Double Super Secret Background: Karl Rove Scandal

Just watching the 7/29/2005 press briefing from White House press secretary Scott McClellan. His incoherent ramblings combined with his seeming 'at-ease' demeanor indicate a decades-old alcohol dependence. The signs are clear. Reporter asks a question, and instead of answering it, he berates the reporter for asking the wrong question before stumbling into a disjointed tirade repeating the words "president" "American People" "dreams" "growth" "explore" "decision" and "difficult" frequently throughout the 32 minutes of Razzle Dazzle.

At one point, he responded to a reporters question, "Of course you don't want to talk about it," To which the reporter responded, "No, I do, that why I asked the question, here I'll clarify it...", to which McClellan said, "See , I told you so, its so obvious you're not going to talk about the president's dream to explore growth of difficult decisions.. for the American People. You're going to report on it anyway, but you don't want to talk about it... are you going to let me respond? See, nobody wants to talk about this... Its time to move on..." When a foreign reporter asked a question, he chuckled at her accent before telling her she asked the wrong question and repeating the drill. He ended the briefing, "We are getting things done for the American people. Have nice weekend everybody," and stumbled off the stage.

See the Karl Rove / Scott McClellan Drinking Game: http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/archives/2005/07/rb_05_jul_15.html

If we had only one detail to focus on in this whole thing -- and there are lots of them -- I'd have a very hard time choosing. For now, I'm thinking about how perfect an example this is of GOP obedience to their collective 'greater good' as prescribed by their leadership and distrubuted in talking point form. Even as evidence mounts, we see the well-trained talking heads blah blah blahing over and over again the heroism of Rove and poo-pooing the people uncovering the details, indeed the details themselves as 'partisan' attack(ers). As quite different type of partisan myself - way out in left field would acurately describe me, I'm not so bugged at Their ability to move a message as I am kind of intrigued by the political calculatoin they must be making in moving the Rove points

If I were a republican elected, here's what I'd probably think:

Rove delivers votes.

Rove is either going to jail or not. If he gets fired but doesn't go to jail, he still delivers votes.

If I'm critical of Rove, he won't deliver votes.
If I praise Rove and he gets off, he might deliver votes for me.
If I praise Rove and he goes to jail, no loss -- just say "Who knew?" or "He lied!" and then later, after jail, when he gets his a.m. talk show, I can be guest and everything will still work out.
If I'm anyone else - elected or not - this is probably why I'm cynical about politics in general.

David Corn has some interesting things to say about GOP messaging today:

Rove Scandal: Looking for One Outraged GOPer (It Ain't McCain); The Political-Security Gap in Iraq

You know, I enjoy a good dirty trick as much as the next guy. But even I know better than to f with the intelligence. Thats just like shooting yourself in the foot.

ZMag: Rove-Bush Conspiracy Noose Tightens, by Robert Parry

TO be COMPLETELY fair, Democracy Now has been covering this story since it happened. The part about the no WMD, the part about Wilson helping confirm that fact, the part about the high probability of Whitehouse trying to cover that fact up, and the part about the rest of the media seeming to fall asleep while the U.S. government parroted their talking points ad nauseum. Yesterday's program, again, shows all you other broadcasters oughtta be bowing at Amy Goodman's feet because she RULES!

The NOC Program: A Look at Valerie Plame's "Nonofficial Cover" as a CIA Operative

Check out these sites to see what others are saying:

• Latest Karl Rove News from Google
• TIME: What Karl Rove told Time magazine's reporter.
• Bush's Brain
• I Love Karl Rove
• Guardian: Who Is Karl Rove?
• Rotten.com
• CounterPunch
• Rove on the Ropes
• The Helpful Karl Rove Open Thread at Daily Kos

* "This just in: Karl Rove is an asshole," June 24 2005.

I'll be trying to post as many links to the ongoing scandal that many observers think has the potential to make Watergate look miniscule. Contact me with questions, comments, or other info. If you know of a good source, please let me know and I'll put it in here.