robert luskin
Luskin Sez Fitzgerald Sez Rove’s Off the Hook
Dammit! Our use of that picture isn’t ironic anymore!
Karl Rove, according to his lawyer, will not be indicted. We were skeptical of Rove indictment rumors way before it was cool, so we feel slightly vindicated, but also fucking depressed that there won’t be a big Rove show trial to entertain us next winter. We’ll have to make do with Scooter. Also, our skepticism wasn’t skeptical enough, as we predicted an indictment a couple dozen times, but so did everyone else in this town. Seriously, with the possible exception of Robert Luskin, everyone was predicting an eventual indictment, followed by aforementioned show trial, then acquittals and pardons all around.
It’s a sad, sad day for indictment fans everywhere tonight. But Rove has shown precisely how much you’re allowed to lie to a grand jury and get away with it, a boon to future Atwaterian fixers.
Though, hell, maybe Luskin’s just lying. Keep hope alive, everyone!
Leak Counsel Won’t Charge Rove, Lawyer Announces [NYT]
READ MORE: indictments, karl rove, leaks, patrick fitzerald, plamegate, robert luskin, top
How’s Karl Rove Doing?
He was either demoted and shamed and reined in, or this is no difference at all and he’s just as powerful as ever. The truth, as always, is probably somewhere in between, but we more or less stand by our original take: Rove’s done trying to get policy shit passed, and is moving on to election-winning and image-managing. Which he’s actually good at. Though hopefully he won’t be too distracted by that whole upcoming indictment thing:
Just as the news broke Wednesday about Scott McClellan resigning as White House press secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove shedding some of his policy duties, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald met with the grand jury hearing evidence in the CIA leak case and introduced additional evidence against Rove, attorneys and other US officials close to the investigation said.
The grand jury session in federal court in Washington, DC, sources close to the case said, was the first time this year that Fitzgerald told the jurors that he would soon present them with a list of criminal charges he intends to file against Rove in hopes of having the grand jury return a multi-count indictment against Rove.
Hey, that oughtta keep us entertained over the summer. And Luskin’s no longer using the “not a target” line. Real shame, that.
Disclaimer: This is very possibly just lefty wishful thinking. Though if their spirits haven’t been broken yet, we don’t know what else can be done.
Grand Jury Hears Evidence Against Rove [Truthout]
SHAKE UP! SHAKE UP! SHAKE UP! [WP] (not actual headline, unfortunately)
READ MORE: crime, indictments, karl rove, leaks, patrick fitzgerald, plamegate, robert luskin
Sleeping With The Enemy II: Guess Who’s Riding Donkey Now?
Both Karl Rove and the president share an affinity for personal attorneys with indiscriminate spending habits. Harriet Miers, meet Robert Luskin. Not only did his firm Patton Boggs go for Gore in 2000, but the man hoping to get doughboy out of the soup plays for the other team on a regular basis, too. Via Petrelis Files:
Luskin’s Federal Election Commission records show all of his donations, except one, went to Democratic candidates. I particularly like how one recipient of his largesse, Barrow of Georgia, defeated an incumbent GOP congressman, in prime Southern Bush country.
That’d be $2,750 in overall largesse to the Dems, as compared to the piddling sum of $750 to the Base. These ledger figures have rumpled-seersucker-to-court written all over them. The “I’m cheap as shit, you must acquit” gambit will work. Trust him.
READ MORE: harriet miers, judith miller, karl rove, patrick fitzgerald, robert luskin