Nice to know Bush ushered in a culture of responsibility

Analysis from the AP:

The decision not to charge Karl Rove shows there often are no consequences for misleading the public.

Before our trolls begin to beat the drum of "Fitzgerald didn't charge Rove - that means he's innocent!" I'll let the AP piece remind us of the truth:

In 2003, while Rove allowed the White House to tell the news media that he had no role in leaking Valerie Plame's CIA identity, the presidential aide was secretly telling the FBI the truth.

It's now known that Rove had discussed Plame's CIA employment with conservative columnist Robert Novak, who exposed her identity less than a week later, citing two unidentified senior administration officials.

Rove's truth-telling to the FBI saved him from indictment.

And by misleading reporters, the White House saved itself from a political liability during the 2004 presidential campaign.

Wow. We shouldn't forget what our AWOL president had to say about the leak. There was a press conference in June of 2004:

Q Given -- given recent developments in the CIA leak case, particularly Vice President Cheney's discussions with the investigators, do you still stand by what you said several months ago, a suggestion that it might be difficult to identify anybody who leaked the agent's name?

THE PRESIDENT: That's up to --

Q And, and, do you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found to have done so?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. And that's up to the U.S. Attorney to find the facts.[emphasis added]

Now of course we know that Bush did an Orwellian redefinition to promise to fire anyone convicted of a crime...blah, blah, blah.

President Bush said Monday that if anyone on his staff committed a crime in the CIA leak case, that person will "no longer work in my administration."

And:

Mr. Bush's latest comments marked a change of language and emphasis from his past assertions that anyone involved in leaking the name of agent Valerie Plame would be fired.

Lies and deception from the Bush Whitehouse - who'da thunk it? I've posted this before (on that other paragon of virtue, Rick Santorum), but these guys are living the line from Animal Farm:

All animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others.

And speaking of Rove, I found this (via Crooksandliars). On the one hand we have the unindicted Rove being quoted as saying:

"They may be with you for the first few bullets but they won't be there for the last tough battles."

-- Karl Rove, on John Kerry and John Murtha, Reuters, 6/13

Remember, these guys (Kerry and Murtha) served our nation and were wounded in battle. They both were awarded Purple Hearts and were given medals for valor. But when it was time for Rove to serve his country, what happened? Via talkleft, I found this at the Salt Lake Tribune.

Except for a lapse of several months, Selective Service records show presidential adviser Karl Rove escaped the draft for nearly three years at the height of the Vietnam War using student deferments.

There was even a time (when he was working in DC as the head of the College Republicans) where he wasn't in school and yet he wasn't drafted. I wonder how the head of the College Republicans during the Nixon administration was able to pull that one off.

Quite the brave man with other people's lives, I guess.