Bush's Hobson's Choice

So which is it?

Either Bush really had no idea what the neocons, led, emboldened, and abetted by Cheney and the neocons, were doing; or he knew full well about the plan to discredit Joseph Wilson.

If he had no idea, then his image as a strong leader heading up a highly disciplined White House flies right out the window, and the suspicion that he's just a sock puppet put in front of the people to hide the Cheney/neocon plan for world hegemony and self-enrichment looks more and more like the reality. The flight suit, the cowboy business, the so-called war on terror -- all an illusion, just like Oz the Great and Terrible.

If he knew what was going on, then for all his talk about national security, he participated in a scheme to discredit a political foe by leaking the name of said foe's CIA NOC wife, thereby putting not just individuals, but national security at risk.

So which is it?

Meanwhile, the situation with Turdblossom continues to evolve. The wingnuts are already spinning that Rove has been "exonerated", but that's not necessarily the case. I could be wrong, but I suspect that like most bullies, when it comes to the choice between talking and being Billy Joe Bob's prison bitch, Rove is going to sing like a canary.

WaPo implies that Libby could be the small fish being pressured to net the big one:

The biggest piece of unfinished business involves Rove. Fitzgerald appeared set to charge Rove with making false statements until the White House deputy chief of staff provided new information on Tuesday that gave the prosecutor what two people described as "pause."

It is unclear what information Rove turned over. It is also unclear if it will be enough to prevent a grand jury from indicting him in the weeks ahead. If he decides to seek charges against Rove, Fitzgerald would present the evidence to a new grand jury because the one that indicted Libby expired yesterday and its term cannot be extended.

"The Special Counsel has advised Mr. Rove that he has made no decision about whether or not to bring charges," Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin, said in a statement. "We are confident that when the Special Counsel finishes his work, he will conclude that Mr. Rove has done nothing wrong."

Fitzgerald refused to comment on Rove. A source close to Rove added, "There is still the chance that Mr. Rove could face indictment." Lawyers involved in the case said Fitzgerald is likely to put pressure on Libby to provide evidence against Rove or other potential targets.

I wonder who the other potential targets are? Perhaps even BIGGER fish?

Meanwhile, the sheer political theatre of the whole mess is both thrilling and terrifying to watch. And Patrick Fitzgerald is already being touted as the new Eliot Ness. My guess is that the movie script is already being written and pitched to Hollywood studios?

So who's YOUR pick to play Fitzgerald? Costner's too old, Cruise is too weird.

My money's on Peter Saarsgard. AFTER he finishes The Tucker Carlson Story.