Convenient timing for a personality sea change?

So Karl Rove apparently learned that Joseph Wilson's wife worked for the CIA from a journalist, but, gosh dang it, he just can't remember who that journalist was:

President Bush's deputy chief of staff has told investigators that he first learned about the operative from a journalist and that he later learned her name from Novak.

Rove has said he does not recall who the journalist was who first told him that Wilson's wife worked for the CIA, or when the conversation occurred, the lawyer said.

Just slipped his dang ol' mind, man.

This from a guy who has been reported to be able to reel off nation-wide voting pattern breakdowns precinct by precinct and described by a long-time observer of the Austin political scene as "the most focused, disciplined and organized political consultant he ever met."

That's really convenient, isn't it?

UPDATE: As noted here, none of this really matters: excuses are just that, excuses. I just find this frantic backpeddling and talking-point flinging to be really funny coming from the "Responsibility Administration" and its shills.