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July 30, 2005
On Chris Bell
It's not too late for a post on Chris Bell, who declared a couple of days ago that he's in the 2006 race for Governor of Texas. We salute him for jumping in with both feet.
Chris has been gamely traveling the state for months, spreading his message of a New Mainstream for Texas -- a message we think strikes the right tone for a Texas Democrat trying to climb the tough hill of winning statewide.
Given the events (or lack thereof) of the regular, plus two special legislative sessions, and a primary opponent who will pound on him mercilessly for the next 8 months, we firmly believe Governor Rick Perry is vulnerable next year.
Chris is a more than able campaigner -- he is bright, quick, witty, attractive, and a good retail politician. He would match up well, head to head, with Governor Good Hair.
We have one concern -- money. Running in a state with over twenty media markets is a tall and expensive order, in both the primary and general elections. Chris likely will need to raise several million dollars for the primary race alone, and much more than that for a race against Perry.
He hasn't raised much so far, and has very little cash on hand. Over the next few months, he simply must get some serious dollars in the door, and keep them in the bank. Otherwise, this is a no-go.
So, should you be inclined, head on over to his Web site and show him some love.
It's too early to know how the candidate field will shape up, but Chris Bell is certainly a worthy aspirant, and would make a fine Governor.
Posted by houtopia at 03:28 PM
July 29, 2005
Support Paul Hackett
OK, a little late to the party here, but Paul Hackett deserves support running for the 2nd Congressional District in Ohio, and today Texas bloggers are saluting him as an honorary Texan.
This recently returned Iraq War veteran is making a surprisingly strong run in a supposedly safe Republican seat. (It helps that his opponent has all sorts of problems.)
Please take a moment to get involved -- the election is on Tuesday, August 2nd, so there isn't much time to spare.
Posted by houtopia at 09:54 PM
Judith Miller Bizarro Watch
There has been much pulling of hair and gnashing of teeth over the circumstances that recently sent NY Times bigfoot reporter Judith Miller to jail, where she currently sits.
Many on the left decried her incarceration after she failed to reveal her White House source in the ongoing Karl Rove/Valerie Plame investigation that churns onward. Reporters must be protected from being legally compelled to reveal sources, otherwise nobody would blow the whistle, is how the reasoning goes, and it's an absolutely legitimate argument.
Miller's actual involvement in the Plame case is still unclear, though it's tough to imagine a straight shooter like the independent investigator Fitzgerald locking her up without knowledge of something more than we know now.
Perhaps more important is Miller's role as a champion of the now-discredited Iraqi National Congress member Ahmed Chalabi in the run-up to the Iraq War, and as an "embedded" reporter with the U.S. Military's MET Alpha team's fruitless search for Iraqi WMD.
As one reexamines Miller's past and present behavior, the story moves from odd to totally bizarre. Just how deep her involvement goes in the emerging White House scandal is intriguing, to say the least.
Arianna Huffington reminds us of Miller's past in relation to her current predicament. She cites several pieces from Howard Kurtz, the Washington Post's media reporter (always fun to rag on the competition), and a long but utterly fascinating piece from the June 2004 New York Magazine by Franklin Foer -- read it.
What emerges is a driven, megalomaniacal reporter who clearly crossed line after ethical line in her quest to gain access and be first.
More curious is the Times' continued defense of Miller. Outrage at her recent jailing in the name of protecting a source is understandable, but lauding her as a "hero" given her litany of documented transgressions defies belief. So much for "liberal" bias.
Posted by houtopia at 01:11 PM
July 28, 2005
Look to Montana
The always excellent Ruy Teixeira tips us on this article on Democratic resurgence in Montana from the Progressive Frontier. From the rugged Big Sky country come lessons Texas Democrats should take to heart.
Some of those important lessons:
- Find good candidates -- Brian Schweitzer is a big, gregarious,
authentic Montanan. Voters related to him.
- Start early -- After narrowly losing the U.S. Senate race to
incumbent Conrad Burns in 2000, Schweitzer immediately started
campaigning for Governor.
- Communicate with folks -- This is a two-way street, and Schweitzer
succeeded at both listening (he did a statewide listening tour),
and eschewing "wonkish" language in favor of talking like a regular
person.
- Rise above partisanship -- Schweitzer did something radical, he
named a progressive Republican running mate for Lt. Governor.
Obviously, that's not an option in Texas, but to the extent
possible in this politically polarized environment, successful
candidates have broad appeal.
- Fight everywhere -- Particularly a propos, given the recent local
online debate about fielding Democratic candidates in heavily GOP
areas. But in a statewide race, by competing in conservative rural
and suburban Texas, Democratic candidates can cut margin there, in
addition to doing well in urban areas.
- Fight back -- When Schweitzer was attacked below the belt by his
opponent, he struck back immediately.
Turning things around in Texas will be a lengthy process, but looking at Montana's example can and should be instructive as a point of departure.
Posted by houtopia at 11:23 AM
July 26, 2005
Oh So Special
Well, the Texas Legislature's second special session of 2005 has gotten off to a confidence-inspiring start, to say the least.
Today bedlam broke out in the House of Representatives, as HB2, the public school finance measure, went down in flames, making the accompanying tax bill, HB3, moot.
Today was remarkable because Speaker Tom Craddick, who has ruled his GOP rank and file with an iron fist, lost control. Houston Democrat Scott Hochberg offered an amendment increasing school funding, and a number of Republicans broke rank and passed it, including the powerful Appropriations Chair Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie.)
The ball now moves to the Senate's court, where Lt. Governor David Dewhurst faces a range of unpalatable options, all of which require raising revenue in some way. No doubt, the good Lite Guv is dreaming of that U.S. Senate race that might have been, while suffering in Austin.
Meanwhile, the clock ticks on Judge Dietz's ordered closure of the public schools in October. The case is currently on appeal with the Texas Supreme Court. But what's the rush, right?
Perhaps not surprisingly, Governor Perry, who undoubtedly made all the legislators' "most popular" list by calling them back to session while offering no real guidance of his own, is nowhere to be found. He's out there doing the really important business of trying to get reelected -- public schools and taxes can wait.
Once again, the Texas GOP's finest hour. If only they had Democrats to blame. Whatever will they do, now that they're actually expected to govern? Just like President Bush says, it's hard. Leadership in action, ladies and gentlemen.
Posted by houtopia at 10:38 PM
July 25, 2005
Who Needs Energy Independence?
Debate continues in Washington over an energy bill, and once again GOP leaders are treating conservation as a "personal virtue", as the Vice President famously stated during the campaign, and one not worthy of sanctioning by the federal government.
So let's get this straight -- nearly 1,800 brave Americans have lost their lives, with thousands more wounded, in a country we wouldn't set foot in, were it not for its plentiful natural resources. (We'd like to see freedom and democracy in Cuba, Haiti, or Zimbabwe, but inexplicably we don't race to combat there -- wonder why?)
But our own brave Congress, full of so many "patriots", cannot be bothered to mandate even limited use of renewable energy in public utilities, or modest conservation measures?
It's quite simple. National security is fine and dandy, but a big campaign contribution from the energy industry is even tastier to a Congressman. Sure, reducing our dependence on foreign oil might ease possible future entanglements in that "cradle of civilization" region, but Senator Joe Bob's got to be reelected next year!
Put a "Support the Troops" sticker on your car? You bet! Begin weaning our country from the poisonous tit that is the Middle East? Sure, I'll get a Hummer H-3!
Our men and women in uniform and their families are being asked to sacrifice so much, but Congress and the rest of the bloated American public? Fill 'er up!
Posted by houtopia at 11:25 PM
July 23, 2005
On Political Courage
News coverage and buzz about the Congressional bill to expand stem cell research ebbed during Congress's summer recess, after passing easily (with significant Republican support) in the House of Representatives.
The bill has now moved to the Senate, where Pennsylvania Republican, subcommittee chair, and cancer patient Arlen Specter is its chief sponsor. As today's NY Times reports, the bill has stalled, and the White House is the reason.
During the House debate, President Bush threatened to veto the bill, should it become law. No doubt he was acquiescing to pressure from the religious right, which vigorously opposes using embryos (that will be discarded anyway) for medical research, claiming doing so amounts to abortion. After all, those folks got him elected, right?
The President has a small dilemma -- most Americans (something like 70%) disagree with his position on stem cell research; they want it. See, while it's all well and good to have an abstract debate about whether or not discarding using an embryo is abortion, most folks know family members, friends, or loved ones suffering from diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, etc. But this President doesn't read polls (or anything else), remember?
Curious to think that President Bush, who, "right or wrong, you know where he stands", has never taken the ultimate stand against Congress -- and used his veto power over legislation. That's right, not one veto in nearly five years. Apparently, he isn't about to start, if he can help it.
Rather than stand up on principle -- the theme for which he is famous, and the reason he won a second term -- he would like to quietly make this bill go away in the Senate, preventing it from ever getting a vote.
This same President who decries that each of his judicial nominees "deserves an up or down vote" in the Senate, apparently doesn't think an incredibly important measure on the future of medical research deserves the same.
Why not? We know where you stand, right, Mr. President? It couldn't be that your lousy poll numbers, a wee scandal brewing with your top aides, or public concern over the future makeup of the Supreme Court have got you cowed, could it?
You're a man of conviction, of principle, remember? Not a flicker of doubt when signing those death row warrants, when leading our nation to war -- show us that famous resolve!
Stand up and be counted on this, Mr. President. If your judges deserve that up or down vote, surely so does the future of medical research. If you're going to veto it, as you said you would, then so be it, but let us have a vote.
You returned honor and dignity to the White House, remember? Don't hide behind Senate procedure -- show us the courage of your convictions, and remind us once again that we know where you stand.
Posted by houtopia at 11:44 AM
July 22, 2005
Are the Wheels Coming Off?
Kos has this summary posting on the latest in the Valerie Plame/Karl Rove drama.
It seems White House strategist Karl Rove and the Vice President's Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby have given grand jury testimony that directly conflicts with what their sources told the grand jury. Someone's lying folks.
Add to it that President Bush's stalled U.N. Ambassador nominee, John Bolton (he of the bullying temper and aging porn star moustache) may have been jailed NY Times reporter Judith Miller's primary source on WMD issues (again, think Ahmed Chalabi.) Mr. Bolton has visited the grand jury as well. We'll go out on a limb and say getting tangled up in this rapidly unfolding story may not have exactly served to bolster his nomination's chances.
It also now appears former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer may be involved too. Much interest now centers around a State Department memo on Plame, which was marked classified. Fleischer denies ever seeing the memo, despite others' testimony that they saw it in his possession just two days before Ms. Plame's identity was "outed" by columnist Robert Novak.
Suffice to say, President Bush's rushed nomination of John Roberts to the Supreme Court (which seems destined for a smooth confirmation), did not have the desired effect of deflecting attention from this growing scandal surrounding top operatives and staff.
Any schadenfreude felt here over the political misfortunes befalling the Bush 43 White House, is quickly replaced by utter disgust for such craven and possibly criminal behavior by those in the highest positions of trust within the administration -- shame.
Posted by houtopia at 05:11 PM
July 21, 2005
Can you say...
Vacant?
A fitting photo of our Governor, who has just challenged the Legislature to take another crack at public school finance and the tax bill, in announcing a second special session, despite his being utterly devoid of any constructive ideas on either subject.
This is the face of Texas GOP leadership, ladies and gentlemen. Be afraid, be very afraid.
Posted by houtopia at 12:07 PM
July 20, 2005
Poll Watching
Well, it's too soon to get a read of public opinion concerning the John Roberts SCOTUS nomination. Hard to know much about the guy, other than that he's conservative and well-liked by folks on both sides of the aisle.
We'll reserve judgment on his nomination for now. Senate Democrats should do a thorough job reviewing his record and credentials. Our gut says he'll be confirmed without much difficulty. It could have been much worse.
We do have new polling data -- from Greenberg/Quinlan and Lake/Snell -- that continues to show real opportunity for Democrats to make significant gains in the 2006 midterm elections. Said opportunity, however, has yet to be seized.
Folks strongly believe that the country is on the wrong track (55% in Greenberg) and have real concerns on the economy and the war in particular. In short, once again, the political climate is ripe for change.
But, Democrats have thus far been unable to advance their own standing much with the public. As the Lake/Snell summary points out, " voters' doubts about the current course will not be crystallized unless they are provided with a strong, credible alternative." Their poll suggests regaining economic security, reinvesting in America, and reviving the middle class as winning themes for 2006.
The Greenberg poll offers some very interesting, detailed questioning concerning the economy.
And Ruy Texeira provides his always succinct analysis here. Take a look.
Posted by houtopia at 04:15 PM
July 19, 2005
The Framing Wars
Catching up on a little reading this morning, and took the time to go through this Matt Bai piece from Sunday's NY Times Magazine -- it's long but worth the time spent.
"Framing" of issues has become a topic du jour on the political left, and framing's "pere" is Berkeley linguist George Lakoff. His recent book, "Don't Think Like An Elephant!", is often seen these days in the hands and book bags of lberal activists across America.
Framing basically focuses on the specific use of language to define the terms of debate, and on fitting individual issues into a broader political narrative -- a-la Frank Luntz on the right, who successfully renamed the estate tax the "death tax", as part of conservatives' overall storyline against taxes.
Lakoff, a former protege of America's best-known leftist linguist, Noam Chomsky, toiled for years in obscurity, following a falling out with his former prof. But his star has risen meterorically, since being discovered by Congressional Democrats desperate to reverse their rapidly declining political fortunes.
Bai chronicles Lakoff's recent influence in Democratic circles, and his possible contribution to two recent minority party success stories -- saving the Senate filibuster and derailing President Bush's Social Security privatization scheme.
The piece also mentions Lakoff's detractors, who think just changing the words won't cover up stale ideas -- the lipstick on a pig line, and has a few priceless quotes from Luntz, who is amusing in his simultaneous self-confidence and self-pity.
Lakoff is definitely on to something, namely that narrative and message discipline are crucial to political success. But we also agree that framing, by itself, is not enough to save Democrats and progressives. It is but a small piece of what's needed.
Democrats' modest successes on Social Security and the Senate filibuster are hardly grounds for celebration, but we're hopeful that they represent first steps on the path out of the political wilderness.
Posted by houtopia at 02:52 PM
July 18, 2005
That Curious Chronicle
Recent political coverage (or lack thereof) from the Houston Chronicle has been puzzling, to say the least.
A week ago, Both Congressman Tom DeLay and his challenger Nick Lampson (disclosure: Houtopia is helping Lampson) released their fundraising totals for the period ending June 30th -- $800,000 and $500,000 respectively.
Right after came a slew of stories like this, in virtually every major newspaper in the country (including Austin, Dallas, San Antonio here in Texas). Conspicuously absent was any coverage in the Chron.
Fast-forward a week, and the much-anticipated (at least by us junkie types) City election fundraising totals (disclosure #2: Houtopia has two candidates in City races) were released on Friday. Traditionally, the Chronicle has done a story covering who raised what, filled with pundit projections about the possible implications of funds raised on the upcoming Mayoral and City Council races.
Saturday, the Chronicle decided to cover the Congressional District 22 totals a week after the fact (ah, memories of the Enron story, where the hometown paper was consistently scooped in its own backyard), and all but ignored the City totals, save a lame graphic on four of the Council races off to the side of the article, that had just been released on Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, as we wrote a few days ago, nudity on the little-watched Houston MediaSource Access Channel warranted daily in-depth reports all last week, plus a staff editorial. What gives??
The hometown paper blows off the fundraising story virtually every other paper in America saw fit to run, dissing what will almost certainly be next year's premiere Congressional race happening in its own backyard, until a week after the fact.
It then uses the now stale Congressional story to pre-empt coverage of City races, which occur in a mere 3 and 1/2 months, leaving folks from all campaigns unhappy. We are flummoxed.
To top it off, today we get this piece about City Council campaign logos. Huh?
The joys of a one-paper town.
Posted by houtopia at 05:20 PM
July 14, 2005
MediaSource -- Who Cares?? The Chronicle Does!!
As a scandal swirls around a top White House advisor; as London recovers from terrorist attacks; as our State legislature flounders its way through a special session on two mildly important issues -- public education and tax revenue; as our brave American military personnel continue to toil in the killing sands of Iraq; as Houston floods for the third consecutive day; what does our hometown paper focus on? Access TV.
Today Matt Stiles treats us to the latest episode in the serial drama of the last week plus -- the funding fate of Houston Access TV, and its occasionally prurient programming.
To be sure, the story has all the ingredients of the info-tainment that passes for news these days -- slightly racy programming, a wack-o-licious Council Member railing against publicly funded smut, earnest youth fighting for free speech and a chance to make their television mark, asleep-at-the-wheel station management, and the whole kit and kaboodle up for funding before City Council. It's a reality show waiting for development.
Except, who cares? For the 67 or 68 people who actually watch Access TV (Houtopia among them), they either know exactly what they're looking for, or stop to catch a wave while channel-surfing in a chemically induced haze.
Oh yeah, somebody at the Chronicle cares too, because the several hundred thousand people who actually read the paper have been subjected to daily reports on the broo-hah-hah in nauseating detail, and even a staff editorial on the subject.
Enough!! This is a station with an $800,000 budget that nobody watches, and City Council needs to take a month to "cool off" about whether to fund it?? Enforce some rules to keep boobies off the boob tube while the kiddies are awake, and be done with it!
And then we can get back to something important, like what will Tom Cruise say next?
Posted by houtopia at 11:19 PM
July 12, 2005
Hypocrisy Watch -- Zell Miller
Greg calls BS on former Georgia Governor Zell Miller -- he of the Alzheimeresque anti-John Kerry screed at the GOP national convention last year.
It seems the politican turned author is suffering from his own "Deficit of Decency", having vacated the governor's mansion with some $80,000 in taxpayer money (see here and here).
Isn't it fitting that this fossil, who decries the moral decline of America and of the Democratic Party, thinks the rules should apply to everyone but him? Thank God Democrats disowned him. He's a much better fit in the party of Rove, DeLay and Richard Perle. Hyprocrisy and dishonesty are mere inconveniences to be dealt with while wielding power and enriching oneself.
Zell Miller, an honest man no more -- just a national joke.
Posted by houtopia at 12:57 PM
Backtracking B.S.
The Karl Rove/Valerie Plame story grows deeper and the White House is scrambling.
At Monday's daily White House press gaggle, spokesman Scott McClellan sounded very different on the subject of Rove and Plame than he did in October 2003.
Back then, McClellan dismissed as ridiculous speculation that Rove had been the "senior White House official" who leaked Plame's classified identity to several journalists. President Bush also said at the time that any staff member found to have leaked such information would be fired.
Monday, McClellan refused to discuss Rove's possible role in the leak or President Bush's termination pledge, and took it on the chin from numerous reporters present.
Apparently, the question is no longer whether or not Rove leaked Plame's identity, but whether he did so "knowing" that she was a covert operative -- the difference between a felony and just bad press.
Given Rove's history of sly political warfare, and his superior intellect, we are more than a little bit dubious that he would seek to discredit an administration critic without knowing exactly what he was doing.
Remember, this is a man who very likely had his candidate's own campaign office bugged during a Texas Governor's race (the FBI's conclusion), to tarnish his Democratic opponent.
This is a man who is a master of the political takedown, going right for his opponent's jugular -- see Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
Karl Rove knows exactly what he's doing, and don't believe his lawyer's attempted "Clintonian" parsing of the facts to save his client's ass.
Tuesday's NY Times covers some of the history and speculates on the possible developing scandal, and its potential effect on the Bush second-term agenda.
Quite simply, it's too early to tell how this will play out, but the story is finally growing legs.
Posted by houtopia at 01:23 AM
July 08, 2005
Candidates, Anyone? -- State House District 134
A few days back, we wrote of the importance of getting good candidates to run next year on the Democratic side, both in Harris County and statewide.
A good place to start in Harris County is State House District 134, currently occupied by former Republican Houston City Council Member Martha Wong.
District 134 is likely the most educated and affluent House district in the state -- it is home to River Oaks, West University Place, Bellaire, the Rice University area, and much of Montrose. Interestingly, it is the district in Harris County where John Kerry (who generally was a weaker candidate than Al Gore in Texas)had the greatest improvement over Gore's 2000 performance -- Gore got 39% of the vote in 134, while Kerry got 46%. Wong won by 6,000 votes against a Democratic opponent who spent little money and frankly didn't run much of a campaign, and a Libertarian who took 2%.
Wong has not exactly distinguished herself in her two terms in Austin. She got elected on the mantra of property tax reform, which the Legislature has so far failed to deliver. She has tried to have it both ways on controversial social issues, often voting one way on committee and another way on the House floor, or just skipping difficult votes all together.
One recent abstention has drawn the wrath of the right -- she skipped the vote on the same-sex marriage amendment. That pass, according to reports, may very well earn her a primary challenge, which is just fine with us. She also angered local Asian business leaders (longtime supporters of hers), by doing the Speaker's bidding and killing the Houston International management district, sponsored by freshman Democrat Hubert Vo.
Wong's shaky record and abrasive personal communication style, combined with an electorate increasingly uncomfortable with the hard right-wing direction of the Republican Party, and a general dissatisfaction with the one party in power -- both in Texas and in Washington -- makes her quite vulnerable in 2006.
Wong, however, is a tough and tireless campaigner, and to beat her will take very hard work and a willingness to "draw contrasts" by pointing out her numerous failures as a legislator.
Fortunately, someone quite capable has already stepped up to the plate. Ellen Cohen, who is president of the Houston Area Women's Center, has said she will run. Those who know her say she has the drive and fortitude necessary to win. This will be quite a race, folks.
Posted by houtopia at 12:52 PM
July 06, 2005
Security, Prosperity & Family
These are three ideas I think most of us can get behind. Perhaps not surprisingly, they were, according to reports, the three buzzwords from last night's GOP event honoring local Republican Congressmen Tom DeLay, Ted Poe & Michael McCaul, held in River Oaks.
Apparently, there were also rousing calls to keep the government out of "our businesses, our bedrooms, our churches and our gun closets." This is a remarkable phrase coming from members of the party in charge today -- guess one out of four ain't bad.
This is not your father's Republican Party, folks. While the reception remarks may have been geared toward the "country club" GOP crowd common in River Oaks, today's GOP has done anything but keep government off our backs.
From unreasonable, unnecessary portions of the Patriot Act, to Terri Schiavo, to reproductive rights, to separation of church and state, to expanded eminent domain, government today has climbed over our backs and down our throats, and the GOP is in charge of everything.
But let's get back to the three planks of last night's platform:
Security -- while thankfully, we have not suffered another attack here since 9/11, we are now mired in a messy foreign entanglement that is claiming the lives of brave Americans every day, stretching the resources of our fine military to the breaking point, inflaming terrorist hatred of the U.S. worldwide, and draining hundreds of billions of dollars from the federal budget, at a time of record deficits. We don't know many people who feel very secure these days.
Prosperity -- for a few folks, the economic good times just keep on rolling. For most, they are just treading water or slowly sinking. The gap between rich and poor grows wider every day. Wages are flat. The stock market continues to perform poorly. Many Americans are unemployed or underemployed. Healthcare and education costs are going through the roof, as are real estate prices in many places. We don't know too many people who feel really prosperous these days.
Family -- a great political word. Everybody's for families, right? For some, being for families means stopping abortion, stopping same sex marriage, teaching creationism in the classroom, and generally broadening religion's influence in the public square. We do not agree with this agenda, but understand and respect that for some, these are deeply held convictions.
But we ask, even if you believe those things, is that all being for families means? What about helping families by making sure all kids have access to healthcare and a decent education? What about a society that helps keep families together by paying a decent minimum wage for a hard day's work? What about a government that sets an example to America's families by being honest, ethical, tolerant and respectful of those with whom they disagree? Where are the folks in charge on those family values?
So, three slogans at a party -- security, prosperity and family. They sound great, but when you think about it, is that really the record Republicans want to run on?
Posted by houtopia at 05:01 PM
July 03, 2005
Did He, Or Did He Not Leak?
Many of you may have been following the fascinating developments in the long-going Valerie Plame "outing" story.
For those not familiar, Valerie Plame is the CIA agent and wife of former Ambasssador to Iraq Joseph Wilson, who, at the administration's behest traveled to Niger before the Iraq War to investigate claims that Saddam had illegally purchased yellowcake uranium there, possibly for use in making nuclear weapons.
Wilson found no evidence to support the claims, and after President Bush indicated otherwise in a speech, Wilson said so on the editorial page of the New York Times. Shortly afterwards, Plame was outed as a CIA operative who had been responsible for arranging her husband's trip, in an attempt to discredit Wilson. Right wing columnist Bob Novak, Time Magazine's Matt Cooper and the infamous Judith Miller of the Times (remember Ahmed Chalabi?) were all found to have been tipped.
Well, compromising a U.S. intellgence officer's "cover" is a treasonous act and a felony. The million dollar question has always been -- who leaked Plame's identity? Former U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald from Chicago was appointed as an independent investigator, and things have been relatively quiet until recently. A court ruled that Cooper & Miller must reveal the source or go to jail.
There has always been rampant speculation that the "boy genius" Karl Rove was behind the leaks, and yesterday MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell said so.
This is going to get good folks. And if Rove is found to have leaked our agent's indentity and compromised our national security during a time of war, at the very least he should go to prison for the rest of his life.
Just think if a "liberal" political operative were implicated in such a crime -- say a James Carville. Those right-wing "patriots" would have him drawn and quartered in the public square. Keep your hypocrisy gauges ready, and wait for the Rove apologists to start.
Posted by houtopia at 05:02 PM