BREAKING: TALKLEFT TALKS TO ROVE'S LAWYER AND HE IS PISSED

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014835.html

<snip>
7:55 pm. I just got off the phone with Rove's lawyer Robert Luskin. I'm sure I made a new enemy. I called at 7:47 pm my time which is 9:47 his time. In a run-on sentence, I introduced myself as a criminal defense lawyer and said I was calling about Jason Leopold's article because if it wasn't true, I wanted to write that it wasn't true. He said, "Why are you calling me at 10:00 on a Saturday night. It's so inappropriate." I apologized and said because it's an important story and if it's not true I wanted to say so. I looked at the clock on my computer and saw it was 9:48 or so his time.

He said something like "It's completely not true and you shouldn't be calling me at 10:00 on a Saturday night. You should be calling Mark Corallo

But here's the thing. I didn't even have a chance to explain which of Jason's articles I was writing about or that Jason had reported Rove was indicted. For all I know, Luskin hasn't seen that article and his denial pertained to an earlier article written by Jason.

Luskin continued to chastise me for calling so late on a Saturday night, saying "This is Washington, you don't call people at 10:00 on a Saturday night." I apologized again and said I was in Denver and it was two hours earlier and it hadn't occurred to me that it would be too late to call Washington. He said "Well it should have occurred to you." I asked if I could call him tomorrow. He said "No" and hung up.
<snip>

:wow:

:rofl:

I know he wasn't sleeping. Was he trying to find some loophole for his evil client?

just saying..

Wowza.

By the way, who is Mark Corallo?

http://www.corallomedia.com/pages/aboutmark.html



From 2002 – 2005, Mark was the Public Affairs Director for the U.S. Department of Justice. In this capacity he served as the chief spokesman for the Attorney General and the Department of Justice on all matters including the Global War on Terrorism.

From 1999-2002, Mark was the Communications Director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform. From 1996-1999, he served as Press Secretary to U.S. Representative and Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Bob Livingston (R-LA).

During the 2000 Presidential Campaign, Mark took a leave of absence from Congress to serve as Press Secretary for Victory 2000, the Republican National Committee's official campaign effort.

In Iraq.

Why isn't he serving may I ask?

Do tell!

:evilgrin:

of something.

Like fanatical right wing nut kool aid or religious fanaticism or Rush's drugs??

That weird, fanatical, manic look. Wonder what Corallo's on...

:shrug: just my thoughts the minute i saw that photo.

:crazy:

call? I'll bet he was out partying while Luskin was putting on his jammies..

Look at those eyes. :scared:
Maybe I'm just imagining things, but he's got that sorta glassy-eyed, neo-xtian, "gonna get raptured" stare.
:scared: :hide: :yoiks:

He was on the tube vehemently denying that Livingston was going to step down. A day later, he did. Made him look like a fool. LOL!

but that dude has some scary eyes! Went a little overboard with the teeth whitener too.

Now he just talked too much for his own.

What an ass.

He needs help with his anger.

:evilgrin:

:evilgrin:

being so angry. Maybe if I told him a few jokes, or something. Maybe some Dick Cheney jokes would be worth their weight in gold. Oops! Bad Luskin joke.

in slime.

"Mr. Luskin, is it true that Karl apologized to his boss by saying that if he had embarrassed him, he sincerely begged his pardon?"

You guys are killing me!! :rofl:

;)

I'm sure nobody connected with the bush admin could possibly have ANY problems with anything having to do with the release of personal telephone information, could they?

We wouldn't ..... would we? bwahahaha :evilgrin:

I love it.
Rude but appropriate.

It wouldn't hurt. :P

p.s. We shouldn't forget that Luskin is a Democrat. :)

so are all those DLC creeps who've taken over the functional party reins

Im loving life tonight.

I dont think it could have happened to a more deserving bastard. (well theres Delay)

lots of staff still in their offices at midnight on Saturday night.

If the reporter had NOT called him he probably would have complained that no one checked with him.

This guy should have known that - sooo rude!

way out the door, and was po'ed at the delay.

Like the rest of us are po'ed at THE Delay.

because nothing happened....other than some bait being thrown in the water for a major msm outlet to pick-up and get "Rathered"

I know I don't pick up the phone when I don't know who's calling, let them leave a damn message!

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why do you always insult people?

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elsewhere in this thread.

Whatever happened to "your rights end where mine begin"?

It was made by a blogger that wanted to get the story straight. How is that a "prank"? :shrug:

protocols of the process?

Someone looking for some attention got burned and admittedly states they won't do it again.

BTW, you didn't answer my question.

Yeah, that's the problem. Someone who is not one of the D.C. power-grab, "cocktail weenie" set, some member of the unwashed masses, dared to try to briefly enter where the common people are not allowed, and dared to try to find out the answer to a simple question.

Can't have that, now, can we?

We little people should know our place and leave the Big Stuff to our Betters in Washington.

Jeralyn Merritt, who made the call, is a defense attorney and a blogger. As a defense attorney, she must be familiar with the fact that real lawyers sometimes get late night calls (although 9:47 P.M. shouldn't be "late night" in "high power" Washington, D.C.) Yes, lawyers do get such calls. Fuck Robert Luskin. He needs to GET OVER IT. A real lawyer could handle being called at such a time. He's not acting like a real lawyer.

:eyes:


I am not defending Luskin as Rove's attorney, I'm defending him as someone who, just like you or me, doesn't need to be harangued by a total stranger late on a Sat. evening.

... unless YOU make this really big power money and have a suspicious incident concerning GOLD BARS in your past. Neither of the above applies to me!

Washington, D.C. is surely a little more sophisticated than your average town in America, and all we little people seem to hear is how these D.C. types have to work late hours because they have these really important, high-power, jobs. Luskin falls into that category--he's always putting out statements in the media and he clearly considers himself a media darling.

Know what kind of late-night calls I get lately? They are automated calls that talk about how "we've got to stop homosexuals from getting married because it's killing our American values". I kid you not. Now, who was one of the chief architects of that despicable political "issue"? Yep--Karl Rove. So if Karl's lawyer has to endure the horror of a telephone call (which he was too stupid to NOT answer) at 9:47 P.M., I don't feel too badly for him. It's a whole lot better than the calls I get, calls for which his client is at least indirectly responsible.

when something happens that offends/outrages them (but in the grand scheme of things is really trivial)... "If that's the worst thing that happens to you all day long, you're doing great".

Luskin would do well to apply that to this situation too. I can almost guarantee that this phone call was NOT the worst problem he faced today. Couldn't you?

I think that was the humor card. It made me smile, anyway.

How these two people had Luskin's home number and why he would answer at that late time (he has caller ID, I promise) and why he would say anything more than "No comment" is what is interesting me here. Not whether his rights were trampled on and as relativistic as that might seem, he is not a private citizen, he is Rove's lawyer. He gave up any part of private the day he took on turdblossom and you know damn well he's gotten many an unsolicited call after 9pm since he took this case. Today, he was just a little, shall we say, brittle. I'm trying hard to find some sympathy in here, but it just ain't a comin'

We all have the same rights and if someone called me at 9:47 at night about Turd Blossom. I would have said, "No Comment" and "have a nice evening and don't call me back."

Luskin is not a private individual. He is a Washington power lawyer/player and the day he took on Turdblossom and tried to turn him into high quality fertilizer is the day he became, in the words of the cabal he defends, "fair game".

But poor widdle Luskin is not a private individual. He is a major player in this getting bigger by the day drama and he gave up any pretense of being a private individual when he decided to represent Turdblossom. If he regrets that multi-million dollar decision at 10pm on a Saturday night, well, waaah.

I can't believe how fucking stupid this place became in the last 6 hours.

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Bizarro world, fer sure.

Call this high priced dipshit Muthafuka at 2am 3am 4am
who in their right mind really gives a fucking shit about an individual who would defend a traitorous fucker like Rove.

Booo fucking hooo it's 10pm

This is about the indictment of the main architect of the worst
administration in American history and you are talking about
etiquette and manners.

Well, guess, what sister, that's the way it was done tonight. And the day he took Rove on as a client, Luskin became, what were those words that cabal used - "fair game".

Now, having said that, I'm having my doubts on this one as there are so many ways to screen a call and even to keep one's home number out of the hands of "dipshits" like this guy and like Jason Leopold. How did Jason have the home phone number for Luskin? As to why he gave it to this other guy, that's easy. He was stirring shit and hoping against hope that Luskin would say something as stupid as he said. And that's where my wondering mind is going.

Luskin (if it really was Luskin) was stupid for answering and not immediately hanging up. If this guy got what he seems to have gotten, he got implicit confirmation and I think that's great.

No, Luskin isn't some poor innocent guy getting a crank phone call. He is a major Washington lawyer/player and if this is how he plays it, he shouldn't be playing with the big boys. I know you're a lawyer and so you can feel for him for not being able to get away from this thing but when he took on this multi million dollar client and agreed to try to make fertilizer out of that slimy turdblossom, he gave up all pretense of a life outside of his professional life. Ask Fitz, he'll tell you. I don't think you would even have to call Fitz at home at this hour. I'm sure he's still at work, hammering out those fine details. And he would have said exactly two words to "dipshit" - "No comment" and he might also have said a courteous good night but that's it.

I'm done being a polite Democrat. I hope most everyone else is to. The high road is beautiful but the poo slingers have to be removed and they are taking the shortcut called the low road. Time to head down the low road and take these fuckers down.

At home on a Saturday night at 10 pm?

Who the fuck do some people think they are, anyway?

The arrogance of the unimportant will always amaze me.

Shame on you.

Why would a person ever call and attorney and expect to hear the truth. I would have waited until 10 my time.:evilgrin:

Leaking the name of a covert CIA agent, jeopardizing national security for political gain -- all so this administration could start a war that has killed tens of thousands of people. Perhaps Rove's lawyer doesn't deserve a 9:40 phone call, but perspective is also called for.

Not ROVE

:banghead:

If the tables were turned, which I suspect they will be anyway but that's for another week, this place would be up in arms if a lawyer for one of our defense witnesses's lawyers was getting phonecalls from pissants ever.

This whole thread is bullshit, and it's dumb. If the other side ever needed ammo to justify harrassing people defending us, THIS IS IT

and I didn't condone the phone call, just pointed out why people might be worked up about this. You better believe he has gotten plenty of phone calls this evening anyways.

I still hope this thread is deleted, it's setting off all sorts of alarm bells in my head about what happens when it our guys being called a 10 on a weekend

I have no pity for this guy. He probably charges $1,000 an hour and that is paid for by taxpayer's money.

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And maybe it was stupid to do, but why are you freaking out about it? Has it really fucked up your life that bad? It was one person making a phone call to someone at that late late hour of 10 pm, it's not the end of the world.

I expect better from people who are on DU. I really do. Or, rather, I did.

Clearly, my life is none of your business, so that's a personal shot you need to take because you've got nothing.

It's not the end of the world?

Guess what?

That's not your call. You know nothing of the man's personal life - as well you shouldn't - and that prank is the kind of stuff that would qualify the caller as a Lee Atwater, Jr.

Congratulations.

Your reaction on this thread is funnier than the OP.

I'm really not interested in your personal life, I don't even know who you are. I just thought it was a little strange that you are reacting as if this one incident is really that important. It's too bad that the people on DU has let you down.

Good one there.

"arrogance of the unimportant"

a lawyer "not to be harassed"

This stuff is too good.

I wonder if one could keep a straight face when typing that.

Apparently, you are "unimportant" and a "hick" if you aren't a lawyer.

with uppity language-- not sure what the deal is, but it *is* humorous.

not sure how the tables could be turned, but IF, I bet people would call "our" lawyers and I also bet "Our" lawyers would screen the calls, or else answer them. Perspective is needed here, this is not about "pissants" calling and harassing, but 1 person calling and asking. BTW, what is a pissant? What makes any of us pissants compared to lawyers for the government?

Saturday night. He's at home. It's 10 pm.

If I had a problem with it, I wouldn't have my phone number available, or/and I would screen my calls. High end expensive people can do the same.

calls. 3am calls are my favorite

These people should be ashamed of themselves.

It's appalling.

:shrug:

Really, how rude to call a lawyer, Rove's lawyer, on Saturday, at 10 Saturday night. I mean really, how dare you pick up the phone and actually call him? What makes you think you have the right to call anyone? really. tsk tsk tsk. :sarcasm:


You do ask a good question though OLL, who the fuck do some people think they are anyway?

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if you are a high end lawyer, you screen your calls unless you want to answer the phone. Phones are for calling people. So? Want to tell me exactly why this is wrong, or just insult me some more?

just like Luskin, and his job is none of your business until it becomes public record.

How DARE anyone pull shit like this?

You don't deserve insulting. You do, though, need lessons in good manners and respect.

Shame.

I sense "legal envy" there.:)

I think a "hick" might be someone who is fool enough to pick up their phone at 9:47 P.M. when there are about a million gadgets which could let him know in advance whether it is a call he has to/wants to accept--and he can afford all those gadgets and more.

I think a "hick" is a guy who is supposedly this sophisticated 21st century "high-priced lawyer" who can't figure out how to avoid a call on Saturday night, if he so wishes. Not to mention the fact that 9:47 P.M. is pretty early for us city folk--and I'm in a moderate-sized town in the frikkin' SOUTH.

FUCK ROBERT LUSKIN. He wants to be this Big Player, okay, he's got his wish. Mr. Big Player looks like a little piss-pants idiot for whining about being called at 9:47 on a Saturday night in what is supposed to be a high-powered town.

I don't see a thing wrong with what Merritt did. If he doesn't like it he can HANG UP. FUCK ROBERT LUSKIN, and fuck the phony righteousness that seeks to defend him.

"I don't see a thing wrong with what Merritt did. If he doesn't like it he can HANG UP. FUCK ROBERT LUSKIN, and fuck the phony righteousness that seeks to defend him."

It was just a phone call. I could see if Merritt visited his home uninvited like the protestors did with Rove a while back (which was uncalled for) but this was just a f'ing phone call.

called Rove's LAWYER, not Rove himself. Because lawyers are trained not to try to talk directly to another lawyer's client, but to go only through the client's lawyer.

And also, hey, at least Luskin doesn't have to listen to a bunch of wingnuts standing outside his house chanting "Get out of Cheney's house!" or some such nonsense.

Call this high priced dipshit Muthafuka at 2am 3am 4am
who in their right mind really gives a fucking shit about an individual who would defend a traitorous fucker like Rove.

Booo fucking hooo it's 10pm

and she got exactly what she deserved.

a sighting

Bless you grasswire ... bless you!

But I suppose you're still worshipping Bev Harris and think she uncovered deliberately malicious Diebold code. Ha!

As for this "report", I was reminded earlier this evening how Leopold left Krugman apologizing for repeating another one of his "scoops", so I'll wait patiently for developments to unfold.

Calling a potential source at home just before 10 PM? It just reflects badly on all of us who want to see justice in this case.

someone who has been mocking those who disagree, and has been calling people "assholes" and "stupid" while using vile language all night.

If it were not all right here in this thread, I would not believe it.

You were making a clever joke with that phrase, weren't you? Ha ha ha! That's a good one!:)

My guess is he already knows.

shows. Defense attorney. http://talkleft.com/new_archives/012621.html

DC must be one of those sleepy little towns where the folks have go to bed early on a Saturday night to milk the cows at dawn before church. Uh huh.

At any rate, we know whatever was reported (regardless if Luskin even knows what was reported) it's simply not true.

LOL, that's kinda funny though. :D

:rofl:

Wanna bet Money Bags Luskin would gladly answer a Saturday night call from a Jim Vandehei or Michael Issakoff? Well probably no need since he's got them on his speed dial anytime he needs some astroturfing thrown in the media.

Other than harassing the man, I don't see what purpose calling him did other than piss him off (which sure appears to be the intention). Did he really think that Luskin would confirm or deny anything involving the case? Why should he? Who the hell is Leopold anyway?

I know people are anxious and already measuring for Rove's prison uniform and cell, but the last person you'd get a straight answer from is the dude's lawyer...c'mon now. If there's an indictment, we'll learn about it when Fitzgerald is ready and is certain he has a solid case. Harassing a laywer...no matter how slimy he is...it looks more like someone's trying to push the story rather than report it.

Again...the other sites I check regarding Rove are still very mum on this "revelation"...thus makes me highly suspect or that Leopold is being used as a diversion. When I start hearing from Lawrence O'Donnell (who broke the original Rove story) or Jerralyn Merritt at Talk Left then I'll feel a lot more confident something is about to come down.

Just pointing that out, in case you missed it. She obviously was trying to check out the story as you say you are waiting for her opinion on it.

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014835.html from the OP.

Maybe there's a hidden post in that site what someone can link me to, but Merritt is in a wait and see mode. Again, I'd be a lot more confident if this came from a Lawrence O'Donnell or another source that has been right in the past.

I am not questioning Mr. Leopold's journalistic qualifications or credibility, just issuing a word of caution which I know is like pissing in the wind around here.

It's one thing to go through documents and the hard work in connecting dots, it's another to pass along what is hearsay...and that's all this is until Fitzgerald speaks. Then it'll be out there for all of us to see...not before.

Sorry...I don't go down the rosey path around here anymore...seen it happen too many times where expectations are raised and then when it doesn't turn out the way it's portrayed here, this place either turns into a morgue or a huge food fight. Seems like a DU vacation for moi is gonna be in order.

Posted by TalkLeft
May 13, 2006 07:32 PM

The other sites aren't reporting because they want confirmation from someone other than Leopold. I have more faith in Leopold's reporting than they do. I'm not vouching for the accuracy of the report any more than I vouch for any other news report. I'm not breaking news, I'm reporting Jason breaking news.

But if I thought it was a rumor, I would have labelled it such. Check back, as I am about to update with more thoughts on how this could have played out from a legal perspective. http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014833.html#comment-215794

Thank you for posting to clear things up.

Patience and time will answer all. If Leopold is right and had the scoop ahead of anyone else...he should and will be credited with being the first. However, if this is just another rabbit hole, if you want to go chasing down it, knock yourself out. I can wait until Fitzgerald says there's an indictment or there isn't. He's the only source that matters to me.

Perhaps that might be more of a confirmation for you?

isn't or characterized it in any manner. Just as I've made no claims regarding the accuracy of Leopold's sources/reporting or have asserted or expressed faith that Rove has indeed been indicted. I've previously posted that only subsequent events and information will prove the reporting either right or wrong.

I'm not chasing anything down any rabbit hole but it would seem from your comments that you're jumping to conclusions regarding my thoughts on the matter.

Larry Johnson: "Jason Leopold beats the Main Stream Media Stenographers .. Updated at 9:04 PM

... again."

http://noquarter.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/05/rove_ind...

I'm convinced Rove should be indicted as well...and I respect what Johnson has to say but he's guessing just as much as you are and I am. It could very well be that one of Fitzgerald's people decided to jump the gun here, but why would they go to a small blogger who is only getting play on the far edges of the mediascape rather than go to a Lawrence O'Donnell who could walk on any major talk show and really ramp things up. Paint me cynical, but I'll gladly wait for something more substantial...like Fitzgerald speaking himself. We've put up with 5 plus years of this regime's games and they're far from out of bullets here. If anything, I'd be cynical to think that this story may be planted to divert attention away from the NSA mess or Dusty Foggo or some other REAL scandal where some real investigating is required. Fitz is doing his thing and we'll find out if there's an indictment only when he's ready...not before.

convinced. I was just happy to read it, know I'm wanting to jump the gun, and realize caution and commonsense should prevail. But it's so difficult! :hi:

It is not just Jason Leopold. Joe Wilson heard the same from other sources. And, more importantly, Jason is reporting based on multiple, more than two, sources. His editors realized what a big story this is and did the appropriate checking before posting. They are called Truth Out for a reason. Getting the truth out.

Since you are a new member and can't start a thread of your own, would you mind if I started one for you with this info? I think this needs to be heard.

Thanks! and Welcome to DU! :hi:

Sure, feel free.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1183853&mesg_id=1183853

I am sure there will be questions if you are so inclined to respond to them.

Thanks again for the info. We needed to hear what Joe Wilson had heard too. :)

Btw, welcome to DU! :hi:

Care for a beer? :beer:

The account of her somewhat abruptly curtailed conversation with Luskin is an article at TalkLeft: http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014835.html

Perhaps you missed that in the thread title and the OP's link to TalkLeft? ;)

is true to form, he's going to issue a media alert first, and that will appear on his website when it's actually going down.

:)

It's only 10PM! He probably hasn't even found this evening's victim yet! Call him back after 3AM, when he's had time to suck the blood out of someone.

...I have an ANSWERING MACHINE that does it for me. When there is an unfamiliar number on the caller ID...It goes to the answering machine. That way I only take the calls I want too.

They do have answering machines in Washington dont they? Marvelous invention.

Oh wait...

BERNSTEIN
Sir, I just wonder if I could ask you some questions--

JOHN MITCHELL (V.O.)
--what time is it?

BERNSTEIN
It's 11:30 sir.

MITCHELL (V.O.)
... 11:30?... Is it morning or night?

BERNSTEIN
It's 11:30 at night, sir.

MITCHELL (V.O.)
Ohhhh.

Nevermind!!! :evilgrin:

Not even a poker game over at the Watergate? Poor guy has less of a social life than I do! (Maybe that's why he answered the phone in the first place -- figured that maybe someone he'd called for a date was calling back, oh please, oh please...) :shrug:

One phone call and a question is Harrassment?

roll on the dirty dirty cash mattress.

discussion has become an all out flamefest