LATimes Op/Ed Piece From James Moore: "Don't Expect The Truth From Karl Rove"

[Hissyspit]

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-moore23mar23,0,3813754.story?coll=la-opinion-center

Don't expect the truth from Karl Rove

Bush's top political aide has built his career on diverting and deceiving; he'd do the same under oath.
By James C. Moore, JAMES C. MOORE co-wrote "Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential" with Wayne Slater.
March 23, 2007

- snip -

Whether Rove chats or testifies, Congress will surely be frustrated. Asking Rove questions is simply not an effective method of ascertaining facts. Reporters who, like me, have dogged the presidential advisor from Texas to Washington quickly learn how skilled he is at dancing around the periphery of issues. Any answers he does deliver can survive a thousand interpretations. Few intellects are as adept at framing, positioning and spinning ideas. That's a great talent for politics. But it's dangerous when dealing with the law.

Rove has testified under oath before investigative bodies twice, and in neither case was the truth well served...

- snip -

"How long have you known an FBI agent by the name of Greg Rampton?" Glasgow asked. Rove paused for a breath. "Ah, senator, it depends — would you define 'know' for me?" Rove, who later vilified President Clinton's request for a definition of "is," clearly had his own linguistic issues. But Glasgow pressed on: "What is your relationship with him?"

- snip -

Rove's memory also made some creative leaps during a pretrial hearing in 1993. Travis County Dist. Atty. Ronnie Earle was preparing to prosecute Rove client Kay Bailey Hutchison, who was the Texas state treasurer. A grand jury had indicted her for allegedly using government phones and computers to raise campaign money. When law enforcement officers raided the treasurer's building to confiscate evidence, reporters documented the whole thing.

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[PDJane]

1. Congress should have the truth.......

But Rove will lie, and under oath. What a slimy piece of work.

[pinto]

2. Beautiful assessment. Kudos, Mr. Moore and LA Times.

[MadHound]

3. Of course Rove will lie under oath, all the more reason to have him under oath

Perjury charges, just like Scooter.

[Hissyspit]

4. Hee, hee. Attorneyscandalsupoenamas? Gonzalesmas?

Hmm, not as catchy as Fitzmas. Help me out here?

[peacetalksforall]

5. I think Rove should have his own hearing - following Gonzales and Miers..

[Straight Shooter]

6. There are too many players involved, too many documents, for Rove to get away with perjury.

Let him lie. As soon as he does, the truth will be shoved down his throat. As Olbermann said, it doesn't make sense that the White House is willing to let everyone else show up and testify first, while bush stonewalls any potential subpoenas coming down the pike. They've missed the chance to get their story out first.

I don't believe Rove is that bright when his self-preservation is on the line. Fitzgerald probably cut a deal with him, somehow, because the margin of error was enough to let Rove skate. But you can bet that Fitzgerald will be consulted to advise on Rove's evasive tactics, and whoever interrogates him will be prepared for whatever crap Rove tries to pull.

Rove will be up against a mighty arsenal of interrogators, not just a couple guys. He'll make mistakes. Count on it.

[Hissyspit]

7. Yeah, a lot more eyes on him and his every word. Including bloggers. n/t