No announcement by Fitzgerald on Rove, and no open public announcement by Rove. Curious?

I am going to see what John Dean is saying.

Is this for real?

This is from Fitz’s website..

Department of Justice QUI PRO DOMINA JUSTITIA SEQUITUR
Office of the Deputy Attorney General Washington, D.C. 20530
February 6, 2004
The Honorable Patrick J. Fitzgerald United States Attorney
Northern District of Illinois
219 S. Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60604

Dear Patrick: At your request, I am writing to clarify that my December 30, 2003, delegation to you of “all the authority of the Attorney General with respect to the Department’s investigation into the alleged unauthorized disclosure of a CIA employee’s identity” is plenary and includes the authority to investigate and prosecute violations of any federal criminal laws related to the underlying alleged unauthorized disclosure, as well as federal crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere with, your investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses; to conduct appeals arising out of the matter being investigated and/or prosecuted; and to pursue administrative remedies and civil sanctions (such as civil contempt) that are within the Attorney General’s authority to impose or pursue. Further, my conferral on you of the title of “Special Counsel” in this matter should not be misunderstood to suggest that your position and authorities are defined and limited by 28 CFR Part 600. Sincerely, /s/ James B. Comey James B. Comey Acting Attorney General

So, until Fitz formally announces that it is over, Rove/Cheney and Others are still ‘persons of interest’ in an on-going criminal investigation…
:)

I kept up for quite awhile, but the rancorous debate finally got to me, and I just had to leave for awhile.

I know a good tough debate is healthy, and often extremely productive. But I just hope people don’t get so round-the-bend furious that they forget what common target this whole group is supposedly focussing on. Sometimes things are said that are hard to take back, or to forget.

I’m sure Pach, with his training and experience, would agree that it’s all to easy, when one gets really really angry and frustrated, to attack the “wrong” target. (Boss reams you out, so you go home & kick the dawg, yell at the kids, etc.) If people feel that kinda steam building up, I hope they’ll take a deep breath and think before they just attack blindly.

Pach mentioned earlier that people seemed especially upset today. I’m sure people are tired from the YKos, and aggravated by not seeing rove hauled up on a short leash, and maybe unnerved by having a rash of new people lurking and offering comments on the blog.

Speaking of the latter, I suppose you will have to contend with a few more trolls than usual, from time to time, especially after YKos brought so much attention to the blog. But you really seem to know how to handle those rather deftly, so they shouldn’t be a problem. It seems to me the overwhelming majority of new commentors are genuinely interested in taking part in discussions in a positive way.

With that in mind, I’d like to make a request.

I’ve noticed that several people obviously new to the blog, have tried to ask questions from time to time, about format, about what various bits of standard jargon mean, i.d. of people in some of the photos, etc. I’m pretty new myself – been lurking for several months, becoming more and more impressed with the quality of discussions here, and the reliability of the information you present, wonderful explanations of issues, etc. etc. But I am a long way from understanding just how everything works, so I’ve got questions from time to time myself.

In the past, generally some kind soul has paused in the discussion, and fairly promptly helped a questioning newcomer become used to the routine. Maybe I didn’t stay tuned closely enough to get a correct impression this week, but it seems that’s hardly happening at all the past 2 days. Discussion is whizzing along tw’ old buddies, and the considerable bunch of newcomers are largely ignored. I’m hoping that as people calm down from the supercharged weekend, they’ll return to their friendlier, more welcoming nature. Please?

Hunh?

Aha.

Fat lady hath not yet sung.

In our spare time though, maybe we can END THE DAMN WAR? In my best Winston Wolfe, “pretty please with a cherry on top: end the fucking war.”

Pardon my blunt, boring repetition on this minor matter in recent comments; I’m just doing my small, ineffectual part to focus attention and reframe the debate.

Please ignore and carry on.

I grew up in New York. An argument like this was a prelude to playing stickball. I appreciate Jane’s defense, but I’m fine, and I know how to fight.

By the same token, some of the things said to me are definitely not cool to say on this site, and I was lenient because people are unusually upset today (as I said, I’m giving it 24 hours). Jane may or may not think that leniency is warranted, but that was the call I made.

I care more about defending the credibility of the site (and the momentum of the progressive movement) than worrying about any nastiness directed at me, though I guess Jane sees the two interwined and inseparable, since I’m a partner here in the site. Fine. She and I have not discussed it today, though I’ve discovered this past week we are as sympatico as our previous phone contacts suggested we might be.

Lest anyone be confused, attacks on our credibility on the site will be met with serious refutation. That will not be a long conversation. We’re not going to debate that over and over. I hope I’ve been clear.

Now, puzzled, let me clear up this other puzzle for you. I do not forfeit the right to argue an opinion simply because I have control over the site or write on the front page. If that’s a problem for you, then you have a problem with the whole blogosphere.

If I handle my responsibility badly, then people will leave the site or howl to Jane kick me out. Fine. This blog and my service to the netroots takes a lot of my time, for which I am not yet compensated (and even if I were, it would not match my professinal rates). I do it out of love for the cause and the people. You can express your opinion, and you have, and I’ve expressed mine, which also happens to be the way the blog works.

I would add, I don’t want to be a “blog personality.” Jane had to twist my arm to do a panel. Over the longer term, I expect to do less writing, not mre, because I think I’m most potentially helpful as a back-end organizer, and because I only have so much time in tandem with my business. If you see less of me, gradually, over the next few months, that will be why.

The reason I picked the fight about defeatism I picked is because it’s a fight that’s necessary for the success of our movement. I make no apology for that, ever.

Other out of bounds comments include nastiness or ad hominem attack to any member of the community and racism. Persistent thread hijacking or trollishness will be busted up too.

It’s all about protecting the community, and protecting the community as a gathering place for progressives who want to learn together and even work together to change the country. But the community is not here for people to simply vent defeatism. Neither is it a place for people to misrepresent facts. This is not the place for either of those things. We don’t rant. We act. I make all these notes for the community in general, and not directed at anyone in particular.

Now, anyone who can’t accept all those things can really, and I mean this politely, watch soccer instead. I mean, for anyone who thinks these are problems, they just won’t be very happy hanging around here.

I hope that clarifies things. We are glad you are all here. You are why we do this stuff. If we held you in contempt, we would ban you, delete your comments, ignore you or shut down comments entirely.

Engaging with you is respecting you. Meeting you at YKos was what was best about the conference for us. We did not chase media types or politicians. We spent our time with you guys, and some time with each other learning how better to work together and how best to build a movement on your behalf.