novapsyche | (no subject)

I have to admit, I am taking great joy in reading all I can about the Jeff Gannon/James Guckert story. I'm curious as to whether it'll be mentioned again on Countdown tonight. (I've missed all other mainstream news broadcasts about it.)

Even the Guardian has a story about it.

For those not keeping track, let me sum up very quickly:

James Guckert takes a 2-day seminar course on journalism from a school run by Morton Blackwell, a man who tutored Karl Rove in politics and also helped found the Moral Majority with Jerry Falwell. He gets hired by Talon News, an online "news site" that was established by Bobby Eberle, the same man who (a) runs GOPUSA, a right-wing organization; (b) came up with the idea for the Purple Heart bandages that delagates sported during the Republican National Convention; (c) was affiliated with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth; and (d) is rumored to have supplied Dan Rather with the infamous faked Bush/National Guard memos.

Gannon applies for a press pass for the House and Senate, but is turned down because it cannot be determined that Talon News is not affiliated with a political group (see GOPUSA). He then begins getting daily press passes for more than a year. This is just days after Talon News is established. Guckert does not use his real name but rather that of Jeff Gannon. The press secretary calls him by his assumed name. His press badge also has the assumed name.

Guckert/Gannon eventually is called to testify in regards to the Valerie Plame leak. It turns out he interviewed Joe Wilson and during the interview mentioned a memo about Plame, the memo that outed her as a CIA operative. Guckert is one of a small handful of people who ever had their hands on that memo.

The main links in this story are Texas politics, and Karl Rove. There is something weird going on, and I hope someone finds out exactly what soon.

You can read more at Americablog.