The game is afoot. The Republican leadership and their lackeys are spinning themselves sick to produce the alternate reality that Rove is not only innocent of any wrongdoing but might, in fact, merit awards of distinction for his actions.
Those in the reality-based world may rightly point out, "What the Republicans say has little, if any, impact on Fitzgerald's investigation of the Plame leak and the resulting prosecution!" How very true and reality-based of you. But befouling Fitzgerald's case is NOT the ultimate goal of the spin coming from the Republicans. There is a whole, big world of public opinion out there in America, and THAT is the target of the Republican's spin - to turn public opinion toward sympathy, if not outright groveling gratitude, for Rove.
Regardless of the outcome of Fitzgerald's investigation and prosecution, I fear that Rove will be absolved of all official guilt. How could this be when we have the very hand that he chewed off trying to get it out of the Plame cookie jar?
What the Republicans are truly worried about is not Rove's innocence or guilt but the political impact Rove's actions may have in the world of public opinion (well, at least until the Republicans get all the electronic voting machines rigged). That's where the elections are held. That's where today's events have impact. That's where politicians live and die. And that's why the Republicans are red in the face in their attempts to pinch off a new reality for America to consume.
The world of public opinion only needs to buy into enough of the Republican's reality to:
- absolve them of most of the political responsibility for the Plame leak.
- accept the Presidential pardon of Rove if he's convicted of high crimes.
Sputter! Gag! Pardon Rove!?!
Yep. Fitzgerald's investigation (regardless of his sympathies) is as good as whore piss in light of a Presidential pardon. "How can any President pardon a government employee that has leaked state secrets, compromising National Security?" you might wail. Pardon my French, mon ami, but it has happened before.
And Bush owes Rove big time.
Of course, all this depends on the success of the Republican spin machine.
The clever analysis and legal chatter published in places like Kos is all well and good (and very much in line with the Standard Liberal Approach to issues and controversies) but won't convince the average Joe who won't understand what the hell you're saying. If Republicans can paint war heroes as conniving, self-promoting cowards to get elected, re-inventing Rove for the American people can't be that hard to do.
The Republican Noise Machine will kick into overdrive when and if indictments are handed down. They will pick through and sort the facts of the investigation (as you know they will), playing them one against the other to justify and support whatever vomit they are spewing out now. Of course, there will be ample opportunities for the Republicans to abandon old positions and rationales in favor of new ones around which the facts can be better fixed.
The success of coaxing of public opinion toward sympathy and respect for Rove and the Bush administration will trump whatever charges are brought up by Fitzgerald because it is public support that validates political behavior, no matter how outrageous to the reality-based community. We've all seen it happen before.
What politician in their right mind, such as a Democrat, is going to put an American Hero in jail against the will of public opinion, regardless of law? Democrats need to worry about the impact of Rove's actions on public opinion in emotional terms and work that angle as soon as possible.
If not, Rove walks.