# Did Karl Rove out the CIA Agent? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 2, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791 "2005-07-02T03:04:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/341 "2005-07-12T15:04:11Z")
Now the press is [**Hounding** the President:](http://www.newsreview.info/article/20050712/NEWS/50712001) > [@](#): > > President Bush, at an Oval Office photo opportunity Tuesday, was asked directly whether he would fire Rove — in keeping with a pledge in June, 2004, to dismiss any leakers in the case. The president did not respond. ---
**Author:** ![JimSox5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JimSox5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimSox5)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/342 "2005-07-12T15:12:23Z")
Everything I’m seeing still seems to revolve around “I didn’t say/know her name!” Awfully flimsy, though the way this administration has seemingly avoided all the WMD talk, they’ll probably find a way to wiggle out of this one. But God I hope not. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/343 "2005-07-12T17:08:16Z")
Republican Talking Points are Out: [RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman Statement on the Partisan Attack on Karl Rove](http://press.arrivenet.com/pol/article.php/667255.html) > [@](#): > > “It’s disappointing that once again, so many Democrat leaders are taking their political cues from the far-left, Moveon wing of the party. The bottom line is Karl Rove was discouraging a reporter from writing a false story based on a false premise and the Democrats are engaging in blatant partisan political attacks.” There’s More: • Cooper’s Own Email Claims Rove Warned of Potential Inaccuracies In Wilson Information • Wilson Denied His Wife Suggested He Travel To Niger, But Documentation Showed She Proposed His Name • Wilson’s Report On Niger Had “Thin” Evidence And Did Not Change Conclusions Of Analysts And Other Reports • Sens. Roberts, Bond And Hatch All Dismissed Wilson’s Claims • Wilson Tied To The 2004 Kerry Campaign For President I don’t see anything about how sometimes you have to burn an agent for Freedom, and the Good of the Nation. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/344 "2005-07-12T17:12:38Z")
Sickening. Just sickening. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/345 "2005-07-12T17:21:20Z")
It really is getting ridiculous out there. Via Atrios, we have this yesterday from confirmed wanker Jon Podhoretz: > [@](#): > > But Plame’s undercover status at the time was and is a little questionable in any case. How undercover could she have been when her name was published at the time as part of Joseph Wilson’s own biography online (see [cpsag.com/our\_team/wilson.html](http://cpsag.com/our_team/wilson.html))? Uh, it was not classified information that Joe Wilson had a wife named Valerie Plame. It was classified information that she was a CIA operative. Being undercover doesn’t meant that no one knows you exist. (Indeed, this pretty much proves that anyone with access to Google would have been able to attach a name to “Joe Wilson’s wife”.) All I really want at this point–aside from Rove’s firing and imprisonment for treason and severe punishment of everyone who helped him cover it up, that is–is for some Bush supporters to say, “Wow, this administration really is horribly corrupt, willing to do harm to national security for slight political gain. And the pundits and GOP leaders really are willing to latch on to any scrap of an argument to justify the administration’s actions, no matter how ridiculous. Maybe voting for this crew was a mistake, and maybe all those things they said about Kerry and the Democrats were overboard.” Not holding my breath. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/346 "2005-07-12T18:12:00Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Merijeek, would you agree with me if I were to say that Rush Limbaugh is not only an appalling hypocrite but that he is also a damn liar? I won’t listen to him anymore. He is a boil on the ass lips of humanity. Woah…don’t go insulting me like that. 😉 I no way to I listen to that windbag voluntarily. I just spend a lot of time driving, and some of that driving time is spent with my boss. Since he’s one of those “Thank Gawd Dubya is saving us from the Libruls, Terrorists, and Faggots” I get to hear the likes of Limbaugh, Hannitty, and Ingram quite often. There’s nothing voluntary in it, I assure you. Unless the idea of voluntary listening translates to “unwilling to jam knitting needles in my ears”. In that case I’m guilty. -Joe, two ears - fully functional ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/347 "2005-07-12T18:15:26Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > Sometime maybe. It’d mean monitoring his show and recording it so I can generate a transcript. I’m not in a hurry. If you know where I can access ready-made transcripts for free, that’d speed things up. Right. I’ll take that as your admitting you can’t do it. You think you’d be able to find it on [www.howthosepussyliberalsoverreacttorush.com](http://www.howthosepussyliberalsoverreacttorush.com) or something. Then again, here’s some MP3s for you. [Oxycontin Addict’s Website Here](http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/menu/mp3s.guest.html) Let me know when you’ve got your examples. After all, they’re sooooo common. -Joe, sooooo uncommon ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/348 "2005-07-12T19:11:28Z")
> [@RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman](#): > > “It’s disappointing that once again, so many Democrat leaders are taking their political cues from the far-left, Moveon wing of the party. The bottom line is Karl Rove was discouraging a reporter from writing a false story based on a false premise and the Democrats are engaging in blatant partisan political attacks.” Good lord! You are showing to the world that the mainstream media is your bitch and now you are saying that the alternative media has to be ignored?! Up yours!! ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/349 "2005-07-12T19:21:16Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > All I really want at this point–aside from Rove’s firing and imprisonment for treason and severe punishment of everyone who helped him cover it up, that is–is for some Bush supporters to say, “Wow, this administration really is horribly corrupt, willing to do harm to national security for slight political gain. And the pundits and GOP leaders really are willing to latch on to any scrap of an argument to justify the administration’s actions, no matter how ridiculous. Maybe voting for this crew was a mistake, and maybe all those things they said about Kerry and the Democrats were overboard.” If they were that insightful, they wouldn’t be Bush supporters to begin with. May as well ask a flea to write a disseration on nuclear (noo-clee-ar) physics while you’re at it. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/350 "2005-07-12T19:23:53Z")
Aw, come on, there were a number of posters last fall who’d admitted to voting for Bush in 2000 but had come to realize their mistake since. I admit I haven’t seen any since the election, though. It’s easy to allow yourself to get so scared you can’t think straight. It has nothing to do with insight or intelligence or good faith. It’s just human nature. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/351 "2005-07-12T19:34:27Z")
The first problem with Mehlman’s statement is that Wilson was right. The documents that were the supposed evidence for Saddam’s attempt to buy Uranium from Niger were forgeries. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/352 "2005-07-12T19:41:06Z")
“What did you know, Mr. President, and when did you know it?” That’s the question they need to be asking. "When did you know, Mr. President, that Karl Rove was the leak? Did you just find out last week that one of your closest advisors has been lying to you on a matter of national security for the past two years, when it was reported in the media? Or have you known that for the last two years, and have been reneging on your promise ever since? “What did you know, Mr. President, and when did you know it?” Daniel ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/353 "2005-07-12T19:41:31Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > Right. I’ll take that as your admitting you can’t do it. If that’s your level of proof, then I guess the case is closed for you. > [@Merijeek](#): > > You think you’d be able to find it on [www.howthosepussyliberalsoverreacttorush.com](http://www.howthosepussyliberalsoverreacttorush.com) or something. This link doesn’t work for me. [QUOTE=Merijeek] Then again, here’s some MP3s for you. [Oxycontin Addict’s Website Here](http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/menu/mp3s.guest.html) There’s only one thing here that shows up as link for me. When I click it I get Access Denied You don’t have permission to access “[http://download.premiereradio.net/rushlimb/070904\_12\_karina.mp3](http://download.premiereradio.net/rushlimb/070904_12_karina.mp3)” on this server. However, getting the audio’s only part of the issue. As I emntioned before, I could rip my own recordings. It’s the generation of transcripts that has moved the affair so far down my priority list. I think that if one subscribes to Rush’s site, you can even get access to tracripts. I’m just not ready to fork over the cash. I’m sorry that my Straussian reading of Rush’s broadcasts have so upset you. I never intended to hurt your feelings. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/354 "2005-07-12T19:57:37Z")
And this just in [http://news.yahoo.com/fc/World/Media\_Watch](http://news.yahoo.com/fc/World/Media_Watch) > [@](#): > > After two days of questions, the White House said Tuesday that President Bush continues to have confidence in Karl Rove… Well, that’s it, isn’t it? Nothing more to see here, you looky-loos, move along. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/355 "2005-07-12T20:16:17Z")
[Here’s McClellan’s July 12 Press briefing](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050712-4.html) > [@](#): > > Q But is Karl Rove an impediment now, with all this attention distracting from that push on your agenda? > > MR. McCLELLAN: Everybody who is working here is helping us to advance the agenda, and that includes Karl in a very big way. > > Q Has he apologized to you for telling you he is not involved? > > MR. McCLELLAN: Helen, I’m not going to get into any private discussions. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/356 "2005-07-12T20:19:48Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > [Here’s McClellan’s July 12 Press briefing](http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/07/20050712-4.html) What would we do without Helen Thomas? I’m dead serious. The only reporter who hasn’t rolled over and showed the White House her belly (disturbing as that image may be)… ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/357 "2005-07-12T20:21:29Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > What would we do without Helen Thomas? I’m dead serious. The only reporter who hasn’t rolled over and showed the White House her belly (disturbing as that image may be)… Make that “the only reporter _in the White House Press Corps_” etc. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/358 "2005-07-12T22:30:47Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > I think that if one subscribes to Rush’s site, you can even get access to tracripts. I’m just not ready to fork over the cash. > > I’m sorry that my Straussian reading of Rush’s broadcasts have so upset you. I never intended to hurt your feelings. Right. Your laziness and lack of evidence is my problem. Whatever. Have a nice day. Just do your best to skip repeating your false assertions please. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/359 "2005-07-12T23:40:44Z")
After the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Ken Mehlman, released his Rove talking points this morning (see post #343) he went on air with Wolf Blitzer at CNN. When questioned closely about the Plame affair, Mehlman retreated behind the same ‘noble sentiment’ as the white house: > [@](#): > > BLITZER: As far as you know, are other White House officials being investigated right now as a potential source for this leak? > > MEHLMAN: I don’t know the answer to that question. And the fact is, I think, unlike folks that are trying to smear Karl Rove, **I’m not going to comment on a pending investigation. I don’t think it’s appropriate that I do.** [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0507/12/wbr.01.html](http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0507/12/wbr.01.html) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791/360 "2005-07-13T00:50:02Z")
Mehlman, McClellan, Rove, LIMBAUGH, etc can take their “talking points” and choke on them. They will not say anything when directly questioned, but when they have their “prepared points” with them, they won’t shut up. I can already see the spin starting - hysterical Democrats, liberals, freedom haters and Commies are “hounding and persecuting” a “good and righteous” man who is only trying to protect us from all the evil freedom haters. To me, it is getting more and more simple. Justified or not, we are in a state of war (as these great patriots keep telling us). Therefore, to out a covert operative and severely compromise national security is an act of Treason. To attempt to sweep it under the rug, cover it up, or weasel word it away, is conspiracy to commit treason. To fail to act on or investigate the allegations because the guy is your buddy, is part of that conspiracy. How many hanging ropes will we need? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-karl-rove-out-the-cia-agent/310791.md?page=19)