anonymous sourcing

* "Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts write in The Washington Post that "a sexy Arab dancer" made Rove "turn as red as her veil" last night at a dinner for Gen. Peter Pace, the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hosted by Kuwaiti Ambassador Salem Sabah." (link)
calling karen hughes. you there, karen?

* "WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 - The architect, it seems, is back.
Hunkered down for almost all of October while a grand jury considered his fate, Karl Rove has rebounded as a visible presence at the White House over the last two weeks, according to administration officials and Republican colleagues. He is running meetings and pursuing candidates for the 2006 elections - and, associates say, devising long-term political plans that suggest he does not believe he will face future legal trouble despite the C.I.A. leak investigation in which he has been involved." (link)
why does the nyt allow this nonsense? why do i bother asking? ANNE E. KORNBLUT can go into the nyt hall of shame.

• "associates say..."
• "... said one Republican in regular contact with Mr. Rove who declined to speak for attribution because the White House did not authorize it... "
• "White House officials have insisted... "
• "... several Republicans said"
• "... said one Republican official, declining to speak for attribution because he does not speak officially for Mr. Rove"
• "A senior administration official said... "

theres only one thing worse than anonymous sourcing: anonymous sourcing which is fawning.