Just How Dumb Do They Think We Are?

”Wayne Slater of The Dallas Morning News, who has covered Rove long and well, puts it this way: ”Throughout his political career, bad things happen — sometimes involving dirty tricks — to his enemies or rivals.” Is that because he’s evil? ” He’s amoral. He doesn’t set up a plan to damage, defeat or destroy his enemies because he’s evil. He does it because he’s so unbelievably competitive and amoral.”

Just How Dumb Do They Think We Are?

”Wayne Slater of The Dallas Morning News, who has covered Rove long and well, puts it this way: ”Throughout his political career, bad things happen — sometimes involving dirty tricks — to his enemies or rivals.” Is that because he’s evil? ” He’s amoral. He doesn’t set up a plan to damage, defeat or destroy his enemies because he’s evil. He does it because he’s so unbelievably competitive and amoral.”

Bush Lowers the Bar

Bush at first said he’d fire anyone involved in the Valerie Plame outing. Now that Rove’s been identified as the leaker, Bush changes his mind.

From the ” target=”blank”>Washington Post:

“In June 2004, Bush was asked if he would "fire anyone found to “have leaked the agent’s name. “Yes,” he replied.”

Bush Lowers the Bar

Bush at first said he’d fire anyone involved in the Valerie Plame outing. Now that Rove’s been identified as the leaker, Bush changes his mind.

From the ” target=”blank”>Washington Post:

“In June 2004, Bush was asked if he would "fire anyone found to “have leaked the agent’s name. “Yes,” he replied.”

Waxman Demands Bush Act on Treasongate

Oh my! Waxman’s on Bush’s case.

Under the executive order, you may not wait until criminal intent and liability are proved by a prosecutor. Instead, you have an affirmative obligation to take “appropriate and prompt corrective action.” And the standards of proof are much different. A criminal violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, which Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald is investigating, requires a finding that Mr. Rove “intentionally disclose[d]” the identity of a covert agent. In contrast, the administrative sanctions under Executive Order 12958 can be imposed without a finding of intent. Under the express terms of the executive order, you are required to impose administrative sanctions – such as removal of office or termination of security clearance – if Mr. Rove or other officials acted “negligently” in disclosing or confirming information about Ms. Wilson’s identity.

Waxman Demands Bush Act on Treasongate

Oh my! Waxman’s on Bush’s case.

Under the executive order, you may not wait until criminal intent and liability are proved by a prosecutor. Instead, you have an affirmative obligation to take “appropriate and prompt corrective action.” And the standards of proof are much different. A criminal violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, which Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald is investigating, requires a finding that Mr. Rove “intentionally disclose[d]” the identity of a covert agent. In contrast, the administrative sanctions under Executive Order 12958 can be imposed without a finding of intent. Under the express terms of the executive order, you are required to impose administrative sanctions – such as removal of office or termination of security clearance – if Mr. Rove or other officials acted “negligently” in disclosing or confirming information about Ms. Wilson’s identity.