If that holds up (I don't doubt that it is true but making it stick is another thing) then it is very bad for Rove and Bush.

That is an obviously impeachable offense, and has both Bush's and Rove's direct fingerprints on it. With that, even having Gonzales fall on his sword might not be enough.

With everything the Bush cabal is guilty of, it will be somewhat ironic if this is what takes them down. But it has several tactical advantages, the Democrats and the press are united against*, it is simple enough to explain to the public**, it is obviously wrong and an abuse of office***, it has the advantage of being the final straw and it has shades of Nixon to boot.

Jay

* As opposed to the war and the information leading up to it. Too many Democrats and pundits don't want to admit their complicity in causing the war or that they where duped by obvious false information. Thus there is no obvious consensus on what went wrong and who is at fault.

** I'm pretty sure that the complexity of the crime is what kept the Plame case from blowing up even worse then it did. There where so many levels, so many connections and so much indirection that even explaining what happened would require a book. Thus it was easy for the White House to block the investigation from reaching the top.

*** Unlike Bush's various unitary executive initatives, among others. They are an attempt to undermine or bypass the constitution and normal balance of power. But there is just enough legal and moral cover and the argument abstract enough that most people just don't care.

Jay