I know I'm going to get yelled at but Novak: Armitage did NOT tell all

[cal04]

from Drudge:NOVAK: ARMITAGE DID NOT TELL ALL
"When Richard Armitage finally acknowledged last week he was my source three years ago in revealing Valerie Plame Wilson as a CIA employee, the former deputy secretary of state's interviews obscured what he really did," Bob Novak claims in a column set for Thursday release.

Novak, attempting to set the record straight, writes: "First, Armitage did not, as he now indicates, merely pass on something he had heard and that he 'thought' might be so. Rather, he identified to me the CIA division where Mrs. Wilson worked, and said flatly that she recommended the mission to Niger by her husband, former Amb. Joseph Wilson. Second, Armitage did not slip me this information as idle chitchat, as he now suggests. He made clear he considered it especially suited for my column."

Novak slams Armitage for holding back all this time.

Armitage's silence for "two and one-half years caused intense pain for his colleagues in government and enabled partisan Democrats in Congress to falsely accuse Rove of being my primary source," Novak explains.

"When Armitage now says he was mute because of special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's request, that does not explain his silent three months between his claimed first realization that he was the source and Fitzgerald's appointment on Dec. 30. Armitage's tardy self-disclosure is tainted because it is deceptive."
http://www.drudgereport.com/flash9.htm

[C_U_L8R]

1. Swiftboating Armitage?

Guess he didn't kiss enough ass

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. How does Novak saying this help him? What's his angle?

I won't even entertain a "journalistic ethics" angle. He must be trying to slam Armitage harder, dump more guild on him, to accomplish something.
What?

[displacedtexan]

3. Pic: Armitage protects Rove

[Hugin]

4. Sorry, I will never believe a word Novak says.

About anything anywhere anytime.

A nice fresh open investigation is what is called for and maybe some time
in a cool cell will clear Novak's mind.

Yick, Drudge. :puke:

[Jeanette in FL]

5. Poor freepers don't know who to be mad at

Perusing the freeper site, I came across this article that is in the developing stage.

The poor freepers just don't know who to be mad at over this.

The range from "Armitage is a traitor to the Bush administration" to "I knew it was Powell and his cronies" to "Novak should have spilled his guts immediately to avoid the Rove speculation and Libby indictment" to "McCain has hired on Armitage to explore presidential bid, traitor".

That site can be quite humorous at times.

[dogday]

6. So Novack knew all along and said nothing? nt

[ShortnFiery]

7. From Rove's FAX machine directly to Matt Drudge's Web Site ...

Drudge's only function is to serve his beloved KKKarl Rove and the blessed RNC crones like Melhmann. That is, any time Rove wishes to send forth another *turd blossom* (trial balloon) of lies and personal character smears, Matt Drudge (and his website) is always given the first scoop, i.e., remember what made him famous? = Monica's stain on the infamous Blue Dress.

PLEASE DO CONSIDER not supporting Drudge's smarmy RNC site. That is, it serves no use to report "his reported smears" UNLESS you have corroboration from a somewhat reputable second source? Hell, even The disgusting Washington Times would do. Why? Because most of the crap posted on Drudge's site consist of bald face lies and innuendo, i.e., Rove-Co rumors and other sundried RNC Propaganda. :(

I've said it before and will say it again:

Every time you click on The Drudge Reports' hyperlink, a Rovarian Angel FROM HELL gets it's wings. :wow: :evilgrin: :P

[Hugin]

9. True enough...

It's obviously more of the white(sheet) wash.

[Richard Steele]

10. True that.

[Catherine Vincent]

11. Yes, when you think of the stain of that blue dress, ya think of Drudge.

That's what put his website at the top. At least for a while.

[ShortnFiery]

12. Exactly!

And given the fact that, with rare exception, the only time I hear The Drudge (Pseudo) Report quoted on a somewhat regular basis - is on some "Fascist Fridays with Brian Lamb" Washington Journal C-SPAN segments. :shrug:

It's an old joke, but oh so true - If we keep passing on BOGUS information within sites that promote "gossip" and "whisper champaign stories" for the RNC, WE ALL may find ourselves wearing "The Blue Dress" come election day. :blush: :hi:

[Hugin]

13. If one watches the news enough...

One will notice the 'RW spin entry points'.

Fox News. (If the trail begins there... You can bet it's BS.)
Drudge.
Novak.

I'm sure a more astute student than I could point out more.

[Bonhomme Richard]

8. Armitage roll is to play the well meaning..............

honest schmuck and he plays it well. In an interview I saw He was so sorry and said he doesn't need a lawyer because he deserves what's coming to him. He had no intention of doing anything wrong and it was a slip of the tongue.
He has been playing the well intentioned doofus for years.
What CRAP.

[glitch]

16. That they would have Armitage do this tells me lil boots is in trouble.

Armitage has been a bush family faithful for a long time hasn't he?

[BR_Parkway]

14. Novak can't let anything contradict his testimony to the GJ - he swore he

told the truth - and can't have anyone look at that in case he is protecting Rove, et al by claiming all info came from Armitage.

[yodermon]

15. OF COURSE we should not believe Novak at face value.

The more important question is, how does this "throw-armitage-under-the-bus" narrative help bushco?

If Armitage is painted as the primary leaker and thus the scapegoat, AND we know that Fitz cleared him already, then the public opinion will be poisoned against any further indictments (or at least such is the plan).

I mean, if Novak's statements are true ("Rather, he identified to me the CIA division where Mrs. Wilson worked, and said flatly that she recommended the mission to Niger by her husband, former Amb. Joseph Wilson.") -- I mean that's about as guilty as you can get in terms of premeditated leaking of a covert operative's identity. And yet Fitz cleared him? Something's fishy.

[mikelgb]

17. Armitage == Fall Guy

[DemReadingDU]

18. Spin, spin. Something is going on

All this diversion about Armitage leads me to believe there is something else they don't want us to find out about.