From Think Progress:
Day 6: WH Press Corps Silent on Rove
The White House just released the transcript of today’s Gaggle.
For the fourth straight time since his lawyer admitted that Rove was one of Matt Cooper’s sources, no member of the White House press corps asked a question about Rove’s role. (And there are plenty of questions to ask.)
A major figure in the White House is deeply entangled in a major scandal. Why is the White House press corps ignoring the story?
Can anyone concoct a reasonable theory for why the press doesn’t think that it is newsworthy that Karl Rove may be indicted soon?
I’m thinking that it might have something to do with the same possible reason that they were (and are) so reluctant to take up the DSM, or other things related to the run up to the invasion and WMD…
Somehow, somewhere, they share culpability.
Could it be that every major news organization is now completely owned by the friends of G W Bush and therefore every reporter has been told on pain of dismissal that no one is to ask GW or the WH press office about Rove. I don’t know and it pains me to see what I once cherished as an America, turn into a washed out compliant self deprecating shell of its once proud and defiant self.
Our 4th estate has become a paper tiger, lead on a leash by the reichwing conservatives who want nothing more that complete and total control of the USA.
Maybe it’s because they don’t think he will be indicted,and I am curious to see how this will play out. In general I think White house press corp. are pretty spineless.
They are spineless. And they’re scared shitless to be the one who asked the question that’ll be replayed on the news over and over. That kind of fame they fear.
They are spineless because they receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries, they fear they will be denied access to the top dogs and they crave only the desire to viewed as the top dog in their industry.
LO, if only Scott I am a craven dog, McClellan would call once, just once on Helen Thomas, why that old arab, playing on Ann I maybe a bitch but I am a rich bitch Coulters slam against her, just might rip ole scotty boy a new A**hole. Would I pay money to see that, you betcha.
Oh by the way, you betcha is my son’s newest saying, after he heard me say it to his mother. lol
On the note that was blogged by Ghostdancer earlier, One can only hope that somewhere out there, there is just one maybe two that don’t give a crap about that big fat paycheck or the mortgage but put integrity and honesty, the pursuit of truth above all else, especially material things. If they would only think about all the book and movie rights that would come out of them exposing these criminals. Just one could do it…if they allowed him/her to live.
Because they also don’t think that having their reputations, careers, and access shot out of town from a cannon is newsworthy either?
Our Washington press isn’t free. It’s held hostage by access.
I like the cannon analogy.
Hmmm…think it has anything to do with the fact that they have become nothing more than a bunch of spineless, scum-sucking, sycophantic sleazebags?
Can it be that every single one of them is or works for corporate whores for BushCheneyCo?
At least with this one (as opposed to the DSM, etc) we don’t need the press’s help. Karl is already in a heap o’ trouble regardless of if the MSM asks about it or not.
Though now that I think about it, that does kind of make it even stranger…hmmm…
Btw, Booman — that’s a hell of a title. It puts the focus where it should be.
Last time I saw the gaggle on C-SPAN there were only about 15 reporters in a smallish room. Looked like they all shopped the same stores.
Could it be that the investigation involves many more individuals (including reporters) than we might imagine? And that reporters are gunshy after seeing one of their own marched off to jail?
I think you may just have hit the proverbial nail right on it’s hammer fearing proverbial head.
a week or so ago when they grilled Scotty about the meaning of “last throes.” I was feeling a bit hopeful. Maybe this time since the subject is Rove himself spines are again disintegrating. He looks so harmless, but he can smile and smile and still…
(my probably bothched attempt at a Shakespearean reference)
It’s freaken mind boggeling that any questions concerning Rove are not being asked, it’s like the 800 pound gorilla just sitting there staring at them while everyone pretends it’s not there.
I’m sorry to say I thought at least one of the WHgaggles would have felt some stirrings of being a true journalist and simply did their job by asking questions about Rove…silly me. The WHpress have castrated themselves just so they can have access-but access for what-being stenographers.
Oh yeah, my theory is pretty basic. They are simply craven chickenshit assholes sucking up to power-in hopes of getting a cute nickname like turdblossom I guess from the Chimperor himself.
Access to the President. Rove controls it, they feel they need it. They’re terrified of losing their position if they ask the wrong questions or draw attention to the wrong facts.
if Helen Thomas has been allowed to ask a question in the 5 + years that Bushco has been in office.
Can’t remember offhand but I think she did ask a few questions early on which is what had gotten her banished to the back of the press room instead of her traditional front row seat. And I think she ended up retiring? What’s the point if Scotty refuses to call on her.
For example they are using this term
drain the swamp.
Words are very important in our struggle against propaganda
and I take exception to those words.
They are being used over and over again in regard to
eliminating poverty in developing countries [a very
good thing]in order to foil al Qaeda recruitment.
[a very bad thing.]
This expression is demeaning to people. Canadian
Stephen Lewis, UN special envoy to Africa for
AIDS said today that he has heard claims that African
orphans are future al Qaeda members but he has met some
of these orphans. It is a defamation to these
disadvantaged, struggling people to claim that they are
future criminals or ‘swamp dwellers.’ It is an
unfortunate phrase and I can think of a hundred better
ways to express preventing al Qaeda recruitment.
The white house is full of vindictive murderous gangsters. I’m always surprised when a reporter dares anything. Who isn’t afraid of these swine?
of Hunter Thompson.
Tell us how you really feel, Alice 🙂
I suspect Rove’s carrying a genuine Shrubbian “get out of jail free” card in his wallet and the press corps knows it. So asking the question makes you an outsider, which is bad, and makes Karl mad, which is worse… because he’s entirely likely to shut out EVERYONE if ANYONE asks…
Agents of the Pentagon’s MKULTRA project have set up a system in the White house press room that pumps a mind altering drug into the room during briefings. This drug causes reporters to have an unreasonable fear of retaliation against them by prominent members of the regime if they dare to challenge them.
is this a blatant pandering to the honorable members of The Reynolds Aluminum Brigade recently dishonorably discharged from DKOs… or… are you actually working in concert with Kos in an attempt to draw them out of hiding here and get a better bead on them…? ; )
Think about it… do you actually want a reasonable theory about anything from ME…? Anyhow… IMHO, it’s simple… Karl IS the press…
more tinfoil hats. They were my favorite thing to read over there, so sad to see them go.
Tinfoil hat wearers unite!
great site!
tin foil isn’t just for baked potatoes anymore. in the bush era they should be standard issue equipment!
make sure that you put an airhole in that…
what I want from you are pictorial representations of the absurdity we are currently witnessing on all fronts. And you deliver!
Maybe we should write to the members of the press corps and ask them directly. I was able to find a list of them here, but it’s mainly biographical info:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/administration/whbriefing/correspondents.html Maybe you can pick one or two an hunt down their contact info.
Also the White House Correspondents Assn has a web page ttp://www.whca.net, with a phone number, 202-452-4836. Didn’t see an email.
You can however take the White House Press Area Remodeling Survey. Hmmmm, how about recommending more windows…
There’s nothing better than being ridiculed. Big George was right – there IS a kinder, gentler way.