If so -- he probably was -- wonder what he said? Was he under oath?

There may be other crimes here. Lying to the Grand Jury is just one of them. Isn't it time our leaders and the corporate media started asking these questions, too?

Rove Should Lose His Clearance

You don't have be indicted to lose your clearance.

Anyone who presents a threat of unauthorized release of classified materials loses his clearance. There's plenty of cause to believe that in Rove's case. If I were in the WH security office, I would be demanding Rove's keys, right now.

In fact, if the security office doesn't make that demand, they should be investigated. Anybody in the FBI or SS reading this, please pick up the phone and call your colleagues at 1600 Penn. Remind them to look in the procedures manual.

Has The WH Security Office Sought Guidance on This?

The head of that office must be sweating bricks right now. That administrator should have gotten an opinion from the General Counsel's office back in July 2003. I'd love to read it.

If there is no such opinion letter saying it's okay to keep Karl on, I think it unlikely that the officer who demands Karl's keys would be fired. Think about it. In fact, under these circumstances, it may be mandatory to lift Rove's clearance. I'm sure the procedures book calls for suspension if it is learned that a WH employee has improperly divulged classified information.

If this issue gets raised by someone in a position of visibility, the White House will have to reveal what efforts have been taken, if any, to guard against further breaches of security.

Was really pleased to see it was the second question asked at Scotty's WH press briefing this afternoon. The message got through.

[AuntiBush]

173. Working on it ASAP! Thanks for Call of Duty, Skinner!

Done and thank you for the helpful tips. Already today I called and emailed my Senators urging them to get behind all of this.

And, after reading that document over at http://www.rawstory.com/ well, I just emailed Chris Matthews. Plainly put, either start telling the truth and stop spinning the lies, or you'll loose my viewing all together.

Quite frankly, I get my news on C-SPAN as it happens and out here thanks to the Huffington Posts (David Corn). Might add, David Gregory had me hoo-rahing today, as well.

[earthboundmisfit]

174. Sent to the Tulsa & OKC papers - will either print my letter

is questionable, but then again I may be pleasantly surprised. Went with the national security and will the president keep his word angles, mainly... Had to trash the first few drafts 'cuz I got more & more PISSED as I wrote...

[SaveAmerica]

175. How about - Rove, Rove, Rove, you goat,

it is time to go,
today is a brand new day for us,
the press corps ain't your ho!

YEEEEE HAWWW!!!

Oh, alright I'll go write a 'normal' LTTE!!!

[TOhioLiberal]

178. Done!

Sent to the Toledo Blade. Pretty good chance of being published (crossing my fingers!) They have a limit of one letter every 30 days so next time I'll have to go elsewhere.


Gee that felt GOOD!

[puerco-bellies]

179. Done Sent this to the Los Angeles Times

Karl Rove compromised a CIA agent’s mission, which focused on stopping the spread of WMD’s, in order to discredit Ambassador Wilson’s contention that Iraq did not harbor a credible WMD threat to America. Ambassador Wilson’s correct assessment was steamrolled, and now we find ourselves neck-deep in a savage swamp of our own making with 1,700 of our sons and daughters dead over an outright lie, and with no end in sight.

Mr. Rove is not an intelligence operative, he is a political consultant. The course of his duties does not expose him to the highly classified identities of our frontline undercover operatives. Mr. Rove was fed this information by one of his colleagues within the White House. It is time for Congress to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the wartime compromise of Agent Plame’s mission to wherever it leads. There was once such enthusiasm for such things when it concerned a private affair, why not treason?

[manic expression]

180. One BIG question: How was it proven?

What clear evidence showed that Karl Rove was involved?

[Warren Stupidity]

192. do some reading

that is not even being disputed anymore. The spin is onto 'it wasn't really a crime' and 'she wasn't actually covert' and 'wilson is a liar' and 'cooper set a trap' and 'rove didn't actually state her name' and ....

[im10ashus]

182. Done!

Sent to my local paper - The New York Times:

To the Editor:

The White House is lying to the American people, and by so doing, continues to put politics ahead of national security. If Karl Rove is guilty of the treasonous act of revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative, the White House needs to act sooner, rather than later. George Bush stated in September 2003 that “if there is a leak out of his administration, he would want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of.” It’s time for him to own up to those words. Does “taking care of” the person mean stonewalling all questions about Mr. Rove in order to protect him from this egregious crime and his possible involvement? It’s time to honor our First Amendment rights and stop abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.

XXXXX XXXXX
XXXX
New York, New York, XXXXX

[Missy M]

183. Done..

sent to the Buffalo News. Theme was dismissing Karl Rove for leaking Valerie Palme info to the media.

[earthmama]

185. Done - Sent to the Charlotte Observer

[Jo March]

247. W00T! That's 3 to the Observer!!

They have to print one of ours, surely!!

:)

[many a good man]

186. Message Sent! Wash Post

As the wave of nostalgia following the revelation of the identity of "Deep Throat" slowly ebbs, we are now confronted with a national scandal even worse than Watergate: Karl Rove, top advisor to the President, leaked the identity of a deep undercover agent for the CIA in an attempt to destroy a political enemy.

Rove's leak not only ruined Ms. Valerie Plame's career in the CIA, but destroyed a decades-long undercover operation aimed at thwarting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction-- the greatest single current threat to our national security and safety. The purpose of this “dirty trick” was to discredit Plame’s husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, the first high-level figure to question the President's misuse of intelligence. As new revelations, such as the "Downing Street Minutes," continue to pour forth, one can now begin to understand the Administration's desperation to prevent other whistleblowers from shining the light on its darkly uncomfortable secrets.

I look to the Washington Post and the rest of the "fourth estate" to vigorously carry out its solemn responsibility in our democratic system to uncover the truths in this unfolding scandal.

[devinsgram]

188. Done

Now that felt good.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

193. My letter has gone to The Courier-Journal in Louisville, KY and

the Lexington Herald Leader in Lexington.

My letter was polite but long (400 words). The Louisville paper often prints long letters so I took a shot.

I've got my fingers crossed for every single letter sent from the DU Activists.

Are we keeping a running count of how many letters have been sent?

[Just Me]

189. Done. Here's my LTTE to the WV Gazette:

Dear Editor:

Stunning! A member of President Bush's administration would risk our national security for political revenge. Revolting! The Bush administration continues to engage in deception and obfuscates the truth in spite of a serious crime which endangered our nation's interests.

President Bush's spokesperson unequivocally stated that the President's senior advisor, Karl Rove, was not involved in the outing of an undercover CIA agent. Now, we discover that Karl Rove did, in fact, play a major role in exposing that agent for a nefarious motivation. The motivation underlying the outing of this agent was apparently to punish, to seek revenge against Ambassador Joseph Wilson for revealing the administation's lie about Iraq acquiring yellow cake from Niger. They outed his wife, an undercover CIA agent.

What's particularly egregious, beyond the crime of outing an undercover agent, is that the agent outed by President Bush's senior advisor was part of a network tracking WMD proliferation. She was a member of the network that tracked the "bad guys" who were acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Incredibly, a member of this administration risked the security of our people, of our nation to punish a man for telling the truth by revealing his wife, an undercover agent tracking WMDs!!!

Meanwhile, the Bush administration continues to deceive, to obfuscate, to cover-up this outrageous crime against our safety and security. I find this administration's betrayal, eager willingness to betray the American people in such a way incomprehensible and sickening. They behave like a mob rather than exceptionally moral and ethical representatives of, by and FOR the people.

Sincerely,

Just Me (pen name "Lesley Garner")

[pinto]

191. My LTTE - wedge push for a red CA county paper.

In light of the President's commitment to hold staff accountable for press leaks effecting national security, I encourage Mr. Bush to suspend Karl Rove's security clearance.

Pending the resolution of the ongoing criminal investigation - which involves Mr. Rove - it only seems reasonable that he be limited in his function within the administration. This could be done without prejudice, but in the interests of due prudence.

National security is a concern for us all. Clearly, exposing a CIA employee involved in counter terroism work is dangerous. Any possible involvement among Administration staff is a concern

Suspending Mr. Rove's security clearance would be a clear message that the Administration agrees.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

194. Done

Two years ago, someone in the Bush White House revealed to journalist Robert Novak the fact that Valerie Plame was a covert operative for the CIA. Leaking this information placed Plame and anybody who worked with her overseas in grave danger, and it did serious damage to our intelligence-gathering capability in the Middle East. At the time the leak was revealed, George W. Bush promised to fire whoever was responsible.

We now know that it was Karl Rove, one of the President’s senior advisors, who was the source of the leak. Placing party politics above national security, Rove endanger all Americans and weakened our ability to thwart acts of terrorism. The world may never know how many people were harmed or even killed because of Rove’s actions. It’s time for the President to make good on his promise and to fire Karl Rove.

[fortyfeetunder]

195. Yeah, my first task

I sent it in...and I hope the newspaper enjoys it. I was polite but to the point.

Thanks for the motivation Skinner and company!

[BamaBecky]

197. Here's mine: "Why is Karl Rove in trouble?"

Time Magazine has released e-mails that implicate Karl Rove as the Administration official who released to the media the fact that Joe Wilson’s wife was an agency (CIA) operative. The Time reporter has also agreed to cooperate with the federal prosecutor in the Justice Department investigation.

We have also learned that Karl Rove told Chris Mathews of CNN that Joe Wilson’s wife was “fair game”. This was apparently an act of retaliation against Joe Wilson. In the lead up to the war with Iraq, Joe Wilson wrote a New York Times op-ed piece <"What I Didn’t Find in Africa "> that criticized the Administration’s claim that Iraq was trying to buy yellowcake uranium from Niger. Joe Wilson is a former Ambassador that was sent to Niger by the CIA to investigate the yellowcake claim. Joe Wilson found nothing to support the bogus claims. Yet, President Bush made this very claim to the American people to justify his case for war with Iraq. It now appears the Administration was angry and embarrassed by Mr. Wilson’s article and apparently set out to retaliate against him.

It is a felony to release the identity of an undercover CIA operative punishable by ten years and a substantial fine. Federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has been investigating the leak for two years.

The effect of the leak ended Mr. Wilson’s wife’s career as an undercover CIA operative attached to the CIA's Non-Proliferation Center, an organization of analysts, technical experts and former field operatives who work on detecting and, if possible, preventing foreign proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Valerie Plame was a national security asset and that ended with her outing. Other lives through out the world were put in grave danger due to the leak. The CIA was furious because it appeared that this was an act of retaliation. After the war, and adding to the CIA anger, the truth of all the bogus intelligence was blamed on the CIA.

Recently we learned from Mr. Wilson the existence of a White House Iraq Group (WHIG) that may have been responsible for the leak. This group includes Karl Rove. In addition we have learned of the Downing Street Memos from the London Sunday Times that stated the Bush Administration was pressuring to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being “fixed” around the policy. In this case and in both countries fixed means fixed.

Scott McClellan {White House spokesman} stated of the Plame/CIA leak, "That is not the way this White House operates. The president expects everyone in his Administration to adhere to the highest standards of conduct. No one would be authorized to do such a thing." President Bush himself stated “Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors." If this were the true depiction of the White House stance on this issue, then one would fully expect to see Karl Rove fired.

[3days]

198. Done

Sent to my hometown paper. I figure that the larger papers are going to get hit plenty and the smaller papers need to hear from us as well.

Karl Rove should be fired and tried for treason. This administration has insisted that Rove was not involved in the past:
"White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan commenting on Karl Rove in 2003

"I've made it very clear, he (Karl Rove) was not involved, that there's no truth to the suggestion that he was." -- Scott McClellan, Sept. 2003

"I spoke with them (Karl Rove, Lewis Libby, and Elliot Abrams), so that I could come back to you and say that they were not involved. I had no doubt with that in the beginning, but I like to check my information to make sure it’s accurate before I report back to you, and that’s exactly what I did." -- Scott McClellan, Oct. 2003

But now Roves own attorney has admitted that his client outed a known CIA agent.
How on earth can anyone have faith in this administration when they will leak the name of a CIA agent in retaliation for a letter to the editor that exposed their lies to the American people?
This is treasonous and as President Bush's own father put it:
"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors." -- George H.W. Bush, April 1999

Karl Rove is a traitor and he and whomever gave him Ms. Plame's name should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

[elshiva]

199. Done! The Baltimore Sun!

[mourningdove92]

206. I sent mine this afternoon. Fort Worth Star Telegram

Right after I got the notice.

[w8liftinglady]

386. Awesome-that makes at least 4 of us :)

Way to go...:woohoo:

[smartvoter]

209. Done. nt

[Zhade]

211. Media-blasted.

FYI, mods - the following addy bounces back:

[e-mail]

[Hawkeye-X]

212. Done.

Sent it to my local right-wing rag - Rocky Mountain News.

[kweerwolf]

215. LTTE send via e-mail to Kansas City Star n/t

[ohtransplant]

216. Columbus Dispatch done!

Not that I expect this thug scandal sheet to publish it.

Maybe it will burn their corneas as they read it. :evilgrin:

[BenTrem]

217. Task #1; re-jig for Canadian

I'm not keen on writing to a US paper ... I might write up a comment in a couple of online discussions (NYTimes and Netscape) ... tell you what.

I'm going to take a shot at finding an angle that would get this into Canadian Letters to the Editor ... will let you know if I manage.

bdt

p.s. Dean's book: "Worse Than Watergate" ... it's gotta be a great source.

[lavendermist]

218. Done...

:hi: C'mon everybody. Let's get it done.

[JRob]

220. done... The Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, ID

[jab105]

221. Done. (I sent to my local paper...)

n/t

[oxymoron]

222. Done. Seattle Times and PI (nt)

[American in Asia]

223. I'm overseas, and local paper wouldn't be interested.

But I am a Newsweek subscriber, so here is my letter to them. (No practice with these - feedback always welcomed for next time!)

"Thank you for your coverage of the leaking of Valerie Plame's identity as a CIA operative. Now that we know that it is Mr. Rove who leaked her identity to at least one reporter, I am waiting for President Bush to keep his promise, made in September, 2003, to fire whomever was responsible for this serious intelligence breach. Mr. Rove engaged in a political witchhunt to discredit any naysayers that produced evidence indicating that Saddam no longer possessed WMDs (as indeed he did not). That Mr. Rove believed deceiving the American people on WMDs was a valid excuse for "outing" a CIA operative shows him to be morally and ethically incapable of serving honorably as a chief adviser to the President. It remains to be seen whether President Bush will honor his commitment to "restore honor and integrity to the White House". McClellan's stonewalling to reporters asking valid questions, while the White House spins in Rove's defense to the Republican National Committee, however, leaves me doubting the President was sincere in his earlier commitment to integrity and honor. Sadly.

[SeanQuinn]

225. Done. Sent to Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Weekly.

:patriot:

[Robert Oak]

226. Salem, OR statesman journal done n/t

[ogradda]

227. Done.

Tacoma news tribune should be getting their letter in the morning mail.

[Emit]

228. Done-

Reno Gazette Journal and Reno News & Review by e-mail

[roguevalley]

229. Will do!

[ticapnews]

230. Portland (ME) Press Herald

The PPH has a 250-word limit.

The first President Bush said, “I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors.” It is now apparent that his son is harboring a traitor in the White House named Karl Rove.

Mr. Rove outed Valerie Plame for political reasons because her husband, Ambassador Joe Wilson, argued (correctly, it turns out) that the President was misinformed (or lying) in his 2003 State of the Union about Saddam Hussein’s purported nuclear program. Ms. Plame’s outing as a CIA operative didn’t just cause the damage Rove intended, it had further ramifications: The CIA front company that employed Plame was exposed and her contacts were compromised. And because Plame’s work focused on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, those contacts were in parts of the world where we desperately need human intelligence gathering capabilities.

The details of Rove’s treason need to be investigated. Would a presidential advisor have access to classified information, like the identity of a CIA operative? If not, who told Rove? Are there other traitors we have yet to identify? Are any other CIA agents at risk?

In June of 2004 the current President Bush vowed to fire anyone in his administration who was involved in the leak. It is time for him to live up to his word. It is time for Karl Rove to go.

[ticapnews]

329. Just got "The Call" from the Portland Press Herald...

Of course, the last time they called me they waited five weeks before they published it. Hopefully this one gets in Friday or Sunday.

[vard28]

231. How exciting!

Mine is flying through cyberspace to the WaPo as we speak! The anticipation to see how many of us get published is great. Nothing like feeling that I might ACTUALLY make a real difference and wake even ONE of these Rethug followers up before it's too late!

:woohoo:

[Pushed To The Left]

234. Done! Sent to the OC Register and LA Times.

Here's mine:


Knowingly leaking the name and identity of a covert CIA operative is in itself a highly irresponsible and treasonous act. Revealing this type of information as a form of political payback is downright evil. If Karl Rove is responsible for leaking Valerie Plame’s identity, and if he did so to get back at Joe Wilson for his criticism of the Bush Administration, then at the very least he should lose his position. The President himself claimed in 2003 that any leakers in his Administration would be “taken care of”. However, I think a much more fitting punishment for the person who leaked this information would be a prison sentence. Anybody who would punish a political foe by endangering the life of their spouse deserves to do hard time!

[Name removed]

235. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[VOX]

236. Short and sweet to LA Times, OC Register, Palm Springs Desert Sun...

It appears that Karl Rove is responsible for knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative. His action is clearly against the law; moreover, partisan politics should never be put ahead of national security. President Bush should fire him immediately.

Sincerely,

[NMMNG]

237. Allrighty then, my LTTE I dashed off in 30 minutes or so

For two years there has been an ongoing investigation to determine who was responsible for leaking the identity of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame to the press. Karl Rove was indicated as a suspect, but the White House has vehemently denied this throughout the investigation.

President Bush assured us that "If there is a leak out of my administration,...the person will be taken care of." (Feb. 2004) Scott McClellan, White House Press Secretary stated, “...if anyone in this administration was responsible for the leaking of classified information, they would no longer work in this administration.”(Oct. 2003)

It has now been determined that Karl Rove was indeed the White House leak. It is possible that Mr. his exposure of Ms. Plame was illegal and even treasonous. It is time for President Bush to make good on his promise and fire Karl Rove. The question is, will he do so or will the above statement go down as yet another one of the President’s many lies?

[kevinmc]

238. Done

Karl Rove Deserves a Medal

What’s all the moaning about Rove telling Reporters the identity of a Covert CIA Spy? We need to look at what really happened, Joe Wilson embarrassed the POTUS and needed to be taught a lesson. So, Karl Rove being the Patriot he is, single handedly uncovered a CIA Spy to prove the point that embarrassing the POTUS comes with a price. That’s the New American Way.

Just like Paul Bremer and George Tenet, Karl Rove deserves a Medal of Freedom. If Bremer received one after losing $9 Billion in American Taxpayer funds and Tenet’s claims of a WMD “Slam dunk” which turned out to be a “Big Bust”, surely Karl Rove deserves one for his traitorous acts against the Country. The new motto of the Country is ‘Failure is Rewarded” as long as you tote the GOP mantra of “YEE-HAW”.

Sent it to:

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

[chemp]

239. Submitted for editting sugestions

More silence from the White House

During his 2000 campaign to bring “dignity” back into the White House, George W. Bush stated that he wouldn’t allow even the perception of impropriety from his administration. More recently, in September of 2003 he also stated, "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."

Although prosecutor Fitzgerald has yet to conclude his investigation, we now know enough, from Cooper's notes, that, at the very least, Karl Rove revealed the identity of an undercover CIA agent. He revealed this information to multiple reporters, intentionally, with both malice and forethought. Mrs. Plame’s role was the search for WMDs. Revealing that she was a covert CIA agent jeopardized both her mission and her life, as well as the lives with whom she worked.

This is not the first instance for Mr. Rove. He was fired by President George HW Bush for revealing information, again to Robert Novak. Rove should be removed from his position, pending charges, as Mr. Bush had promised. Or does taking “care of” a man suspected to have committed treason involve stonewalling the press, and questioning the patriotism of his critics?

Is this administration soft on Treason?

[chemp]

333. Sent to Providence and Boston

Pro-Jo and Globe!

[livvy]

240. Done - Detroit Free Press n/t

[livvy]

282. I got a response already.

They said it was being considered for publication on the editorial page. I'll let you know if I find out it will be published. They had a great cartoon on the opinion page today.
http://www.freep.com/voices/index.htm

[SharonRB]

359. Good for you, livvy

I sent mine to The Detroit News and haven't heard a peep back from them.

[Northern Experiment]

539. Sent mines in also...

Sent it to Detroit News. Haven't heard a word. I'm not a subscriber...so if they do print..I get a call so I can pick up an issue that day.
This is only the 2nd time I've sent a letter in to a news organization.
First time was about the lack of John Conyers on local news.

[Cadfael]

242. Done

Here's my letter to the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Herald:

The silence is deafening....In Septermber 2003 it was "totally ridiculous" according to White House press secretary Scott McClellan, to consider Karl Rove to have been a source of the leak of the identity of a covert CIA operative. Now, all of a sudden the White House can't comment on an ongoing investigation. Maybe they could comment if they could talk around the foot in their mouths.

If national security is the top priority of this White House, they should be true to their word and fire any leakers. If political revenge was the point, then the course they're steering now makes more sense.

George W. Bush should learn from his father's example. Karl Rove was fired from George H. W. Bush's second presidential campaign for "suspicions that he had leaked information to columnist Robert Novak". Sound familiar?

It's time to restore honor and dignity to the White House....fire Karl Rove!

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

251. Great letter....

Can I use some of yours in my ltte?

[Cadfael]

285. feel free

and thanks! :hi:

[southernleftylady]

243. Done sent to the commercial appeal in memphis tn!

[Jo March]

245. Done - Charlotte Observer

Here's my contribution (which was created using many fine examples here):

"When the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame was leaked to the media in 2003, President Bush promised that if the person responsible for the leak was found to be a part of his administration, he would fire that person. Now that we know that the leak was none other than chief political advisor Karl Rove, we see that the President has made no move to fire him.

It is widely speculated that Ms. Plame was outed as an act of revenge against her husband, Joseph Wilson. Mr. Wilson is responsible for the discovery of forged memos that suggested that Iraq was getting "yellowcake" from Niger, a material necessary for the production of nuclear weapons. This discovery was made during the run-up to the Iraq war, and after discovering that the documents were forged, Mr. Wilson fast became a target of conservative criticism. Given the fact that Ms. Plame's was a covert CIA agent whose primary role was to track weapons of mass destruction, this leak is a huge blow to America's national security. If this leak happened for political reasons, it is nothing short of an act of treason.

The White House is now refusing to answer questions about the source that outed Ms. Plame. If this outing was an act of revenge against Joe Wilson or just a colossal blunder on the part of Karl Rove, it does not matter. President Bush needs to stick to his word and fire the source of the leak: Karl Rove. National security is more important than malicious politics, isn't it?"

[Jose Diablo]

248. Done, sent to daily newspaper list in Georgia

My letter.

"Karl Rove, the political advisor to President Bush has been identified as the one that leaked information about Valeria Plame, a CIA undercover NOC agent responsible for tracking illegal traffic in Weapons of Mass Destruction.


We hear the White House response when this leak occurred in 2003 as this:

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan commenting on Karl Rove in 2003,

"I've made it very clear, he (Karl Rove) was not involved, that there's no truth to the suggestion that he was." -- Scott McClellan, Sept. 2003

"I spoke with them (Karl Rove, Lewis Libby, and Elliot Abrams), so that I could come back to you and say that they were not involved. I had no doubt with that in the beginning, but I like to check my information to make sure it's accurate before I report back to you, and that's exactly what I did." -- Scott McClellan, Oct. 2003

"I spoke with those individuals (Karl Rove, Lewis Libby, and Elliot Abrams), as I pointed out, and those individuals assured me they were not involved in this. And that's where it stands." -- Scott McClellan, Oct. 2003"


Earlier this week we hear the latest response from the White House as this:

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan stonewalling on Karl Rove in 2005

Q: Do you want to retract your statement that Rove, Karl Rove, was not involved in the Valerie Plame expose?
A: I appreciate the question. This is an ongoing investigation at this point. The president directed the White House to cooperate fully with the investigation, and as part of cooperating fully with the investigation, that means we're not going to be commenting on it while it is ongoing. -- Scott McClellan, White House press briefing, July 2005"


The latest response from the White House is unacceptable. When an agent within our very own intelligence organization is rendered unusable for a purely partisan political reason, because her husband pointed out the Iran "yellowcake" purchase attempt documents we forgeries, our security has been seriously compromised.

For President Bush to then stonewall on this very serious matter, is unacceptable.

Rove should be fired and then prosecuted under all applicable statues.

As for President Bush and Vice President Cheney, if they have committed perjury in trying to protect Karl Rove, then they should be impeached by Congress, convicted by the Senate and then jailed.

xxxxxx <names>
xxxxxx <telehone number>
Lawrenceville, GA.


Edit: This really wasn't that hard, had the media list from the DU media blaster. I did run the spell checker, but as you can see, the spell checker doesn't fix the nut behind the wheel, oh well, I'll try to proof-read a little better next time.

It only took about 15 minutes, not too much effort.

[Jo March]

249. Done - Independent Tribune (Cabarrus County, NC)

Sent them a modified version of my letter that I sent to the Observer:

"When the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame was leaked to the media in 2003, President Bush promised that if the person responsible for the leak was found to be a part of his administration, he would fire that person. Now that we know that the leak was none other than chief political advisor Karl Rove, we see that the President has made no move to fire him. The White House is even refusing to answer questions about the source that outed Ms. Plame. If this outing was an act of revenge against Joe Wilson or just a colossal blunder on the part of Karl Rove, it does not matter. President Bush needs to stick to his word and fire the source of the leak, Karl Rove. National security is more important than malicious politics, isn't it?"

[katinmn]

250. Done. Star Tribune in Minneapolis & St. Paul Pioneer Press

(Thanks for providing some suggested messages.)

The White House has been caught lying yet again to the American people, most recently about Karl Rove's involvement in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame.

Knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law, and an act of treason.

Now that we know Karl Rove is responsible for the leak, President Bush should keep his word and fire him, and then Rove should be made to face Congressional investigations and face trial. I hope our Republican controlled government will act responsibly in this matter.

Americans should not allow the White House to spin its way out of another set of lies. It's becoming chrystal clear that the Bush Administration can't be trusted to tell the truth about anything.

[shugah]

252. woo hoo! LSJ is going to publish my letter!!!

i just got a call from the Lansing State Journal! she said it is usually 5 - 10 days before a letter gets printed (i hope the lag doesn't make it ineffective in our letter writing campaign).

[tk2kewl]

253. DONE! Sent to Newsday and NY Times...

Rove and the fixing of intelligence

As special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald continues to pursue Karl Rove and others who apparently blew the cover of Valerie Plame, a CIA agent working to prevent the proliferation of WMD, it is important to consider how this action relates to this assertion in the Downing Street Memos regarding Bush's justification for war in Iraq: "the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy."

The outing of Plame was used in an attempt by the Bush administration to discredit her husband Joseph Wilson, who had criticized the administration's assertion that Saddam Hussein had attempted to purchase yellow cake uranium in Niger. In the end even the Bush administration has admitted that the Niger documents turned out to be forgeries.

It seems as though Wilson's criticism of the administration's claims that Saddam Hussein sought uranium in Niger, and the subsequent outing of Plame by the White House, corroborate the Downing Street Memos' characterization that the facts and intelligence were being "fixed" to support a predetermined policy for war. Furthermore, it seems to show that the White House will stop at nothing when it comes to silencing its critics, not even jeopardizing national security by compromising a CIA working to prevent the spread of WMD.

[Tracyjo]

254. I'm done

Sent to The Madison Eagle, Daily Progress, Star Exponent, and The Orange County Review here in Virginia.

I think I'll have to get busy a little sooner with my next assignment so I can post a little earlier. This thread is killer on dialup. :)

[sweetheart]

255. Which paper

I can't see this topic in foreign press, so writing to a local paper
is not realistic. So then i've to adopt a US paper and write as a
citizen abroad. Then do i choose a blue state, a red state, my voting
district, or another nation entirely, like one in an american security
alliance that depends on white house discretion.

Thank you for the good idea skinner... this is cool.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

256. done, here is mine to Citizen-Times of Asheville, NC

George W. Bush should stay true to his word.

In compliance with the on going investigation into who leaked the identity of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame, Time Magazine released reporter Matt Cooper’s email correspondence with his bureau chief Michael Duffy. We have since learned from these emails that President Bush’s senior advisor and chief political strategist, Karl Rove, is named as the source for this leak. Bush said in September of 2003: "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." Bush should honor his word. Knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law, and an act of treason.

[ChickMagic]

257. Can I please get a critique

before I send this to the Dallas Morning News? Thanks!
*****************************************************

"I made that very clear last week. The topic came up, and I said that if anyone in this administration was responsible for the leaking of classified information, they would no longer work in this administration. This is a very serious matter." -- Scott McClellan, Oct. 2003

"If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 2003

"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors." -- George H.W. Bush, April 1999

Karl Rove has put politics and personal vindictiveness ahead of national security. Valerie Plame was a covert agent attempting to prevent the spread of WMD into enemy hands. Blowing her cover was an extremely dangerous breach of national security. Revealing her identity is against the law and an act of treason.

The White House is now lying to the American people about Karl Rove’s involvement in the Plame matter. Now that we know Karl Rove is responsible for the leak, the President should keep his word by revoking Rove’s security clearance and firing him. After all, the President did make that promise.

[Sparkly]

268. It's good!

I would just change "The White House is now lying" to either "The White House has lied" and/or "The White House is now silent" (or both -- "The White House lied about Karl Rove's involvement, and is now silent."

[ChickMagic]

280. Thanks!

Done and sent!

[countingbluecars]

258. My first LTTE.

Done and sent to WP and a local community paper.

[Sparkly]

259. Hey! I got a call this morning that my LTTE will be published!!

(Baltimore Sun)

[SheepyMcSheepster]

260. congrats!

:toast:

[tk2kewl]

291. excellent!

[Sparkly]

435. They called back yesterday and said they accidentally lost my LTTE.

The guy left a message asking me to send it again; by the time I got the message and resent, it was rather late. And my letter isn't in today's edition. :cry:

[derby378]

261. Done - Dallas Morning News

Here's mine:

Edmund Burke is credited with saying "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

Back in 1986, Karl Rove handed the Texas gubernatorial race to Bill Clemens by claiming that his Democratic opponents bugged Rove's office; now the evidence suggests that Rove planted the bugs himself and made up the entire story.

During the 2000 national Republican primaries, it was Rove who waged a campaign of disinformation against John McCain, sabotaging a true war hero's chances of winning the Presidency by implying that he was emotionally unstable and playing the race card by implying that he fathered an illegitimate, biracial child.

And finally, during our global "war on terror," Rove has apparently leaked the identity of a covert CIA agent who was involved in preventing WMDs from falling into the hands of terrorists as retaliation against her husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, for refuting part of now-President George W. Bush's 2003 State of the Union address. As a result, her cover has been blown, and our nation's safety has been compromised.

Will we ever wake up, America? Karl Rove is not only a master manipulator, but he's also a traitor who belongs in the "big house," not the White House.

[w8liftinglady]

397. Great letter-

you make at least the 5th person who has submitted to the DMN....good work!:applause:

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

262. Done. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Received an autoreply that it was received: Your comments have been routed to the appropriate department. If your query requires a response, you should be receiving it shortly. Thank you!

[Mandate My Ass]

263. One LTTE down, one to go - Philly Inq

The second will be to the Phila Daily News

RE: Aide: Bush has not lost faith in Rove.

True to form, the Republican talking points have been distributed and are being disseminated in an attempt to defuse the damning disclosure of Karl Rove’s involvement in the sordid Plame affair. They impugn Ambassador Wilson’s motives for speaking out against the debunked Niger memo by insinuating it was nepotism that facilitated his unpaid trip to Africa in the first place. The party of personal responsibility refuses to acknowledge that at the very least, a woman’s career has been ruined because her husband made public an inflated threat used to justify invading Iraq. At worst there has been a serious breach in national security by burning an asset whose specialty, ironically, was nonproliferation of WMD.

Karl Rove lied and had others lie on his behalf about his involvement in the anonymous outing of a covert CIA agent. He allowed one journalist to go to jail, another to be threatened with jail, and an investigation to drag on for two years, apparently to save his own hide. All the while Mr. Wilson has been in front of the cameras and publicly testifying to the Senate Intelligence Committee about his findings in Niger and the consequences of having spoken out about them.

President Bush has not yet honored his vow to fire whomever outed Ms. Plame. The flimsy excuse provided is that Rove did not actually utter the name ‘Valerie Plame,’ but merely mentioned her as the CIA-agent wife of Joseph Wilson. This, from the people who howled in outrage over the parsing of “is.”

Anyone who would deliberately blow the cover of a covert operative was deemed the “most insidious of traitors” by none other than George Bush Sr., a former CIA man himself. Indeed.

[Double T]

264. Done and Sent 7/13/05 to The Buffalo News, Buffalo, New York

Good Job To ALL!!!

[Imalittleteapot]

265. Star-Telegram won't print it, but it has been sent.

[IndyOp]

271. I'm afraid my local paper will also pass - but, hey,

I'm gonna send it anyway.

[w8liftinglady]

335. They might...

I got an e-mail requesting my daytime contact number(from the op-ed page editor)...here's hoping...

[KarenS]

266. Done ~ LTTE Boulder Daily Camera

I find it both fascinating and disturbing that the Republican National Committee has now found the need to issue their pundits a 'talking points’ memo regarding White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and his involvement in the 2003 outing of an undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame. The 'talking points' in this memo are designed to cloud the issues and politicize the conversation, once again the Truth and the Facts will be lost in the ensuing storm of yet another Bush Administration Scandal.


In 2003, the White House repeatedly assured the American People that Rove had no involvement in this matter. In the past week, it has been proven that Rove was, in fact, a major player in the Plame outing.


Mr. Bush, I call on you to keep your campaign promise of “restoring honor and dignity” to the White House and fire Karl Rove immediately.


Karen Spencer

Longmont Colorado

[huskerlaw]

267. Done!

Letter sent to the Omaha World Herald and the Lincoln Journal Star. Main point: they promised they'd fire him, so why haven't they? ;)

[ewagner]

269. Done

A copy of mine:

Plame Investigation and Downing Street Minutes are Related


Editor:

Some of my Democratic friends are fixated on punishing Karl Rove for exposing Valerie Plame, but I think they’ve lost sight of what Karl Rove was really doing when he contacted the reporter from Time Magazine. What was he doing?

He was FIXING THE INTELLIGENCE.

His lawyer claims that Rove was calling the reporter to provide “guidance” on the story of Wilson’s editorial in the New York Times. To wit: The source (Wilson himself) was bogus and his story was bogus. As we all know the story turned out to be true and the White House itself withdrew the infamous “16 words” uttered by President Bush in his State of the Union Address.

The Downing Street Minutes said specifically that the Bush Administration wanted to go to war with Saddam Hussein and that it would “fix the intelligence around the policy.” Wilson’s mission to Niger, his report and the eventual letter to the New York Times laid bare the bogus “yellowcake” claims and endangered the whole scam when Rove called his news sources to discredit Wilson. He was “fixing the intelligence” again; trying desperately to plug a hole in the scheme.

The two incidents are not separate. They are two sides of the same coin.

Sincerely,

[brainshrub]

270. Done. LTE sent to The Asheville Citizen-Times:

It has been almost two years since Valerie Plame, a covert CIA agent working to prevent terrorist attacks in the United States, was outed by someone in the White House. Today we know that the person who ruined her career, put her foreign contacts in danger and compromised national security was none other than Karl Rove, senior adviser and chief political strategist to the Bush Administration. The White House has done nothing except lie to the American people about Rove's involvement in the Plame affair.

Mr. Rove's motivation for committing this crime was strictly one of political vengeance. He wanted to punish Mrs. Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson, for proving that President Bush lied to Congress in his January 2003 State of the Union Speech, where he claimed: "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."

President Bush should keep his word and fire Karl Rove for putting politics ahead of national security. Knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law and an act of treason.

[bryant69]

273. My Letter

Here it is.

The facts of this case are really quite simple.

1. Somebody outed Valerie Plame by providing the fact that she was a
CIA operative to several reporters (until Bob Novak ran with it).

2. President Bush, on September 30, 2003 stated, "I don't know of
anybody in my administration who leaked classified information. If
somebody did leak classified information, I'd like to know it, and
we'll take the appropriate action."

3. It is now reasonably clear that Karl Rove is the person who leaked
the name of Valerie Plame.

I would not suggest that we should try Karl Rove in the papers; but I
would suggest that now is the time for President Bush to show us what
the "appropriate action" is for someone who outed a CIA agent. One
hopes that the "appropriate action" is not ignoring this problem
within his administration.

Bryant Gries

[huskerlaw]

274. I'm going to be published!

The Omaha World Herald just called me. Turns out the op-ed editor is an old friend of my Mom's. (yikes! small world!) Anyway, she loved the letter and she's publishing it. Too bad they have a one letter per month policy. But good to know I have an "in". :toast:

[Pacifist Patriot]

276. Excellent!

[Pacifist Patriot]

275. This is what I sent to three papers.

Florida Today
Orlando Sentinel
Vero Beach Press Journal

President George H.W. Bush said those who reveal the name of covert CIA sources are "the most insidious of traitors." His son, President George W. Bush, promised to investigate and fire anyone responsible when reports of Valerie Plame's identity leak first surfaced. Rove's lawyer has now acknowledged that Karl Rove disclosed Plame's status with the CIA to at least one reporter before her identification in the press.

Rove's action was not only illegal, it was immoral and unethical as a deliberate attempt to silence criticism of the administration by her husband Ambassador Joseph Wilson. Karl Rove has once again proven himself to be without dignity, honor or respect for our national security. Until President Bush fires Mr. Rove we have a traitor in the White House functioning as the top political advisor to the "leader of the free world." Will President Bush do as he promised or once again blatantly lie to the American people?

[Misunderestimator]

277. Done...

Sent this to the LA Times...

Treason - A Bush Legacy

After all the lies and deceptions and raiding of our country's treasury, and loss of our young soldiers in Iraq, it now appears that the biggest legacy of this administration may be the treason of Karl Rove. Rove has clearly committed treason in intentionally leaking the identity of CIA operative, Valerie Plame, as retaliation for the whistle-blowing of her husband, Joseph Wilson, but the important thing to consider is why he committed it. What did he have to gain by this? I can think of only two motives. Either he was working in concert with our enemies to weaken our country's intelligence and put us all at risk, or he was working in concert with our administration. If the former, he should suffer the same fate as Aldrich Ames. If the latter, the entire administration should.

[WMliberal]

278. did it last week. The DU media blaster helps a ton.

hit every major paper in virginia. Didn't get published, but I'm sure enough are getting in that they're going to have to publish SOMETHING soon. All but WaPo are currently in denial.

[RandomKoolzip]

281. Done!

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta......

I sent a letter to the Sun Times.

[rocktivity]

283. Done

It is time for the spinning, stonewalling, weapons of mass distraction and talking point wars that have protected the Bush White House to come to an end.

Now that Karl Rove has turned out to be an outer of undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame to the press, he should be relieved of his Cabinet-level access immediately, and he must be compelled to reveal who gave the information on Plame to him. But while Mr. Bush has promised to fire the leakers, that is much too good a fate for anyone who deliberately endangers the lives of those who devote themselves to serving America--especially if the reward is as vindictive, juvenile and self-serving as political payback.

The time has come for public hearings, punishment to the fullest extent of the law, and for Mr. Bush to keep to keep at least one of his political promises.

:headbang:
rocknation

On edit: I'm only two hundred and eighty-third? This thread should have had to have been locked my now. The other seven hundred of you, GET TO WORK!

[rocktivity]

322. For the record, mine went to to Newark (NJ) Star Ledger.

and it came within four words of their 150-word limit!

:headbang:
rocknation

[rocktivity]

433. The Star Ledger left me a message last night

When I got to work this morning, I couldn't figure out who'd be leaving a message for me at 6:45PM. It was the Ledger asking for confirmation, though, of course, that's no guarantee they'll publish it. I called them back and left the address and phone number I'd put in the letter! So we'll just keep our fingers crossed!

:headbang:
rocknation

[Beam Me Up]

284. Done.

But this was a bit more difficult than I thought. I don't mean to say it was overly difficult, just that personally somehow this was a difficult thing to do. I just didn't know where to start. It wasn't until I'd read other people's LTE's that I began to get ideas how to compose my own.

[juslikagrzly]

286. Done, sent to local and state newspapers

We have been lied to by this administration many times about serious and deadly issues. This week we learn of yet another lie. According to his attorney and documents published in Newsweek, Karl Rove (Bush’s Brain) leaked the name of a covert CIA operative involved in researching the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in order to discredit an outspoken critic of the administration’s Iraq policies. Mr. Rove is currently a “subject” in the federal grand jury investigation of this leak.

In September, 2003, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan stated “I've made it very clear, he (Karl Rove) was not involved, that there's no truth to the suggestion that he was." That same month, President Bush stated “if there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."

Karl Rove deliberately and knowingly compromised our national security for political payback. The President’s support for Rove looks a lot like the rest of this administration’s resume: Lie, cover up, lie, cover up, secrecy, lie, lie, lie.

If the American people can be so disgusted by the lies told by a president about an extramarital sexual encounter, surely we can muster enough outrage to demand that President Bush fire Karl Rove. Harboring a traitor is not very Presidential Mr. Bush. And if Karl Rove is actually your “brain” a transplant is in order.

Sincerely,

edit: slightly changed wording from "and if Karl Rove is actually your "brain" we are in serious trouble to "......a transplant is in order.

[juslikagrzly]

548. Published!

Local paper in Oklahoma! Yippee!. I'm not expecting the Tulsa paper to publish as I had one about a local matter just 3 weeks ago. I may start ending up in their "crank" file :)

[Skinner]

287. Done.

:thumbsup:

[ohio_liberal]

288. Done

Snail mail letters sent to eastern Ohio's The Times Leader, The Wheeling Intelligencer, and The Wheeling News-Register..

[GardeningGal]

289. A couple questions

For those that sent letters to more than one local paper, did you use the same letter or make them different?

Did you send via e-mail or snail mail?

Thanks

[juslikagrzly]

290. I sent to both

my hometown paper and a larger urban paper. Used the same letter. I've done that before and been published by both papers.

Good luck.

on edit - email. Both call for verification; be sure to read your papers' requirements.

[katinmn]

294. I revised mine somewhat

Mainly the opening. Even with letters they appreciate exclusivity.

[Generic Other]

292. Done

Sent mine to Time magazine.

[Califooyah Operative]

293. done. someone give me some feedback before i send it in.

I was amazed as I watched July 11th’s press conference with White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan. Dozens of questions were asked about the Karl Rove/Valerie Plame scandal, most were avoided, the same talking point was repeated, and the same lingering questions remain unanswered.

McClellan wouldn’t say whether or not the president even had confidence in arguably one of the most influential members of his own cabinet, what interactions bush has had with rove recently, whether or not the president would and still planned on taking action over the leak, or whether the white house knows if Karl Rove committed a crime.

McClellan was also unable to back up several White house statements from 2003 and 2004, including that Karl Rove wasn’t in any way involved in the leaking of a CIA operative’s identity, a statement by the president that he’d fire whoever was involved in the leak, and other statements which now appear to be false.

After being willing to comment in the past, even after the investigation had begun, now the White House is tight lipped and blaming everyone from MoveOn.org to Joe Wilson for their latest scandal.

What’s changed? What’s there to hide?

[katinmn]

295. Good, but you can say McClellan refused to answer on three

consecutive days - July 11-13.

I'm watching today's press conference now and he flatly refused to answer any questions about Rove.

[Beware the Beast Man]

296. My first draft (I haven't written anything in a long, long time):

It looks like President Bush's self-described "Turd Blossom" is up to his old tricks again, and this one is a doozy.
It was recently revealed (with little surprise to some) that political strategist Karl Rove was indeed responsible for leaking the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame to columnist Robert Novak. Revealing the identity of a CIA agent is against the law, and construes an act of treason. Doing it for political gain (and to discredit evidence that Iraq had no dealings in yellow cake uranium, a finding that may have kept us out of war in the region) is reprehensible.
Rove should be relieved of his duties at least, and tried for treason at most. In an October 2003 press conference, Scott McClellan claimed that if anyone within the administration was responsibl;e for the Plame leak, they should be released. As usual, the White House sits on its hands, refusing to act on this breach of national security for the sake of protecting its own.


Constructive criticism please! Thanks...

[katinmn]

300. Good job! A couple suggestions

Revise opening sentence: It looks like President Bush's "Turd Blossom" (his pet name for Karl Rove)is up to his old tricks again...

...Rove should be relieved of his duties at least and tried for treason at most. I'd delete "at least" and "at most."

responsibl;e - fix the typo

[Beware the Beast Man]

303. Thank you!

Yeah, that derned spell check...:)

[katinmn]

312. I know. I'm hopeless w/o it.

I did realy like your letter. I tend to like the punchy ones more than the overly polite ones.

[Ediacara]

297. Can I get a critique????

In September of 2003, President Bush said, "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." It has now become clear that the President's right-hand-man, Karl Rove, is indeed the source that leaked the name of undercover CIA agent Valarie Plame to the media. It has also become clear that Rove's leaking of Plame's name to the press was nothing more than petty, partisan, retaliation for the fact that her husband, former ambassador Joe Wilson, wrote a piece in the New York Times questioning the pre-war intelligence suggesting Iraq was in the market for Uranium.

I urge you all to call or write President Bush and insist he follow through on his promise to "take care of" the leaker: Karl Rove. At best, Rove exercised bad judgment, at worst, Rove committed treason. Either way, no American tax-payer should allow this man to be on their payroll.

[katinmn]

301. Great!

I would make Uranium lowercase
tax-payer - delete hyphen

[Ediacara]

308. thanks

:-)

[Ediacara]

304. Well whatever

It appears DU is broken or something.... Sending as-is to Bozeman Chronicle, Bozeman MT.

[NoSheep]

298. LTTE sent to Raleigh NC-News and Observer

I've had one published before! Maybe this one will get in too.

:D

[Mandate My Ass]

299. Woot! I got a nibble on my LTTE. Possible publication tomorrow

Re: Rove must go

The recent revelation that Karl Rove did indeed leak Valerie Plame’s identity to the press is not surprising to anybody who has followed Rove’s political career over the years. Rove has a long history of smearing political opponents and it has been surmised his fingerprints were all over this act of partisan hackery. What is surprising, however, is that there is no discussion of the actual breach of national security during a time of war, an exigency which is always presented as rationale by the Bush administration to evade questions and accountability for their lapses.

It is long past time to resurrect a term that has been absent from the national discourse since the Clinton administration. That term is: Lie. Rove lied when he said he was not involved in the Plame affair and evidently had White House spokesperson Scott McClellan lie on his behalf on numerous occasions. The RNC-proferred rationalization for the leak, to discourage Joseph Wilson from publishing an inaccurate article, is a lie. Several of the reasons given as justification to invade Iraq were lies, and the affirmed date of the decision to invade that country was a lie. President Bush’s pledge to determine for himself who in the White House had leaked the damaging information was a lie. And his refusal now to fire Rove renders his 2003 promise to do exactly that, a lie.

The flimsy excuse provided for this flip-flop is that Rove did not actually utter the name ‘Valerie Plame,’ but merely referred to her as the CIA-agent wife of Joseph Wilson. This, from the people who howled in outrage over the parsing of “is.”

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/12110887.htm


ROVE MUST GO


AS DEPUTY Chief of Staff for the Bush administration, Karl Rove is a high-ranking White House official, privy to a number of classified documents and state secrets.

It's now clear that Rove, President Bush's chief political street fighter, can't be trusted with the nation's secrets. Not when a cheap political attack can be made.

[uppityperson]

302. SeattleTimes published 6, including mine, any other DUers?

With a quote from mine on front page of internetted copy, bottom of page "Letters: "The White House needs to quit lying and start honestly doing what is right"" 6 LTE published today. Anyone else get theirs published

[katinmn]

315. Congrats!!!

:hi:

[Rose Siding]

305. Done- Kept it short and related to the article they published

mostly...

To the Editor:

In "GOP rallies to defend Rove as Democrats step up call for ouster" (July 13, 2005), yet another anonymous senior official is reported to have said, "What you all need to figure out is does this amount to a crime?"

That isn't true. That's what the prosecutor will ask of the grand jury.

What President Bush needs to figure out is just where he wants to set the bar. When the administration's case for war was challenged, the current White House Deputy Chief of Staff dragged the critic's wife into the picture, rather than confronting the accusation on its merits.

Even setting the serious legalities aside, there's a reason that Karl Rove was on "double super secret background": No one would want the public to know they'd done such a thing.

[BlueStateGirl]

306. Done. Sent to the Daily Intelligencer and the Reporter.

[hermetic]

307. sent to St. Paul Pioneer Press

Will report again if it gets used. Isn't this fun? :woohoo:

[Chichiri]

309. That's at least 3 sent to the PP so far

including mine. Yay!

Anyone else send theirs to the Fargo Forum or the Grand Forks Herald?

[katinmn]

316. Yeah! I didn't send my letters till this morning.

Let's watch both papers.

[Stockholm]

310. Sent one to a Swedish newspaper

and included some of his derogatory remarks about Sweden...

[OneForLuck]

311. Cincinnati Enquirer done

[Lone_Star_Dem]

313. Done!

Sent to Austin American Statesman and Houston Chronicle.

[bear425]

317. Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel covered.

Will post if it's accepted.

[Beware the Beast Man]

319. Finished. So far I sent one to the Plain Dealer (Cleveland).

Here's the final product:

It looks like President Bush's self-described "Turd Blossom" is up to his old tricks again, and this one is a doozy.

It was recently revealed (with little surprise to some) that political strategist Karl Rove was indeed responsible for leaking the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame to columnist Robert Novak. Revealing the identity of a CIA agent is against the law, and construes an act of treason. Doing it for political gain (and to discredit evidence that Iraq had no dealings in yellow cake uranium, a finding that may have kept us out of war in the region) is reprehensible.

Rove should be relieved of his duties at once, and at the very most tried for treason. In an October 2003 press conference, Scott McClellan claimed that if anyone within the administration was responsible for the Plame leak, they should be released. The Bush administration should own up to their promise. As usual, though, the White House sits on its hands, refusing to act on this breach of national security for the sake of protecting its own.

[vanboggie]

320. Done and thanks Skinner

I was sending off LTTE's frequently during my rage about election fraud, but I have gotten lazy in the past few months. Thanks for the assignment - it forced me to action. Letter just sent off.

[Mutley]

321. Done. This is my first LTTE ever!

I'm so excited. I wonder if they'll publish it? I sent it to the Baltimore Sun, so I'm sure they get tons of LTTEs every day.

[Douglas Carpenter]

323. living abroad for so many year--I found it a tough one--but

I came up with a solution. First, I have (hopefully) persuaded two different progressive (but not DUer) friends of mine back in the States to send letters to the editor in their in mid-size American towns.

Then I wrote E-mails to the major American networks calling upon them to really give their best investigative journalist to the matter.

Then, I still didn't feel I had quite done enough. So, I looked up the online edition on the midside city in western New York State where I was born (Jamestown) and saw that I could submit letters to the editor and possibly even have them published in a couple of other regional papers.

Anyway--for my fellow expats and other outside the U.S.--I think we might have to come up with some of our own creative solutions... :patriot:
_________________________________





http://www.iwtnews.com/

ABOUT IWTNEWS
Independent World Television is building the world’s first global independent news network. Online and on TV, IWTnews will deliver independent news and real debate from professional and citizen journalists -– without funding from governments, corporations or commercial advertising. Using the web to organize and raise funds across borders, IWTnews is building an international movement for democracy.


http://www.iwtnews.com/


http://www.iwtnews.com/

SPREAD THE WORD!!

http://www.iwtnews.com/

[Adelante]

524. Ex-pat newspapers

We have the Guadalajara Reporter, which is read by tens of thousands of American voters living in Mexico.

I'm late, and I apologize to Skinner and the DU action team, but I didn't see the action alert until late last night.

I am doing my LTTE today.

[Mutley]

462. The Sun did not print my LTTE but they did print several others

on the Plame Affair

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-ed.le.14ju2jul14,1,79511.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines

[indepat]

326. Skinner, my local RW Scripps Howard screed has blocked my e-mails for

having had the temerity to ask the editors to explain to their readers how the invasion and occupation of Iraq differed materially from the invasions by the Germans, Japanese, and Italians in the 1930s and further why Justice Jackson's pronouncements at Nuremberg as to what constitutes war crimes were not applicable here. Since I can't readily e-mail my newspaper directly, I have instead sent an e-mail to them from another newspaper's website imploring the editors to editorially address the Rove issue as had the other newspaper, with that editorial being included in the e-mail. Hopefully this will suffice as completion of the task, for this tactic will be used as often as I read editorials in other newspapers addressing issues of major national importance on which this RW Scripps Howard screed remains silent.

[Strawman]

327. Done!

[DeaconBlues]

328. letter sent to the Lincoln Journal Star in Nebraska

I hope it causes a little cognitive dissonance here in the conservative wasteland.

[Sapphire Blue]

330. Letter... Feedback, please.... Thanks.

To the Editor:

Karl Rove, White House deputy chief of staff, is involved in leaking the identity of a covert CIA operative. Mr. Rove’s act was one of political revenge, to falsely discredit that agent’s husband, who had dared to speak out against the Administration’s lies in the lead up to the war. Mr. Rove’s act may also be an act of treason; knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law, and an act of treason.

Mr. Bush and his White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, when questioned by the press, continually refuse to comment on Rove, citing the ‘ongoing investigation’. Meanwhile, the RNC, having no qualms about discussing an ‘ongoing investigation’, distributes talking points in an attempt to further falsely discredit the agent’s husband.

President Bush has, in the past, indicated that anyone in the White House involved in this leak would not remain in the Administration. President Bush must make national security a priority and follow through on this; he must fire Karl Rove and revoke his security clearance. To do less would be un-American and endanger the safety of our country.

[katinmn]

367. Great letter!

:patriot:

[Rhiannon12866]

485. Very good!

Accurate, includes all the talking points and strongly worded.:toast:

[davidinalameda]

331. here's mine

Just sent it to the Oakland Tribune

I for one am confused. The Bush administration has very strong evidence that Karl Rove was the person who outted CIA agent Valerie Plame, and nothing has been done to remove this man, even temporarily, from his position of power inside the White House.

Didn't the President say that "If there's a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is ... If the person has violated the law, that person will be taken care of"?

He knows who leaked the information and he must realize that the law has been violated. So what is he going to do to take care of Mr. Rove

on edit--I hope I didn't forget the ending punctuation on the final sentence

[tsuki]

332. My letter. Takes me a while to get it together. If they don't publish

it, I shall post it on my RW county email list.

Dear Sir,

Dennis was an after thought compared to the Big Blow coming from the Republican National Party and Rupert Murdock.

Mehlman has said that Karl Rove is the victim of the angry left. Fox News has declared that the person that blew the covert cover of Plame and her entire Middle Eastern Network is a hero and deserves a medal.

Here's what former president George H.W. Bush said in a speech on April 26, 1999, about blowing the cover of a CIA operative: "Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors."

Me and GHW Bush standing angrily on the left bank, angry that those that betrayed our country are being feted by a bunch of Politicians and foreigners that always had something better to do when it came time to serve.

Karl Rove can twist, lie, loop-hole and hide behind fast-talking smooth lawyers, but an insidious traitor by any other name is still Karl Rove.


tsuki

[cyberpj]

339. Excellent. One suggestion.....

"GHW Bush and I stand"

Love your last line!

[tsuki]

384. I thought about that, but most people here will believe my actual line,

who'd of thunk it. I deleted it. Deep South here.

[katinmn]

352. I love it! You and GWB standing together in anger.

Nice job. :thumbsup:

[Nevernose]

334. Short and sweet to the Las Vegas RJ (snail mail and everything!):

Spin doctoring aside, it is now apparent that Karl Rove was involved in leaking classified information about a CIA officer to the press, and thus to the public and America’s enemies. I don’t know if it was illegal or not (that’s up to a jury), but I do know that if compromising a CIA officer during war time isn’t treason, then it should be.

George W. Bush promised to fire anyone in his administration involved with the leaking of Valerie Plame’s name. The big question remains: is George W. Bush a man of his word, or isn’t he?

[More Than A Feeling]

337. Done via email to the Sun Times and the Tribune.

Sun-Times letter

Karl Rove is not being paid by the American taxpayers to violate national security for partisan political gain, then lie about it.

Undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame had her identity leaked because her husband, former ambassador Joseph Wilson, dared to expose the lies of the Bush administration in the prelude to the Iraq War. Plame was part of the CIA effort to halt the spread of weapons mass destruction, a goal less important to the Bush administration than petty political revenge.

An independent investigation by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald has revealed that the source of the leak was Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove. After two years of insisting that Rove had nothing to do with the leak, the White House is now refusing to comment

In October, 2003, President Bush promised through his press secretary that anyone responsible for leaking classified information would be fired. He should keep his promise, and fire Karl Rove. The lies must stop.

Tribune Letter

The American people cannot trust President Bush to keep them safe. He cares more about partisan politics than about national security, and his conduct in outing of Valerie Plame as an undercover CIA operative proves it.

It took two years to learn that it was Karl Rove, the President’s Deputy Chief of Staff, who leaked Plame’s status to columnist Robert Novak. If President Bush had been serious about punishing the leak, he could have found this out two years ago, and fired Rove. It wouldn’t be the first time Karl Rove has been fired for leaking. Bush’s father fired Rove in 1992 for leaking to…Robert Novak.

Instead, Bush chose to do nothing while a possible criminal sat in on classified meetings and continued to be a danger to national security. Why? Because taking action would make him look bad politically.

Perhaps Bush should have listened to the wisdom of his father on those who reveal undercover CIA agents: "Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors."

[cyberpj]

338. ROVE SHOULD BE FIRED THIS TIME TOO. - DE and Philly PA - Done.

Sent to 11 papers - in Delaware and Philadelphia PA area.

ROVE SHOULD BE FIRED THIS TIME TOO -

In 2003 the White House assured America that Karl Rove, the senior adviser to the president, never discussed CIA operative Valerie Plame with members of the media. Last week we saw proof that Mr. Rove was actually a major player in that act of treason.

Those of us who may remember the politics of 1992, might also recall that Karl Rove was fired from the 1992 re-election campaign of George Bush Sr. Why? For allegedly leaking a negative story about Bush loyalist and fundraiser Robert Mosbacher to the very same Robert Novak involved in the Plame leak.

George W. Bush promised to fire any individuals involved in the Plame Affair. If Karl Rove has committed a crime, which will be up to investigators to decide, he has threatened the national security of the United States and must face the fullest consequences of the law. But for now, President Bush should make good on his promise and fire Karl Rove.

[noamnety]

340. Detroit Free Press

As a former intelligence specialist, I am disgusted by continued leaks of intelligence assets by the Bush administration. The recent leaking of Valerie Plame’s identity as a covert CIA agent was done in retaliation for her husband refusing to manufacture evidence to support forged documents that justified the war in Iraq. The result of that leak was irreparable damage not only to Plame, but to an entire network of intelligence contacts.

The administration also leaked information to Judith Miller shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, about impending raids on suspected terrorist groups. Miller made phone calls to the funders of those groups, tipping them off so they could destroy evidence prior to being raided.

The administration leaked the name of another CIA asset, Kahn, in August 2004. Kahn has been described by Juan Cole as “probably the most important asset the U.S. has ever had inside al-Qaeda.”

One has to wonder why an administration which claims to be tough on terror manages so consistently to ruin operations designed to unearth the terrorists, and why, to date, nobody seems to be held accountable for the leaks.

[katinmn]

364. This is impressive. You have some news in yours.

News to me anyhow. :thumbsup: Your former career should make them sit up and take notice.

[Norwood]

341. Done

Letters sent:

The Pueblo Chieftain
Colorado Springs Gazette
Rocky Mountain News
Denver Post

[NightOwwl]

342. Before I send to the Sac Bee, comments and suggestions welcome....

(I know it's long...I have a tendency to get carried away.)

President Bush promised to restore honor and integrity to the White House. Since his promise, we have discovered through a leaked document called the “Downing Street Memo” that the facts were being fixed around the policy to justify a war that this administration had already decided was a foregone conclusion. Critics of the administration’s policies, including Richard Clark, Paul O’Neill and Joseph Wilson, had their names dragged through the mud for having the gall to call into question Bush’s true motivations.

The case of Joseph Wilson is particularly heinous. Wilson wrote an article for the New York Times stating that the Bush Administration manipulated intelligence about Saddam Hussein's weapons programs to justify an invasion of Iraq. In this administration, telling the truth is tantamount to criminal behavior, and for his crime, Joseph Wilson was punished. We now know that Bush’s Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, in an attempt to discredit Wilson, blew the cover of his wife, an undercover CIA operative on weapons of mass destruction.

The Republican spin machine will try to whitewash the incident; in fact, they have already released a list of talking points. Rather than rebutting them all, let’s put this entire incident in perspective. In an underhanded attempt to discredit a man who had the courage to stand up to the Bush White House, Karl Rove put politics over national security by consciously deciding to out a CIA agent whose job was to stop countries such as Iraq and Iran from obtaining weapons of mass destruction. Since then, the facts have proven Joseph Wilson right. George W. Bush should apologize to Joseph Wilson and his wife, and fire Karl Rove immediately. However, those actions would require honor and integrity, and I don’t think this White House knows the meaning of those words.

[katinmn]

349. Good letter. Just one question

Did Wilson's editorial state that the facts were being fixed? I don't recall that but it's been a long time since I've seen it. I would verify that if you haven't already.

I also recommend moving most of the last paragraph to the beginning so you get to the heart of the matter right off the bat. I'd put the first paragraph last since it would conclude that this is not the first time and drives home the fact that Bush has not kept up with his promises.

[NightOwwl]

354. I'll check on the "facts being fixed" comment.

Also, I like your idea about moving the last paragraph to the beginning.

Thanks for the tips...

[SillyGoose]

343. Done.

(I didn't realize we were supposed to check in on this thread until just now. Here's my LTTE which was submitted to my local newspaper last night).

The politically motivated outing of CIA operative, Valerie Plame, to more than one news reporter by Karl Rove and at least one other unnamed White House official is disturbing to say the least. This incident highlights an appalling abuse of trust placed in government officials by the American people and is evidenced by their mishandling of classified government information. Regardless of the reason for this leak of classified information, it not only endangered Valerie Plame but also endangered other covert agents who worked with her and could well have ramifications to our national security since she was a CIA operative on weapons of mass destruction.

There is no justification for blowing the cover of a covert agent and there are federal laws that prohibit it. Only time will tell if Karl Rove and other White House officials will be the subject of criminal indictments in this case. In the meantime, the American people should demand leadership that does not choose petty politics over national security.

[MiniMandaRuth]

345. Here's mine

To whom it may concern,

Hello. I am an eighth grade student at Glacier Middle School, and actively involved in politics. I would like to say a few things about Mr. karl Rove, and have decided that your fine paper would be the best place to do it.

The White House and President Bush has sworn that his cabinet is trustworthy and has NEVER LIED. Never, once. He says that if he finds that someone has lied, that he will fire them.

Well, it seems that Bush is blind, because there are several liars right in front of them. I am only going to talk about one: Karl Rove.

Karl Rove, for those that don't know him, is the manager of the Bush/Cheney campaign and the Chief of Staff of the White House. He is also in the spotlight for the Valerie Palme affair. An affair, which could decrease America's safety. Nice one, Rove. Really A-class.

Karl Rove has only said that he had nothing to do with it. NOTHING. He has refused questions and investigations. You ask, what does he have to hide? What does he have to fear? If he is innocent, why not try to prove it? Why not try to help this woman, that has worked so hard for our country, and her husband?

George Bush says 'Don't trust what the media says' when the MEDIA is his BEST FRIEND. The MEDIA has helped fuel this war, this fake war that thousands of people have perished in. The media that Bush says 'Don't Trust' made a huge deal of the Clinton scandal. This media that Bush says 'Don't Trust' helped his campaign.

All I can say is that Bush better start realizing that what he says and does cannot be taken back. The same for Rove. Money can buy the media, money can buy some people over, but not the American people.

Rove is a major player in the Palme leak. He has commited treason. Treason. Treason, which is defined by the Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus as 'Betraying ones country for personal gain'

Yep, that about says it. Rove is treasonous, he should be fired and prosecuted for his crime. If not for the Palme case, then for the other crimes that he has committed.

[katinmn]

350. You go girl! Students like you give me some hope

Good job, MMR!

:patriot: :dem: :thumbsup: :hi:

[John Q. Citizen]

346. Done, the Bitterroot Star, south of Missoula, MT

http://www.bitterrootstar.com/

That's their web site

a prety good local paper, IMHO.

[Donailin]

347. Sent one to the Baltimore Sun

I also discussed it with two complete strangers today.

[SOteric]

348. Done.

[Smarty Pants Liberal]

351. My letter to the Houston Chronicle

Karl Rove's statement that he did not reveal the name of Joe Wilson's wife when leaking classified information about the CIA operative is as slick as Bill Clinton's distinction between "is" and "was" during his grand jury testimony. Surely the investigation into the leaking of a CIA covert operative's identity thus jeopardizing the entire covert operation involving weapons of mass destruction will be as thorough as the investigation of whether the president perjured himself over an extramarital affair that was hardly a risk to national security.

[In_The_Wind]

353. completed

[President Kerry]

355. sent to the Boston Globe..

see below..




The changed rhetoric in the White House in light of recent revelations implicating Karl Rove in the undercover CIA agent outing is striking, although not surprising. In 2003, Pres. Bush was rightly indignant about having a possible source of the leak in his very cabinet. He pledged to take a proactive stance and rid his administration of the culprit. Quoting Mr. Bush around the time of the leak, "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."

What happens when the President is an position to back up his rhetoric? More of the same - secrecy, and back-pedalling. Press Secretary Scott McClellan, in a recent press conference, refused to answer questions about the scandal, citing the needs of those overseeing the investigation, and the President himself challenged the "media reports" regarding the investigation, supposedly implying media bias against his administration.

Those on the right cry foul for "blatant partisan attacks" while not acknowledging the connection of Rove to the leak and offering no condemnation of this monumental national security breach. Apparently the administration is willing to engage in a new level of dirty trickery in its efforts to besmirch its opposition. It appears that even national security is a small matter when it comes to loyalty in this administration. What a shameful state of affairs.


Sincerely,

XXXXXXXX

[wovenpaint]

356. Here's mine!

Sent to 2 papers in MA!
Thanks to all for your inspiration and words that helped me out!
I hope you like it. Let's see if it gets published. Good luck to all of us!

Dear Editor:

I believe that the G. W. Bush Presidency will go down as one of the most reckless and corrupt administrations in American history.

After the horrendous attack of 9/11/01, we were told that Iraq is a grave threat and we must make a pre-emptive attack to secure our nation. Then we find out that Iraq was not a threat-not even involved in the attacks. Where’s the outrage?

Recently, with the release of the “Downing Street Memos”, we find out that this administration “fixed” intelligence information from the CIA to “prove” to the Senate, Congress and the American people that a war against Iraq was justified. They haven’t denied it. Where’s the outrage?

Now, after years of denial, we find out that the head adviser to the President of our country is involved in a serious felony, and other than one of the reporters also involved, no one is talking.

A covert CIA agent’s identity was made public in retaliation for her husband’s revelation of an “inaccuracy” that was written into a State of the Union address. By maliciously leaking her identity, Karl Rove, amongst others, put Valerie Plame and all of her associate’s lives in grave danger. Aside from the fact that knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law, and an act of treason during wartime, this agent was high up in the group researching WMD development around the world. Leaking her name has possibly destroyed the ability of our intelligence network to keep an eye on WMD development and has jeopardized us all.

As Mr. Bush stated in September 2003, "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."
Now in 2005, there is silence. Where’s the outrage?

The term “family values” is freely bandied about this nation lately. If this is so important to us as a society, aren’t integrity and honesty just a couple of those values?
We are being lied to by our leaders, and to date, no one has been held accountable.

We deserve honest answers. I, for one, feel outraged.

Sincerely,

:hi:

[katinmn]

365. Excellent. Very comprehensive.

You're a very good writer!

[vanboggie]

360. Got the call tonight

My Rove LTTE will be in the Grand Rapids Press

[Broken Acorn]

361. San Jose Mercury News (125 word max)

Karl Rove first lied about not leaking CIA covert agent Valerie Plame in 2003, then he admitted it, but not knowingly or not by name. Who does Rove think he is by playing rhetoric with the American people? Exposing a CIA agent is cut and dry no matter how Rove attempts to spin his own lies.

For a man of such integrity and resolve, President Bush is clearly showing his true colors by supporting a traitor to the American people such as Rove. Karl Rove has committed Treason and helped lead the lies of WMD to coerce a shattered nation into a war for oil and greed.

This nightmare has to end and the American public deserves to know the truth.

[ok_cpu]

363. Done. Here it is

Over the last several days, we have seen President Bush and his administration circle the wagons in defense of Karl Rove the, White House Deputy Chief of Staff. Rove was identified by Time magazine as an administrative source who revealed the identity of Valerie Plame. Plame, as reported in July 2003 by Bob Novak, another recipient of leaked information from the administration, was “an Agency operative on weapons of mass destruction”.
Why, at a time when intelligence gathering is vital to our national security, would a member of the administration unmask any CIA operative, let alone one working on weapons of mass destruction?
In September of that year President Bush gave his word to the American people that if there was a leak out of his administration, he would want to know and “the person will be taken care of.” In October, spokesperson Scott McClellan promised America that if there was a leak, that person “would no longer work in the administration.”
Mr. President, there is a leak, you know the name of one person responsible, and he still works in the administration. And rather than take care of the problem, you have stated through your spokesperson that he has your confidence.
Mr. President, when you put politics ahead of national security at a time of war, you put the entire nation at risk.

[katinmn]

366. Your last line is awesome, ok_cpu!

Great letter.

[Guckert]

368. My letter to Sacramento Bee should be in this weekend.

Now is the time for President Bush to make some easy decisions. Should he Fire Karl Rove for committing treason or should he be given the Medal of Freedom as other total screw-ups in his administration were given or maybe a promotion as the neocons who got us into Iraq received along with Condi Rice even after ignoring the August 6, 2001 PDB, then lying about it? I will wait to see if Bush has the stones to do what is right or do what he has always done. I do realize that Rove only said Wilson’s Wife, But just how many wives did he have? Even a Jr. High School reporter could easily find out his wife’s name via google. I guess the two years and the pressing incarceration of Cooper was enough for Rove to come out of the closet and reveal that he was the one who did nothing wrong in his mind. I have been adding since grade school, and this does not add up. He knew it was wrong and he knew what he was doing. Remember, Rove was fired by Bush Sr. for leaking info to Robert Novak about Robert Mosbacher in 1992.
:kick:

[noamnety]

371. Good strong point on the ending

I like the bit about adding since grade school, as well. Great letter.

[NightOwwl]

373. Welcome to DU Activists!

:toast:

[Guckert]

437. Letter made it in Todays Sac Bee. they cut it up a bit. but the point is

made.

[Guckert]

447. link to see other good Karl bashing letters in Sac Bee

http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/13230247p-14072889c.html

[NightOwwl]

492. Awesome!

Congrats on getting your letter published! :applause:

[EFerrari]

493. Good going!

:bounce:

[NoSheep]

370. Had the time to send letter to several more papers. Added letter from

SO who is not a DU member (he thinks I've got it covered) but is active nonetheless. He will be redoubling my efforts to help complete these assigned actions. Power to the People :bounce:

[Generator]

374. Going in the mail tomorrow

I prefer it. It's harder to deny the letter in your hand than the old delete key.

Also for any Oregonians:

GUIDELINES FOR "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR"
We invite your letters to the editor. Send them to: Letters to the editor, The Oregonian, 1320 S.W. Broadway, Portland, Or., 97201, or [e-mail] via electronic mail. They may also be faxed to [phone].

Please limit letters to 150 words. Please include your full address and daytime phone number, for verification only. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

[mom cat]

375. I just wrote the Boston Globe:...Sick of the Spin!

[blueraven95]

376. to the Baltimore Sun

This is basically what I sent. Thanks to those Du'ers I borrowed from/ got inspiration/ stole from!


Dear Editor,

I am amazed at the continuing White House cover up of Karl Rove's involvement in leaking an undercover CIA agent's name (Valerie Plame) to the press. Knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law and an act of treason.

Mr. Rove has not only commited treason, but endangered national security. Mr. Rove needs to be held accountable for his actions. The White House has repeatedly declared that the leaker should be punished. In September of 2003, President Bush stated, "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." But now that we know that Karl Rove is responsible for putting our national security at risk, the White House responds by stonewalling, telling us that they will not comment on an ongoing investigation.

We deserve answers. The White House needs to quit lying and
start doing what is best for the nation’s wellbeing.

Sincerely,

[gater]

377. To the Columbus Displaced

In 2003, the White House said Mr. Rove had no involvement in the disclosure of the name of a C.I.A operative to the media. It's turns out that he did.
My Grandfather always said that if someone lies to you once, you can never really believe anything else they tell you, and you will always wonder if they have ever been honest with you.
What other lies have we been told? It's time to seriously think about it.

Just a little shorty to get 'em thinking!!

[jdog]

380. I sent this.

I sent this to: Boulder Daily Camera, Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, USA Today and Westword.


The United States has been a great nation - I don’t know if that’s true any longer. There is too much looking the other way for this administration, and it is sending this country into disaster.

This latest drama with Karl Rove and his “outing” of CIA agent Valerie Plame is one more criminal act. The only difference with this circumstance is that we have a written record contradicting positions taken by the White House in the past, while Scott McClellan skirts the issue in the present on the basis of “an ongoing investigation.” Again they attempt to hide behind the skirts of justice.

Here is a statement by Scott McClellan in an October, 2003 Press Briefing:

“Let me make it very clear. As I said previously, he was not involved. And that allegation is not true, in terms of leaking classified information. Nor would he condone it.” (Emphasis added.)

I should not condone it. YOU should not condone it. And BUSH should not condone it.

THIS MUST STOP! I will not sit back and let you steal my rights, my future, my children’s lives without a fight. This is the news that needs to be reported: Our country and our freedoms are quickly being taken away in the name of “spreading democracy” and justice to the world. Yet, we have here an example of how one political operative is more than willing to expose someone employed in the covert service of this nation - and then try to get away with it.

Shame on you Mr. Rove and shame on you Mr. Bush. Do the right thing.

Let’s start with the immediate termination of Karl Rove.

[ismnotwasm]

382. Ok, I just sent mine

I was very polite, used the words "treasonous", and "duplicitous" and brought up the fact that my daughter served in Afghanistan, and THEN reenlisted, (which I'm still pissed off at)and how she and I loved our country, and wanted it have strong, honest leaders. I called for Rove's resignation, and the impeachment of Bush if he knew. I also said if he didn't know, it didn't get him off the hook ( used better words tho'). I tried to reframe everything, didn't identify myself as a dem, and acknowledged that "we are a divided polarized country" but basically, treason is treason, and Rove needs to go to Jail. In polite terms, of course. I sounded like a patriotic, pissed off old lady I think. This is fun!
Edit: it went to The Seattle times, I think I'm going to send a few more to local area newspapers

[Longhorn]

385. Letter to the Austin American-Statesman

I probably won't know if it's published -- I cancelled my subscription to that rag after they endorsed Bush.

[Dragonfli]

389. Im Done with My Second Draft

I Could use some critique before I do my final edits in the morning

LTTE:

To The Editor,

A Letter Re Accountability and National Security

The clear involvement of Karl Rove in revealing the
identity of Valerie Plame as a CIA operative is a grave matter of national security.
I share the views of former president George H.W. Bush who said, "I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors." -- George H.W. Bush, April 1999

Valerie Plame worked undercover on National Security Intelligence specifically in the area of enemy proliferation of WMD. By exposing her and her 20 year network of assets, in a time of war, Karl Rove made us less able to defend against such threats.
Such an act of treason, during a time of peace is dangerous; during a time of war it’s unforgivable.
All involved should be held accountable in the interests of national security.
Their security clearances should be revoked immediately and they should be officially charged as soon as possible to prevent further breaches.

Worse perhaps than the crime, was the reason it was allegedly committed.
Joseph Wilson, the husband of Valerie Plame,
was the person sent to Niger to investigate
the "yellow cake" claims falsely made by
White House officials and the President of the United States
prior to sending our troops to war.
Joseph Wilson was also the first person to dispute those claims.
Shortly after he did so, his wife's identity and covert CIA status was
revealed in the press.

We are a country at war, a war based on possibly fraudulent motives.
We have learned from the leaked minutes of a high level British meeting “The Downing Street Memos”, that there were plans to "fix intelligence" to justify the illegal invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq.

I believe “the fixing of facts” is connected to the Plame outing and more investigation is needed.
I believe it has become a matter of national Security to demand that accountability be returned to the White House.

Sincerely,
Dennis M Wilson Jr.

[Patchuli]

403. I think that's great other than some

spacing issues with the paragraphs. Well said!

[proud2BlibKansan]

404. I agree

It needs to be in paragraph form. But it's a great letter.

[Dragonfli]

405. Thank You! - How do I repair the spacing issues?

Sorry, It's been a long time since school, and many simple rules of writing simply elude me.
I was an A student once tho, so I do learn quickly.:bounce:
and this is fun!

[Dragonfli]

410. Will This Solve The Problem?

http://dragonflihost.net/to_the_editor.htm

[Jara sang]

391. Loudoun Times/Mirror (readership consists of many in Intell. Comm.)

To the Editor:

Living in Loudoun County, we all know somebody that is connected to the Intelligence Community. They are our friends and in some cases our family. Karl Rove has seriously compromised the security of our
country. In this post 9/11 age, an intelligence agent needs to know
that their covert status will be protected especially by those within
the Federal government. A covert agent must be equipped with the means necessary to protect U.S. citizens from those that would do us harm. One of the tools necessary is trust in our government. Karl Rove betrayed that trust when he leaked the name of Valerie Plame to a newspaper reporter. Karl Rove, an adviser to the President has betrayed the national security of the United States of America. For his treasonous acts he should be thrown in jail. It is unfortunate that George Bush feels as if his loyalty to Rove outweighs his loyalty to the country. These words do not fully express my total disappointment in Karl Rove.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

392. is this bush quote dated correctly? can someone please help verify?

i had a message left that the paper wanted my permission to print my letter, but they also mentioned a possible problem with the date attributed to a quote. i want to get this cleared up before i speak with someone at the paper tomorrow.

i used this one found in the skinner's post:

"If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 2003

however, wikipedia has the quote dated "11 February 2004" which references a cnn page as the source.

wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Plame#September_2003
cnn: http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/09/30/wilson.cia/

but several other places list september 2003 as the date, like this site (just from google search, i have no idea about the quality of this site): http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600147956,00.html

can anyone help sort this out as to which date is actually right?

thanks!

[auburngrad82]

523. September 30, 2003

[pnwbi]

394. For the Spokesman Review:

In 1990, Joseph Wilson briefed reporters at the US Embassy in Iraq with a hangman’s noose around his neck as a symbol of defiance after Hussein threatened to execute anyone who didn't turn over foreigners. President George HW Bush called him a "truly inspiring" diplomat who exhibited "courageous leadership" by facing down Hussein.

In an act of retaliation for Mr. Wilson’s investigation of “yellowcake” in the lead up to war, Karl Rove exposed Valerie Plame, Mr. Wilson’s wife and a CIA operative working on WMD’s, to the press.

His failure to not think of the citizens of United States first and the possible consequences of his actions before his need for vindictive partisan politics is at best gross negligence. He put this nation in danger; he put our soldiers in the field in danger and possibly put other operatives in danger as their activities were exposed.

GW Bush once promised to put accountability back in the White House and more recently stated; "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- Sept. 2003.

Mr. Bush, I'm waiting.

[pnwbi]

542. I GOT THE CALL!!!

I'm so excited!!!! It will be published tomorrow!!!

:patriot::woohoo::patriot::woohoo::patriot::woohoo::patriot:

[LSK]

395. i already completed my assignment yesterday, but.....

Watching HARDBALL tonite pissed me off.

So here is my email to [e-mail]

topic: SOFTBALL

Thats right, your show should be called SOFTBALL. Your
show tonite with Ken Mehlman and Ed Rogers was a
DISGRACE. How dare you call yourself a journalist. How
dare you claim that you ask the tough questions. You
just gave these people a podium so they can LIE. LIE!

It is a FACT that Joe Wilson NEVER CLAIMED that Cheney
sent him to Niger.

The facts of the case are that Cheney told the CIA to
investigate the Niger/Uranium claim.

The CIA decided to send Wilson to Niger to
investigate. WHY?? Because as Valery Plame suggest to
CIA officials, her husband
- Has over 20 years experience in Africa as a
diplomat.
- Knows on a personal basis the leaders of Niger.
- Has experience and is familiar with Uranium mining.

In addition, Wilson's claims that Iraq HAD NOT
contacted Niger regarding uranium was BACKED UP by 2
other independent investigations.

AND YET YOU LET THOSE RNC SPOKESMAN DISTORT THE FACTS
OF THE CASE. HOW DARE YOU CALL YOUR SHOW HARDBALL.

[melnjones]

396. a helpful article...

with some good history on Rove:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20050713/ts_latimes/uproarhasrootsinrovesvastreach

[Duncan Grant]

398. Karl Rove Has Compromised National Security

I fired this one off to the SF Chronicle, Kansas City Star, and a small paper in NW Missouri:

Dear Editor,

When the name of undercover CIA WMD expert Valerie Plame was leaked to the media in 2003, President Bush said: "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of."

Americans have recently learned Karl Rove committed the despicable act of revealing Plame’s identity to Time magazine reporter Matt Cooper. Today, in direct contradiction to President Bush’s own words, the White House continues to obscure Rove’s involvement in this matter. Why is the Bush administration reluctant to take action on such an important matter of national security?

The president should not only revoke Rove’s security clearance but dismiss him from the White House immediately.

(name)
San Francisco, CA

[MaryBear]

400. Short and Local.

Done.

Knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is an act of treason. To cover any knowledge of such an act is obstruction of justice. Karl Rove deserves to lose his security clearance and his job. Impeachment is appropriate if Bush protects Karl Rove from deserved consequences for his actions.

(edited to include text sent.)

[Jack Rabbit]

515. I sent mine earlier today

We make a great team, don't we?

[Patchuli]

401. Here's mine

Dear Editor, I am writing this letter to express my concern about the Valerie Plame/Karl Rove matter which involves, among other things, damage caused to the national security of our Nation. If we are to understand what has transpired correctly, it seems that Mr. Rove and "another high-ranking Administration official" revealed that Ms. Plame was a covert agent for the CIA. Ms. Plame worked in the area of locating weapons of mass destruction. These White House officials put peoples' lives in danger and ruined a web of connections built over many years (with many tax dollars to try to stay ahead of the growing threat of WMD)merely to get revenge for debunking the Administration's claims of Iraq attempting to acquire yellowcake uranium. Our president said he would "fire" anyone who was discovered to have outed the CIA agent back in 2003. Now he is mum, everyone is mum and/or in a state of denial. I think it is more than time that we citizens start to demand that: 1. Our laws are obeyed and 2. Our elected officials come clean with the truth and 3. Keep their promises to us! If your staff is guilty, then fire them. I think what was done to Ms. Plame and Mr. Wilson was reprehesible and even more so, treasonous in light of the loss of security to this nation caused by such a revelation to the wrong ears. All of this trouble, according to reports, was for some petty revengeful 'warning' to other people who might be tempted to blow whistles on wrongdoers. Something's really wrong with our America when this kind of behavior is to be tolerated. Sincerely, (moi)

[emdee]

406. Done. n/t

n/t

[Tom Rinaldo]

407. Found this late but GREAT!!!

I have been mostly off line the last two days and just saw this, and I am leaving town in a few hours for a few days and will not be able to complete this task that I already missed the deadline on. But I still wanted to say, this is absolutely great seeing this new project at work for the first time! Cheers to everyone who completed this task, and much thanks. And cheers to DU Administers for getting this feature up and running. I am both inspired and impressed by the work that is being organized and done here!

[AgadorSparticus]

408. done. here's my letter to the AZ daily star.

To The Editors of The Arizona Daily Star:

In light of recent events concerning Cooper, Rove, and the outing of the covert CIA agent, Valerie Plame,
It is apparent that Karl Rove is one of the people responsible for leaking sensitive information and compromising national security.

President Bush stated that he is committed to finding the truth of all those involved leaking this information. If President Bush is as sincere as his assertion, then it will be most apparent that maintaining Mr. Rove’s high security clearance and access to the information would be a direct conflict of interest to maintaining the integrity of this investigation.

This is not partisan politics. Simply demanding staff members to release files and documents is not enough. And considering Mr. Rove’s propensity for not playing by the rules in past elections, it is even more imperative to maintain the integrity of this investigation.

It is disconcerting that the White House is putting personal relationships above national security. We, the American people, demand better.

Sincerely,

[berni_mccoy]

409. Done.

Sent to New Hampshire's, The Union Leader.

Here is my LTTE:

Plain and Simple. Rove Broke The Law.

What isn't simple is whether he broke many laws.

It's clear that Rove has committed perjury.
Rove and his lawyer have already stated on numerous occasions that he had no part in the leak. As we now know from the emails of Time Magazine's Matt Cooper, that isn't true. Rove very clearly gave Cooper the identity of Joe Wilson's wife.

What's not clear is if he broke the law that protects CIA covert agents.
In order to determine special prosecutor Fitzgerald has to show 3 things:

1. That Rove disclosed the identity of a covert agent (already shown above).

2. That the government was concealing Plame's identity.
The Billing's Gazette ran a story in October of 2003 that clearly shows she was indeed a covert agent. From the Billings: "The CIA declined to discuss Plame's intelligence work, but an agency official disputed suggestions that she was a mere analyst whose public exposure would have little consequence. ‘If she was not undercover, we would have no reason to file a criminal referral,’ the CIA official said,"

3. That Rove knew she was covert. A simple solution would be for Rove to simply go on the record and say that he didn't know she was covert. But he and his attorney REFUSE to do just this. As reported by the LA Times on July 12th,
"Luskin declined to say whether Rove knew that Plame was a covert agent, even if he did not know her name."
After all, it's not like Rove has lied about his involvement in the case... oops, he DID lie, and under oath too. Ouch.

Another law Rove may have broken is the Espionage Act. As reported by Daily Kos,
"It happens that the classified material (primarily an "INR" Report by the CIA regarding the possibility that Saddam was attempting to obtain uranium yellowcake and Joe Wilson's trip to Niger) was used by the administration to discredit Wilson by pointing out what they say was his wife's role. But that identification is NOT what Fitzgerald is after. Someone leaked the contents of that classified file all over town trying to get ahead of Wilson's story."

The whole purpose of the administration striking so vindictively out at Wilson's family is because Wilson clearly showed that the Administration was "fixing the facts to fit the policy" as was revealed in May by London's Sunday Times, Downing Street Minutes story, which disclosed the secret minutes and secret communications of the British and U.S. governments. This is why the Administration had to start numerous investigations into Intelligence "Failures" to cover up the truth that was really Intelligence "Fixtures". It explains why former CIA Director Tenet received the Presidential Medal of Freedom after presiding over what the Administration made us to believe was the greatest failure of intelligence in U.S. history. This not only could take Rove down, but most of the Administration with it, straight up the line to Bush.

And then there is Treason, for if Rove is guilty of anything beyond perjury, he's put saving the face of the Administration above the National Security of our nation and above the lives of a family working to keep you and I safe from the terrorists.

Rove has aided and given comfort to the enemy, for when Plame's identity became public, not only was her life in danger, but also the lives of every foreign contact and intelligence asset she maintained. It's likely that some of her contacts may have been killed and it’s a certainty that our intelligence gathering to prevent the proliferation of WMD has suffered a major set-back.

Rove is going to jail, be sure of that, but for how long and who else goes with him, we all shall soon know soon enough.

[dxdem]

412. My piece...

Two years ago, the Bush Administration assured us that no one within the White House had a thing to do with the scandal surrounding the leak of Valerie Plame's identity as an undercover C.I.A..operative. Not only that, but should anyone be found to have a hand in this treasonous affair, we were told that they would be "taken care of." The defense currently being circulated that Mr. Rove didn't reveal Mrs. Plame's name, but merely referenced her, is inadequate. If I say "party host at Neverland Ranch," you know exactly who I'm speaking of, without explicitly saying anyone's name. And for that matter, her name was not the secret. Her identity as a C.I.A. operative, however, was a secret. Unfortunately, secrets
don't seem to mean much to Mr. Rove, who in 1992 was fired from George Bush, Sr.'s campaign, for leaking information to, big suprise, Robert Novak. Karl Rove puts politics before national security, and he should be held accountable for his actions.

[Kade]

413. Okay, 1st draft done...hoping for constructive crit.

This is my 1st LTTE, so I think it needs some tweaking. I tried to come off as an offended moderate since the Renton Reporter (of Renton WA where I will be sending this) could be considered, at best, a moderately conservative publishing.

Are my quotes ok? I've only got 350 words to work with and as it stands its at 333...so not a lot of room for major additions. Is my title too Ostentatious? I was really hoping to be more accurate about the Bush Administrations push for "moral integrity" etc. Is that an Agenda issue? Or am I thinking of the GOP in general? Anyone got a link to a quote? Is my quote at the end too terribely trite? All constructive criticism is welcome.

Thanks,
-Kade

********************************************

Crime and Punishment?

I am shocked and dismayed at the recent reports that Karl Rove, top political advisor to President Bush, is indeed connected to the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame. The testimony of New York Times Reporter Matt Cooper has made it clear that this man engaged in, at the very least, an inappropriate discussion concerning national security, and at worst, an act of treason by exposing an undercover CIA operative.

Perhaps even more disconcerting than Mr. Rove’s loose lips, is the lack of response from the Bush Administration since these reports were validated. It was made clear in the fall of 2003 by the President himself that if a leak had indeed occurred, and could be traced back to the White House, that any person connected would “be taken care of” (George W. Bush, Sept. 2003). Or as stated by Press Secretary, Scott McClellen, “if anyone in this administration was responsible for the leaking of classified information, they would no longer work in this administration.” (Scott McClellen, Oct. 2003).

So why haven’t we seen any action taken towards Karl Rove? Thus far the only explanation provided is that the White House doesn’t want to interfere with an ongoing investigation. I can understand that completely, these things take time to examine and many possibilities have to be considered. But in a case that casts doubt on someone so close to the President and the mishandling of sensitive information, would it not be prudent to at least suspend Mr. Rove’s security clearance until this matter has been resolved? Don’t President Bush’s own words concerning this issue demand that punitive action, in some form, be taken? For an Administration that has repeatedly touted itself as a champion of moral integrity, the lack of reaction sends a very disturbing message.

They say “if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” Perhaps in this case it should be “don’t say the word fire, if you’re in bed with the liar.”

[pnwbi]

441. Sounds great :-)

and hello from the other side of the mountains.

:hi:

[Kade]

450. Hi pnwbi!! Welcome to the DU!!

Thanks for the praise!

-kade

[Starfury]

414. Here's my draft LTTE, I'll send it in a few hours

It's a bit long, but I want to cover the Niger backstory for context. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks!

----------------

A Matter of National Security

For two years, it has been an ongoing mystery as to who leaked classified data to reporters regarding Valerie Plame’s employment with the CIA, where she worked to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Her husband, Joseph Wilson, had been sent to Africa in 2003 by our government to authenticate White House claims that Saddam Hussein had been attempting to obtain uranium from Niger. After the document used to justify this claim was proven to be a low-grade forgery, Wilson wrote an Op-Ed piece for the New York Times on 7/6/03, and the White House was forced to retract the claim the next day.

On 7/14/03, Robert Novak published his now infamous column that officially “outed” Ms. Plame in an apparent attempt to deflect attention away from the bogus Niger claim and smear Wilson's reputation. At least five other reporters, including Matthew Cooper of Time magazine, were also in possession of this information, but they chose not to publish it. So who leaked that information?

Two months later, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellen was asked whether Karl Rove had “…burn the cover of a CIA operative,” to which McClellen replied, “…totally ridiculous.”

Last weekend, it was confirmed that Karl Rove did in fact leak the classified information to at least one reporter, Cooper, on 7/11/03, three days before Novak's column. It should be noted that such leaks are federal crimes, with each instance carrying a $100,000 fine and a 10-year prison sentence. But Karl Rove’s leak was not only illegal; it endangered the lives of anyone who worked with Ms. Plame. It also made more difficult the vital task of halting the spread of WMD’s, thereby putting all of our lives at greater risk.

So exactly why does Karl Rove still have his security clearances?

[PittLib]

415. Done ... Not my best but ...

I had to tie in a response to some idiot who said:

"After New York (9/11) and London (7/7), what's next, Paris? Or will it be Rome? It's anybody's guess.
I believe the big civilized cities would be wise to join Bush's anti-terrorism efforts: To act now in close cooperation with the United States, and to ignore the weak, misguided United Nations."






The Silence is Deafening.

When members of the Bush administration had convinced themselves that they were above claims of an inside leak that led to the outing of CIA agent, Valerie Plame, they made some pretty strong statements against this act of treason. Just one example being:
"If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 2003.
Now that it has been revealed that Karl Rove, Bush's campaign mastermind, is tied to this scandal, the only response is "No comment". What makes this matter worse, is that it appears Rove's motivation was revenge against Ambassador Joseph Wilson, Plame's husband. Wilson was very vocal about inconclusive evidence that Niger was supplying "yellow cake" to Iraq, and because his findings did not support the administration's "justification for war", Rove (true to form) set out to assassinate his character, if not his wife. So where is the tough talk now? All I see is dodging, covering and beads of sweat on Press Secretary McClellan's brow as he stonewalls the questions of a rabid press corps. If (name deleted) (Support Bush, 7/14) really believes that Bush's "anti-terrorism efforts" are effective, then he's not paying attention. I need not mention the ever increasing terrorism in Iraq (post "Mission accomplished"), the lack of effort in securing our ports, or even the administration's obstinance to suggestions made by the 9-11 commission. We need look no further than Bush's right hand man, who has part in effectively destroying the career and endangering the life of a covert agent SPECIALIZING IN WMD. Apparently vengence is more important to Rove than national security, a point far too great to ignore. If this administration fails to punish the perpetrator of this high crime, it will prove their stunning talent for lip service, deception, fear-mongering and little else.

[radfringe]

416. Here's mine - sent it off this morning (7/14)

The focus is currently on Karl Rove and what did he say - when did he say it. However, The media is once again missing out on the real story. The big story is not Rove. The big story is why are we in Iraq.

It's been reported Rove's outing of Plame was an attempt to discredit Ambassador Joseph Wilson's statements that there was no connection between Niger-Yellowcake and Iraq/Saddam. This brings us to a larger question - why was it necessary for the White House to discredit Wilson in the first place?

If Wilson was mistaken in his assertion there is no Niger-Iraq connection, then surely the White House had access to information to correct that assertion and would be well served to disclose it to the American people. Instead they chose to smear Wilson's reputation.

Could it be because Wilson was right? If so, wouldn't that question the credibility of Bush's assertion of Saddam, Iraq and WMDs?

In September 2002, the White House began the selling of a new product. Saddam must go, and he must go because he had Weapons of Mass Destruction. Hans Blix led an UN Inspection team into Iraq and found no WMDs. Wilson went to Niger and found no evidence of Iraq trying to buy yellowcake. Yet, Bush insisted we had to invade Iraq because they had WMDs. We know today there were no WMDs even though Rumsfeld had said "..we know exactly were they are...".

We were also told Sadam had connection with Bin-Laden - which later was also found to have no merit.

Next we were told we invaded to liberate the Iraqi people - our troops would be greeted with flowers. It seems the shower of flowers are as elusive as the WMDs.

The latest spin is the "flypaper" strategy - we invaded Iraq to give the terrorists a place to fight so we won't have to fight them at home. Last week's attack in London says otherwise.

Through out this - when a particular excuse has been dispelled - the White House claims it "misspoke", blames someone else and thereby avoids taking responsibility for anything it does.

It's time for investigative journalists to look beyond Rove and start asking the big question - Why are we in Iraq and why is Bush lying about it?

[melissinha]

464. THANK YOU!

I was worried that going for the jugular would not be the way to go at itand have struggled to write a nice short, concise condemnation of the ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION... But you have eased my worries... its not only about Rove... its that:

Before Bush even KNEW about yellow cake uranium, U.N. Weapons Inspectors had concluded that the documents (supporting the case that Iraq intended to purchase yellow cake uranium from Niger) were false. Wilson confirmed these reports, and in turn, submitted a report to the administration. Despite these reports, the administration proceeded to use these documents in its case to Congress. Now that Bush had successfully been reimplanted int eh White House, he admitted that the intelligence it used to come to that conclusion that Iraq was reconsituting WMDs was faulty..... nevermind that the case had been made against the documents all along!

The case can now be made: the administration was provided with the truth; yet in its zeal to start a war against Iraq it attempted to subvert contrary reports and acted against a whistleblower in retribution. If Fitzgerald can make a case that Mr Rove intentionally revealed the identity of Ms. Plame in retribution for her husband "whistleblowing" article, he can also make the case that the very case Mr. Wilson made was also subverted. What does this mean? George Bush INTENTIONALLY provided faulty intelligence to make a case for war.

I say Karl Rove should be fired... so should Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft, Rice etc. Let the real WINNER of the 2004 Election take our country back and end this war on Iraq (as well as the war against the citizens of the United States).

[ebayfool]

417. Done, w/alot of copy & paste! I'm not very eloquent so I'm sure glad

that DU has some of the best examples of letter writing to be found. I'm in Bakersfield CA, the reddest damn pocket of a blue state. But the local paper does lean slightly liberal, so there is hope!

[tavalon]

425. Whoo Hoo

Done. Seattle PI and Seattle Times.

[cleveramerican]

427. missed the deadline

but sent one anyway The Boston Phoenix( the herald and the Globe were apparently done)

[New Earth]

426. mine's gonna be late

:( i won't be able to do it until tonight, so i'm going to email it....

[auburngrad82]

428. ***Mine was published this morning***

Published in the Durham, NC Herald Sun

Just fire Rove

On September 30, 2003 President Bush stated that if Karl Rove or any other member of his administration were responsible for blowing the cover of CIA agent Valerie Plame, he would be fired. It's time for President Bush to stand by his statement. We cannot have treasonous acts such as Rove's outing of Plame weaken our trust in our government.

[katinmn]

432. Yay!

:thumbsup:

[sazemisery]

430. Daily Oklahoman, Tulsa World, Stillwater News Press

Doubt the Tulsa & OKC paper will print them. But when you live in the :nuke: of red state land you have to shout even louder.

[zorro349]

434. Donedy

Sent to the Warren Tribune Chronicle in NE Ohio.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

436. mine is supposed to be published!

on july 26th or 27th.

George W. Bush should stay true to his word.

In compliance with the on going investigation into who leaked the identity of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame, Time Magazine released reporter Matt Cooper’s email correspondence with his bureau chief Michael Duffy. We have since learned from these emails that President Bush’s senior advisor and chief political strategist, Karl Rove, is named as the source for this leak. Bush said "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." Bush should honor his word. Knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law, and an act of treason.



this will be in the citizen-times of Asheville NC.

[tnlefty]

438. Done and will be mailed to the Chattanooga Times/FreePress

today. I may mail a copy to the Knox Sentinel, also.

[Sal316]

439. My LTTE

"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors."

These words were spoken by President George H.W. Bush in April of 1999 at the dedication ceremony of the Intelligence Center that bears his name. Fast forward six years to today. We have now learned that Karl Rove, in an effort to intimidate Ambassador Wilson, leaked Valerie Plame's identity to Matt Cooper, Judith Miller, and Bob Novak. All she was responsible for was the tracking of WMD proliferation networks among terrorist groups. Now that network, and all the intelligence it could have revealed, have been destroyed. In a few emails and phone calls, Karl Rove sacrificed our National Security for political gain because Ambassador Wilson's findings about Iraq buying yellow cake from Niger undermined this administration's drumbeat to war.

President Bush vowed to bring 'honor and integrity' back to the White House, let's hope he keeps these words. "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." It's time to frog march Karl Rove and everyone else responsible for this breach of national security straight to prison.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

440. done

For a Madison,Wisconsin newspaper...

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

443. Done! but I did it at home and don't have a copy to post from work

will try to get it on later tonight!

[adarling]

444. Done- sent mine to the belly of the beast

The Dallas Morning News has been publishing alot of Rove letters...mostly against him and his treasonous actions. I have always thought they were a good paper, even though they are sometimes questionable. I am glad to know though that they will publish people's responses to these treasonous acts. :)

[Liberal Dose]

445. Hope mine wasn't too late!

The Miami Herald published several LTTEs today about Rove. I hope mine gets in, too!

The White House continues to cover up political advisor Karl Rove's involvement in leaking the identity of an undercover CIA agent to the press. Rove may have endangered national security. CIA agent Valerie Plame was involved in tracking and researching WMD development around the world.

Leaking her identity may have weakened the ability of the network to keep an eye on weapons development and endangered us all.

Rove should be held accountable for his actions.

DONNA LOCICERO, Miami

Whom are we kidding? Of course Karl Rove knew that Valerie Plame was a covert CIA operative. And of course President Bush will not fire him. Rove is the reason that Bush is where he is today. Among other things, Rove is a brilliant strategist. He made sure that Bush was elected, twice, and sent a clear message to anyone in his administration opposing the war in Iraq that their job was at stake.

Anyone who has been paying attention should stop expecting justice and truth from this administration.

STEPHANIE WOOLLEY-LARREA, Miami

President Bush, Karl Rove, Vice President Cheney and the rest of the right-wingers running the country love to stand in front of soldiers, police officers and other defenders of freedom when they make a televised speech.

They project themselves as the standards for patriotism.

Now Rove, a master architect of power politics, has been identified as the source who may have revealed a CIA agent's identity.

That is almost as patriotic as joining the National Guard on your own terms, when we are at war, to avoid active duty and, possibly, dying for your country. Expect anything from the authors of the USA Patriot Act.

ROBERTO ROMERO, Miami

Karl Rove's assertion that he talked about Valerie Plame to a reporter but didn't say her name reminds me of that guy who admitted that he had smoked marijuana -- but didn't inhale.

JIM MATTSON, Coral Gables

[Tuesday_Morning]

451. Hey!! One of those is mine!!

Yee - haw!

[Liberal Dose]

460. Woo Hoo!!!

:woohoo: :woohoo:

[Guckert]

446. Form letter from Whitehouse.org .... Pretty funny stuff

You can send this right from www.whitehouse.org to most major papers as well as news broadcasters.

Dear Karl Rove: I just wanted to tell you that no matter how much indisputable evidence those fact-obsessed intellectual reporters release about you betraying America, I join the President in not caring diddly-squat about so-called national security when the only war that matters is the one we're waging against Democrats. So that makes you TOPS in my book! Anyway, however it happened, that bimbo Valerie Plame got what she deserved for marrying a moron who spouted crazy talk about Saddam bin Laden not having all those Nukepox Laser Deathrays you made President Bush promise we'd find. Heck, she should be happy that you only assassinated his CHARACTER! Well, I would say don't let this 'Plame Game' get you down, but I'm sure you're already orchestrating your greatest-yet Machiavellian stratagem (replete with Clintonesque legalistic parsings) to slither out of doing any prison time - especially since you were polite enough not to use Mrs. Wilson's first name. So good luck with the indictments and likely cover-up conspiracy investigation, and next time you're whispering him sweet nothings, please tell Bob Novak I think his waxy tufts of silver ear hair are massively SEXY - in a totally non-homosexual way, of course!
------------------------------------------
I added this to the end of my letter

I’m sure you will enjoy the lemon chicken (it comes with two fruits and rice pilaf) and the view at Guantanamo, I hear they are exquisite.

[zeal]

448. local

i sent it to two south louisiana newspapers and to my senator, i hope they get it...

[meganmonkey]

452. Done! Finally!

Took me a while to get my act together...

:bounce:

on edit: to the Ann Arbor News btw - a surprisingly conservative paper in a relatively liberal town...although they aren't conservative enough to fall for this administration much anymore.

[kick-ass-bob]

453. Raleigh N&O and Durham Herald -- done.

[kick-ass-bob]

463. Durham Herald called and said he was going to try to get it in on Sat.

:thumbsup:

[auburngrad82]

466. Way to go Bob

Mine was published in Durham Herald Sun today.

[katinmn]

454. Mine is going to be in the Pioneer Press tomorrow

They just called.

[Kade]

457. Mine's Done...Going to the Renton Reporter

Thanks to Pacifist Patriot who had some <i> great </i> editing tips! Look out Renton!!!

-Kade

******************************************

7/14/2005


I am shocked and dismayed at reports that Karl Rove, top political advisor to President Bush, is connected to the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame. The testimony of New York Times Reporter Matt Cooper makes it clear this man engaged in, at least, an inappropriate discussion concerning national security, and at worst, an act of treason.

Lack of response from the Bush Administration since these reports were validated is even more disconcerting than Mr. Rove’s loose lips. The President said in September 2003 that if a leak had occurred involving the White House, any person connected would “be taken care of.”. As stated by Press Secretary, Scott McClellen in October 2003, “if anyone in this administration was responsible for the leaking of classified information, they would no longer work in this administration.”

Why hasn't Karl Rove been fired? The White House explanation is that they don't want to interfere with an ongoing investigation. Understandable as these things take time, but in a case that involves a top advisor to the President and the mishandling of sensitive information, it would be prudent to suspend Mr. Rove’s security clearance until this matter is resolved. President Bush’s own words demand that punitive action be taken. The lack of reaction is a disturbing message from an Administration touting itself as a champion of moral integrity,

They say “if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.” Perhaps it should be “don’t say the word fire, if you’re in bed with the liar.”

XXXXXX

XXXXXXX

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

459. Sent to New Haven Register,

Hartford Courant and Connecticut Post so far. Will send to more this afternoon....


On several occasions in 2003 the White House assured Americans that Karl Rove, the senior adviser to the president, never discussed CIA operative Valerie Plame with members of the media. But last week it was revealed that Mr. Rove was, in fact, a major player in the Plame Affair. Karl Rove’s leaking of Plame’s identity to members of the press has threatened the national security of the United States and he must face the fullest consequences of the law. Knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is an act of treason under a law that President George H. W. Bush signed.


During his election campaign, George W. Bush promised honesty and integrity in the White House. He also promised to fire anyone who worked for him who was involved in the Plame Affair. Why did the White House lie to the American people for two years about Rove’s involvement? Why they are now stonewalling all questions about Mr. Rove ? Why are they now refusing to answer questions? What do they have to hide?

Now that it is clear that Mr. Rove was a major player in the affair, the president should revoke his security clearances and dismiss him from the White House. The president and vice president also need to come clean about their knowledge of Karl Rove's and Scooter Libby’s activities. Anything less would be a major betrayal of trust, and smells of a conspiracy by the White House to cover up a major breach of national security.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

528. Had a call from NH Register to verify

that I was author. It is under consideration to be printed.

[Demrock6]

461. My letter

Norm Colman is Chairman of the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. His website says "Today we at the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations are proud to continue this mission of enforcing ethics and fiscal responsibility in government". But I read today that instead of investigating the misdoings of Karl Rove, he will probably be tapped to play the defender.

Why then don't you want to do the investigating Mr. Coleman? Do not play defense attorney for Rove and Delay. But play Chairman of the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and shine some light on the subject.

[MuseRider]

465. Done finally!

Sent to the Topeka Capital-Journal. Thanks to all those above who are good at this. I am not but by reading your letters I was able to put together something nice. :applause:

Well, not exactly nice but nicely done.

[Lowell]

467. Tampa Tribune

Done.

[Moosepoop]

468. Done at last

I had to keep trimming words in order to stay within the 350 word limit. And I thought I was going to be short, sweet, and to the point! Ha!! I should've known better -- it takes me fifty words just to say hello. :D

[vademocrat]

469. Done -

Submitted to Richmond Times-Dispatch (aka Crimes-Disgrace).

[davidinalameda]

470. Mine will be published in the next few days!

Oakland Tribune!

[EFerrari]

491. High five!

:bounce:

[lonestarnot]

471. finished around midnight last night!

:wow:

[montana_hazeleyes]

474. Just sent

to San Jose Mercury News. I thought it would take me a long time, but the words just flowed as this is such an important topic.

[Bucky]

477. Sent into the swirling vortex that's the Houston Chronicle opinion section

Man, I haven't written an LttE since I was in high school.

[Catchawave]

478. Here's mine:

Virginian-Pilot, South Hampton Roads (Norfolk, VaBeach, etc)

"Thank you for bringing to light the "snake oil" politics of Karl Rove. Ever since his character assassination of John McCain during the 2000 South Carolina primaries, I have not trusted the current administration...EVER. They attacked McCain's FAMILY for heaven's sake!

This is not for publication, just hoping you'll put one of your investigative reporters on Rove's history, and tell him/her to be careful, the floors are sticky :) That would make a lovely story.

Rove needs to go, even if his indiscretion was an "oopsy, my bad" moment. I.don't.think.so."

****
Great editorial today and that's what I responded to. I usually include 'not for publication', because they only allow one published letter per person every 5 months. Virginia has a Governor's election this Nov, so am saving myself :) Published or not, newspaper editors enjoy the feedback!

[EFerrari]

479. Letter sent to SF Chronicle, tied in to this column:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/07/14/EDG4PDN4TU1.DTL

because that way, they're more likely to use it.

To the Editor:

In her Thursday July 14 column, Saunders claims that
"America is no less safe" with Valerie Plame's name
"in the spotlight."

On what basis does Saunders conclude that the
disabling of a CIA expert on weapons of mass
destruction, in war time no less, means nothing to our
national security?

Are we in an ongoing "War on Terror" or are we not?
Did the White House fear Hussein had WMD or did they
not?

How far back up the stream of lies must we swim to
reach a point where betraying a highly specialized and
covert agent of the United States is inconsequential?

Karl Rove must be terminated immediately for his
betrayal of the public trust. And their apologists,
put on notice: this is not a game of "gotcha". This
used to be known as accountability, when such a thing
existed in our Federal government.

(contact information per editor's guidelines)

/typo

[davidinalameda]

494. I can't stand that woman

Debra Saunders makes me want to puke 99 times out of 100

[EFerrari]

502. So, what's up with that other time?

:hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

480. Okay, here's mine. Way too long. But I felt as if I had to explain some of

The facts of the case, since it's a complicated one, the media is distorting the facts and I live in a small town in a red district. I cut it as much as I could, but this was late last night and I was :boring: Suggestions?

Again, this week, the Bush White House finds itself embroiled in innuendo and speculation. That this is the culmination of an ongoing controversy that has dragged on for over two years and can, in fact, trace its origins back to early 2002, has done nothing to dim the chatter in the news media.

The facts of this case are easy to find. The truth behind it is not. Someone in the administration is responsible for leaking the name of a CIA operative, in deep cover, to the press, ostensibly as retribution for a July 6, 2003 Op/Ed piece in the NY Times, by former acting Ambassador to Iraq, Joseph Wilson, which was critical of the administration. The revelation that it was White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove who talked with Time Magazine reporter Matthew Cooper in 2003, under "double super secret background," about Wilson's wife, a CIA undercover agent, is what has suddenly catapulted this stalled investigation into the headlines.

On September 29, 2003, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan stated that "the president has set high standards, the highest of standards for people in his administration. He's made it very clear to people in his administration that he expects them to adhere to the highest standards of conduct. If anyone in this administration was involved in it, they would no longer be in this administration."

However, since the revelation of Rove's involvement, the tone of the White House Daily Briefings has changed significantly. On July 12th, the White House Press Corps uncharacteristically pummeled McClellan with questions about Rove and the president's reaction. And no less than 22 times, a beleaguered McClellan refused to comment, citing that this "is part of an ongoing investigation."

This is a return to a pattern of evasion and diversion which has accompanied any hint of controversy by an administration which pledged to return honesty and integrity to the White House. In 1999, former President H.W. Bush referred to anyone who would reveal names as "the most insidious of traitors." This act is, in fact, treason, and should be treated with the seriousness and swiftness it deserves. It is a matter of national security. The foot-dragging has gone on long enough.

[norml]

481. I just dropped off my letter to The Editor of The Lincoln Journal.

I'd already called into one of the local AM talk radio call in shows to talk about this.

I'm such a slow writer, and it took me some time to sit down to do it, but now it feels good to have done it.

I'll be back with a link when they print it.

[complain jane]

482. Done in North Jersey!

Bergen Record, Star Ledger and The Herald.

[WillyT]

483. Here's Mine... (We'll see if it gets published, Sacto Bee)

Rove Must Go

Ironic doesn't begin to describe the situation the White House finds itself in, regarding the Rove\Plame scandal. These are the folks who promised, after George W. Bush was selected president, that "the adults are back in charge", and that ethics and honor would be their guideposts. So to many, having actors within this White House 'out' an undercover CIA agent specializing in WMD in a moment of pique, in order to get back at her husband for publishing the truth about Iraq\Niger Yellowcake Uranium, must come as a major surprise. Is this how gentlemen of honor act?

But to many who have watched this administration from the begining, this comes as no surprise. The gang from Texas has on many occasions played hardball politics when they felt it necessary. Just ask John McCain and the people of South Carolina about how low these people will go to attain and protect political power. But the current mess Rove and the Republicans find themselves in, goes way beyond mere politics. It goes to the safety of American citizens during a War on Terrorism. And lives were put at risk here, from Citizen Plame, to the rest of us.

Dare we say treason?

*******************************************************************************

:shrug:

Whadda ya think?

:shrug:

Onedit: Grr... two minor F-Ups. Hope the editors catch 'em if they decide to publish, LOL!!!

[Dragonfli]

486. Good Job! - We think alike it seems - (here's mine)

To The Editor,

A Letter Re Accountability and National Security

Clear involvement of Karl Rove in revealing Valerie Plame's identity as a CIA operative is a grave matter of national security. I share the views of former president George H.W. Bush, who in April 1999 said, “I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors."

Valerie Plame worked undercover on National Security Intelligence specifically in the area of enemy proliferation of WMD. Karl Rove made us less able to defend against such threats when he exposed her and her 20 year network of assets in a time of war. An act of treason during peacetime is dangerous--during a war it’s unforgivable. In the interests of national security, any high level officials suspected of involvement should have security clearances immediately revoked and official criminal charges brought against them as soon as possible to prevent further breaches.

Increasing the severity of the crime was the reason it was allegedly committed. Joseph Wilson, Valerie Plame's husband, was the person sent to Niger to investigate the "yellow cake" claims falsely made by the White House prior to sending our troops to war. Joseph Wilson was the first person to dispute those claims. His wife's identity was compromised in the press shortly after he did so.

We are a country at war--a war based on possibly fraudulent motives. We have learned from the leaked minutes of a high level British meeting “The Downing Street Memos”, that there were plans to "fix intelligence" to justify the illegal invasion and continuing occupation of Iraq. “The fixing of facts” is connected to the Plame outing and more investigation is needed. It has become a matter of national security to demand accountability be returned to the White House.

Sincerely,
Dennis M Wilson Jr

[WillyT]

489. Great LTTE, Dragonfli !!!

Great minds and all that...

:hi::silly::hi:

[Dragonfli]

498. I'm Having Fun!

:bounce: :toast:

[FizzFuzz]

529. Done, sorry I'm late!! (I used your letter and a snip from MelissaB's)

Hope you all don't mind--I had to rush and even though I've written LTTE's before, it takes me hours, and that's if I don't need to do research to find facts to include.

Thank you in advance for (hopefully) not minding that I plagiarized you both.
:blush:
:hi:

[complain jane]

484. Next assignment please! I'm in the mood!

[Desertrose]

487. Done, boss :)

Sent a short but to the point LTTE to my local paper...now to find the contact info for a few more.


(Not a lot of papers or towns with papers here in N AZ)

[Old Vet]

490. I copied LSK essay and sent to Democrat&Chronicle...

Rochester,NY. Thanks again to LSK for allowing me to copy a well written article.

[Rhiannon12866]

496. Welcome to DU, Old Vet!

We're glad to have any and all vets among us, old or young! Great that you participated!:hi:

[MelissaB]

495. Sent to Times Daily in Florence, AL

Dear Editor,

It is clear that a cover-up of Watergate proportions is going on with regard to what is now being referred to as Plamegate. Indications are, White House claims notwithstanding, that Karl Rove was deeply involved in the Valerie Plame affair. Mr. Rove put his partisan political agenda ahead of American national security interests. By outing Valerie Plame, a CIA operative, Mr. Rove has committed an act of treason. In September of 2003, President George W. Bush said "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." When it comes to a member of the administration potentially jeopardizing our national security, I would like to think that President Bush did not intend "taken care of" to mean stonewalling all questions about Mr. Rove in order to protect him from punishment for this egregious crime.
It is also apparent that Mr. Rove's actions were taken as revenge against Ms. Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson. Mr. Wilson reported in the New York Times that he found no evidence of uranium yellow cake in Iraq, thus contradicting one of the Bush administration's strongest reasons for the U.S. invading Iraq. Jeopardizing national security or the lives of other CIA operatives for the purpose of exacting revenge against someone who speaks out against the administration is an abomination.

As President George Bush Sr., former Director of the CIA said, those who reveal the identity of CIA agents are "the most insidious of traitors." Why is the White House continuing to protect Karl Rove, this "insidious traitor?"


Sincerely,




Thanks for all the ideas, everybody. My husband even helped me. This is my first LTTE! I'm sure I'll get ugly phone calls like my husband used to when he wrote. :rofl:

[One_of_8]

497. I sent this LTTE

To Press Democrat, the local Sonoma County, CA newspaper:

On July 14, 2003, Valerie Plame, a covert CIA agent, had her cover blown in a newspaper column by Robert D. Novak that quoted two senior administration officials. They were critical of her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, for his handling of a CIA mission that undercut President Bush's claim that Iraq had sought uranium from the African nation of Niger for possible use in developing nuclear weapons.

In the resulting federal investigation and potential prosecution of this disclosure, Time magazine recently provided documents to the special counsel which disclose that it top Presidential advisor Karl Rove talked about the CIA officer in a July 11, 2003, conversation
with reporter Matthew Cooper. Cooper wrote an article in 2003 in which he identified the CIA officer as Valerie Plame.

It appears that this information was leaked as political payback, for Wilson’s assertion that the claim President Bush made in his January 2003 State of the Union address that Iraq tried to buy "significant quantities of uranium from Africa" could not be verified.

Whether this disclosure meets the legal requirements for treason remains to be seen. It is certainly a despicable act that goes beyond dirty politics. As taxpaying citizens, we should demand that those whose salaries we pay follow both the letter and the intent of the law. I ask President Bush to live up to his own words, spoken in September 2003: "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." President Bush, it is clear Mr. Rove is one source of this leak, and he should be removed from the public payroll immediately. Mr. Bush has said he is loyal to his friends, but in this case, the President’s duty to his country should take precedence over his friendship with Mr. Rove.

[Massacure]

499. Just sent mine.

I'm lucky the link is still here, I'm 15 minutes late for the deadline.

[doublethink]

501. Ha ! I just joined the Corp .... and I'm 30 minutes late on ....

the first project too .... here's what I just sent out to The Union Tribune (San Diego) and The Sun Telegram (San Bernardino) cause my mom lives up there and loves when the family gets stuff printed in her local paper. :) ....

Let's not play politics with our National Security.


Though I may disagree with Republicans on most issues, we all as Americans reside in a country based on the freedoms,
laws, and values our Constitution guarantees.

In the United States federal officials must take an oath that states "I will support and defend the Constitution of the United
States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."

The Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982 makes it illegal for a government official to reveal the identity of an
undercover intelligence official of the United States of America.

Karal Rove outed Valarie Plames undercover status as a Covert CIA Operative. In doing so he had damaged the ability of
Plame to do her job. Putting her at risk, and anyone else who was seen with her in her undercover status. This at a crucial
time when National Security is of the utmost importance, she had been taken "out" as an asset when one would think
operatives and secret agents of Our Country are needed more than ever.

Such an Incompetent act at such a high position in our government requires accountability, just as it would in any corporate
enterprise, regardless of the motivation for such an act.

But this goes further, a crime has been committed. And Karal Roves actions in this matter are dangerous to our National
Security.. His character must now be in deep question, even to those in the present administration. What other high crimes
against our Country might he commit in his pursuit of political revenge in the future? Valarie Plame and those like her
represent all Americans in their duty's to protect us against other nations that seek to do us harm.

Karl Rove must be immediately terminated from his present position in the White House while the ongoing investigation of
this probe continues. Thank you for your time.

[Nimble_Idea]

500. DARN I WAS TOO LATE!!

It is now 8:29 and I just got the message! Dern.
Hey , I can't write worth a damn anyways, there should be easier things to do!

[EFerrari]

504. Hey, settle! I don't think we're gonna run out of work.

:)

[CrispyQ]

503. Better late than never.

Just finished mine & sent it to the Denver Post.

on edit:

Here it is:

President Bush had this to say about the Valerie Plame case: "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." Well, Mr. President, it’s time for you to step up to the plate & show the American people that integrity you promised to bring back to the White House.

[New Earth]

506. i'm an hour late

but i did do it! :bounce:

i wrote to the Courier-Post of South Jersey - I've had several opinions already published in there. Hope this one gets it!

[OETKB]

507. Mission accomplished

Mine to the Boston globe letters to the editor. Mr. Rove's act of treason is the principles of the founding of this democracy. If he was alive during that time he probably would have been a Tory spy.

[melv]

508. Done! Tulsa World (oklahoma)

content:

Karl Rove is a national embarrassment whose actions have proven to be purely self-serving. No matter how you look at it, he is one of the guilty parties involved in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame. It is time for George Bush to make good on his promise in 2004 to terminate any White House official proven to have been responsible for such a leak. Bush senior did not tolerate Rove, and in fact terminated him under similar circumstances, even the same reporter (Novak). Rove cannot be trusted and is a threat to our national security. Time for the pink slip we were promised.

[knight_of_the_star]

509. Mine

To the North County Times:

We have yet another excellent example of, "do as I say, not as I do" coming from the White House in relation to the discovery that Karl Rove blew a NOC agent's cover. In 2003 when Valerie Plame's cover was blown, via Scott McClellan the White House stated that anyone found to have been involved would be fired, yet here we have documents proving Rove was one of the sources who leaked her identity and what has the White House done? Nothing. Considering that what Rove did is in violation of the Espianoge and Federal Conspiracy Acts, I think this is much more serious than lying about oral sex. If a Democrat did this, you can bet that the GOP would be screaming for their heads 24/7, yet where is the moral outrage of the party of God and morality? I forgot, according to the RNC only Democrats are sinners.

[RaRa]

510. Done - to my red paper in red county of Blue IL! n/t

[hnsez]

511. Done - Tampa Trib

[okasha]

512. Sorry I turned my homework in a bit late!

Sent this to the San Antonio Express News:

To the editor:

When the Plame leakage first broke, George Bush promised that he would "take care of" the leaker. He has kept his word. He has covered for Rove; he has sent his surrogates to spread "talking points" that are, to put it most kindly, fictional; and if the Bolton nomination is any gauge of the future, will continue to obstruct and obfuscate on Rove's behalf as long as is legally feasible.

This needs to stop. Rove has betrayed not only an undercover operative working in the vital field of weapons of mass destruction, but the American people themselves. Bush needs to fire his "brain" and turn over to the prosecutors whatever evidence he may have in his possession of Rove's criminal behavior.

Twice, George Bush has taken an oath to "protect and defend" the Constitution of the United States and its other laws. Let's see if he means it.

[DisassemblingHisLies]

513. Dang it, I missed the deadline but I sent one anyway!

If I'm lucky, the Times-Picayune in New Orleans will be publishing mine.

[blue sky at night]

514. Fricken Frack, I just got the damn thing written.........

thank you DU for inspiring me to get off the duff and write my first LTTE since the Darkness began over four years ago. I won't post it here as there is much more to be read, but I am sure to hear from the Repugs in my Family if they publish. Kick it DU.

[Mojorabbit]

517. Done

Sent mine to the orlando sentinel.

[FrenchieCat]

518. Wrote to Oakland Tribune, S.F. Chronicle, Sacramento Bee

And
• Alameda Times-Star
• Contra Costa Times
• The Daily Review
• USA Today
• The Washington Post
• CNN News Group
• Fox News Channel
• MSNBC


My approach was that of a naive Bush voting waif just figuring things out. Editors like these kinds of letters....and it shows that it's not a case that lines up based on partisanship.

Dear Editors,

I have been following the story on the Plame/Wilson controversy. Initially, I didn't much follow the reporting that was going on, but as I have learned more, I have become alarmed about what appears to be a classic case of White House shenadigans; of a most serious kind.

As an Independent voter, I stress that I must side with Americans who put their lives at risk in a service like the CIA . These individuals deserve to be protected and have their contacts protected and that's why a law exists that punishes those who violate the trust of these CIA personnel.

It appears that Karl Rove did have something to do with the leaking of Ambassador Wilson's wife identity. I believe that he must step down, or President Bush must request his resignation. Anything short of that will not do, as the wrong message will be been communicated to our CIA agents.

I pray that President Bush values the state of our National Security as much as I do. Otherwise, we are in deep trouble.

Respectfully,
xxxxx xxxxxxx

[FrenchieCat]

540. Got an email asking for my phone number....

and then a call from Olvia Angulo of the Daily Review.
She wanted permission to print my letter, which I gave.

That was quick! :woohoo:

[Catchawave]

544. Fantastic !

I write mine as an Independent too, that is, I show no party partisanship. Those letters that get published from foaming at the mouth righties or lefties are a big turn off for me! Your's was perfect, afterall, there should be no politics in National Security!

Way.To.Go.:patriot:

[Tigress DEM]

519. Done - Letter below

RE: Journalism Still Has It!

I loved the way the press on Monday July 11th doggedly asked Scott McClellan the questions I wanted to ask about Karl Rove! It's a pity Scott hid out and wouldn't answer, but at least the press is showing some grit. "Hurray!"

Perfection is a long way off, but when the press is forced to become a squawk box for the administration we ALL lose.

I think it's ridiculous that:

1) The reporter who actually outed Valerie Plame(Robert Novak) hasn't gotten any heat from the courts.

2) The reporter (Judith Miller) who didn't even write an article but whose testimony could partially establish a pattern of wrong doing by those attempting to leak the story is in jail for not revealing her sources.

3) The reporter (Matt Cooper) who nailed the administration to the wall for their LIES was outed by his bosses. Still he was prepared to go to jail if Karl Rove hadn't "rescued" him.

Matt Cooper wrote the TRUTH - as evidenced by the Downing Street Minutes and the fact that the US was BOMBING Iraq months before even asking to go to war. That came out in General Tommy Franks book before anyone had a chance to see the British legal advisor’s report. Distributed with the Downing Street Minutes - the report said the US was bombing illegally at that time, many months before Congress was even asked.

"Going" to war was literally a "done deed" many months old prior to the Downing Street Minutes.

Matt didn't lie. Joe Wilson didn't lie.

Karl Rove did. Scott McClellan did.

Unless Bush fires Rove, he's a liar.

Novak may be telling the truth as it seemed to him at the time... but it's just "convenient" enough to qualify for a "weasel" to me.

Novak openly admits that he was asked by a CIA official to NOT mention her name, but somehow he just felt he "had" to do it.

As a trained investigative reporter how was it that he couldn't connect the dots and realize that exposing someone who had worked under cover in the CIA would endanger her life? Any 8 year old kid who watches cop shows knows you don't blow someone's cover.

Last words: If WE THE PEOPLE want Media to be the Fourth Estate, WE need to STAND Behind them and Speak UP for Shield laws. We must also pursue prosecution for wrongful deaths to those in the Media just doing their job getting at the truth and holding it up for our review.

63 journalists* and media assistants** have been killed in the line of duty since the start of the war in Iraq 3 years ago.

It took TWENTY YEARS to kill that many reporters in Vietnam. TWENTY YEARS.

How many reporters will die because of Iraq in the NEXT TWENTY YEARS if WE THE PEOPLE are too cowardly to PUT A STOP TO IT? September 24-26, Washington DC, BE THERE. Let YOUR VOICE be HEARD.

*(47) **(16)

--------------------------------------------



Source Material

*(47) **(16) http://www.rsf.org/special_iraq_en.php3 >

Novak's Response
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Plame#Exposure_of_Plame_by_Robert_Novak

<snip>
At the CIA, the official designated to talk to me denied that Wilson's wife had inspired his selection but said she was delegated to request his help. He asked me not to use her name, saying she probably never again will be given a foreign assignment but that exposure of her name might cause "difficulties" if she travels abroad. He never suggested to me that Wilson's wife or anybody else would be endangered. If he had, I would not have used her name. I used it in the sixth paragraph of my column because it looked like the missing explanation of an otherwise incredible choice by the CIA for its mission."

<snip>
In other interviews Novak confirmed that his sources warned him not to mention Plame. His motivation to disregard the warnings is suggested by this comment in "The CIA Leak:" "I was curious why a high-ranking official in President Bill Clinton's National Security Council (NSC) was given this assignment." Just four days before he revealed Plame's name Novak wrote, "Bush's Enemy Within." Therein Novak excoriates the Bush Administration's appointment of Frances Fragos Townsend to an important national security post explaining she could later betray Bush because two of her former superiors were liberal democrats and she had served in the US Attorney's office in Manhattan. According to Novak this office was "notoriously liberal laden."

(In Novak's own words - his outing of Valerie was purely based on political reasons, an apparent attitude that to be liberal is enough to make one betray others.)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1660300_2,00.html

<snip>
Elizabeth Wilmshurst, one of the Foreign Office lawyers who wrote the report, resigned in March 2003 in protest at the decision to go to war without a UN resolution specifically authorising military force.

Further intensification of the bombing, known in the Pentagon as the Blue Plan, began at the end of August, 2002, following a meeting of the US National Security Council at the White House that month.

General Tommy Franks, the allied commander, recalled in his autobiography, American Soldier, that during this meeting he rejected a call from Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, to cut the bombing patrols because he wanted to use them to make Iraq’s defences “as weak as possible”.

[RetroLounge]

521. My Letter to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal

Two years after Karl Rove publicly denied being the Valerie Plame leak, and Scott McClennen told the White House press corp that he spoke directly to Rove and was assured that Rove had nothing to do with the Valerie Plame leak, we find that both of them flat-out lied to the american people, and Karl Rove actually was Matthew Cooper's source at Time Magazine. President Bush said he would fire anyone involved with the leak. So now let us see if President Bush will now also be a liar or stay true to his word.

RL

[ExclamationPoint]

522. Sent: to Metrowest Daily News

annoyingly conservative MA paper that's linked with the boston herald

[MojoXN]

525. Well, It's some of my best work, but I doubt that it'll ever get printed..

by either of the rightist doucherags that publish around here. But who knows? Stranger things have happened!

MojoXN

[patrice]

526. Here's my letter. Is it tooooo "talking-point-ish"?

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

In-ept or deliberate, Karl Rove abuses power at the expense of national security.

There is, at minimum, anecdotal empirical support for the fact that Rove operates with a “Win by Any Means” attitude. Rove’s reliance on “Any Means” is an important factor in why we went to war. Because of Bush’s War, America is under profoundly more threat than pre 9/11, and, worse, our Military is stretched to the Danger point. Also, one of the worst problems with Homeland Security, the quality of our Intelligence, has been made much worse for the forsee-able future. Rove did this damage while “selling” Bush’s War to the people. Bush’s War does nothing to stop anyone who wants to do harm to the U.S. In fact, it increases the numbers of persons motivated to come here and do so. We are in more danger, ergo Karl Rove is a threat to National Security.

[FtWayneBlue]

527. My ltte Huntington, IN Herald-Press:

Since there is now no doubt that President Bush's top adviser, Karl Rove, was involved in blowing the cover of CIA agent Valerie Plame, his security clearance must be revoked and he should be prosecuted for possible acts of treason.
The most likely reason for his outing her is retaliation for the actions of her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson. Joseph Wilson had investigated British intelligence's assertion that Iraq was working to purchase yellowcake Uranium from Niger, and found and reported back that that accusation was false. He was surprised when President Bush still claimed it to be true later in his state of the union address, so Wilson made his position clear in a letter to the editor of the New York Times. Rove blowing Wilson's wife's cover could have been in retaliation for that, and also was a warning to all other government officials not to go against the plans of the administration to make an illegal, "pre-emptive," attack on Iraq.
The justification for war was built upon a pack of lies, and Rove was the primary prevaricator. It is high time we held this administration accountable for their violation of the public trust, and if Bush refuses to come clean, he will face impeachment. If a president can be impeached for lying about an extramarital affair, one can certainly be impeached for lying to the Congress and the American people about reasons for going to war.
Over 1700 of our finest are now dead, and countless innocent Iraqis, over a pack of lies. It is time to end this farce, now!

[GiovanniC]

530. Suck It, Rove - My Letter

Our newspaper allows 300 words. I used 297, and had room to add, "Suck it, Rove" at the end but decided not to.

Brewster-Jennings & Associates seemed like a normal oil and energy firm and Valerie Plame seemed like a normal energy analyst who did an awful lot of business overseas, particularly in the Middle East. In reality, Brewster-Jennings was a CIA front, and Plame was a highly valuable undercover CIA agent. Two years ago, columnist Robert Novak blew the cover of both by revealing that Plame worked for the CIA. The front company could be linked to her and hundreds of deep-cover CIA agents and foreign informants were compromised.

The purpose of revealing this CIA agent’s identity and destroying a critical intelligence asset was partisan and petty. Valerie Plame’s husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, traveled to Africa at the request of the CIA to investigate a claim that Iraq was attempting to obtain uranium for nuclear weapons from the country of Niger. Wilson found this claim to be false and based on forged documents. When the Bush administration continued to knowingly use these false claims as a rationale for the Iraq war, Ambassador Wilson went public with the truth.

Senior officials in the Bush administration including Bush’s closest advisor, Karl Rove, revealed Wilson’s wife’s identity in retaliation. These immature and vindictive actions destroyed years of Weapons of Mass Destruction work for the CIA and put the lives of countless people at risk.

A lot of things come to my mind when I think about the people who put our nation in jeopardy to cover up their lies, but most of them can’t be printed in a family newspaper. So I will allow George H.W. Bush sum it up for me: “I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious, of traitors."

[demgurl]

531. Just got a call form my local paper and my letter is being printed!

They said it will be in the paper in 7-10 days. Just got off the phone with them about 5 minutes ago. I am so excited. This is the first LTTE I have ever written. Wow!

[go west young man]

532. Just fired mine off to the Florida Times Union.

I'm a little past the deadline but its such a good topic that I have a feeling it will be around for a while! I'm not sure if this is the place to suggest this but I have a good idea for more activism. Let me lay it out and maybe others will add good ideas. How about we start special ops teams that do "blogging raids" on right wing blogs. We could sign up here and list subject matter we are interested in. A moderator would scan 20-50 heavily trafficed blogs and then seek volunteers from here who would go over and refute thier talking points. We could operate in teams of 4 and report back here on what we've accomplished. When we signed up here we could list political subjects that we handle well. For example I have been defending George Galloway, Live8 and debating Oil for Food at 4 right wing blogs to good effect. I love it when another obvious DU'er jumps in the fray with me. This is all just me throwing this out. It might be a bigger project than I can personally handle but I would definently be interested in helping get it going if admin and others wanted to push it. I think we could have a powerful direct focused attack against wingnuts where they spout off the most. Any one have any ideas?

[bettyellen]

oops i forgot to click there aftre sending it last night. NJ Star Ledger

a about ten other NY and national papers.
:bounce:

[bettyellen]

533. oops, dupe.

[geckosfeet]

534. Finally finished: Sent to Boston Globe on 7/15/05. See text below.

TO:
Letters to the Editor
The Boston Globe
P.O. Box 55819
Boston, MA 02205-5819

Letter must include phone number, full name and be 200 words or less. (Whoops)


Over the last several weeks, we have seen President Bush and his administration continue to defend Karl Rove the, White House Deputy Chief of Staff. Recently Mr. Rove was identified by Time magazine as a source who in July 2003 revealed the identity of a covert CIA agent.

Speculation is that Mr. Rove leaked the identity as retribution against Joe Wilson who is married to the outed agent, for exposing as inaccurate statements that the president made in calling the nation to war in a January 2003 state of the union address.

At the time the identity of the CIA agent was revealed, President Bush gave his word to the American people that if there was a leak out of his administration, he would want to know, and “the person will be taken care of.” Through his spokesperson Scott McClellan, the president also promised the American people that if there was a leak, that person “would no longer work in the administration.”

Rather than fire Mr. Rove, a demonstrable national security risk, the president continues to bestow the confidences of the country with him. While the president enjoys these political indulgences with national security the health and welfare of the nation is put at risk.

This incident is an appalling abuse of the trust placed in government officials by the American people. It is a betrayal of those who secretly labor in harms way. Those labors have long protected the security of Americans, including of course, Mr. Roves.

Regardless of any justification Mr. Rove may have for exposing one of our CIA agents to danger, there are federal laws that prohibit it. If the president was able to find the strength to turn his head from the stench of the inaccurate, inflated intelligence co-mingled with gratuitous ideology used to take a nation to war, he should be able to find the strength to lead Mr. Rove out the front door of the White House.

Time will tell if Mr. Rove and other White House officials will be the subject of criminal indictments. In the meantime, our nation should demand leadership that does not choose their own political ambitions over the outright betrayal of American people. We deserve no less.

[BurtWorm]

535. Mine to the NY Times

The timeline of the history of the "Plame" leak might also have included at least one more important date. On July 23, 2002, according to the now infamous Downing Street minutes, Tony Blair learned in a meeting of British intelligence officials and cabinet ministers that in the US, "facts were being fixed around the policy" of what was then understood to be an unstoppable push for war in Iraq.

Ambassador Wilson's July 6, 2003, piece for the New York Times questioned the honesty of the administration's justification for its drive to war based on what the ambassador knew to be a dishonest use of the Niger intelligence he and others had gathered. We now know, thanks to at least one whistle blower in the Blair government, that Mr. Wilson is not the only witness to the war's prelude to be troubled by an apparent policy on both sides of the Atlantic to make facts serve political ends. That kind of subordination of truth to politics is precisely what reverberates at the heart of the investigation into who outed Valerie Wilson.

[jmm]

536. Done

Let's see if I get any responses

[sojourner]

537. Done...Sacramento Bee and SF Chronicle, SF Examiner

my letter:


I have grave concerns for the security of our intelligence community, and by extension, for our nation. If recent reports are true, someone in the White House has compromised not only the work of Valerie Plame – a one-time NOC for the CIA, but also her entire network of intelligence assets. By revealing her identity and providing the name of her “cover” company, the journalists and the people who leaked the information to them have undone what one must assume was much good, since Ms. Plame's work entailed tracking the acquisition of weapons by terrorist networks. As I understand it, this intelligence is one of the most critical and most important tasks in the fight against terrorism.

To risk the assets of the CIA in such a manner – no matter what the alleged reason for doing so – is a most egregious matter, bordering on treason. I hope that the ongoing investigation continues in a transparent manner, and that those responsible for this deed are brought to swift and certain justice. I call upon the Administration that took office claiming a desire to bring dignity and integrity back to the White House to now walk its talk.

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

538. Done, albeit after the deadline...

[Hell Hath No Fury]

541. Done!

Sent to the San Francisco Chronicle:


Karl Rove's got some 'splainin' to do. The current version of "Who outed Valerie Plame?" has Rove claiming columnist Robert Novak revealed all to him about Ambassador Wilson's CIA operative wife. For those of us with long memories, that's not what Novak said in a July 21, 2003, interview in which he talked about how his sources came to HIM with Plame's name and information.

So, who's telling the truth? I only hope that special prosecutor Fitzgerald can wade his way through the lies and spin to find out who is responsible for what may not be a treasonous act but is, at the very least, a morally reprehensible one.

Hell Hath No Fury
San Francisco

[dmr]

545. NJCher:

NJCher has asked me to post the LTTE she mailed to the Omaha World-Herald.

Omaha World-Herald
Omaha, Nebraska

Your July 14 editorial "On Rove, weigh the facts" seeks to reduce the very serious breach in national security to a partisan affair. Just how much time would you like for Bush to "weigh the facts?" Knowledge that the security of the American people had been breached came out two years ago and this was surely known with the administration. Instead of cooperating or coming clean, they stonewalled.

Meanwhile, American soldiers die in Iraq (on Friday came reports of two Nebraska women), American jobs continue to go overseas and you, the dysfunctional handmaiden of this corrupt administration, beg the public to indulge them even more. Whose interests do you have at heart? Why should any of us continue to read your paper when you ask the public to tolerate what is clearly not in their best interest?

Skinner, I'm not sure if NJCher was able to click your link to show she completed her task. Is there a way to add her to your completed task list? Thank you.

[LynneSin]

546. Sent - Wilmington News Journal

In Sept 2003, George Bush made this quote about the Valerie Plame case: "If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is and if the person has violated the law, the person will be taken care of." The law states that knowingly revealing the identity of a covert CIA operative is against the law, and an act of treason.

Now strong evidence has come to us that it was Karl Rove, Bush's senior political advisor, who leaked this information to the press. In his 2003 State-of-the-Union address George Bush had said, "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." It is widely speculated that Ms. Plame was ousted as an act of revenge against her husband Joseph Wilson, a US diplomat who not only served in Niger but also in Iraq during the first gulf war. Mr. Wilson is responsible for telling the press that there was no proof that Iraq was getting "yellowcake" from Niger, a material necessary for the production of nuclear weapons. Eight months later the CIA discovered forged documents that proved Mr. Wilson correct.

We need to hold the Bush Administration and Karl Rove accountable for this breach of security. We ask that Joe Biden, Tom Carper and Mike Castle demand the White House not only answer to this charge but hold to their promise of firing anyone, including Karl Rove, if they are involved.

I sent it to the Wilmington News Journal here in Delaware. For those of you who wonder who Biden, Carper and Castle are: Biden (ok, well we all know him) and Carper are DE's senators and Mike Castle is our lone representative

[goclark]

547. Done

Mailed mine to the Sentinel, an African American newspaper that is now owned by Danny Blackwell.

Blackwell is " very friendly" with Republicans.

During the campaign for President, I noticed a BIG/COLOR photo of Condi on the front page! The title said something like," Highest African American official in the Government."

I was surprised that Kerry was given a b/w photo and few other praises.

I called them and blasted them to the heavens.

We'll see if my letter gets published.

[realFedUp]

549. send letter re: Shades of Cover, LA Times front page today

This is a good article to reference when
sending your letters to the LA Times: [e-mail]

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-na-cia16jul16,1,1105077.story

Shades of Cover

The CIA leak case has called attention to the mosaic of lies and props the intelligence community diligently uses to protect its operatives.

By Greg Miller
Times Staff Writer

July 16, 2005

WASHINGTON — Several months after her identity as a CIA operative was exposed in a newspaper column, Valerie Plame had dinner with five of her classmates from the agency's training academy.

Four had left the CIA, and they spent the evening catching up on what they'd done during their clandestine careers, as well as the jobs and moves that followed. But even though Plame's "cover" had been cracked wide open, her dinner companions didn't pry for details. Even in that tight circle, no one wanted to spill any more secrets.

"Cover is a mosaic, it's a puzzle," said James Marcinkowski, a former CIA case officer who attended the dinner. "Every piece is important because you don't know which pieces the bad guys are missing."

The Plame case brought intense new scrutiny on the White House this week amid disclosures that President Bush's chief political advisor, Karl Rove, is a central figure in the controversy surrounding the unmasking of Plame to the media.

The case also has called attention to the precious, concealing commodity the intelligence community calls "cover." The term refers to the amalgam of lies and props, from false names to phony front companies, that disguise a spy's identity and purpose.

Although often cast in binary terms — an operative is either undercover or not — there are distinct categories of cover that CIA operatives use, and an almost endless list of components. Some cover is tissue-thin and disposable. Other arrangements are so layered and deep that they anticipate hostile probing of every facet of a person's life.

Plame's cover — in which she posed as a private energy consultant while actually working for a CIA department tracking weapons proliferation — was somewhere in the middle of those extremes.

continued

[realFedUp]

550. done

not my letter but this administration has done everything from
letting a Pearl Harbor kind of disaster happen to create the
opportunity for a Unocal natural gas pipeline to be built across Afghanistan, pre-emptively bomb the hell out of a weaker Middle East country dictated under one of our own CIA plants, Hussein for nation building, oil and permanent military bases and then promoting,
lying and covering up all the means and sources used to carry
out this plan.

I look forward to the complete connecting of dots.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

551. Done!

Daily Herald, Everett Washington. Mailed 7/16/05.

[Coexist]

552. Just got back from vacation - is it too late?

Please let me know!

[Coexist]

562. Did it - to St. Pete Times

Karl Rove has not "outed" anyone. Karl Rove has blown the cover of a CIA Operative working on WMD issues, a national security scandal in this day and age.

Karl Rove saw the attacks on 9/11 as an excuse to follow through on this administration's desire to attack Iraq. He then proceeded to ruthlessly smear any and all people who were against his President's ambitions toward Iraq. Harming our national security interests was not an issue for him, as long as he got his man (or woman, as the case may be). He is the architect of the shaming of John McCain and his wife during the 2000 primaries. He has gallons of political blood on his hands and his victim-charade should not be taken as genuine. It should, in fact, be laughed at, the way he has laughed over the public and private lives he has taken in his ends-justify-the-means style of political hatchetry. He is no innocent, and deserves much worse than being held accountable for his actions, but that will do.

George H.W. Bush had the moral fiber to fire Karl Rove for leaking information to Robert Novak - will his son? President G.W. Bush, not so long ago, promised to fire anyone involved in disclosing the identity of this agent. Today in his press conference, he has weaseled his way out of living up to his tough-guy threat, and reduced the criteria for firing his staff members to those who commit a crime. Forget the safety of the nation, his cronies come first. Beautiful.

[mamiesb2001]

553. Just regained email access -- have completed a rough draft

and will send it to the Baltimore Sun this evening.

[Nikki Stone 1]

554. Sent mine to the LA Times

Here's an excerpt:


It is clear from yesterday's news that Karl Rove was the White House official who confirmed the CIA status of Joseph Wilson's wife to journalist Robert Novak when Novak telephoned him for the information. Now the White House is refusing to answer questions about the source that outed Ms. Plame. This is completely unacceptable. Mr. Rove is guilty of outing a CIA agent, even if he was only confirming the information and not overtly leaking it.

As Congressman Henry Waxman made clear in a "fact sheet" yesterday:

" Mr. Rove, through his attorney, has raised the implication that there is a distinction between releasing classified information to someone not authorized to receive it and confirming classified information from someone not authorized to have it. In fact, there is no such distinction under the nondisclosure agreement Mr. Rove signed.
One of the most basic rules of safeguarding classified information is that an official who has signed a nondisclosure agreement cannot confirm classified information obtained by a reporter. In fact, this obligation is highlighted in the “briefing booklet” that new security clearance recipients receive when they sign their nondisclosure agreements..."


It is time for Rove to be shown the door.

[Gronk Groks]

555. Got to check mail more often...

...first saw this 7-17-05. oops

[cat starbuck]

556. Seattle Times

I sent mine, but I wish now it had been much shorter and to the point. Will get better through practice (Hopefully!)

[GetTheRightVote]

558. Getting to it, thanks for the email message !!

Rove must be fired for this breech in security !!

:kick:

[Sapphire Blue]

559. 2nd 'Rove' LTTE - 'Time to Impeach'

Edited to add subject of my ltte:

'Time to Impeach'

To the Editor:

Karl Rove, White House deputy chief of staff, has breached national security in his involvement in leaking the identity of covert CIA operative. This leak was political revenge against the operative’s husband’s challenging the Administration’s lies regarding the lead up to the war in Iraq. President Bush indicated in the past that anyone involved in this leak would not remain in his Administration.

Today President Bush remains mum regarding Rove’s treasonous act, citing the ‘ongoing investigation’ while the RNC distributes ‘talking points’ supporting Rove’s treasonous act. Yet Mr. Rove remains in the Administration. This, more so than words, sends a clear message to the American people: the President of the United States has chosen to support a treasonous act.

Congress is sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America; to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic”. We the people of the United States of America must insist that Congress honor this oath. We must insist that impeachment proceedings be initiated against this rogue Administration. National security is at stake.

[erinlough]

560. just got back from vacation, will get right on it. Thanks for the task!

[rocktivity]

561. MY LETTER GOT PRINTED

I got a confirmation phone call from the (Newark NJ) Star Ledger on Wednesday. But when I hadn't seen it printed as of Sunday (7/17) I figured they'd passed it over.

Out Karl Rove (their idea, not mine)

It is time for the spinning, stonewalling, weapons of mass distraction and talking point wars that have protected the Bush White House to come to an end.

Now that Karl Rove has turned out to be an outer of undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame to the press, he should be relieved of his cabinet-level access immediately, and he must be compelled to reveal who gave the information on Plame to him. But while President Bush has promised to fire the leakers, that is much too good a fate for anyone who deliberately endangers the lives of those who devote themselves to serving America -- especially if the reward is as vindictive, juvenile and self-serving as political payback.

The time has come for public hearings, punishment to the fullest extent of the law, and for Bush to keep at least one of his political promises.

[Jutboy]

563. Done

and Done

[Caution]

564. Sent and Published

Salem News (Salem, MA)

Lead editorial (they even threw in a picture of Rove).

[Nothing Without Hope]

565. Drat! The first task and my computer went down for a week.

We're over the deadline, but could I do it this coming week instead and still have it "count"? I just got back online with my repaired computer.

[motely36]

566. I've been on vacation

But, I looked through the Letters to the Editor online for my local paper and saw nothing relating to this, so I went ahead and sent a letter.

[McCamy Taylor]

567. Ahead of you! My letter was published last week Fort Wort Paper

The angle is a little different because I wrote this before your request. Also, I wanted it published, and I knew they would publish anything about a jailed reporter (duh, its a newspaper). Cant write another until August.

Here it is:

"At first glance, reporters Matthew Cooper and Judith Miller seem to be right to refuse to reveal their sources to special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald in the matter of who outed CIA agent Valerie Plame, apparently to discredit her husband. Reporters have gone to jail before to protect their sources and have been lauded as heroes.

"But this case is a bit different from those in which journalists have protected whistle-blowers. Cooper and Miller seem to have been skirting the law. If not for their actions (although Miller never wrote a story based on the source's information) and those of columnist Robert Novak, the United States would have one more undercover intelligence agent working in the field of weapons proliferation.

"Then, there's the matter of national security. If their source was willing to weaken the United States in its war against terror in order to silence critics of the war against Iraq, what other actions might the source take, and do we really want someone like that in a position of power in Washington?

"There's also the possibility that Cooper and Miller aren't trying to protect their source out of any sense of journalistic idealism. Maybe they're afraid to reveal the name of this powerful and ruthless individual -- so afraid that incarceration seems preferable.

"Do we really want leaders in Washington who would allow reporters to go to jail to cover up for their crimes?"

[MadJohnShaft]

568. Done to Chicago Trib n/t

[ebayfool]

569. Come dance w/me & celebrate! Anything but disco or line dancing, LOL!

They called today, it's going in!


My first to actually get published! Sure wish I had a different DU name now, though - screwed up when I signed up w/my real name. Red county, mean peoples here! Way too close to freeper central in Fresno, but it's going in!

[kaya33]

570. Published in the Baltimore Sun!

My first try at writing an editorial, and I was published. Thank you for this site, and the Activist headquarters. I feel like I have found such a great outlet for my frustration. Sure beats yelling at my TV when the president and his village idiots come on.
Thanks to EVERYONE out there who wrote their letters. We all deserve applause...a good start!

[MelissaB]

571. Welcome to DU, kaya33!

:hi: Way to go!

[ebayfool]

574. Welcome to DU, kaya33! An auspicious beginning as a DUer, I'd say!

[kaya33]

579. Thanks to EVERYONE who is so welcoming!

I could not agree more- there could not be a better time to join than now!! Things work in strange ways, I was turned on by a friend, and found this amazing forum! I have been waiting a lomg time and have so much energy to give to fight this fight. So happy to meet like minded people.
Woo-Hoo!

[MelissaB]

572. I just got the call, too.

It's also my first. :toast:

[ebayfool]

573. Pretty cool, huh! I wrote 2 on the subject but forgot to ask which one

they were using ... so much to include, so little column space, LOL!

[Piedras]

575. Add to DU Media Blaster

Here's an idea to increase our voice. Add local newspaper's, radio station's, and TV station's contact information to the DU Campaign Underground.

We each know the major, and smaller, media sources in our areas. Use the Campaign Underground link on the front page to go to your state and see what media in your area are missing. Then help out to add them.

I added several ones in California yesterday

snip>>>

Welcome to Campaign Underground, a collaborative effort by the administrators and members of Democratic Underground. We hope that this site will become a useful tool to help Democrats across the country become better informed and more involved in political activism.

NEW ON CU:

Local Media Blaster
Contact local media quickly and easily with our Local Media Blaster. Easily send feedback or letters to the editor to TV, radio, and newspapers all over your state!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Add local media outlets to our database. Visit the media page from your state, and look for the link that says "Click here to add another media outlet."

Report errors.
Our website is maintained entirely by volunteers. We need your help to keep our data up to date. Look for the "Report Error" link to submit changes.

end snip<<<

[rabid_nerd]

576. FWIW

A news story about my blog will soon be printed, and my blog rips Rove soundly.

[Donna Zen]

577. Portland Press Herald (Maine)

To the editor:

All Americans want what is best for our country. A primary source of our national security rests in our ability to know what trouble is brewing beyond our shores; for that we rely on CIA. Those who accept the responsibility of dangerous missions must remain anonymous if they are to succeed, and for their personal safety. The laws addressing the criminality of revealing names of those operatives are necessary and just.

The administration’s orchestrated smoke blowing meant to convince Americans that this is somehow about Mr. Wilson, is just that: smoke. What this is really about is “fixing” the intelligence information to meet the needs of those who were determined to go to war. What this is really about is punishing someone who spoke truth to power. What this is really about is putting a political agenda before the safety and credibility of America. And that, once the smoke clears, is really not a complicated issue.

Karl Rove and other leakers, put their partisan politics above the laws and security of this country. The question now is should they remain on our payroll? To that, there is only one answer. However Rove leaves, by firing or resignation, the outcome remains the same: he must go.

In a nation devoted to the “rule of law,” it is up to the courts to decide the degree to which action must be taken. Nevertheless, determining that Karl Rove needs to be taken off the public payroll is easy.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Holding this to 250 words is "hard work!" POV: an informed patriot.

[norml]

578. Here's mine printed in The Lincoln Journal.

‘They' say a lot of things

The GOP talking points say Valerie Plame, the wife of Joseph Wilson, was not covert, when in fact she was.

They say Karl Rove didn't leak her name, when in fact her name was not the secret, her identity was, and that's what Karl Rove leaked.

They claim Karl Rove didn't know Valerie Plame was covert, so why doesn't he state this for the record?

They say the Butler Report vindicated President Bush's State of the Union claim of Saddam seeking uranium in Africa, when in fact the Butler Report was a whitewash intended to exonerate Tony Blair and George Bush by excluding information which showed such Saddam-seeking-uranium claims to be false.

They claim Karl Rove isn't a target of Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation, when in fact he is a subject of the investigation.

They say the White House and the GOP can't comment because of the ongoing investigation, when in fact they felt free to call the questions regarding Rove and his role "totally ridiculous" until the latest story broke.

They say a lot of things, all of them lies, and when they run out of lies, all they have to say is "no comment."

http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2005/07/21/letters/doc42def402314d1601889049.txt

[rg302200]

580. Done

I sent mine to the Akron Beacon Journal! Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Dear Editor,

Say what you want about Karl Rove but we know one thing is for sure, he is the Benedict Arnold of our time. The bottom line is he abused his power to discredit a critic of the Bush Iraq policy for political reasons.
We know that he revealed the identity of an undercover CIA agent to reporters Matt Cooper of Time and Robert Novak of CNN. That in turn hurts our national security and breaks the trust the American people have with the government.
We need accountability from our President, not more lies and half-truths. Bush already lied about WMD’s and he didn't keep his promise when he failed to capture Osama Bin Laden. So let’s see if he will keep his word and fire those individuals who broke the law. If Bush fails to do so it will mean just another lie and broken promise to the American people.

[ticapnews]

581. **PUBLISHED** Portland (ME) Press Herald

July 22, 2005

My letter was published in the Friday edition of the PPH. Unfortunately the paper didn't update the entries on the web site, so the letters from Thursday are still there.

One of the editors, MD Harmon, coincidentally wrote a column about the Rove case today, where he once again accuses the loony left of going after good people like President Bush and Karl Rove. I had 238 words to make my case; he had six columns, above the fold which took up nearly half the page. Nothing like equal time :P He also told outright lies, but what else do we expect from the wrong wing apologists?

[loveandlight]

582. Letter printed in local paper

When I sent out my letter on this first task, I sent it to a local weekly that gets published on the Jersey shore. They didn't get it in that first week, but are publishing it this week!! I am excited, most of the letters to the editor are local stuff, so I was glad to see they would put it in anyway.