THE BIG STORY: STILL WAITING TO BE TOLD. Before this point gets lost in the din of the latest leak disclosures, it needs to be said, as loudly as possible, that the big story has yet to be told, and in that regard, Murray Waas's previous scoop about Karl Rove is even more important -- and more deserving of mainstream media attention -- in light of the new revelations.

PODHORETZ FLOATS FLIMSY RIGHT-WING PUSHBACK ON LEAK STORY -- AND PUNTS. The emerging right-wing spin about the leak revelations was perfectly captured in John Podhoretz's column today in the New York Post. Since these arguments are certain to be aired again and again in coming days, they need to be debunked, and quickly. And it's remarkably easy to do.

The Pod makes three points, all of which are soon to be chanted in unison by countless winger commentators. He says:

1) The leak wasn't really a leak because it was authorized by the president, and a "leak" is the "unauthorized release of government information."

A FEATURE, NOT A BUG. Michael Tanner, Cato's health policy director, is not happy (PDF) about the Massachusetts plan:

CHANGES AT THE NEW REPUBLIC. Can I just say, as a twenty-something male, that I'm quite pleased with TNR's transformation under the leadership of Frank Foer? Last week, not only did I have a piece in the magazine, but the cover featured an Anna Nicole Smith nipple slip. This week, we get a stylized Paris Hilton look alike. Counterintuitive wonkery never looked so good. Except at The American Prospect, of course, which you should subscribe to lest you miss our upcoming "Men Of The Economic Left" cheesecake calendar. I hear we're going to make Fast Leon don a thong...

--Ezra Klein

SUCH SUBTLETY, SUCH NUANCE. As Greg Sargent notices, a leak is a leak is a leak, except when the leaker is the president. But in some ways, the more interesting wrinkle of this little saga is the ways a lie isn't a lie when the administration utters it. As others have noticed in the past, this crew deceives, misleads, and insinuates, but they rarely, rarely, lie. Take Bush's famous statement from the investigation's early days:

A LEAK ISN'T REALLY A LEAK. GOT THAT? The White House appears to have adopted a novel approach to spinning their way out of yesterday's explosive revelations about Scooter Libby's testimony that President Bush authorized the leaking of classified intelligence. From today's Washington Post:

MAN...They're biting my style, yo. Show 'em what's what and subscribe here, instead.

--Ezra Klein