DRAMA IN THE NEWS

"Just 25% of Americans say the White House is fully cooperating with the federal investigation into the leak of [Valerie Plame] Wilson's identity, The Wall Street Journal reports, according to a new ABC News poll. That's "down from about half when the investigation began nearly two years ago. Moreover, 75% said [Karl] Rove should lose his job if he leaked classified information." Naturally King Georgie Boy has renegged on earlier declarations that he'd fire anyone involved in the leak.

Bear in mind, this report by the Los Angeles Times: "Regardless of Rove's legal liability, a description of his role [to prosecutors] runs contrary to earlier White House statements" that he and Cheney Boy's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, "were not involved in the unmasking of Wilson's wife, and it suggests they were part of a campaign to discredit Wilson." Also:

A source directly familiar with information provided to prosecutors said Rove's interest was so strong that it prompted questions in the White House. When asked at one point why he was pursuing the diplomat so aggressively, Rove reportedly responded: "He's a Democrat."

Meantime, The New York Times replied this morning to Greg Palast's argument about Judy Miller's refusal to reveal the sources who leaked to her. And finally, if you haven't read Frank Rich's take on all this, do so now. He begins: "Well, of course, Karl Rove did it." And concludes: "Seasoned audiences of presidential scandal know that there's only one certainty ahead: the timing of a Karl Rove resignation." In between he offers a more beguiling analysis than anyone else's. If his prediction turns out to be right, Rich can chalk it up to his familiarity with the minor Shakespearean characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in "Hamlet," not to mention Tom Stoppard's play, during his many years as a drama critic.

Postscript: Leon Freilich cites Title 50, Chapter 15, Subchapter IV, Section 421 of the U.S. code on "Protection Of Identities Of Certain United States Undercover Intelligence Officers, Agents, Informants, And Sources." Skipping the legal technicalities, his commentary boils down to this:

KING KARL

The law's the law,
By Bush and by Jove!
But there are exceptions
For royals like Rove.