rumor

–noun
1. a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts: a rumor of war.
2. gossip; hearsay: Don't listen to rumor.
3. Archaic. a continuous, confused noise; clamor; din.
–verb (used with object)
4. to circulate, report, or assert by a rumor: It is rumored that the king is dead.

January 4, 2007:
The Comedy Central Insider/InDecider, after first bragging about having posted the rumor that Rumsfeld would get canned the day before it actually happened, then claims to have a source "exactly as reliable as that one was at the time" to float this rumor with this disclaimer:

We place this rumor here, on the Comedy Central blog, where it least belongs, and cross our fingers until next month, when we can either do the I Told You So Dance or, well, nobody will remember we ever said anything. Whatever the implications for our great country, it's win-win for us!

January 6, 2007:
Michael Crowley at TNR spreads the same rumor.
David Kurtz at TPM passes it along, links to Crowley.

January 8, 2007:
The Comedy Central Insider/InDecider brags about scooping TNR on posting the irresponsible rumor.

January 9, 2007:
Martin Sieff for UPI floats a variation of the rumor, giving the wholesale speculation a gloss of "responsible" journalistic authority.

January 25, 2007:
The Comedy Central Insider/InDecider claims to have a second source for the rumor.
Nicole Belle at Crooks and Liars passes along the rumor, links to CC Insider/InDecider.

October 18, 2005:
Paul Bedard for US News and World Report wrote:

Sparked by today's Washington Post story that suggests Vice President Cheney's office is involved in the Plame-CIA spy link investigation, government officials and advisers passed around rumors that the vice president might step aside and that President Bush would elevate Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.