McClellan on Plame (This has to hurt!)

Real Clear Politics ^ | June 2, 2008 | Robert Novak

[EODGUY]

Based on the few times I watched and grimaced at the pathetic performance of McClellan as press secretary, I would contend that he not only had a ghostwriter for his fictional piece of propaganda, but needed someone to read it to him.

EODGUY

[Cinnamon Girl]

"....I suck."

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>He does not mention that Armitage turned himself in to the Justice Department even before Patrick Fitzgerald was named as special prosecutor.

I didn't know that.

Thanks Bob Novak. McClellan is a POS.

[Syncro]

Of course Novak could have cleared all of this up before it blew all out of proportion also.

He decided to play games instead and IMO is also culpable in the ensuing problems for Libby, Rove et al.

[lexusppd]

"Carol Strayhorn (McClellan's mom) has been involved in Texas politics for several decades at local and statewide levels, running for office as a Democrat, Republican and as an independent. She served as the state's Republican Comptroller from 1999-2007 and ran for governor as an independent in 2006."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5808374.html

[Reagan Man]

Journalists don’t reveal confidential sources. This was a non issue that was blown into a serious case with legal ramifications for everyone involved. The people to blame are Valarie Plame and Joe Wilson, not Bob Novak.

[Enchante]

"I think David Brock FLIPPED Scotty"

Please, I don't want to hear about David Brock's sex life.....yuck. :^)

[Doohickey]

He does not mention that Armitage turned himself in to the Justice Department even before Patrick Fitzgerald was named as special prosecutor.

WTF? Why was there a special prosecutor if Justice already know the source of the leak? How many millions of taxpayer dollars did Fitz and the Democratic Party piss away to find out something that Justice already know? WTFH? This pisses me off than anything that tool McClellan can write.

[TigersEye]

I will never forgive Patrick Fitzgerald for his blatant ineptitude.

I agree with your disgust about lynching Scooter Libby. I can't accept ineptitude as a reason or excuse for Fitzgerald though. I don't think it's possible for the lowliest prosecutor to be that inept and Fitzgerald had already proved his expertise in the profession. I think this whole thing was criminal to the core.

Is it possible that there are no laws addressing such extremely unethical and malicious behavior done under the color of law? I don't know but I doubt it.

[TigersEye]

Amazing! I very much agree with the brief. The left calls the Patriot Act an assault on the BORs yet this trial attacks the 1st Amendment like some Soviet show trial.

[haroldeveryman]

“ALL of the big autobiographies have a ghost writer”.

OK, but ghostwriters normally help with crafting the book. They don’t determine the content. When Novak notes that McClellan’s book closely “mimics the Democratic line” he implies that whatever ghostwriters McClellan used set the agenda.

[TigersEye]

Apparently, when it comes to Democrat Special Investigators, there is “no controlling legal authority.” Democrat contempt for the rule of law is growing bolder with each passing year.

[TigersEye]

Exactly!

[alwaysconservative]

LOLOLOL! My thought this morning was that Scotty boy has always had delusions of competency.

[Ulysse]

Would be interesting to know who helped and funded McClellan
to do his dirty little job only now after years as BUSH’s close collaborator...
A little look on Bank accounts...?

[Skooz]

bump

[dalight]

This has already been discussed extensively. His publisher "Public Affairs" is a small house that is owned by a man who is partners with George Soros. Doesn't take much analysis to understand the meaning of that little fact. And, add to this, McClellan's assertion that the Publisher helped him with his recollections and even directly modified the manuscript.. you are left with something like what Novak is asserting.

McClellan mostly sold his name and reputation and the frame of his story to provide a vehicle for what was hoped to be another Richard Clarke style hatchet job. But, the Blogosphere didn't exist like it does now back then.. and poor Scott's wheels are falling off.

[Syncro]

Journalists don’t reveal confidential sources.

My post showed no inclination towards his doing so. Moot point.

This was a non issue that was blown into a serious case with legal ramifications for everyone involved.

True, and Novak knew that but did not report that fact. He could have done so, but would not have gotten as much media face time.

The people to blame are Valarie Plame and Joe Wilson, not Bob Novak.

Two out of three ain't bad. Novac is still culpable for not setting the record straight. He instead let the wrong people be punished so his star would rise. As you can see, he knew about Armitage.

[jwalsh07]

How and why McClellan changed is a story so far untold.

The easy answer is that he never changed. He's always been a scumbag in the body of a Pillsbury Doughboy.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>>My post showed no inclination towards his doing so. Moot point.

Huh. If journalists don't reveal their confidential sources, then how can you hold Novak culpable? Once the grand jury's litigation phase was completed and Fitzgerald had his "fall guy", Novak gave numerous public accounts of the events involving his part in the Plame-Wilson Affair. Can't blame him for keeping his mouth shut until it was safe to speak out.

>>>>>As you can see, he knew about Armitage.

OMG! Armitage was Novak's source, his confidential source!