Everybody has been talking about yesterday's ludicrously awful Washington Post editorial on White House leaking. I don't have anything to add, but just for contrast I want to highlight the Chronicle's editorial on the same topic last Friday:
PRESIDENT BUSH can stop complaining about leaks of classified information for political motivation. A new court filing suggests the president himself authorized the release of classified prewar intelligence about Iraq to discredit administration critics.The rest is just as good. Sometimes the Chronicle really does get it right, and I think it's worth rewarding them whenever they do.
The White House had two reactions to the revelation -- neither of which is acceptable in our democracy. The official word from the White House press secretary was no comment...The other response...came from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. He told a congressional committee that the president has the "inherent authority to decide who should have classified information."
In other words, by definition, the president can leak anything he wants, for whatever reason he wants.
[That's all, folks]
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