He can't help himself

I'm starting to feel bad for Tom Maguire. JustOneMinute has been running point on Plame-gate from the right since day one. The ridiculousness that he's waded through over the last 2-1/2 years would overwhelm most of us I imagine.

Soldiering on, he gives us yet another dose today:

In my casual observation, leaks in Washington are intended to promote or attack agendas or individuals. The President, be he Nixon, Clinton, or, in this case, Bush, would prefer to see his Administration function as a unified team and resolve their personal and policy disputes through proper channels rather than through the press. The President wants everyone on the same page, and he wants that page to be his - leaks that do not promote THE PRESIDENT'S AGENDA are what a President doesn't like.

In that context, when the President authorizes a leak, it is intended to promote his agenda, and is not problematic. Such a leak does *not* signify a divided Administration, and is simply a time-honored news management technique.

Duh.

I now resign my (hopefully temporary) Chairmanship at The Department of the Obvious.

He even manages to use the word 'bifurcated' a bit later on in talking about Scott Shane's NY Times by-line today.

[sarcasm] Again, I feel bad for the man when I ponder what he's endured, but am at the same time oh-so-thankful that there is one out there willing to endure the schlock so I dont' have to! [/sarcasm]