Bush's worst nightmare
The nice thing about videotape is you always get the chance to loook at it later, even two years later. This week the prosecutor may hand down indictments for Rove, Libby and others for having leaked the name of Valerie Plame. That would be devastating to this adminstration but at least the decision will be clearcut. Rove and Libby and possibly others resign. There will be the press conferences and statements.
If no idicymenst are handed down but the special prosecutor's report staes Rove, Libby and possibly others did indeed leak the name of Valerie Plame but that act in itself did not rise to an indictable act, then roll tape. In September, 2003 said if there was a leak in "my" administration, he would basically deal with. The statement was in responseto a reporter's quaestion and obviously an unscripted moment. The use of "my administration" is intriguing. He took ownership of that situation. This would toss the president into an area he does not enjpy, the grey area. He won an election by not parsing words. He won the election because middle America knew where he stood on Iraq, terrorism, and a myriad of issues. He would then have to explin what he meant by he would handle the leakers. Middle America would not accept a slap on the wrist. They would not expect anything less than Rove and Libby being fired and tossed out of the White House. Nothing less than the values argument is at stake, here.
Yet, the president would find homself very alone in that moment. Obviously, he cannot consult with Rove or Cheney whose hands may not exactly be clean. Rumsfeld would be of no use and Condi Rice needs to avoid this, if she inrends to run on 2008. Finally, Harriett Miers is of no use. That leaves Scott McClelland and Andrew Card. You can guess Scott's answer after being misled. Andrew Card may be helpful....but the president is pretty much alone. He has to weigh his firendship and loyalty to Karl Rove against the values that broght him the presidency.
In the end, the indictments relieve him of this burden.
If no idicymenst are handed down but the special prosecutor's report staes Rove, Libby and possibly others did indeed leak the name of Valerie Plame but that act in itself did not rise to an indictable act, then roll tape. In September, 2003 said if there was a leak in "my" administration, he would basically deal with. The statement was in responseto a reporter's quaestion and obviously an unscripted moment. The use of "my administration" is intriguing. He took ownership of that situation. This would toss the president into an area he does not enjpy, the grey area. He won an election by not parsing words. He won the election because middle America knew where he stood on Iraq, terrorism, and a myriad of issues. He would then have to explin what he meant by he would handle the leakers. Middle America would not accept a slap on the wrist. They would not expect anything less than Rove and Libby being fired and tossed out of the White House. Nothing less than the values argument is at stake, here.
Yet, the president would find homself very alone in that moment. Obviously, he cannot consult with Rove or Cheney whose hands may not exactly be clean. Rumsfeld would be of no use and Condi Rice needs to avoid this, if she inrends to run on 2008. Finally, Harriett Miers is of no use. That leaves Scott McClelland and Andrew Card. You can guess Scott's answer after being misled. Andrew Card may be helpful....but the president is pretty much alone. He has to weigh his firendship and loyalty to Karl Rove against the values that broght him the presidency.
In the end, the indictments relieve him of this burden.
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