Great post – – – As this tempests’ power lies a.k.a. a babe of truth, innocent to the world, is to be drowned in a bathtub of deception dark enough to blind all those weak enough, so as to isolate them in their vulnerable larval state. They are, after all lying also to each other in a (false) testament of their loyalty and obsession with mafia style honor. The true belivers here believe power itself can gild all doubt by fear, and so are in turn the most fearful themselves, blinded to the real world they so hope to control. For they cannot even control themselves, or their self.
It would be poetic justice to see them fall on these terms, but they (rove in particular) are to hollow for that — it will be erasing the dots of deception they have defined themselves with, that will finally render them invisible.

Posted by: anna missed | Jul 11 2005 9:30 utc | 3

Judges and prosecutors and reporters used to ask John Gotti what his career was, what he did for a living.
He always answered that he was a refrigerator salesman.
No one believed him; it was just part of the charade, and his saying it brought everybody in on the joke.
Americans are too ‘into the joke’ that is the Bush Pirate Clan’s imaginary reality.
Just as hundreds of people practically rioted in the streets of Brooklyn whenever John Gotti was arrested, there will be furious and angry defense of Herr Rove when his moment to depart comes.

Posted by: Antifa | Jul 11 2005 13:01 utc | 5

What is it you think Rove is guilty of, lying?
What a quaint concept.
The only thing Karl Rove is guilty of is trying to create the best damned reality that money can buy–for the children.
We don’t need another failed presidency, think of the malaise that would ensue–and the inevitable return of Disco.
Imagine another possibility. Trust Karl, believe Karl. Saddam was dangerous. The WMD threatened all of us. The mission is accomplished. Democrats (especially Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon and Ward Churchill) are all EVIL!!!

Posted by: Porco Rosso | Jul 11 2005 13:09 utc | 7

Whether or not Rove pays any price now, the stalling worked: The Plame scandal remained submerged through the 2004 election, leaving Rove free to choreograph the distractions and smears that kept his boss in power.

Posted by: ralphbon | Jul 11 2005 13:57 utc | 9

The facts are as Billmon put it, this Bushie admin lives by the lie and they just don’t care. For kick and giggles go the Drudge. They have a t-shirt posted showing Bushie with a long nose and liar printed all over it. The headline says it’s put out by move-on.org.
It really tells the truth, but the righties are in their usual salivating mode over something the so-called left has out and soon the traitor moniker will fly again sticking up for fearless leader.
The rethugs have done their work, even the dem party has distanced itself from moveon. But, the shirt is great.

Posted by: jdp | Jul 11 2005 14:14 utc | 11

[I posted this on another Rove related thread, but think its relevance remains (while the other thread seems dead).]
No doubt you’ve all heard about the head of the House Judiciary Committee (and preemptor of “PATRIOT” Act hearings) Sensenbrenner’s writing to a 7th Circuit judge to demand he impose the federal sentancing guidelines on a certain drug offender. Simply the right wing pulling another Schiavo-esque “oversight” of the federal courts? Hardly. The prosecutor who decided not to impose the mandatory minimum, one P. Fitzgerald.
And so, the character assasination begins.
The Chicago Post is behind a subscription wall, so I give you a link to digby’s thorough and astute coverage (which reprints a good amount of the article). Scroll down to “Push Back”

Posted by: lone stranger | Jul 11 2005 14:50 utc | 13

Sorry. I effed up again. These internets are hard work. Really really hard work.
Digby’s post on Sensenbrenner’s laying the way to a future Fitzgerald attack. Scroll to “Push Back”

Posted by: lone stranger | Jul 11 2005 14:57 utc | 15

I find Billmon’s in their own words posts to be the best posts on the net. I enjoy his writing, but there is something powerful about the quote chain that even the best writing can’t improve on.
Zach

Posted by: Zach | Jul 11 2005 15:12 utc | 17

slothrop, I suspect that Rove is a relatively minor, marginal figure in this proceeding. I can’t explain exactly why I believe this, but I think, in effect, that the misdeeds being studied are more “structural” than anything involving Rove, who’s chiefly a domestic political operator and a PR man. I think it may really have to do with Cheney’s determination to overwhelm State, CIA and even FBI in his mad drive to get this war to happen. We know there was plenty of resistance, and we know he knew no limits to Cheney’s enterprise. In the process of breaking the rules, he and his people would also have broken some laws. Maybe the Plame case is the one misdeed with the best chance of sticking in court, and if so, Fitzgerald would be bound to make it absolutely airtight before bringing charges. Those charges must be very impressive indeed, given the fury and determination of Judge Hogan to hold Miller and Cooper accountable (one of the few things we’ve been able to watch, thanks to the decisions of Time and Miller to fight it).

Posted by: alabama | Jul 11 2005 15:50 utc | 19

slothrop, I should have added that Novak, like Rove, would also be a marginal figure by this reckoning. But there’s another possibility: Novak may have told Fitzgerald a lot more than we know about, and is being protected by Fitzgerald as a privileged source. But if so, how would Fitzgerald have found a way to bring Novak on board? And if he brought him on board, was it only through a threat of indictment? Maybe, or maybe not. My own paranoid theory du jour runs as follows: both Fitzgerald and Novak are Roman Catholic, and we know that Novak is, if not a member of Opus Dei, then at least very close to that organization (since the man who converted him to Catholicism is known to be a member). Is it out of the realm of possibility that Fitzgerald might also be a member of Opus Dei? No, of course not, and if he’s indeed a member, and if he’s being supported by Opus Dei in his investigations, then an obvious question would arise as to the possible cause Opus Dei might have for urging its members to play by the rules. Does it have a problem with Cheney’s war? If so, I’d love to know what that problem might be. Maybe some of its members are also to be counted among the people at CIA and State who took a hit from Cheney.

Posted by: alabama | Jul 11 2005 16:33 utc | 21

slothrop, I should have added that Novak, like Rove, would also be a marginal figure by this reckoning. But there’s another possibility: Novak may have told Fitzgerald a lot more than we know about, and is being protected by Fitzgerald as a privileged source. But if so, how would Fitzgerald have found a way to bring Novak on board? And if he brought him on board, was it only through a threat of indictment? Maybe, or maybe not. My own paranoid theory du jour runs as follows: both Fitzgerald and Novak are Roman Catholic, and we know that Novak is, if not a member of Opus Dei, then at least very close to that organization (since the man who converted him to Catholicism is known to be a member). Is it out of the realm of possibility that Fitzgerald might also be a member of Opus Dei? No, of course not, and if he’s indeed a member, and if he’s being supported by Opus Dei in his investigations, then an obvious question would arise as to the possible cause Opus Dei might have for urging its members to play by the rules. Does it have a problem with Cheney’s war? If so, I’d love to know what that problem might be. Maybe some of its members are also to be counted among the people at CIA and State who took a hit from Cheney.

Posted by: alabama | Jul 11 2005 16:35 utc | 23

When will the FBI sieze Rove’s computer and ransack his house? It seems that his position at the time did not warrant his access to most of this classified information. Let’s see the authorizations.

Posted by: biklett | Jul 11 2005 16:49 utc | 25

Congrats Billmon. You are linked in Froomkin`s White House Briefing

Previous Statements
Blogger Billmon has put together an excellent collection of previous White House statements vouching for Rove, so I don’t have to.

Posted by: b | Jul 11 2005 19:14 utc | 27

@Juannie – the hoster, typepad, has growth problems – can´t help it.
White House Won’t Comment on Rove, Leak

For two years, the White House has insisted that presidential adviser Karl Rove had nothing to do with the leak of a CIA officer’s identity. And President Bush said the leaker would be fired.
But Bush’s spokesman wouldn’t repeat any of those assertions Monday in the face of Rove’s own lawyer saying his client spoke with at least one reporter about Valerie Plame’s role at the CIA before she was identified in a newspaper column.

The press realy squezzzzed McClellan’s balls today – good for them.

Posted by: b | Jul 11 2005 20:18 utc | 29

billmon said:
what choice would an a honorable president have but to fire his pasty white ass?
excuse me… honorable president?

Posted by: JDMcKay | Jul 12 2005 0:12 utc | 31