Rove, "Bush's brain" tumor, will likely face multiple charges.

[skip fox]

After we learned on Friday that there were 11 contacts, and we realize that there were at least 3 initial sources (Liddy, Rove, and the source who refused to specifically release Miller), we realize that such an operation had to be "coordinated." Then we realize the world master of such coordination about leaking information to hurt a political opponent just happens to be right there in the administration . . . Well, it wouldn't be as hard as rocket science for someone like Rove, but he would have definitely received the tack of coordinating the leaks (making sure no initial source spoke to another initial sources primary contacts, which would seem too eager; being clear that the information be released in a fairly nonchalant manner; rounding up a few administration officials beyond the primary leakers to be ready to confirm the story if a reporter calls; etc.)

Beside leaking, then, he lead a conspiracy to leak. As we learned Friday from Bloomberg that his testimony, as that of Cheney's aide Scooter Libby, is at variance with at the testimony of at least 2 reporters (Novak and Cooper--I hear of one more today, Pincus?) who had no reason to lie. Therefore both of them may well face perjury charges.

And guess who would have coordinated the cover up? Beginning with that stupid story of primary sources hearing Plame's name from reporters (trying to obscure the issue), and the ridiculous story of Plame's identity being well know in the beltway (to which only two reporters claimed knowledge: Novak and GANNON--yes, he's in this story too, probably because Rove thought that the public would believe that if even this unknown reporter heard about it it must be true . . . And doesn't that have Rove's fingerprints all over it???)

Therefore: leaking, leading a conspiracy to leak, perjury, leading a conspiracy to perjure by suborning others' perjury, etc.

And there are, as we we're told on Meet the Press this a.m., there are other laws like a 1917 security act that was broken, a law which made leaks of such information a felony.

There's no way out, not even for this crew, shy of dramatically breaching the constitution with a radical act that this congress, such as it is, will never stand for.

[ElectricHermit]

1. Your Theory

....has several holes in it....one of which is "he said, she said" There has to be a complete investigation into this issue in order for the truth to be known.

[skip fox]

2. explain

How do the reporters have a vested interest in lying to the grand jury??

[MadisonProgressive]

3. Right. "We are in the midst of an ongoing investigation."

Where have I heard that talking point before?

[Straight Shooter]

4. "He said, she said" of this magnitude ends up in court.

At least it ends up in the court of public opinion.

Thanks for the reference to rove, skipfox, I'm going to start calling rove "bush's brain tumor" :7

[cosmik debris]

7. A cancer on the Presidency AGAIN?

I thought we fixed that. I guess it was just in remission.

[IChing]

5. Please point out your "several holes" therories

I'd love to hear your Talking Points

[Bluebear]

6. "We are in the middle of an investigation." Great RW talking point.

Do those come out daily, btw? Always wanted to know.

[BillZBubb]

9. Scotty is that you????

"We can't talk about this ongoing investigation" (unless it is advantageous to us).

[skip fox]

8. Other indications that there is BIG trouble: Republican silence and spin.

As many noted (Franken was great on this) that the tree days prior to the Roberts announcement the spin was hysterical, obviously dissembling/lying (which is dangerous), and rigidly adherent--that is we had the RNC talking points and then we had the pleasure of hearing those talking points verbatim for days after days. When Franken called the RNC about its web-posting of Wilson's statement which supposedly show him lying that the VP sent him to Africa, which Franken showed the RNC spokesperson to be taken out of context of a CNN quote, the answer was "We're sticking by it." They can be easily shown to be "sticking by" a lie.

Why so hysterical? Why so obvious? Well, as one reporter noted, they seem "off their game plan." They were probably hoping to distract the public until the nominee was announced (early, possibly avoiding the first choice since she was not yet thoroughly vetted) and then they felt the story would go away and they would only have to worry about the prosecutor's indictments or report. (It's a HUGE worry, but they'd at least have a few months to try to cushion Rove's fall; maybe they were just trying to get as much mileage out of his service before his retirement was inevitable; or perhaps they felt a pardon would not be as controversial if it happened after the PlameGate story had cooled.)

Of course the distractions didn't work because of the nature of the case and because of grand jury testimony leaks, leaks which all seem to tighten the noose about Rove's neck.

But now another sign: silence. Story is not on Drudge and rarely on Fox. Few RW blogs are treating it, etc.

Why? Well, that's a bit obvious.