Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
Doug Thompson gets it.
In a town where every action demands a reaction, where payback is a bitch and where everyone keeps score, there is a fine line between playing hardball and being just plain dumb and stupid. Looks like Dubya’s boys crossed that line.
[...]
While the gang from Texas may think this is politics as usual, the pros at Langley did not. The CIA, pissed at having the name of one of its operatives revealed in a newspaper column, demanded an investigation from the Justice Department.
[...]
And Dubya’s ever-present Greek Chorus circled the wagons, claiming – as they always do – that is all part of some grand liberal Democratic scheme to embarrass the White House and take back the Presidency in 2004. As usual, they have it wrong... Bush and his boys are capable of doing that all by themselves.
I'll avoid the hairsplitting "Operative vs. Analyst"; Novak said one then changed his tune.
I'll avoid the apologetic "I didn't dig this up" vs "I called and asked"; Novak again demonstrates he can sing in two keys .
However, I will not avoid stating my opinion, in agreement with Mr. Thompson in the above link, that Robert Novak is, was, and ever shall be a stooge.
As in Larry, Curly, and Moe caliber stooge.
But he is a journalist and protected by the first amendment. Let's have some fun laughing at him and then get to work rooting out the cancer at 1600 Pa Ave.
IS Novak a stooge? the guy's been a conservative reporter for what, 40 years? I sense some animosity onthe part of educated, intellectual conservatives towards the Bush administration. I wonder if perhaps he knew exactly what he was doing...
Posted by: roberta at September 30, 2003 09:53 AMMaybe it's a charade to get rid of Rummy and Condi ... maybe it's too take heat off the economy and magic disappearing WMD ... then again maybe the WH strong arm tactics are finally backfiring - and people hear the backfire.
Posted by: Erik Mattheis at September 30, 2003 10:26 AMYou know, even if it is a charade to get rid of Rummy and Condi (although why they need a charade to do this I don't know) I'd still be happy to see the W administration acting different than scientology. So far it has been 'attack, attack, and attack, never defend.'
Novak has actually been pretty critical of the Iraq policy for a conservative journalist. He's backpedaling now because he realizes that he needs to provide some cover for the administration or his sources will dry up and he'll have to go make all new ones.
Or at least, that's how it looks from my speculative perch. Your mileage may vary.
Posted by: apostropher at September 30, 2003 12:30 PMAt this point I'm in the "he's the one who took the bait" camp and it's marvelous to see him squirm. This presupposes that someone in the WH did something EXTREMELY stupid; uncharacteristically stupid (at least for the political wing as opposed to the Foreign Policy wing.) Although I can't imagine a single outcome that doesn't expose gross miscalculation, so that leaves possibilities a'plenty. Scramble for someone else's cover as he might, apostropher, I think his library card at the WH has already been revoked.
Posted by: froz gobo at September 30, 2003 12:47 PM