As our editorial today points out, since the Fall of 2003 former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage (and Secretary Colin Powell) knew that he was the Novak source that launched the politically motivated hunt for traitorous leakers that politically damaged the White House whose senior aides were villified for months on end. Innocent of any criminal wrongdoing but apparently feeling no obligation of loyalty or honesty to the Bush administration, he watched quietly as others’ reputations and pocketbooks were seriously depleted in the face of allegations that he knew to be false. The NYT earlier this month reports (“McCain Mines Elite of G.O.P. For 2008 team”) that the Arizaona senator’s informal network of advisers includes Richard Armitage. His sorry, cowardly performance in Plamegate should get him kicked off the Straight Talk Express.