My theory on who leaked the emails to Newsweek

[lancdem]

1) It's not the prosecutor's office, because Fitzgerald runs a tight ship with zero leaks.
2) It's not Time, because why would Time give that info to a competitor?
3) I think it might be the WH as a kind of preemptive strike in advance of indictments. The article is full of WH spin, remember, which could be a preview of arguments they'll try to use.

What does anyone else think?

[cally]

1. Maybe, but I think a Time reporter leaked it

Time chose not to write a story to avoid further legal problems. Some reporter or editor wanted the story out so they called a friend and leaked the story. That's my theory.

[lancdem]

2. You have a point

I know it wasn't the prosecutor, though.

[cally]

6. Fitzgerald is running a tight ship

I don't think he has leaked anything. Makes me furious about Starr all over again.

[DaveT]

3. I like the WH theory.

Cockburn in the latest Nation has some amusing thoughts on how "smoking guns" mature into "old news."

By piecemealing the indivual elements of the big picture of their criminal machinations, when all the pieces are finally put together in the blogosphere and by the handful of sanctioned "liberal" pundits, they can dismiss the whole enchilada as "old news."

This applies, even if -- actually, especially if -- there is an indictment handed down at some point. There will be a minimum of six months between and indictment and a trial, which is an eternity in the political spin business.

When the indictment comes down, the accusers and the prosecutors all come under fierce attack, while the various incriminating facts dribble out. By the time of the acquittal or pardon, it will all be "old news" -- like the criminal records of North and Poindexter.

[Zen Democrat]

4. Perhaps Cooper himself?

[peacetalksforall]

5. I don't think there is any difference between Time and Newsweek.

When you are both part of the right wing army, why try to pretend to be competitors behind the scenes. Ever notice how Rather was always on the Larry King show. They even had an employee of one network host for another.

They pretend that they are separate corporations...

but Time is aligned with CNN and -
Newsweek is aligned with NBC

and we know there is no difference between FOX, CNN, ABC, the NBCs, and to CBS - except perhaps in the hilarity of their court jesters (with all due sarcasm).

Time- Newsweek - no difference.
Networks - no difference.
NYT - Wash Post - no difference.

They are all of the Media battalion against us.

[txindy]

7. Plame's fellow operatives?

I think they may be a bit ticked at Rove.

[Pallas180]

8. Rove's lawyer is the one doing all the talking...spin it first - amazing

the talk shows dont have him on yet....

[FormerRepublican]

10. And he keeps getting caught out in lies ...

Next thing you know, he'll be up before a disbarment committee for lying so much for his client.

[Pallas180]

11. doubtful, he's just repeating what his client has told him - ahem. n/t

.

[Garbo 2004]

9. Would the WH have internal Time mag email? That's what was given to NW:

email from within the Time mag organization, from Cooper to his bureau chief. From the NW article:

"It was 11:07 on a Friday morning, July 11, 2003, and Time magazine correspondent Matt Cooper was tapping out an e-mail to his bureau chief, Michael Duffy...

...NEWSWEEK obtained a copy of the e-mail that Cooper sent his bureau chief after speaking to Rove. (The e-mail was authenticated by a source intimately familiar with Time's editorial handling of the Wilson story, but who has asked not to be identified because of the magazine's corporate decision not to disclose its contents.)" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8525978/site/newsweek/

So #3 on your list is out. And increases the probability that someone within the Time organization turned them over (unless Fitzgerald's office leaks docs which I suspect in this matter is unlikely).