SCHUMER URGES BUSH TO NAME WH LEAK SOURCE (cites Novak)

[kpete]

Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2005

SCHUMER URGES BUSH TO NAME WHITE HOUSE LEAK SOURCE

Yesterday in a speech in North Carolina, columnist Robert Novak said that he is 'confident the President knows who the source is,' referring to the leaking of Valerie Plame's identity to reporters. The link to the news story on Novak's speech is: http://www.newsobserver.com/722/story/377675.html

Today, Senator Chuck Schumer sent a letter to President Bush urging him to name the source of the White House official who leaked a covert CIA operative's identity to the press, including columnist Robert Novak, who said yesterday that the President knows who the source is. Schumer was the first to call for an independent investigation into this serious breach of national security after Mr. Novak's column ran. He has repeatedly called on the White House to get to the bottom of this issue.

Below is Schumer's letter:

December 14, 2005

The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I write to urge you to share with the American people the identity of columnist Robert Novak’s sources in the Valerie Plame affair, if you know them. Despite a continuing investigation by Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, we still do not know who Robert Novak’s sources were for his July 14, 2003 column, in which Ms. Plame was identified as working for the CIA.

Yesterday, during an address in Raleigh North Carolina, Mr. Novak reportedly said that he is “confident the president knows who the source is.” Given Mr. Novak’s comment that you may now know the identity of the source of the leak, you are in a position to clear this matter up quickly. Also, unlike Mr. Novak, who can claim an interest in maintaining the confidentiality of his sources, there is no similar privilege arguably preventing you from sharing such information.

You have repeatedly suggested that you would like to get to the bottom of this affair. At one point, in 2004, you suggested that anyone who was involved in leaking the name of the covert CIA operative would be fired. Therefore, in keeping with your stated desire to root out leaks, I urge you to share with the American people whatever knowledge you have about which “senior administration officials” were responsible for disclosing Ms. Plame’s identity as a CIA operative.

If you do have such knowledge, I ask that you share what you did with that information, including whether you have disclosed it to Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald in order to advance his investigation. Moreover, the public deserves to know what disciplinary actions, if any, were taken with respect to those sources, who were described as “administration officials.”

Alternatively, I urge you to make clear that you do not know the identity of source of the leak.

I – along with the American people – look forward to hearing you clarify the record on this important issue.

Respectfully,

Charles E. Schumer
http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2005/PR42115.CIA%20Leak.12.14.05.html

[Scout1071]

1. kick and rec. n/t

[still_one]

2. not bad

He is too polite in my view, though it is better than nothing

[KansDem]

3. Sen. Schumer has a better computer than I do....

I once tried typing "honorable" and "George W. Bush" in the same sentence...it wouldn't let me. Keep coming up as a potential correction during the spelling and grammar check. Apparently you can't put this two elements next to each other.

Really...

[hwmnbn]

19. bwahahaha.......

good one :rofl:

[Kansas Wyatt]

4. Well, then Georgie would have to explain when he found out.

Which would lead to, when he found out before the 2004 Presidential Election, why didn't he fire Karl Rove & Dick Cheney like he promised the American people? Which in turn would lead to, couldn't you get re-elected without them? Which would open up a lot more that the Bush Cabal doesn't want the American people knowing.

[FreedomAngel82]

6. Yep

And I believe he knows too. Remember when he gave his 2003 address he used the Niger case and he was advised to not talk about that but he did it anyways. That showed me Bush is more involved probably than we think. He only acts dumb to get away from people believing he could do it.

[Kansas Wyatt]

10. Truth be told, Bush knew exactly who was in on it before the Election.

And, he was probably in on it from the start. That garbage about Bush being pissed off at Karl Rove for being involved in it, was only a smoke screen. Sure, Bush was probably pissed, but only because Karl got caught in it and was in legal jeopardy.

[bahrbearian]

16. He didn't use it in the St. Louis address because the CIA said

it wasn't so, Colin Powell wouldn't use it at the U.N.,, but it was OK'd for the SOTU,, why?

[H2O Man]

The Cincinnati speech

of 10-7-'02. Tennet twice e-mailed Hadley, then called him, and advised him to remove the Niger reference. After it was removed, someone attempted to put it back in. It is believed it was John Bolton.

By the State of the Union speech, Hadley said he "forgot" Tenet's warning. Baloney: in three months time, guys like Hadley do not forget something this important. Further, a CIA official has stated he again warned the boys about the Niger business being false; the administration denies this, but it is certainly true.

[FreedomAngel82]

5. Of course he won't

But I'm glad they're putting pressure on him!

[Radio_Lady]

15. Thanks so much for posting this. I've been away for the day --

working with the window cleaner, and look what I missed!

[Just Me]

7. EWWW!!! ROTFLMAO!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Novak stuck himself,...and his lot,...SIMULTANEOUSLY!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

HEY, YOU ASSHOLES SAID "BRING IT ON",...NOW, BUCK UP AND LIVE WITH THE INVITATION!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Radio_Lady]

14. Robert Novak is despicable...

I hope he gets his walking papers sooner rather than later.

[Gregorian]

8. The bush administration is an illusion.

They don't actually exist. That's why we aren't getting answers. And to think that they have lied so completely and boldly. As if he would have ever gotten to the bottom of this leak on his own. It's a mirage.

I am so glad it's finally coming to a head.

[savemefromdumbya]

9. Ain't that conspiracy, OB of J?

if the President knows and says he doesn't.....ho ho ho Merry Fitzmas Chuck!

[Radio_Lady]

11. Next to my husband, I love Chuck Schumer the most!

Go get him, Chuckie.

Robert Novak really said that? I get my windows and gutters cleaned for a couple of days, and look what I missed!

[H2O Man]

21. If you looked closer

at that which was removed from your gutter, Mr. Novak may well have been there.

[Radio_Lady]

47. So, what about Robert Novak, Gutter Snipe? Does that fit? n/t

Gutter Garbage
Gutter Goon

This may be prejudiced against older people, but I hate the way his jowl swings when he speaks, and I don't much like his voice -- or his words.

[usregimechange]

12. Kick

[Radio_Lady]

13. OB of J? Oh, I get it -- Obstruction of Justice. Sometime the anagrams

of the Internet really get me!

[usregimechange]

17. Kick

[jazzjunkysue]

18. Beautiful. Spill or deny, but go on record with something, asshole.

Truly beautiful.

A+

:bounce:

[bklyncowgirl]

20. Nice work, Senator. Bush has known all along.

Either Novak is lying--and that's distinctly possible--he's scum--or the President is involved in obstruction of justice.

Fitzgerald knows who Novak's source was. If he didn't know this, Novak would be sitting in a jail cell. Novak's source is someone other people are willing to throw their bodies in front of in order to protect.

If Novak's source is not Bush or Cheney that it was someone who was ordered to leak this information to Novak by Bush or Cheney--someone who could be persuaded to testify against them.

Fitzgerald is being extremely careful. If you're going to take a shot at the king you got to be sure he goes down.

(Metaphorically speaking of course, Agent Mike)

[H2O Man]

22. Novak's first source

wasn't Bush. I found it interesting that Chris Matthews confirmed what many of us have suspected for some time: that the "rumors" in Washington circles is that VP Cheney was Novak's mysterious first source. When one considers the timing, with the discussion with Libby about Plame and how to handle the media's questions about Wilson, Libby's calling two journalists, and Cheney one .....

[bklyncowgirl]

24. I think they were working together but it was Bush's idea.

Cheney--or someone working for him--probably was Novak's source but I believe (with no real evidence to back it up)that it was Bush's idea.

[PRETZEL]

32. That rumor about Cheney seems pretty right on to me,

But I'm still of the opinion that this was a coordinated effort by the WHIG. By having so many people involved in both naming Ms. Plame and her role within the CIA as well as being confirming sources for the journalists involved could also well be used to promote the notion that Ms. Plame's name and job was well known within Washington. I'm still of the opinion that they knew Novak would have no problem using Ms. Plame's name and reporting it as her being a CIA operative. It's my belief that they also knew that once that info hit the streets then every body and their brother would then try to scoop everyone else as to just what Ms. Plame's role within the CIA was. They (WHIG) threw the ball onto the court and then let everyone else fight for possession. They knew that it wouldn't take long for the connection of Ms. Plame to Brewster-Jennings would be made and the added benefit of having a CIA operation that, quite possibly, was getting in their way being effectively neutered.

[FreedomAngel82]

37. Novak is a mouth piece for someone higher up

Not Bush but someone else who is giving Bush his power. So maybe Novak was sending Bush a message. :shrug:

[Neil Lisst]

23. Bush is the source.

It's what makes sense. Bush found out from the CIA report, and then he blabbed it to Karl Rove and Bob Woodward.

[H2O Man]

25. Hadley

and Libby were Rove's sources.

Woodward's source has already spoken to Fitzgerald about his conversation with Bob. It was Stephen Hadley.

The Plame scandal, like the build-up to the war in Iraq, was a VP operation.

[Neil Lisst]

29. Hadley was working for Condi at the time as her asst at NSC

He's also the one who got the email from Rove about planting the story with Cooper.

How do you know Hadley was Rove's source? The president learned on AF one, and he's a blabber mouth.

[H2O Man]

38. The AF1 story

which is a favorite of the VP's office, was examined and found not to be the root of the effort to out Plame. It is later in story, after people like Hadley and Libby were aware of Plame's identity.

Hadley was one of the original people with knowledge of Plame. His connection with Bolton will become news soon. One thing that stands out for me is a couple reports from Raw Story from about a month ago, that mentioned David Wurmser. I think that Raw Story was on to something big. Wurmser's role as the head of the PCEG, one of the first of the administration's "intel groups" (it was absorbed by the OSP) may be key to understanding why Plame was targeted. I've been reading and re-reading some of the information about Hahhah, Hadley, and Cheney ..... and the Raw Story focus on Wurmser stands out in my mind. Wouldn't surprise me if in a week or so, others are reviewing RS's information on Wurmser.

[PRETZEL]

33. quick question for you H2O Man,

What is your opinion of this being both a Pres. and VP operation, but for different reasons? There's no argument whatsoever that both Bush and Cheney are vindictive little SOB's. Bush's being personal as he wanted to get Wilson for what he said and for Cheney wanting to get Wilson for blowing a hole in the admin's arguments for war. Is it possible that both Bush and Cheney knew that Wilson's wife worked for the CIA, but only Cheney who knew exactly what she did for them?

[H2O Man]

35. I do not believe

that Bush was an active participant. It was too important an operation to include him. I intend that as a serious remark.

[PRETZEL]

36. thanks,

I know you to be one of the most educated on this subject.

[H2O Man]

40. I find it an interesting case.

While I am not a fan of the president, and find Rove obnoxious, I think that the Iraq war and the Plame scandal are far more closely tied to the VP's office, which had long ties to the neoconservatives. Bush and Rove were simply the vehicle the neocons rode to power in 2000. Neither Bush nor Rove could have located Iraq on a globe before 2000, much less have detailed its history beyond being an enemy of Bush1. The neocons had targeted it for an Israeli attack in the early '90s, and Dick Cheney knew all about its oil resources.

[PRETZEL]

42. If I may add a little,

The one issue that really (at least from what I see) is Brewster-Jennings. I'm really concerned that less was made of a covert CIA front company being exposed, Ms. Plame not withstanding. But if I may add from what I remember about Cheney is that he was very much dead set against Bush Sr. not taking Saddaam out the first time. And since most of the PNAC crowd had their roots in the Reagan Admin your point about this being a long standing plan does make sense.

[FreedomAngel82]

39. Karl Rove couldn't have gotten

that information though. He didn't have that security clerance. I do think Bush knows though. I don't think he was involved, to protect him, though

[H2O Man]

41. I think Karl did

have the security clearance.

on edit: I suspect that is why democrats have requested his clearance be removed.

[IronLionZion]

26. Bush is the turtle on the fence post

You know he didn't get there by himself. He would still be ruining companies in Texas if it weren't for Rove and Cheney. Why would a corrupt puppet for corporate America expose the people that made him?

What would he do without those two? I really think he may have 3 years of vacations in Crawford....which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.

[Supersedeas]

30. the Turtle who promised that his Administration would FULLY cooperate

[emulatorloo]

27. kick n/t

[rpgamerd00d]

28. Wow, excellent letter, it screws Bush either way

Either:

A) He admits he knows and did nothing about it (no firing, no reporting the name to Fitz), and gets impeached.

or

B) He denies he knows, and then faces impeachment when Fitz discovers its a lie and he really did know.


As the makers of Guiness say,

"BRILLIANT!"

[Amonester]

45. The world just hopes there's no C) option...

Like in

C) The little pantsee king just says nothing (makes a u-turn and runs to the nearest locked-up door as soon, and as often, as he is asked about it -- like he usually does...), and in about a week (or less... -- as usual again...), all "professional" reporters & "journalists" out there just forget about the whole thing...

How in the world such a despicable criminal of the highest dangerousity for all living souls on this unique planet "managed" to get away from all the disgusting crimes he commited in the past up to this day is beyond... the entire planet (minus all freaps...).

[WI_DEM]

31. So when is the special prosecuter going to interview Bush?

Maybe we can get Bush for lying under oath.

[PRETZEL]

34. kick n/t

[robbedvoter]

43. Schumer's previous letter to W: when did you find out?

After the NY Daily news article saying that W knew all along and scolded Rove right from the start.
So, writing "you may know now the identity" is deliciously disingenuous.

[Nothing Without Hope]

44. ***VIDEO of Novak's bombshell and Olberman citing Schumer's letter to Bush

Thanks to our liveoaktx for this clip at Can-o-Fun :yourock:



Novak on Bush, Schumer on Bush- Dec 14 05
VIDEO (Windows media): http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/novakbushcialeakdec1405.wmv

[McCamy Taylor]

46. Novak is cute when he gets pissy.