Think Progress has a tidbit that, if true, could completely change the dynamics of the last three years of President George Bush’s term — and note that we said “if” true:
Near the end of a round table discussion on ABC’s This Week, George Stephanopoulos dropped this bomb:
Definitely a political problem but I wonder, George Will, do you think it’s a manageable one for the White House, especially if we don’t know whether Fitzgerald is going to write a report or have indictments but if he is able to show as a source close to this told me this week, that President Bush and Vice President Cheney were actually involved in some of these discussions.
Of course, as we read this today on Oct. 2, 2005 with no indication that this is indeed a fact, you have to wonder “what source?” But it’s also hard to believe Stephanopoulos would risk his credibility by just tossing something like this out there (or would he?).
Think Progress thinks this would explain a lot of things in the increasingly murky developments swirling around Plamegate — such as Bush answering questions from the prosecutor. But we do agree with TP on one thing:
It would pretty much implode this administration’s credibility, given White House statements on this case — even factoring in the revised standard about axing people involved in it (the sudden change that was made to adapt to Karl Rove being a person of interest in the case). There would be all kinds of calls for some kind of Congressional hearings or action (to say the least). And even if nothing came of it, the administration would be more a dead duck than lame duck in terms of getting major goals accomplished due to the controversy.
If this turns out to be a bunch of baseless speculation or journalistic overreaching (which it could be) Steph will be yet a few more steps down the credibility ladder. Journalists and talk show hosts DO face consequences for their performances in terms of credibility as well.
But the comment raises an almost mind-boggling possibility.
UPDATE: Watch the VIDEO HERE.
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Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.