Rove Worrier

Libby Case Not Dismissed

Toni Locy writes for the Associated Press: "A federal judge refused Thursday to dismiss charges against I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, the former top White House aide who was indicted on perjury and obstruction charges last year in the CIA leak scandal.

"In a 31-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton turned down a motion by lawyers for Vice President Dick Cheney's one-time top assistant, who challenged the authority of Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald to handle the case. . . .

"Walton said Thursday he did not need to 'look far' in the law to reject the claim by Libby's defense team."

Here's the Here's the opinion and the order.

Fox Fight

Jim Rutenberg writes in the New York Times: "The naming of the Fox News commentator Tony Snow as White House press secretary this week seemed to have created new tension on Thursday with reporters who cover the president."

Ken Herman of Cox News Service blogs all the details: "The controversy du jour aboard Air Force One today was one near and dear to the hearts of many otherwise happy couples: Command and control of the TV tuner.

" 'It's come to my attention that there's been requests -- this is a serious question -- to turn these TVs on to a station other than Fox, and that those have been denied,' Washington Post reporter Jim VandeHei told Press Secretary Scott McClellan. 'My question would be, is there a White House policy that all government TVs have to be tuned to Fox?'

" 'Never heard of any such thing,' said McClellan, soon to be replaced by Tony Snow of Fox News, long viewed as an operation that enjoys most favored network status in the Bush White House. . . .

" 'Well,' said VandeHei, 'they always seem to be tuned to Fox.'

"He went on.

" 'And these are paid for by taxpayer dollars. And my understanding is that you guys have to watch Fox on Air Force One. Is that true?'

"No way, said McClellan."