As for public opinion, it's abundantly clear that the Bush administration doesn't really care about the opinion of anyone other than their base, so that can be discounted.

As far as Fitzgerald goes, you have to wonder if it wouldn't be "disrespectful" to Karl at this point to not just pardon him immediately if he actually does get indicted. If Bush isn't going to fire him just because he made both the President and the press secretary look like idiots and/or liars, why would he let a little think like an idictment on "technicalities" like perjury, obstruction of justice, or espionage come between friends?

We have yet to see just how brazenly corrupt this administration really can get.

Awwww, let's not "disrespect" fat fuck Karl, just 'cause he lied and cheated and killed people and stepped over anything and anybody that got in his way. Yeah, let's give old Karl a break. He's not such a bad guy, if you overlook all that lying and smearing and ruining people's lives forever thing he does so well.

There is no amount of bad stuff suitable for a vile pig like Karl Rove.

Vote out all Republicans because of Karl Rove!!

Does anyone REALLY expect Bush to fire his brain? I'm truly not trying to be facetious but it appears pretty clear to me that while Bush is mean hearted and callous and a liar, he's not the brightest wick in any candle and I think he may actually be barely smart enough to know that. If you were the most powerful person in the world would you cut off your own head (not your foot, not your arm.... your head) to silence the masses?

If only some fore-thinking reporter could have gotten George to say, "Read my lips. No Plame leakers."

Maybe the point is too obvious, but the reason there is no turnover in this administration is because these people calling all the shots are not going to fire themselves. Bush is not in charge of that White House and everyone knows it, but nobody says it. The Washington Post article yesterday stating that WH advisors are considering whether Karl can stay or go is one of a million examples. Why are WH advisors debating this point? This should be clearly a decision that would be considered and made by the President himself in any other administration.

This President is not running this country, he is not running his own White House! It's obvious. Let's get those with press passes to ask why.

Firing Rove would require Bush and Co. to do somthing close to ethical. I wonder if the underlings that scamper away like tunnel spiders from Bush as he salks around the "White" House see it anyway differenlty. My mom always used to say that people who lie and act unethical must have had poor potty trainng...

I can only echo what the others have said here. Bush, Rove and the other thugs in this vile administration and vile party have shown no respect for the poor, the disadvantaged, minorities, scientists, thinkers, artists, liberals or peaceful activists.

Talking about "disrespect" is not going to save your ass when you're the next one who's going to be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail.

Robert

Todays lesson: Keeping your word is disrespectful.

And now, my wayward Salon readers, let's review how this relates to the basic precepts of Newthink:

Illegal--but politically expedient--behavior is Hardball Politics, and if you love America, you will realize this is Good.

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH!

Lieing under oath is not perjury if it is done for the good of the War for Oil. All hail Oil! (The faithful shall be redeemed by His Holy Lawyers.)

WAR IS PEACE!

The ends (pre-emtive war based on false pretenses and lies) justify the means (actively persecuting dissenters who would publish Untruths)

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY!