Important talking point Re: Bush/Plame Leak

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

Freeper talking point: "The President can declassify any information he wants as Commander-in-Chief!"

Technically speaking, he has the power. HOWEVER, there would only be one reason to declassify the information that Joseph Wilson's wife was a covert CIA agent at that particular time and that would be for personal political gain. In other words, that's an egregious abuse of power right there.

If it was declassified, why was there any need for an investigation? Why did Bush have a news conference pretending not to know who leaked the information if it was perfectly legal to leak in the first place? Why wouldn't he just hold up the document saying "it's not classified" and end the whole ordeal?

Of course, the information was NOT declassified because though he had the authority to declassify it, that would constitute an abuse of power, which is an impeachable offense. Essentially, he'd have been signing his own death warrant to sign a document officially declassifying that information. Therefore, it was not declassified, the leak was not legal, and that's why it's always the cover-up that puts you into jail!

[brentspeak]

1. This particular leak apparently isn't the Plame leak

Some other kind of information. Nevertheless, a president is arrogantly exceeding his executive privilege to blithely declassify information not classified by the Executive Office. And Bush by nature is extremely arrogant.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. It's not Plame leak... for now...

But the handwriting is on the wall. It's coming - you can count on that.

[IsItJustMe]

4. I think what is being said is that the chimp gave a general authorization

to Chainy to leak information that would bolster his plan to go to war with Iraq. Chainy in turn told Libby this and Libby acted.

[IsItJustMe]

3. You can put lip stick on a pig and dress it up. But it's still a pig. It

simply is what it is. But then again, I guess you can argue anything until you are blue in the face. But that still don't mean it's true.

[Debi]

5. Why all this investigation and cover-up if Bush knew he gave

permission to out Plame? Why not just say "I told him to, now I gotta go on vacation, go away".

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. That's exactly what I'm saying

I don't think he declassified it at all.

[Debi]

7. He wasted taxpayer money and time when he was the leaker all along

Where is the outrage?????? :grr:

[Supersedeas]

8. Essentially the Freeps are saying the President has the power to conduct

Executive Political Dirty Tricks campaigns.

One of the perks of the office, ya know. The Media will swallow it hook line and sinker.