Yoga, Meet the Press, Rove Apologists

Apparently one of my favorite political writers and analysts, Arianna Huffington, does Yoga as she watches Tim Russert on Meet the Press.

To me, this sounds like a busy mother and professional writer practicing some excellent time management.

To others, it may appear to be an example of the underlying sexual tension that informs American politics.

I like both interpretations.

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In today's NYT, John Tierney argues for one rather apologetic way of looking at Karl Rove's exposure of a secret CIA operative. He claims that much is being made about nothing. Tierney discredits Joseph Wilson and discounts how undercover Valerie Plame really was; however, as Tierney himself must know, his is a very limited way of looking at the broader issues at stake.

I question why he focuses mainly on the targets -- Wilson, Plame -- of Rove's leak in order to clarify its significance. Focusing on the targets of the smear instead of the person who is doing the smearing (a person who is far more powerful than they) is a misplaced focus.

Even if Rove's outing of Plame was not illegal -- and it probably wasn't -- and even if news of such action means "nada" (Tierney's characterization) to most readers, who is to judge in retrospect whether or not discussing a CIA operative with a reporter would endanger her or her associates?

Rove behaved irresponsibly as he worked to discredit a political liability.

If we were focusing only on the legality of Rove's actions -- as the White House is doing by refusing to discuss anything about Rove because, they claim, such discussion would be in reference to an ongoing criminal investigation -- then Tierney's insights on the legality would start to resolve the issue. But this story remains alive because it is outrageous that such dangerous handling of information, back stabbing, and deception -- even when discovered by a special prosecutor -- are discounted by powerful White House political operatives and their representatives.

We deserve a higher ethical standard in play in the White House, and this story is nada only if we accept that Rove's behavior and the ensuing obfuscation of it are ethical.

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Partial listing of Fatspeak Weekend Talking Points

-- Rove Engaged in Political Behavior that Outed a Covert Operative
-- Bush Is Either Unaware that Rove Engages in Such Behvior OR
-- Rove Lied to Bush OR
-- Bush Doesn't Care if Rove Acts Like This OR
-- Bush is Engaged in a Cover-Up for Rove

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Let's Chew The Fat; Let Me Know What You Know