Login Here
Sen. Leahy issued a statement today on the resignation of Karl Rove and other clouds:
"Earlier this month, Karl Rove failed to comply with the Judiciary Committee's subpoena to testify about the mass firings of United States Attorneys. Despite evidence that he played a central role in these firings, just as he did in the Libby case involving the outing of an undercover CIA agent and improper political briefings at over 20 government agencies, Mr. Rove acted as if he was above the law. That is wrong. Now that he is leaving the White House while under subpoena, I continue to ask what Mr. Rove and others at the White House are so desperate to hide. Mr. Rove's apparent attempts to manipulate elections and push out prosecutors citing bogus claims of voter fraud shows corruption of federal law enforcement for partisan political purposes, and the Senate Judiciary Committee will continue its investigation into this serious issue.
"The list of senior White House and Justice Department officials who have resigned during the course of these congressional investigations continues to grow, and today, Mr. Rove added his name to that list. There is a cloud over this White House, and a gathering storm. A similar cloud envelopes Mr. Rove, even as he leaves the White House."
Here's hoping for some serious thunder, because we could all use a few strategic accountability lightning strikes over the next few weeks, now couldn't we? (Huge H/T to Bob Geiger for sending this quote along to me.) Leaving with a legacy of mendacity and corruption intact -- ahhhh, the fetid stench of Turdblossom. Heckuva job, Karl...even AdNags has stopped singing your praises. (And one wonders what that actually means in terms of who is whispering in his ear these days and why...)
(H/T to twolf1 for the photoshop. Cracks me up every time...)
Share This 
Spotlight
Hague!
Awesome!!!
3?
Go get ‘em, Pat!
Now let’s see the GOP/Media Complex give actual air time to Leahy on this.
Yes!
You’ve gotta love the expression on Leahy’s face.
Where is Leahy, literally? Have Conyers, Waxman, Pelosi, Reid et al gone “home”?
Christy, just got to “the fetid stench of turdblossom.” Ewwwwww. Excellent.
Leahy serving up a whole plate of Texas Toast. Yum suddenly I am hungry for justice.
barbara @ 7
Pelosi to tour New Orleans Tuesday (and today?):
http://blog.nola.com/times-pic.....s_rec.html
the Hague says they have vacancies. I already have the moron’s room picked out. Both garden levels as well as penthouse suites.
Could Pelosi have made a deal? Rove for FISA.
AdNags choicest cut:
Truth be told, though, as of today he probably would not be very welcome in many of the campaigns. Even some of his former lieutenants are apt, in private moments, to speak of Mr. Rove in tones of disappointment, disillusionment and no small amount of anger.
-GSD
LS at 12 — Not likely. It just doesn’t work that way, I’m afraid.
And what will happen then, Mr. Chairman? Which article in the Bill of Rights, in your righteous anger, will you then cave in on?
A truly great day.
OT - I missed the whole Kos v DLC takedown. Anybody got a link to a decent summary?
I have yet to see any signs of the Dem leadership doing anything past going Bark Bark, Woof Woof.
I go to the dentist, and come home to this~~!!
That photo from twolf just cracks me up.
casuala t 15 — I’d suggest that you direct that ire where it belongs, at Harry Reid in the Senate. Leahy, as I understand it, very forcefully argued for them to stay and stand their ground…but he’s not in charge of the schedule.
isn’t trying to serve a subpoena in texas to a bushite a capital offense…?
barbara @ 7
Leahy is in Vermont.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 14
I didn’t think so. Just rolling thoughts around.
Helpless Dancer @ 17
It’s so disappointing and hard to believe that it will ever change, given the current leaders.
Christy, you hit the nail on the head. Just who is whispering in GW’s ear? And, for that matter, in Karl’s ear? Fiction writers love intrigue because the characters begin to question their source and see intrigue all around them. You just can’t trust anybody, even the family’s best friend, nor your father.
Mabel’s Wig Shack @ 21
In some parts of texas sure… but in others the whole clan is despised.
Every time I See that pic I laugh out loud. You still need a sprew warning Christy.
When the bloom fell off - all you have left is?
Umm…I just had a thought. Knowing the kind of person Rove is, he is likely to save all the dirt he has on others and, in the course, lots of incriminating evidence. Once he’s left the WH, he will not have access to documents. But I bet he has a lot of copies. Would be great if the FBI would do to him what they did to Ted Stevens: Search his residence(s).
randiego @ 16
Here’s a link to the whole show MTP
Or scroll down half way and see the summary here
http://dailykos.com/
Senator Leahy looks as if he’s got a “thunderhead of judgement/gathering in his gaze” (paraphrasing Joni Mitchell).
AdNags has some very interesting connections, Christy. I’m guessing the Fire Island Republicans aren’t so thrilled with their hedge funds falling apart, and not being able to run their private equity buyouts. Karl makes a convenient scapegoat. Sorta like Roy Cohen.
Just sayin’.
if this was a hockey game…
Leahy driving hard down the left wing deking the goaltender…THE NET IS OPEN…Leahy backpasses to Pelosi…WHAT IS SHE DOING? she slides the puck to Reid who PASSES BACK TO ONE OF HIS OWN DEFENSEMEN
as always w/ the republican agenda- i am intrigued by the timing.
aside from them/rove seeing august as a month long friday nite news dump, (thought no one would be watching, writing, posting? guess again!!), everything the white house releases is planned w/ timing in mind.
hmmm… what is it that they/rove want us to be distracted from today???
Hi all.
I think Tweety should talk about Senator Leahy’s statement. Face it like a man, on air, warts and all. Perhaps I’ll send Tweety a copy. Hate to think he’s babbling in a windowless room with no communication to the outside world. Yeah. I think I’ll do that.
Thanks Christy. Breath of fresh air.
weeder @ 10
I hope she sees what needs to be done in NOLA. The needs of this community are as apparent as the needs of the sunami victims. The only difference is that the sunami folks have had actual help. People from that part of the world visited New Orleans a year ago and were appalled at the conditions that New Orleanians find themselves in. It has gotten no better. So if Pelosi is in New Orleans I personally am glad. But I know that it is going to take a couple of years before the calvary arrives.
GSD @ 13
Geez!!! I wonder why. So much for that lasting Republican majority.
The Chimp has the Ebola virus and no one wants to get near him. Rove is off to quarantine somewhere.
-GSD
This is like leaving Enron just before the stock tanked.
The brand is crumbling, they have severely damaged the Republican party, and he doesn’t want to be blamed for it.
OTOH - the short notice on the resignation is curious. I’m thinking the reason is complicated, and due to many (not just one) of the scandals cited here and elsewhere.
GSD @ 13
Now THAT. That right there! That’s what would make his voice quaver. Repeat of the snubbing he surely endured in middle school…
Overall, my opinion is that the GOP is facing such electoral disaster that their only hope is a massive effort to steal the election. One that even this crowd doesn’t want to coordinate out of the WH.
[Setting the scene… Ken Melman dressed as Princess Leia in a jumpy, damaged hologram]
Save us Rovey-wan Kabuki. You are our only hope.
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 35
In the end, Rove is an utter failure. He had fashioned a Bush legacy that will live forever. Thank you, Karl.
rove is probably coordinating the subverting of california’s electoral college system.
Make sure that no shredding truck backs in to the White House in the deadeye of night…
It very much should be Gonzales for FISA.
If QuakerGirl is still here, I left you a comment at the very end of the thread two threads ago.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 20
Harry Reid comes from a loving red state - loving red. They are on the move to get him out. A leader’s downfall is when he tries to walk two lines. All you do in double your critics and enemies. We can take a lesson from Papak Sukarno. It made him vulnerable to an overthrow and the people were subjected to a brutal entrenched military regime for thirty years.
Democrats work hard in Nevada and if they lose to red, it will be for a long time. From my perspective, while I am one of Reid’s critics, I know he is fighting to give Democrats a position in the state. He still makes me very angry. So I call his office and encourage him to do the right thing. I’m not sure enough people do that. It is not much of an activist state.
Mr. Leahy’s is a fine letter. It is firm in tone and its truths speak volumes. But, we are dealing with people who work outside of legal constraints. If they are subpoenaed -they don’t show up - and nothing happens to them. They could be sent to the dungeon under Congress’ chambers for inherent contempt, but no charges are brought against them.
The Democrats know that if they imprison a Bushie, it will backfire on them in the Media.
They will be witch-hunting, weak on terra, playing political theatre, criminalizing politics, going after good god-fearing goverment workers of the people’s business who are protectin’ folks from Usama Bin Hussein.
The Republicans would scream in outrage and (liberal, AYFKM?) media people like David Gregory will serve it up for them the way they like it.
I think this is what Congressional Democrats are afraid of (this time). Am I wrong?
The more he talked of his honor, the faster we counted the spoons.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
If someone wants to know more about the corrupted prosecution and shackled in court, immediate imprisonment of Democrat, Don Siegelman, here’s the motherload of Scot Horton’s 41 reports at Harper’s.
Karl Rove is heavily involved.
OT - Todays infrastructure collapse brought to you by New York City: MSNBC reports that a section of sidewalk has collapsed in mid-town Manhattan, trapping two workers. Not many details yet.
Leahy reminds me of my dog.
All bark and no bite.
Wish it was different….
When is there going to be a real storm with lightning and thunder and people paying attention to the crimes of the WhiteHouse?
It seems as if the speculation about the motives behind events, usually falls short of what these criminal psychopaths are really thinking. My contribution to the tin-foil pile is Rove was pushed out for the same reasons Gen. Pace was pushed out; opposition to the Iranian war.
Christy, I must have missed this: who was the “senior White House official” who told the Washington Post back in June ‘03 that Plame’s name was leaked to six reporters “purely and simply out of revenge”?
Remember only last week Bob Novak was allowing Rove to whore the “Republics were corrupt, it wasn’t the war” theme of reasons for the election massacree in 2006.
Rove is left with trying the create a new reality with what few friends he has left.
-GSD
P.S. Jeff Gannon has a new tell all book coming out.Gannon’s revenge?
Steve-AR @ 51
Uh oh!
twolf1 @ 49
My conservative friend will now tell me that New York is being destroyed by the liberals. This never would have happenned under Rudy G.
Pat’s really driving the “gathering storm” metaphor isn’t he? xD this is the second time he’s used it that I’ve heard.
*roots for Pat*
marymccurnin @ 34
Punishment for ever voting Democrat. This will teach them. Bet they go red this time. The Dems they did vote in were very friendly with the Bushies and supported them up and down every-which-way.
I bet Karl has his passport in a secure location.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 20
CHS, Howard Dean stated at Annual Kos that the Democratic Party “places country above party”. When Dean’s words fly in the face of reality, I can and will criticize the leadership of that party. Leahy is certainly one of its leaders. And until Leahy and the Democratic majority show with their actions (and not just their press releases) that they will actually ‘protect and defend’ the constitution of the United States, I will continue to vent my displeasure as I see fit.
Badwater @ 56
update: The 2 ConEd workers were freed and are OK.
Froomkin
snarKassandra @ 54
gulp indeed.
GSD @ 53
To maintain his income, Gannon will most likely go after non-conservatives.
Mable, the only way we could take this seriously is if you have it on good authority.
OT: It appears that on the basis of (Rove-orchestrated?) fraudulent journalism, specifically the O’Hanlon-Pollack report, the right wing has secured mainstream-media backing for another Friedman of surge — per David Bromwich:
Yesterday, Glenn Greenwald further demolished the credibility of O’Hanlon, Pollack, their employers, and the mainstream fools who pimp their product. Somehow, the word has to get out how bogus and orchestrated this pro-surge PR really is.
AZ Matt @ 62
Well that and that they were crooks and morons
casual at 59 — Feel free — and I will continue to point out factual inaccuracies and unfounded observations as I see fit as well. Venting anger is useful — but it is especially so where it is targeted at the people who deserve it.
Steve-AR @ 51
So if this is accurate (and it just might be), that leaves, uh, Condi as the lone voice of reason? Talk about d’oh.
And tainted or no, is it not time for Colin Powell to speak out, loudly, clearly, truthfully at last?
I wouldn’t count the Thousand Year Reich over yet. This is a good move for them, or it wouldn’t be happening.
randiego @ 37
I’m waiting for one of the extra shoes to drop from that centipede. Mark my word. He’ll find a way to blame the Dems.
But will anyone listen? I’m thinkin’ he doesn’t have close friends &/or supporters; he’s more like the guy who’s got cooties, probably eats dog doo, pulls the over-the-top mean pranks. They’ll drop him like a rotten, festering, lessee, turdblossom?
Did ANYONE notice jr’s voice showing real emotion? I heard the word “friend”, but the voice was even and matter-of-fact, wasn’t it? Jr. has shown more emotion talking about his bike than he did today at that presser. hm-m-m.
randiego @ 16
I haven’t got a link, but here’s my take:
Ford came across as very conciliatory, praising Markos, and essentially taking the “Why can’t we all just get along?” line. Markos came on a bit strongly, arguing that the DLC was, in essence, no longer relevant. What this meme leaves out is the DLC’s continuing attempts to marginalize the netroots. In other words, Ford’s idea of “getting along” are about the same as Republican calls for “bipartisanship.”
We all know what Markos was saying, and the validity behind it. But my impression that John & Mary Public came away with the impression that the DLC was being more reasonable than Markos.
Bob in HI
wigwam @ 66
I agree completely with this. We are in the middle of a media blitiz to sell a longer surge. Where are the Democrats? We need pushback before September not some weak, disorganized, ineffectual reaction only after Petraeus and Crocker deliver their far from objective reports.
QuakerGirl @ 58
Of course they will go red. The neighborhoods that were wiped out and not rebuilt (yet? ever?) were dems. If you look at a map of the neighborhoods that are still unprotected they are the same ones that were dems. Or black. Or creole. Or the people that were the marrow of the culture.
Badwater @ 64
Did you read that crap? Bush gave the reporter an economics lesson, says Gannon.
If only economics worked for the working man like it did for Dubya.
Does Dubya know that former Talon News, former WH press man-whore (no WH press admission passes required) Jimmy Jeff Gannon Guckert is back on the tubes singing his praises?
itwasntme @ 70
Huh? that makes no sense whatsoever. They have no magic. All they have had is lawbreakers and an environment where that has succeeded.
Senator Leahy is acting against this administration, particularly in his role as Chairmain of Judiciary Committee, and I’m confident he will continue to do so.
Plan for the worst and hope for the best. Rove was and is defined by the Republican party..that has been his whole life. That is why I am not celebrating his leaving the WH. Cheney is a dead man walking and Bush is going over the psychological cliff as things fall apart. I think the Cheney/Bush Presidency has or is in the process of transcending Party and National interests. I think Cheney has convinced Bush that his legacy as a the Great Prescient President is via Iran. A Wagnerian ending will insure his legacy.
Perhaps in the distant future, when Turdblossom shrugs off his mortal coil, there will be enough still-angry netrootians to kick in together to send a corpse flower http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_arum
to his funeral. I can imagine the proceedings will be cut a little short as the grieving family suspects that the embalmer used Haliburton-issue formalin, and gets the job done without Delay (unless he attends, too). But probably there will be direct cremation instead, to offer his carcass up as Texas Toast to a vengeful God, whereupon the Repugs can can blame it all on Rove and walk away cleansed of opprobrium.
casual observer @ 15
i’m pretty pissed too, but i don’t see how leahy caved (or is there something i don’t know?)
Steve-AR @ 77
The man HAS his legacy…perhaps not the one he wanted, but dayum, people aren’t going to forget this clustery nonesense for a long time…
Christy Hardin Smith @ 67
Just to throw in a menke wrench, when Siun brought Mirriam (?) on line to point out that every American is complicit in the actions of our Military; isn’t it similar to equate that Senator Leahy is complicit in the actions of his legislature — even if he disagrees with the results?
Maybe Rove got wind of Chertoff’s gut sounds and said, I’m outta here (DC)….”I’ve got to do this for the sake of my family”.
I read he’s returning to the San Antonio area. As I am in that area, let’s just say I’m underwhelmed. I have a better suggestion for Mr. Rove’s future residence: I hear Hell has a nice little lot out on the lake of fire that would suit him just fine(H/T to Trace Adkins for that one).
Hey Senator Leahy, we don’t need a weather forecast!
We need ACTION! Show the American people that lawlessness will not be rewarded! Don’t be a part of the problem.
randiego @ 76
Big Picture thinking may indicate a thousand year reich. Emperor Constantine embraced the Catholic Church, gave them power and money to help govern the Roman Empire and (most importantly) enlist fighting men for empire building. Religion (so-called Conservatism) and the Right Wing (so-called Conservatism) have been married ever since.
Seem familiar?
johnSwifty at 81 — It’s a matter of degree and use of limited resources, isn’t it? Directing anger at the fulcrum where the shift in direction can be most achieved, or on a wobbly end where the changes will be barely noticed? We all bear some responsibility for all the actions taken in our name. But do we all have an equal weight in being able to move things in order to get the changes necessary — or do some people have more ability to assure some movement than others?
It’s a conundrum, but I choose not to run around screaming at the people who are trying to make a difference wherever possible because, frankly, my ability to make a difference is as limited as the next person, and I choose to apply that pressure where I think it can do some actual good. We’re all pissed off about the state of things at the moment — the question is how best to use that anger? Or to just throw it away on actions that are far less likely to make a difference even though they may make us feel better in the moment? I’m always asking that question of myself, and I think we’d all do better to ask it more often of each other as well.
From the NYTimes.com:
We’ll see what happens from here on…
randiego @ 16
press the meat.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 86
Well said, thank you for the clarification. And just for the record, I rate your ability to affect opinion at a bit higher than average. I think that makes a difference — more and more, every day. Thanks for that, too!
johnSwifty @ 90
Seconded.
Biodun @ 87
Of course, now that he’s not in the administration, he’s eligible for a pardon…assuming of course that he’s a) mired in investigations and b) Junior’s still president.
Biodun @ 88
Bush gives Rove a blanket pardon and then attaches a signing statement to some bill that says that Rove does not have to testify under any circumstances.
Yeah, we’ll all be able to say, “I knew Christy Hardin Smith in 2007 — you know, back in the day when there were no women bloggers.” *g*
barbara @ 93
Ha! I’m just glad I put my drink down first ;-)
hackworth @ 86
You’ve lost me. 70% disapproval is a huge number, statistically speaking. It’s a tidal wave, and it’s not changing anytime soon.
Bob Schacht @ 71
Thanks Bob, I’m at the transcript now:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20214115/
Perhaps if Markos would have stated “getting along” = date rape, the viewers would have understood his aggressive tone a little better.
johnSwifty @ 82
John, in my opinion it is, especially when the Democratic party has made an issue of country over party. Citizens of the left-0-sphere (with which I self-identify) have no difficulty in condemning the Republicans as a party. If this logic serves for one side, why should it not serve for the other? Do the democrats stand for something? Or is it simply a group of individuals, and nothing more.
PB (peanutbutter) @ 80
I wouldn’t be too sure of that. How long is a long time? It only took 30 years for the lessons of Watergate to be forgotten. Washed away under an avalanche of fear-mongering.
From Froomkin today. Explains Reid’s not keeping Senate in session.
marymccurnin @ 73
Yep! And Pelosi will wag her finger, make a little news and it will all go away, again. There is nothing more to see and say. The only thing that works is action. The intent is to change the demographics. Even Negin wants wealthy Blacks there and not the rift-raft. You got the bucks, you’re welcome back. And maybe a few poor musicians who add character and ambiance to the place. Good for tourist business.
barbara @ 93
Ha ha! You know, in the later Dune series (God Emperor Dune), Herbert surmised that an all woman military was the only sane way to engage in conflict. Perhaps the same will be true of blogging ;-)
This business about Rove teaching–what? And at what level? College? Grad school? The man has no B.A., is a college dropout. The only people I know in academia teaching with no bachelors are artists, poets, writers, video-artists, filmmakers. Not political hacks.
Biodun @ 102