Karl Rove and George Bush

A little background. First we know that Bush claimed in summer 2004 that he would fire whoever leaked Valerie Plame's name. Second we know that Karl Rove leaked that name. Third we know that Bush now claims that he will fire anyone "who committed a crime." DC Dan has a concise take on Bush's exacting terminology.

Before moving on to the duplicity of GW Bush, let's first ruminate on the interesting idea that Bush actually has to pledge that he will remove criminals from his administration. I'd say you can't set the bar any lower than that.

Now, from our set of facts above (1,2,3), we have to draw one of two conclusions: either Bush knew all along that Rove was the leaker and has been lying to the American people about it or Rove hid his involvement from Bush. Really, can anyone offer any other explanation? Either Rove told Bush or he didn't, and if Rove told Bush, then Bush has been lying to America since the moment Rove told him.

Now that scenario is damning, especially to a President who likes -- against all evidence to the contrary -- to portray himself as honest and full of integrity. So obviously, it would be more comforting to believe that Rove hid his involvement from Bush, duping the President.

But the second scenario is only slightly more comforting, because that means that one of Bush's most trusted advisors, the man dubbed "Bush's Brain," withholds information from the President and is more of an acting loose cannon than an advisor. In other words, it should be hard for Bush to put his faith in a man who has lied to him.

That Rove still has his job doesn't speak well for Bush. It certainly shows clearly that he is not a man of his word. More importantly, it leads to speculation that Bush can't afford to fire Rove -- either because Rove is too important to the operation of the White House (i.e. he really is Bush's brain) or Rove knows something that would make a public divorce very very embarrassing.

Check out this White House press briefing from way back in 2003 to see how solidly paid liar Scott Mclellan insists Karl Rove simply was not involved and that Bush has specific knowledge that he wasn't. It doesn't take a genius to realize either Bush or Rove or both lied through their teeth.

If the lapdog press doesn't get complacent, this story should make for an interesting late summer in the swamp.