[mewzilla]

Somehow I don't think this guy's covering for a Pubbie...

[Miss Marple]

This confirms my theory that the information came from someone in the Kerry camp, and not from the President nor anyone in his administration.

If Scooter Libby had given that information to Cooper (who is married to Mandy Grunewald), Cooper would have testified in a New York minute "for the good of the country."

[Mr Ramsbotham]

...the underlying principle remains democracy's need for a free press and the free press's need to operate with a minimum of government interference, and to protect confidential sources.

There is absolutely nothing in the Constitution that references the press's need to protect confidential sources.

[JudgemAll]

The law on the legal privilege of journalists to avoid being compelled to testify in a criminal inquiry is notoriously sketchy, but the courts have repeatedly recognized that reporters' work is entitled to a degree of protection.

Why would journalists be considered more reasonable than the rest?

It is not the journalists who decide, it is the militia which in the end knows where its safety lays and which should take control of rioting media whores (promoting pograms and disarmament, amongst others), even if getting the leftist rioting judges' blessings.

[Ann Archy]

Aren't these squealing pigs the same ones that DEMANDED an investigation and JAIL forthe offenders??? LOL!!

[SpinyNorman]

"But no one should be fooled by the unusual circumstances here - the underlying principle remains democracy's need for a free press and the free press's need to operate with a minimum of government interference, and to protect confidential sources."

Or, in the case of the NYTimes, no sources at all (Jayson Blair), or the fact that they get their marching orders from DNC talking points.

Why doesn't the NYTimes fight for a free and UNBIASED press, or at minimum, one that admits it's biases.

[Steve_Seattle]

As far as I'm concerned, if the press is party to leaking classified information, they should not be above the law. I personally don't give a damn about their confidential sources; a "confidential source" can be fabricated out of thin air. The press needs to be held accountable for what they say. They can do a lot of damage with unattributed sources, can play all sorts of games and lie all sorts of lies.