Woodward Slouches Towards Oblivion

Bob Woodward is completely self-deluded if he thinks that, just because the information about Valerie Plame he received seemed "off-hand" and casual, that it wasn't a crime. As early as the case was remanded to the Justice Department in September 2003, it was well-known that this information was classified.

In addition, if Woodward can mention it to Walter Pincus (not that Pincus remembers it), and if it's nothing more than gossip and off-hand casual remarks, why can't he mention who told it to him? Why is he barred from reporting the name in the Washington Post? "The source won't let us," shrieked Executive Editor Len Downie today in The Situation Room. I thought this wasn't a big deal. Since when does a newspaper willingly withhold this kind of relevant information?

This is a black mark on the storied career of Bob Woodward, whose gone from a dogged and intrepid reporter to a stenographer, and a guardian of the secrets of official Washington. Much like I think that Eric Clapton and Sting shouldn't be allowed to sing their older, better songs anymore, I think that Woodward should be barred from talking about Watergate now. He's not the same person now. He's irrelevant.

...and how does this affect the Scooter Libby case, as MSNBC's Dan Abrams (who I normally avoid like the plague) is shouting right now? Libby's case is about perjury. Whether or not Woodward heard it before Scooter leaked it has no bearing on Scooter lying to the FBI and to the grand jury. Libby's lawyers are trying to call this a bombshell by invoking the Chewbacca defense (it doesn't make sense!), but it won't fly. If anything, this just adds another perjury layer onto the case (whoever spoke to Woodward certainly wasn't forthcoming with that detail). This adds to the idea that a conspiracy was hatched to disclose Plame's identity.