"What if the President or the Vice-President told Rove to leak the name?"

[kentuck]

This was a question posed by Don Imus to Wall St journalist reporter, Andrea Mitchell, this morning. Her response was shocking. "Can you say impeachment?", she asked. Coming from such an establishment figure as Andrea Mitchell, this was quite an eye-opener, in my opinion.

[pgh_dem]

1. just for accuracy, she said 'how do you spell impeachment?' but the point

is the same. Thanks for posting this.

[indepat]

15. Andrea surely know ain't no House Repugs every gonna vote for impeachment

of a Repug president or vice-president ever, under any circumstances, at least not more than one or two.

[pgh_dem]

26. Guess the point is that it would be an impeachable offense...

Remember you have to be 'convicted' in an impeachment.

And, just like Nixon, * may resign rather than face it.

The Repubs didn't vote on it, but they let Nixon know that they would...that's when Nixon packed it in 'for the good of the country' :puke:

[LeftNYC]

2. Isnt she married to a right winger? nt.

[adarling]

3. especially since her husband is Alan Greenspan

I have felt she has edited herself in the past partly because of this. But it seems they are all starting to come out of their shell of safety in standing up to the administration. I am very surprised by how dedicated David Gregory has been at questioning scotty boy. NBC seems to be making a turn around...which i say good for them. The today show was awesome as well, they had Wilson on their blasting the WH and Rove

[whatever4]

4. I think it's more like Rove told THEM. Not their idea, but complicit

I sure hope that concern gets enough attention. But, as with all "conspiracy theories", chances are it will be laughed out of public attention.

NO, they'd never do that. That would be wrong...

[bklyncowgirl]

5. I've always believed that Bush and/or Cheney ordered the leak

I could even see Bush and Rove giggling like a couple of nasty little schoolgirls over it.

The person who thought this up was incredibly arrogant, nasty little SOB and none to bright to boot.

Sound like anyone we know?

[tenshi816]

16. Me too, especially the Dumbass.

I can just picture his little smirk and giggle while his beady eyes light up with glee. Considering we've been hearing for years what a petty and mean-spirited man * is, and how angry he gets when he doesn't get his way, and how spoiled he's been his entire life, I'd be more surprised if he didn't turn out to be involved.

[kliljedahl]

6. What do you mean "What if"?

In my opinion that's what the cover up is about, & hopefully the conclusion that Fitzgerald will come to. Why else are they spinning this so hard?




Keith’s Barbeque Central

[smoogatz]

7. I'm guessing this goes straight to Cheney

Cheney's been throwing his weight around at the CIA since Bushco seized power, and Wilson's report was a direct shot across his bow. I think Cheney's up to his ears in this. I wonder, too, if Rove hasn't at some point said something like: "if I go to Leavenworth, all y'all motherfuckers go to Leavenworth." That might account for the current state of panic surrounding the White House.

[jmcon007]

8. Naw, this has that putrid smell of Rove and how he thinks.

I believe 'Boy Genius' is morphing into a huge albatross.

[GracieM]

9. I don't have many doubts

That Bush or Cheney or both gave the order. I have serious doubts that it will ever be proven unless Rove turns on em...

[Jack Rabbit]

10. That's easy

1. The grand jury indicts him.
2. The House of Representatives impeaches him.
3. The Senate convicts him and removes him from office.

Contrary to constitutional myth, there is no reason a sitting president cannot be indicted and made to stand trial for a crime if a prosecutor has presented evidence to a grand jury that warrants it.

[Norquist Nemesis]

14. Well, unless they throw out the whole bunch

We just might end up with Dennis Hastert or Ted Stevens as POTUS. Or the first black woman ever--unelected of course--Condoleeza Rice.

[Jack Rabbit]

17. If Bush and Cheney were to both leave for any reason

If Bush and Cheney were to both leave for any reason this instant, Dennis Hastert, the speaker of the House would become president.

If this drags out to 2007, it is possible that Nancy Pelosi will become president.

[ronnykmarshall]

25. I love Nancy ....

but I don't think 'murica would be ready for her to be president.

If Smirky and Snarly got thrown out before a possible Democratic take over of the House, Hastert would serve as caretaker president.

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. Bush doesn't deal in details

Unless it's something he can memorize and recite by rote, he plays the role of One Minute Manager. That's probably why those around him are soooo loyal.

I did hear yesterday someone commenting (Gergen, maybe?) that if someone were about to tell Bush and he said "Don't tell me, I don't want to know" that he would still have a problem; It doesn't excuse him from culpability. He IS the top guy, afterall.

[BeFree]

19. Good presidential advice

"The buck stops here". Truman

Mr. *, live up to the historic precedence of your office and accept responsibility for your administration's actions. To do anything less is non-conducive to the democracy the world envisions.

Make your small sacrifice for our nation and its future. Admit you have subverted the grand American idea of Liberty and Justice for All.

The Liberty you save just might be your own, and would shine a beacon of light across the world, showing, once again, the promise of our unique American democracy. All we ask is that you lead us.

[Double T]

12. The White House Will Not Be Able To Spin Their Way Out Of This.....

blunder regardless of what they do. Rove, Bush and others may be removed from office for their vicious, vindictive behavior.

[Boo Boo]

13. I'll put my money on Cheney, but I wouldn't be surprised if Bush knew. /nt

[mattclearing]

18. Well if Greenspan's wife is willing to say the "I" word...

That in itself seems to portend ill for the administration.

[peacetalksforall]

20. Cheney has the most to gain or lose with the Wilson's. Bush goes

along for the ride and the perks.

. Plame was investigating nuclear and wmd trafficking.
. Cheney had an involvement in nuclear and wmd trafficking.
. He may have been trying to shut down the operation she was involved in. (Search "cheney khan pakistan pentagon')
. He was part of the effort to start a war
. He was part of an effort to fix the reasons for the war
. He was supposed to have made several trips to the CIA about the war
. Someone higher up than Bush in strategizing had to make the decision to keep the yellowcake accusation in the SOTU speech.

It could have been that those on AF1 going to Africa went ahead and blindly made the decision to out Plame without checking lawyers or Gonzales.
But, it could have all been plotted out the AF1 trip and blessed by lawyers.
Or it could have been Bush having a revenge moment and demanding that they out her.

[ladeuxiemevoiture]

21. Bush wouldn't do that.

It's an old political axiom that you keep your nose clean and leave the nitty gritty to underlings. The elder Daley was a master at that.

[LizW]

22. They never would have told him to leak the name.

Rove is where he is because he can do this kind of dirty stuff on his on. He has a long history of coming up with this stuff and executing it without (usually) leaving a trail.

Frankly, I'm really surprised that he got caught making the calls himself. I would have thought he would distance himself from the actual leak by at least one degree of separation. But may being above the law for all these years has made him arrogant and careless.

I'm not saying that Bush and Cheney shouldn't be held responsible for the corruption and criminality in the WH, they are and they should. But remember Iran Contra and how Bush I was able to shield himself from that. These people learn from what works, and they get better at what they do.

I have no doubt that at least Cheney knew exactly what was going on, especially since it was his chief of staff Libby, and not Rove, who initiated the "work-up" on the Wilsons. But proving it will be tough.

Like an organized crime family, the lower guys will never squeal on the bosses, they'll just do their time. In their world a criminal conviction and jail time doesn't end a career (look at all the ones who are back after Watergate and Iran-Contra), but ratting out a big boss and getting him taken down most certainly does.

[kentuck]

23. What if they only knew about but kep silent...?

Are they guilty of covering up a crime or obstructing justice?

[hayu_lol]

24. More like some sort of Conspiracy...nt