Just Politics

More Rove reactions

The aspect of Karl Rove leaving the White House continues post the revelation that Rove tried to wave off Time’s reporter Matthew Cooper from writing that Wilson was sent to Niger by the Vice President. Former Ambassador Joseph Wilson made a report that Saddam Hussein was not trying to buy yellow cake used in making nuclear bombs from Niger. Wilson later went on to write articles that President Bush was taking the U.S. into the war on Iraq by lying to the American people.

Wilson, in an interview broadcast Thursday on NBC's "Today" show, said he thinks the White House's posture in this controversy represents a continuing "cover-up of the web of lies that underpin the justification for going to war in Iraq."

Wilson’s report was found to be inaccurate -- Hussein had approached Niger about purchasing nuclear bomb components.

Republicans have setup a website that tears down Wilson’s assertions. Two items from the page read:

CIA Said Wilson’s Findings Did Not Resolve The Issue. "Because [Wilson’s] report, in our view, did not resolve whether Iraq was or was not seeking uranium from abroad, it was given a normal and wide distribution, but we did not brief it to the president, vice president or other senior administration officials. We also had to consider that the former Nigerien officials knew that what they were saying would reach the U.S. government and that this might have influenced what they said." (Central Intelligence Agency, "Statement By George J. Tenet, Director Of Central Intelligence," Press Release 7/11/03)

The Butler Report Claimed That The President’s State Of the Union Statement On Uranium From Africa, "Was Well-Founded." "We conclude that, on the basis of the intelligence assessments at the time, covering both Niger and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the statements on Iraqi attempts to buy uranium from Africa in the Government’s dossier, and by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons, were well-founded. By extension, we conclude also that the statement in President Bush’s State of the Union Address of 28 January 2003 that: ‘The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.’ was well-founded." (The Rt. Hon. The Lord Butler Of Brockwell, "Review Of Intelligence, On Weapons Of Mass Destruction," 7/14/04)

Democrats have setup a website that tears down Rove: Two items from the page read:

Mr. Rove how many of our children are you responsible for killing. When you outed a CIA operative you jeopardized our ability to gain intelligence. We then send our children to Iraq and Afghanistan and many of them die. How many of these deaths are directly related to your act of treason.

Mr. Rove I do not support the death penalty - even for traitors - what a shame. You are a traitor and you have committed treason. I believe you should be reclassified as an enemy combatant and shiped off to GITMO. There you could remain without attorney, without family, without end.....AMEN.

The Washington Post reports that at least one person is going to go down for the leak:

Several people familiar with the investigation said they expect Fitzgerald to indict, or at least force a plea agreement with, at least one individual for leaking Plame's name to conservative columnist Robert D. Novak in July 2003.

Berger sentencing delay

Former Clinton administration National Security Advisor Sandy Berger’s misdemeanor sentencing was delayed. Justice Department prosecutor Noel Hillman allowed Berger to plead guilty to a misdemeanor of purloining and possibly destroying national security documents. Hillman recommended a light sentence of a $10,000 fine, a three-year suspension of Berger's security clearance and no jail time.

Speculation is that Federal District Court's U.S. Magistrate Deborah Robinson who is presiding over the case doesn’t like the deal. The sentencing has been delayed until September.

2008 contenders in Iowa

The Governor’s Conference is in Des Moines beginning this Friday. Republican 2008 contenders in attendance are: George Pataki, 60, New York; Tim Pawlenty, ??, Minnesota; Mitt Romney, 58, Massachusetts; Jeb Bush, Florida, is not attending.

Democrat 2008 contenders attending are: Edward Rendell, 61, Pennsylvania; Bill Richardson, 57, New Mexico; Tom Vilsack, 54, Iowa; Mark Warner, 50, Virginia.

"Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who shared the national ticket in 2004, are both using their leadership political action committees to pay the entire salary of a staffer working through the state party. Kerry is paying for Geoff Wetrosky to work to re-elect Manchester Mayor Bob Baines (D), while Edwards is underwriting Angie Siecker's efforts on behalf of state Sen. David Gottesman's bid for another term."

Justice Sunday II

The Family Research Council carries the following announcement on their webpage:

Two Rivers Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee will host Family Research Council's simulcast television program, "Justice Sunday II - God Save the United States and this Honorable Court" Sunday, August 14.

Justice Sunday II, the follow-up to "Justice Sunday - Stopping the Filibuster Against People of Faith," will broadcast live in churches across the nation in addition to being carried on hundreds of radio stations, via satellite and webcast on www.JusticeSunday.com.

Speakers will include retired Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.), Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family, Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship Ministries, Bill Donohue of the Catholic League, Phyllis Schlafly of the Eagle Forum and others.

McCain & boobs

Drudge Reports:

Opening this weekend, WEDDING CRASHERS, a movie packed with raunchy moments and bare-breasted beauties bedding down with the guys.

And Senator John McCain!

Poll watching

A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows the president continues with support for the U.S. presence in Iraq. By 57% to 42%, Americans say it is important to maintain the nation's military and economic commitment to Iraq until it can govern itself. By 61% to 34%, they agree with President Bush's assertion that the war in Iraq is part of the broader war against terrorism.

Hillary stay home

There is posted a picture in the Des Moines Register of a sign on an Iowa barn in the shape of Iowa with reversed lettering saying, "Hillary stay Home."