Overshadowed

"Beyond the partisan sound bites, there is a compelling argument that the nation -- and possibly even the Democrats -- is better off with Rove free to roam the West Wing plotting strategy for the 2006 Republican campaigns rather than hunkered down in his lawyer's office preparing for the trial of century.

"Special prosecutors bring with them the proven danger of Starr-chamber justice, as the Ahab-like pursuit of Bill Clinton demonstrated. Fitzgerald, in contrast, displayed uncommon restraint last October by limiting himself to going after Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, for what appears to be, judging from the indictment, a brazen case of perjury. . . .

"Many Bush critics see the Fitzgerald investigation as the only window into the manipulation of intelligence before and after the Iraq war. But a legal proceeding is different from the congressional hearings that should have been held on the decision to go to war in quest of illusory weapons of mass destruction. As Fitzgerald pointedly said during his press conference after the Libby indictment, 'I think anyone who's concerned about the war and has feeling for or against shouldn't look to the criminal process for any answers or resolution to that.' "

So how does Jason Leopold, who wrote on the Truthout Web site some weeks back that Rove had been secretly indicted , deal with the news that no charges are being brought? He still insists he was right:

"I am standing by the story I wrote a few weeks back regarding Karl Rove's indictment. Today's announcement by Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin, stating that he was informed that his client will not be charged in the CIA leak case leads to more questions than answers. Specifically, what took place behind the scenes over the past four weeks that led to Rove's sudden change in status? Did he cut a deal with Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald? And did the story I reported factor in to the equation?

"Until there is an official announcement from Fitzgerald confirming the claims made by Rove's attorney that Rove is in fact cleared of wrongdoing and no longer part of the investigation I will continue to stand by my report and so will Truthout. Now is the time to get to the bottom of this story and it requires additional reporting to find out what took place behind the scenes that led to Tuesday's announcement."

No comment necessary.

MSNBC has the backstage machinations on POTUS's secret trip.

Look who is against the war after he was for it:

"Senator John F. Kerry is placing himself at the center of congressional action over the war in Iraq this week with a crisply worded resolution to require President Bush to withdraw almost all US troops by the end of this year," says the Boston Globe .

"The measure has exposed Kerry to attacks from Republicans and some Democrats, as critics rushed to tag the plan as a 'cut-and-run' strategy. But it also has made him a rallying point for antiwar activists."

Another Democratic senator isn't pleasing her party's left: