And then the TPMMucker raker bit, too…??

All we need is a presser from Fitz to make the trifecta!!

BLOG POWER

The Wilsons!

Sweeeeet!

and I did say, Fitz, didn’t I?

Yeah baby! Go Joe & Val!!

hubba hubba Valerie ! you go, girl !

Libby, Cheney and Rove, huh? Why not Novak?

“This could be the start of something big!”

Any speculation yet as to who’s going to be named in the lawsuit?

Please God let them go after Cheney.

I don’t dare get my hopes up for Bush to be named…

Right on Joe, go slay some Orcs!

Some sobering thoughts…

*AT LEAST IN VIETNAM, BUSH HAD AN EXIT STRATEGY

*BLIND FAITH IN BAD LEADERSHIP IS NOT PATRIOTISM

*IF YOU’RE NOT OUTRAGED, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION

*IF YOU SUPPORTED BUSH, A YELLOW RIBBON WON’T MAKE UP FOR IT

*POVERTY, HEALTHCARE & HOMELESSNESS ARE MORAL ISSUES

*OF COURSE IT HURTS. YOU’RE GETTING SCREWED BY AN ELEPHANT

*BUSH LIED, AND YOU KNOW IT

*RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM: A THREAT ABROAD, A THREAT AT HOME

*GOD BLESS EVERYONE (No exceptions)

*BUSH SPENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY ON HIS WAR

*PRO AMERICA, ANTI BUSH

*WHO WOULD JESUS BOMB?

*IF YOU SUPPORT BUSH’S WAR, WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE? SHUT UP AND SHIP
OUT

*FEEL SAFER NOW?

*I’D RATHER HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO SCREWED HIS INTERN THAN ONE WHO
SCREWED HIS COUNTRY

*JESUS WAS A SOCIAL ACTIVIST – THAT IS A LIBERAL

*MY VALUES? FREE SPEECH. EQUALITY. LIBERTY. EDUCATION. TOLERANCE

*IS IT 2008 YET?

*DISSENT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM — Thomas Jefferson

DON’T BLAME ME. I VOTED AGAINST BUSH — TWICE!

*ANNOY A CONSERVATIVE; THINK FOR YOURSELF

*VISUALIZE IMPEACHMENT

*HEY BUSH! WHERE’S BIN LADEN?

*CORPORATE MEDIA = MASS MIND CONTROL

*STOP MAD COWBOY DISEASE

*GEORGE W. BUSH: MAKING TERRORISTS FASTER THAN HE CAN KILL THEM

*KEEP YOUR THEOCRACY OFF MY DEMOCRACY

*DEMOCRATS ARE SEXY. WHOEVER HEARD OF A GOOD PIECE OF ELEPHANT?

*ASPIRING CANADIAN

*CORPORATE MEDIA: WEAPONS OF MASS DECEPTION

*DON’T CONFUSE DYING FOR OIL WITH FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM

*STEM CELL RESEARCH IS PRO LIFE

*HATE, GREED, IGNORANCE: WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION

*HONOR OUR TROOPS – DEMAND THE TRUTH

*REBUILD IRAQ? WHY NOT SPEND 87 BILLION ON AMERICA?

*FACT: BUSH OIL
1999 – $19 BARREL
2006 – $70 BARREL

*THE LAST TIME RELIGION CONTROLLED POLITICS, PEOPLE GOT BURNED AT
THE STAKE

*I’LL GIVE UP MY CHOICE WHEN JOHN ROBERTS GETS PREGNANT

*SUPPORT OUR TROOPS – IMPEACH BUSH

*HOW ON EARTH CAN 59,411,287 PEOPLE BE SO DUMB?

OK, next time I’ll read the link before posting…

This will be rather fun to watch. And Bush can’t pardon anyone on this one, either!

But I bet the words “secret”, “confidential”, and “cannot be disclosed” will come up a lot, tho.

dead last and everyone — please, all caps is really difficult to read and its considered to be shouting online. Please don’t shout for an entire long post in the comments. Thanks.

There is a God!

Jack

the stated targets are Libby, Rove and CHENEY

SteveNS at 13 — wasn’t your fault — part of my post got eaten. I had originally pasted in the top portion of the press release on the reason for the news conference, but for some reason, it disappeared when I initially posted. Think we must have had some sort of hiccup or something. Anyway, I’ve reposted. Sorry for any confusion, gang.

This will get NO news coverage because I have a hunch that there will be BIG news about a FOILED terror plot that was MERE SECONDS from actually happening. Until we find out it was overhyped bullshit 2-3 days later.

Just a guess.

tomorrow morning, woohoo!

CRANKY TROLL

Thank God for a legal system that allows for redress, especially given the appalling lack of accountability so far.

Since I can only imagine the roadblocks to discovery given the pending trial of Irving, is filing now a likely a statute of limitations decision?

Hmm… Christy, does this mean the rumour that Fitzgerald may be stalling to run out the statute of limitations clock on civil suits has legs? Or that the rumour at least raised suspicions on the Wilsons’ part?

Wasn’t the statute of limitations for a suit up July 14? Did they wait until the last day on purpose?

And based on angie’s earlier comments, it may also coincide with a decision to begin US air strikes against Lebanon.

What a god-awful mess.

So does this mean that Fitzgerald is done and kaput with the case, and he’s going to go back to flipping truck drivers in Chicago? Or can he still nail them for something else?

I’m sure the Wilsons coordinated this with Fitz, so there’s no “overlap” in who can charge whom with what — is that a good word to use.. Oh I am so clueless about law.

I’m REALLY curious as to why they let Novak off the hook. He IS the one who, in the end, published the information on Plame’s identity.

OT and sorry, but I gotta vent:

Just cruising the cable dial looking for Lebanon updates and came upon Senslessbrenner blathering about ENGLISH OLNY, fer gawds sakes. The world is on fire and the ME is about to explode but….words fail me.

Damn, that Plame woman is beautiful!

oxide at 26 — no, the Wilsons will not have “coordinated” anything with Fitzgerald. Civil suits and criminal suits have nothing whatsoever to do with one another, other than for discovery purposes. And you can have both an ongoing civil matter and an ongoing criminal matter (in fact, you often do). So, no, it does not mean anything other than, now that Rove has been told he likely will not be charged, that the Wilsons felt that it was time to consider their civil legal options.

damn! i didn’t scoop you this time, christy hardin smith!

but, terribly off=topic (and pardon our blogwhoring), but skippy is celebrating our 4th blogiversary, during which we thank jane and fdl for their support!

Regarding the photo at the top:

Eat your heart out, Ann Coulter. That’s what a blonde woman with a long neck is supposed to look like: beautiful and graceful.

What a great picture.

lotus, people made the same observation about Nixon and Agnew … and about George H.W. Bush and Quayle

Deny My Freedom at dKos has a diary up with the complaint:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/13/152357/107

Skippy! Congratulations!!! And happiest of anniversaries!

I just hope something comes out of it. So far everything has ended in a whimper when clearly a law was broken. This administration is evil and has no respect for laws of our country.

andrew — you got it. This week, when the Senate held hearings on what to do about Hamdan, the stories about the Senate hearing were squashed by the Bush announcement re willingness to apply Geneva Conventions to the detainees. That news came out the morning of 11th, but the actual memo from the DoD counsel was issued on the 7th. They just held off making it public ’till it could be useful in capturing the front page headlines, and it did, in both WaPo and NYT. The Senate hearing story was then buried in the same story, inside pages.

We should have a contest on what astonishing story will occur between now and tomorrow evening. My guess is that Bush will make some warlike rhetorical statement wrtIsrael, such as warning Syria and Iran to stop interfering via Hezbolah/Hamas, or we’ll . . . uh . . . and that will be the lead story in NYT tomorrow a.m. and all day on CNN. They also need a distraction from the growning number of reports that Iraq may be nearing collapse.

I am relieved that the Wilsons will not let this go. I hold them in my thoughts for their courage, because they will need it.

They know that this case is not just about them and the damage that they have suffered. It is for all of us, in the sense that we need CIA agents working on mass destruction, who are not afraid that they will be suddenly outed, who can get intelligence from other countries because our allies are not afraid we will expose their secrets. We need our government to operate with integrity, to protect all of us.

I think we need to stand behind them, to call in to challenge the talk radio lies that will be coming shortly. We need to write letters to congress critters who criticize them on C-SPAN, and to the editorial pages. We need to stand up for them and be seen to do so, so that the attacks on them are challenged for the craven partisan deception that they represent.

Glenn Greenwald has been writing lately about the tactics in vogue among the wingnuts. Get ready.

OT– CNN: Vote on the table re Gaza and US vetos– a few abstentions and 10 in favor.

There you go.

Bolton for Rice and Bush is vetoing right now a resolution in the Security Council about Israeli aggression … again. And then they wonder why the world doesnt love us ?

Is the whole Left gathering here today? Poor ol’ server’s rilly having a fit.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Good for Amb. Wilson and Valerie Wilson……After they have been called liars and trashed by Rover et al and with Darth sending out Mary McCheney to do dirty work…..I hope that they really get those trolls good……
If you are reading this Amb. Wilson….anything…I mean ANYTHING I can do to help you…I will even be a coffee gopher…just let me know!

OT

New fox News poll in:

[blockquote]The president’s approval rating dropped to 36 percent, down from 41 percent approval two weeks ago and 40 percent in mid-June. Bush lost ground this week among some key constituent groups, such as Republicans, whites and men. Overall, 53 percent of Americans say they disapprove.[/blockquote]

lotus — Is the whole Left gathering here today?

No. I know of at least two others who haven’t commented.

CNN covering the Wilson suit now with pix of Dead eye and his fish eye wife.

Cathy 24

Yeah, that’s what I understand. The three year statute of limitations runs out Friday. Just under the wire.

And your little dog too — boy are you right. What a million watt smile on that woman! And Joe looks pretty proud to be by her side, but then, wouldn’t anybody?

Lotus #40
Of course — came here as soon as I heard the news on Kos!

Crap. My first attempt at a blockquote and I flunked. :(

And the civil suit has been filed, and names Libby, Rove, Cheney and John Does 1 through 10.

Hmm, how many members are in the WHIG?

I think they will cover it…You can count on Olbermann and David Shuster to give ACCURATE accounts…as for tweety…he will have all his ReTHUG cocktail weenie friends on to be “fair and imbalanced”.

Use the keys.

sorry I disappeared there, my modem blinked out. had to reboot everything.

I have to agree wit Susan, they wurlitzer is going to go into high gear on Joe and Valerie Wilson. We need to be ready to do pushback.

ON anoter topic:

Dog in very active labor. Puppies any minute now. (I’m at the office and missing all the excitement)

Getcher threads mixed up, *ilson 32?

cathy#48…we have to find the WHIG list, I am sure Christy and Jane have it….it would be interesting to know how many.

Saw it as “this just in” on CNN – they interrupted their coverage of the middle east for it!

lol! Little shits! They showed up on preview and not the post The pointer keys at the bottom.

This. Is. Sweet.

Hit the conscienceless fuckers were it hurts them most, the wallet attached to their treasonous asses.

Also love how this is not a Friday news dump.

I think that w ought to stay in Germany and try out all the bierhauses with his 2 hausfraus– perhaps he’s one of the John D’ohs.

Wasn’t it a civil suit, by Paula Jones, that got Clinton into so much trouble? What are the chances that one of the defendents might fudge the truth a little bit in a deposition, say?

A question for Christy.
Any chance that John Does 1-10 could be the WHIG group and or people like Novak?
As I said last thread, Good on the Wilson family.

cathy — John Does 1 thru 10!!! That must look like the most serious threat ever made against this administration. [Please, include at least one Jane Doe!]

Littledog -

You almost had it! Try this: {blockquote}text{/blockquote} – but substitute left and right arrows for parens and you’re there!

I hope they shine a billion candle watt light on these vampires.Any estimate on damages sought ?

Moom over, ever’body, make room for all our company!

Cathy, #48
I was typing and missed your comment on the WHIG group. Sorry, did not copy you.

and your little dog too …

Blockquotes

HOLY mother of all things sacred and true, this is the absofreakin’lutely best news I’ve heard in a very, very long time! All I can say is, wooooohooooooo, yesssssssss.

They have bided their time and patiently waited for things to unfold, and they have been maliciously and willfully wronged. God, I hope they prevail. I know this will be a long and nasty road for them, but I send them my best wishes for triumph over these horrific brutes, and I know in my heart that some sort of justice must come from this.

For us non-lawyer types, what does it mean to name John Doe 1 through 10? Are these specific people who remain unnamed, or just some random number based on guessing? Why wouldn’t the targets be named in a civil case?

I hope one of the John Doe’s is Mary Matalin McCheney….she is just trash and scuzz!

Yes, puppethead, they ARE specific unnamed people (why unnamed now, we’ll hafta hide&watch for).

john in sacto 65- you are so kind with your links. thanks, I needed that, too.

From the DKos link provided above-
…Trust was established with the Wilsons’ approval and provides that should the suit result in a payment to the Wilsons in excess of their legal costs, they will reimburse the Trust for all legal costs paid by the Trust. That money will then be distributed by the trustees to a charitable organization(s) that works to protect the rights of government whistleblowers. Contributions to the Joseph and Valerie Wilson Legal Support Trust can be given at http://www.wilsonsupport.org or sent to P.O. Box 40918, Washington, D.C. 20016-0918.

Let the games begin….

Remember …Amb Wilson took it to Saddam…WITHOUT FEAR….he will not blink when it comes to trash cowards like Miss Piggy Rover and Darth Cheney…it will be tough but Amb Wilson is a hero and so is Valerie Wilson…look at what she did for OUR country and how those cowards ruined her livelihood, no less are traitors to our country!

Christy, do you know anything about their counsel, Christopher Wolf?

I sure would like to know how the hell they think they’re gonna get all the Americans outta Lebanon now.

angie @ 44 says:
“CNN covering the Wilson suit now with pix of Dead eye and his fish eye wife.”

~~~

You owe me the mouthful of Chardonnay I just spit on my iMac’s screen.

Jenny 61

Thanks.

I’m going to try it now.

cathy says: “And the civil suit has been filed, and names Libby, Rove, Cheney and John Does 1 through 10.

Hmm, how many members are in the WHIG?” “

July 13th, 2006 at 12:37 pm

Here’s the list of WHIG members: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHIG

The “breaking news” notifications are coming into my email fast & furious now. (OK, “quickly and furiously” for you grammar nerds…)

Lookit little dog go!

WooHoo!

It worked!

Thanks.

How soon before Coppolino et al file to have the suit dismissed for state secrets reasons? *g*

Game on, Go VALERIE!

The newsbits about GITMO hearings, NSA info etc. are a mess – things are not coordinated at the WH yet, for sure.

Milbanks piece was actually pretty good on the hearing I thought. Graham has done back flips to bail these idiots out and CYA for the military. If he pulls an Arlene and does all tough talk but lets them follow through with the assinine positions they are taking, he’ll have let the military down IMO. In other reports, McCain and Warner seem “puzzled” bec the word they had from the WH is that UCMJ hearing were thumbs up from the WH.

The signals are crossing and zinging.

Last lawyer left standing, turn out the lights.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..00953.html

Hopefully Rove And Novak are among the John Doe’s.

Morris Sheppard at 12:41 pm :

IANAL but I was truly outraged that the SC said it was ok for Paula Jones to sue a sitting president for something he did before becoming such a thing. Am I wrong? Has it happened before?

I’m not sure how I feel about this. it feels like good news, but I just don’t like it. It seems like a really slippery slope. Please, someone, convince me otherwise.

So what will Bush and Co. do to keep this out of the Sunday morning puppet shows?

Wooot! I must say, I’m very sick of Novak and other Republicans recycling talking points that were discredited over a year ago.

We’ll see how far this goes.

Whoops, Missed it.

Members
The members of the White House Iraq Group are:

Karl Rove
Karen Hughes
Mary Matalin
Andrew Card
James R. Wilkinson
Nicholas E. Calio
Condoleezza Rice
Stephen Hadley
I. Lewis (Scooter) Libby

I have to bone up on my Bivens case law, but there are all sorts of delicious motions to come, including why Dick, Scooter and Turdblossom are not entitled to qualified immunity.

Am doing a cursory read of complaint and keeping an eye on my e-mail gang…

Meta 74
I remeber reading that he is a neighbor of theirs, and had no irea what Valerie did until this blew up.

Toobin on CNN opining.

Dru at 71 already listed a site that goes to the Wilson trust fund. Although donations start at 50, remember you can give as much or as little as possible. Personally it might be the best 50 I ever contributed. You go Joe….

O.k. a bit of myopia here. The guessing game has officially begun? Yes? Miller? Novak? Russert? My, The fun HAS just begun.

Jon in Sacremento

Thanks!

Big Time!

FYI-
NPR just broke in to Fresh Air to make this announcement, so I think there will be coverage by other media, my dears. I almost jumped out of bed from my nap.

Oh, boy. *ilson, have you registered http://www.thankyouvaleriewilson.com yet?

moeman @ 77– sorry ;) I am glad I made somebody laugh today.

Toobin calling the lawsuit a long shot… typical.

Susan in Iowa @ 37

I admire their courage as well. The full power of the right wing noise machine will be after them 24/7. The Pre$$titutes will give their usual 10 to 1 Conservative to Progressive coverage should this ever come to trial.

Remember when Sidney Blumenthal tried to sue that a–hole Drudge for publishing a BS post that Blumenthal beat his wife. Drudge was backed up with an unlimited defense fund from the “four sisters”, and Mr. Blumenthal ultimately had to pay Drudge $2500.

http://archive.salon.com/polit…..5/02/blue/

You can damn well bet that Rove ET alls strategy will be similar, to file as many delay motions as possible to bleed the Wilson’s dry and force them to drop the suit or face bankruptcy.

Toobin: “extreme long shot, this lawsuit — pub. offls have immunity, etc., etc.”

Faster typer, please take over.

Jeff Toobin on CNN says that Plames “have a long shot at best.” “Public officials have almost total immunity for what they do in office.”

Is he right, or should he stick to O.J.?

Does this mean that when the dust settles, the Kelp Kandy Karnival will reopen for the summer again, with free bourbon and jumbo ‘dolphin dogs’ for the kiddies?

Be still my beating liver

;>)

WHIG membersip:

George W. Bush’s former chief of staff Andrew Card
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice
Rice’s former deputy Stephen Hadley
Vice President Cheney’s chief of staff Lewis “Scooter” Libby
Legislative liaison Nicholas E. Calio
AND
Communication strategists
Mary Matalin
Karen Hughes
James R. Wilkinson, Deputy National Security Advisor for Communications

Lawyers:

Is “John Doe” a gender-specific designation? Would one name “Jane Doe” in this circumstance, should there be a female “John Doe?”

IOW, are Condi, Karen, and Mary off this hook, or on it?

Could ‘I’m fuckin right!’ Judy be included?

Cindy, do you know if the Wilsons have a legal fund I can donate to, or if they would accept donations?

Sigh…my neighbor cindy just left. CHRISTY, I’m sorry.

Clinton v. Jones decision, for some relevance. To my untrained eye it looks like there is no immunity from civil suit while sitting in office. Oops. Nice blowback from the Clinton hunts, eh?

Lindy look at 71

just a political dispute… tooberboy.

LindyH– check 71 and 93 above.

it might be safer just to register http://www.thankyouvalerie-.com , dont you think? the drawback is setting up a webserver and software to host it …

Lotus 80

Your post took momentarily too me back to about age 8 on the high-dive board at Camp Longhorn! :)

Thanks!

The tolling of the statute of limitations must have been understood by the attorneys for the likely defendants in the civil case.

Folks have been wondering why Novak came “out” with his story this week, but Rove et al would have known that he/they were potential defendants. Just as Rove and his counsel made a last ditch gesture at Fitz to avoid Rove being indicted, I wonder if the Novak story was a last ditch effort by Rove/Novak or others to avoid being named defendants? Time to take another look at the Novak story.

Let’s hope Amd Wilson and his wife can recover finacially especially for her. They have called her all kind of names and even suggested she was basically a secretary at the agency. I don’t really care about the political impact of the lawsuit just hoping the wilsons can reclaim what was theirs.

and your little dog…

whoo hoo! :)

(((((little dog))))))

69 lotus says:

July 13th, 2006 at 12:46 pm

Yes, puppethead, they ARE specific unnamed people (why unnamed now, we’ll hafta hide&watch for).

Lotus the reason they are unamed now, is to get under the statute of limitations.

The Wilsons don’t havve enough info to withstand a rule 12 Motion to dismiss the complaint, with regards to the others. if they named the others and then lost the motion to dismiss (even w/o prejudice, which normally means you can rebring your suit when you get enough info) they would be screwed because the statute of limitations would have run out.

I do a lot of federal civil rights cases. I haven’t read past the 3rd page yet (and already am slavering for a Christy deconstruction of the complaint) but was surprised they seem to only be bringing a biven cliam alone.

Really interesting was starting the complaint with that quote from Bush the First. THAT IS VERY UNUSUAL. That’s how you start a brief or oral argument not how you start a pleading.

I think a whole lot o’ thought went inot this document and that it may hold strategic angles, not normally found in docs of this kind.—Cheeeky of me to say that before I have read it, eh?

I’ll bet one of the John Does is Commander Codpiece — which means the full throw weight of the ‘Murkan Noo-Klee-Ar arsenal will be launched at Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria — and Russia and China, just to be on the safe side — about two minutes after the Wilson’s press conference begins.

Not that there is any connection, mind you . . .

Jeff Toobin on CNN says that Plames “have a long shot at best.” “Public officials have almost total immunity for what they do in office.”

Is he right, or should he stick to O.J.?

Immunity for elected officials, notwithstanding Jones v. Clinton, for actions while in office are quite high. The case against Cheney will be quite tough.

Libby & Rove on the other hand, will be easier they would have qualified immunity so a showing of maliciousness would keep them in the case.

Happy

Happy

Joy

Joy.

and I love the fact that that beautiful pic of Val and joe has the FDL colors in the background. How very aesthetically pleasing.

Lots of smiles today.

Oil closed at $76.76/bl today — NEEDLESS to add, a new record (only until tomorrow).

Thanks

you know- i dont have a ton of faith that it will amount to any huge monetary gains for the wilsons- but just think of all the horrible publicity for the rethugs, not to mention their outrageous legal bills, all in time for the upcoming elections… YAHOO!

FITZ!

Christopher Wolf ESQ.!

Coming to a zero post soon.

Wilson support website, via TPM:

http://wilsonsupport.org/

Another banner day for George W. Bush:

Dow 10,847.17 Down 166.01 (1.51%)

Heckuva job.

Now if he can just bring on the apocalypse.

-GSD

by the way, I wonder what Mr. Lamont is up to today ?

skippy, you slut! Happy Anniversary!

Doesn’t the immunity apply to acts in their official capacity, as opposed to acts that just happened to take place in their offices? You can’t claim immunity for, say, assaulting someone at your workplace even is it’s the WH. Won’t the fights be over whether outing a CIA agent is some sort of official act?
Mary? LHP?

Good for the Wilsons.

Any chance Addington might be a Doe?

Puppethead Thanks for the link. Now that I’m reminded how trivial the suit was, how rabid those dogs were, I’m content to let the perfidious bastards be toasted by the blowback. At least something good will have come out of it ;-)

Thanks, lhp — what’s a Biven claim?

Roman 130 “Any chance Addington might be a Doe?”

Where is Punaise when you need him…

101Penman says

July 13th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
Jeff Toobin on CNN says that Plames “have a long shot at best.” “Public officials have almost total immunity for what they do in office.”

Is he right, or should he stick to O.J.?

Pardon my language but

HORSE SHIT

public officials have conditional immunity except in VERY RARE cases where they have almost toal immunity (ie speech and debate clause–memberrs of conngress have total immunity for defamations they commit on th efloor of the congress)

Athenae on Eschaton made this comment regarding the Papa Bush quote:

“Poppy was one of Joe Wilson’s biggest fans back when Wilson was being threatened by Saddam Hussein and Bush was passed out drunk under a trampoline somewhere. “

Punaise must be fighting his way through the crowds out front, Susan . . .

Modern Day Republican Mindset.

Joe Wilsons’ wife=fair game, pencil pusher, desk jockey, wife of a drunk, philanderer, drug user, political partisan, traitor.

Sam Alito’s wife=victim of evil Democrats who spoke harshly of her husband.

What a frickin’ world.

-GSD

GSD, I have no doubt he is plotting it at this very moment.

*ilson –

My cousin, who runs GayRealEstate.com and owns more than a thousand domain names, recommended this site for domain name registration:

http://www.aplus.net/

take ‘em to the cleaners, Joe and Val. If the criminal justice system can’t or won’t mete out justice (at least, on a level we all suspect is justified – come on Fitz!) then this is the avenue to hold these thugs accountable.

Go, Athenae!

Doesn’t the immunity apply to acts in their official capacity, as opposed to acts that just happened to take place in their offices?

I relish having the Bush junta argue in court how exposing a covert CIA agent and destroying a woman’s career was an “official act”.

Pun made it inside — whew!

I’m hoping that at some point Bush’s name will be substituted for “Doe No. 1.”

I wonder if Poppy Bush and the Quaker Oats Guy he is married to nodded his head when the minister at the Ken Lay funeral compared Ken Lay to Jesus?

-GSD

108
puppethead says

July 13th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Clinton v. Jones decision, for some relevance. To my untrained eye it looks like there is no immunity from civil suit while sitting in office. Oops. Nice blowback from the Clinton hunts, eh?

That not what ,u>Clinto v. Jones holds exactly. C v. J holds that the president’s immunity from suit for acts committed while in office does not necessarily extend to acts committed before he was in office, if steps are taken to try to accomidate the riggers and demands of his job

Susan in Iowa says 133

Roman 130 “Any chance Addington might be a Doe?”
Where is Punaise when you need him…

Addington doesn’t strike me as a “dear in the headlights” kind of guy.

lotus
Pun made it inside — whew!

it was a close call…

Punasaise lol

Considering that this is an historic and precedent setting course of action, I’m thinking that this counsel has to take quite an unconventional approach. Dragging Bush 1 into it is sweeeeeeet.

GSD at 145: “Poppy Bush and the Quaker Oats he is married to..”

LOL!

Specter says he has a deal with the WH to allow court review of the NSA program.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07…..r=homepage

OT– just what in the hell is Zalmay Khalilzad doing in the situation room when Iraq is falling apart and everybody else is traveling?????

this administration is completely OOC.

Will the Supremes reverse course of Paula Jones and declare that Government officials cannot be sued by private citizens?

Rice and Hadley are to do an on-camera presser from Deutschland in about 10 minutes concerning their mess in the Middle East

My first reaction to this news? Excellent!

My second reaction? A warm glow. About time someone took these jackalopes to court for their heinous acts of stupidity.

My only worry: can this affect the Fitzgerald investigation? I desparately hope not, but then again, could there be some double jeopardy shenanigans that could play out here?

lhp – does C v J have any relevance for the VP?

By the way, does anyone know when John Fund stopped beating his girlfriend?

-GSD

Punaise & Susan;

Would be nice to see him get run over, just the same.

Ugh, floods of memories re: ‘Clinton v. Jones’ today makes me sick to my stomach!

scarecrow,
It would seem that the deal Specter made with W is that W can decide whether or not he wants to subject his spying to court review. Jerelyn is on it.

I’m shocked.

Well, damn…the family printer has finally kicked the bucket. Am reading the complaint online, but it will have to wait until Mr. ReddHedd gets home with a copy for the marked-up, annotated extravaganza. Sorry for delays on legal analysis, gang…it’s been one of those days today, I’m afraid.

mmr 157:

Fitzy is done. The only thing Fitzy can do is file a report if he want to, otherwise, Adios.

I hope y’all go and pay a visit to the support site…..I sent out 100 emails asking my friends to donate….the Wilsons need us now.

http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/…..p;page=388

That will get you bivens

GSD @ 126

Loe and behold – whence the mark of the beast be forced upon the children – armagedon is nigh

It’ll be fun to see if media whore Howie sKurtz has g/f beater Fund on to defend himself.

OT – GSD, I’m laughing so hard at your Quaker Oats/Babs Bush likening, my sides are killing me. Oh, and about the Ken Lay eulogy, how about his quote:
Lawson likened Lay to James Byrd, a black man who was dragged to death in a racially motivated murder near Jasper eight years ago.
“Ken Lay was neither black nor poor, as James Byrd was, but I’m angry because Ken was the victim of a lynching,” said Lawson, who predicted that history will vindicate Lay.
[snip]
This is so patently outrageous and offensive, it’s hard to know where to begin. But yeah, Ken Lay was neither black nor poor nor murderd by being chained and dragged off the end of a pick-up truck.

Godspeed, Wilsons…

Does anybody have a link to the full complaint text?

Wikipedia on the DC Judge involved
(0 / 0)

From http://en.wikipedia.org/…

John D. Bates was appointed United States District Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in December 2001. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1968 and received a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1976. From 1968 to 1971, he served in the United States Army, including a tour in Vietnam. Judge Bates clerked for Judge Roszel C. Thomsen of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland from 1976 to 1977 and was an associate at Steptoe & Johnson from 1977 to 1980. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1980 to 1997, and was Chief of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 1987 to 1997. Judge Bates was on detail as Deputy Independent Counsel for the Whitewater investigation from 1995 to mid-1997. In 1998, he joined the Washington law firm of Miller & Chevalier, where he was Chair of the Government Contracts/Litigation Department and a member of the Executive Committee. Judge Bates has served on the Advisory Committee for Procedures of the D.C. Circuit and on the Civil Justice Reform Committee for the District Court, and as Treasurer of the D.C. Bar, Chairman of the Publications Committee of the D.C. Bar, and Chairman of the Litigation Section of the Federal Bar Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. In 2005, he was appointed by Chief Justice Rehnquist to serve on the U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management. In February 2006, he was appointed by Chief Justice Roberts to serve as a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. (Ed. Note – The preceding paragraph was copied from his official biography.)

As a District Court Judge, Bates dismissed the GAO’s effort to learn with whom Cheney’s energy task force conferred.

Mercury Rising: http://phoenixwoman.blogspot.com

As I said over at watertiger’s – Ken Lay was no mere James Byrd – nay, he was Anne Frank. He was Andrea Yates’s children. He was the civilians of Hiroshima. He was the Rwandan Tutsis. He was the Seminole on the Trail of Tears. He was Grandma Millie. He was the millions of European dead from the bubonic plague. He was St. Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, the Buddha, Mother Teresa, Jesus, and Nelson Mandela. He was Tai Shan.

The BBC is on it now.

Best comment about kennyboy lay being dragged and lynched belong to;

http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/

Bivens was a case where DEA agents abused hteir power as federal agents to unlawfully deprive citizens of their constitutional rights.

I’v done a Bivens case as plaintiff once.

The absolutely hardest part of a Bivens case is surviving the motion to dismiss based upon the qualified immunity defense. That’s where most of them end in the dustbin.

Gotta go read the complaint now. BYE

I guess I should point out I made that up … but I still think he has 666 on his skull somewhere

Jess at 164 — not true. Your evidence that he is done is where? Neither Fitzgerald nor any of his team have made any statement to the contrary of which I am aware. If you don’t have a link to back that up, don’t make an unsupported assertion.

Sharkbabe (172): Bury my Heart at Wounded Lay.

Hastert hospitalized with cellulitis.

Wikipedia on the DC Judge involved:

From http://en.wikipedia.org/…

John D. Bates was appointed United States District Judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in December 2001. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1968 and received a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1976. From 1968 to 1971, he served in the United States Army, including a tour in Vietnam. Judge Bates clerked for Judge Roszel C. Thomsen of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland from 1976 to 1977 and was an associate at Steptoe & Johnson from 1977 to 1980. He served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1980 to 1997, and was Chief of the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office from 1987 to 1997. Judge Bates was on detail as Deputy Independent Counsel for the Whitewater investigation from 1995 to mid-1997. In 1998, he joined the Washington law firm of Miller & Chevalier, where he was Chair of the Government Contracts/Litigation Department and a member of the Executive Committee. Judge Bates has served on the Advisory Committee for Procedures of the D.C. Circuit and on the Civil Justice Reform Committee for the District Court, and as Treasurer of the D.C. Bar, Chairman of the Publications Committee of the D.C. Bar, and Chairman of the Litigation Section of the Federal Bar Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. In 2005, he was appointed by Chief Justice Rehnquist to serve on the U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management. In February 2006, he was appointed by Chief Justice Roberts to serve as a judge of the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. (Ed. Note – The preceding paragraph was copied from his official biography.)

As a District Court Judge, Bates dismissed the GAO’s effort to learn with whom Cheney’s energy task force conferred.

Curious Jim at 171 — if you click through my civil suit filed link, there are a couple of links to the complaint in PDF format.

i heart sharkbabe

Unless you are behind the wheel of a car, I have always thought offense is better than defense. No matter what, this suit will probably help bring out more about Rove, Cheney & Libby roles. Media won’t be able to ignore the as yet 10 unknowns. (When will we know who they are?) Fingers cautiously crossed that this goes somewhere good.

Angie 154

I swear Zalmay Khalilzad is Wolfie Blitzer’s boyfriend.

(Sorry about the double post — it wasn’t visible the first time I tried to post!)

PheonixWoman#181…the judge involved in what?

that fits, and you little dog, too.

Neocon true believers tend to stick together…

Did they lay Lay in an open casket?

I don’t suppose there’s any way to make this a class-action suit with all of us as co-plaintiffs and extra-deep pockets defendants, is there?

I have visions of a phalanx of attorneys swarming over every square millimeter of Cocktailweeniedom, with an army of private eyes and forensic accountants backing them up and plenty of friendly journalists with whom they can share their discoveries. Maybe they could be cut a share of Mary’s “Fred” when that’s recovered as recompense?

Good reading here;

[UPDATED] Joseph Wilson: My Response to Robert Novak’s Distortions

http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..134345/472

and here;

Breaking: Plame to sue Cheney, Rove, and Libby [Update]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/13/142451/332

I have a question: news reports say they’re suing over the defendants’ “conspiring to destroy her career.”

Now, given that we always hear TV legal analysts admonishing about how difficult it is to prove ‘conspiracy,’ isn’t that really unncessary here (more relevant to criminal charges?)? She suffered significant civil economic and professional injury as a direct result of the actions of Cheney, Rove, Libby et al, whether they “conspired” about it or not. All she has to prove beyond a “preponderance” is that any or all of them did x, y, z to cause the loss. Even if they didn’t “intend” it, the loss still happened. ‘I didn’t intend to run over the kid on her kid with my car, but I was deemed negligent and consequently liable…’

???

Not a lawyer, and I rarely stay at Holiday Inn Express.
_

Jess 164

You haven’t been around here long, have you?

You might want to read up on Fitzgerald’s role.

1,206 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOES ON AND ON AND…

TeddySanFran:

You gotta stand in line,guy, I got there first…Sharkbabe rocks the planet!!!

KEEP THE FAITH AND PUT YER UMBELLA UP’CUZ THE SHIT IS COMIN’ DOWN NOW!!!

Angie #180:

…of the cranial cavity?

I’v done a Bivens case as plaintiff once.

The absolutely hardest part of a Bivens case is surviving the motion to dismiss based upon the qualified immunity defense. That’s where most of them end in the dustbin.

Yep, I’ve done Bivens claims and plenty of 1983 claims and it’s always the same ol’ story. Getting past the initial Motion to Dismiss because of the Immunities.

Lay was cremated — they figured they might as well get a head start considering where his soul will be going …

Curious Jim says: “Does anybody have a link to the full complaint text?”
July 13th, 2006 at 1:17 pm

Please try this (and if this doesn’t work, the link is on DailyKos):
http://home.businesswire.com/p…..teTitle=BW Portal

Curious Jim @ 188 says
“Did they lay Lay in an open casket?”

~~~

RudePundit says they boiled and cremated him.

Susanin – I think in their “official capacity” may be an interesting question. The Spec Counsel has certainly allowed the driblets (all very correctly thought) to indicate that President George W. Bush ordered/authorized his staffers to attack the Wilsons.

So, does that make the attacks within their official capacity?

lhp – if the defendants affirmatively raise “official capacity” then I think they have to put on trial Bush’s walking orders to them, no? Thing I wondered about – not knowing the area, would be statutory color of law claims as a possiblity and whether an affirmative defense claiming immunity based on official capacity opens the door more or less on that front? Also, what might be their possiblity to reach GJ testimony for their trial? Especially Rover’s testimony – if he is now out of the loop on charges? I’ve been waiting for Libby’s crew to renew their requests on that front since Rove made his announcement.

Good puppyluck.

Former illegal immigrant, steroid abuser, serial harasser, orgy fanatic, nude model, dope smoker and muscle boy to sugar daddies aplenty, Arnold “That Hitler knew how to work a room” Schwarzenegger is polling at a loss to Phil Angelides in the latest Rasmussen poll.

46 Phil, 44 Sperminator

I wonder if Susan Page from USA Today will rewrite her Democrat demoralizing story and note that the Republicans are now losing in polls all over the map?

-GSD

shameless superficial observation: is it just me, or does anyone else find Valerie Wilson the most attractive woman in DC?

What a day! Civil suit, Novak is still an a$$ and Amazon just delivered me Fubar! Hope I don’t fall down the stairs on my way out of the building!

OT – freeperville reports that Israeli radio says the Hezbollah leader has been killed. Getting ugly over there. (In freeperville, too.)

and a belated blogiversary shout-out to skippy!

skippity-doo-dah, skippity day…

I surmise that the timing of the civil suit is linked to Bastille Day.

JWR,

It is always ugly over there in Freeperville.

Cremated? I don’t believe it. Lay is in a lounge chair on a beach in Costa Rica. And he is wearing a “Sportsman” hairpiece: you can shower, swim, and do all your favorite sports with it!

punaise says
July 13th, 2006 at 1:26 pm

shameless superficial observation: is it just me, or does anyone else find Valerie Wilson the most attractive woman in DC?
_____

LOL!! Yeah, she looks great.

Just like Taylor Marsh (besides my wife) is the most attractive woman in Vegas — which is MAJOR props, given the plentitude of hotties we got here.

punaise: speaking as one who does not usually objectify females : Valerie is one hot babe ! I was absolutely stunned with her beauty when I saw her on TV at that dinner …

Punaise @ 203: I always thought that Ms. Wilson was very attractive. But then quashed the thought as she is married, I am married, this is a very serious business we are dealing with and there is no time for that kind of frivolous musing that is probably insulting and sexist….

But she IS attractive, isn’t she…..

I have a gut feeling, that Joe and Valerie Wilson have ALOT of information on Rover et al, than any of us could even guess …..

punaise @ 203 says:
“shameless superficial observation: is it just me, or does anyone else find Valerie Wilson the most attractive woman in DC?”

~~~

Only when Jane isn’t in town.

Democratic Hottie Power Couple=Joe and Valerie Wilson.

Republican Hottie Power Couple=Bob and Liddy Dole.

Guess which guy doesn’t need Viagra?

Guess which woman doesn’t need a George Clooney picture taped to the headboard?

Yeah baby.

-GSD

Curious Jim s@ 209 ays
“Cremated?”

~~~

http://www.kenlayisalive.org/

Valerie and Joe are totally hot.

apropos Bastille Day, from the Marsellaise:

Tremble, tyrants and traitors
The shame of all good men,
Tremble! Your parricidal schemes
Will receive their just reward,
Against you we are all soldiers
If our young heroes fall,
The earth will bear new ones,
Ready to join the fight against you!

Go Joe and Valerie!
You are the true patriots.
Exposing government wrongdoing is the highest form of patriotism.
Your bravery is awe inspiring.
My thoughts will be with you through this ordeal.

Angie 180

I had a case of cellulitis in my knee after a fall.

Cellulitis usually means there’s a circulation problem somewhere.

The docs put me through a million tests, to see what the circulation problem was, although I was pretty sure it was from sitting in a car for a long, long trip from NE Pennsylvania.

So in addition to have chunky blood (credit to Stephanie Miller) I’d guess he isn’t getting much excercise either.

Mary says: “I think in their “official capacity” may be an interesting question.”
July 13th, 2006 at 1:25 pm

Suppose that an offense committed by a federal official is impeachable. Has any impeached federal official ever successfully asserted as a defense that the high crimes and misdemeanors of which he/she was accused were within that person’s official capacity?

Sharkbabe @ 173:

You tell ‘em, S-babe…‘Ken Lay was the bravest, most…’ etc., etc, blah-f*ckity-blah.

You always pick a winner with Walker Oats

;>)

OT to Sharkbabe: did you get your Strat back ? I wanted to hip you to this mod earlier but you weren’t around:

http://www.buzzfeiten.com/index.htm

It will completely transform your guitar. Way hip.

Hastert hospitalized with cellulitis.

Are you sure it isn’t graftitis?

Good. This is how we are going to find out what happened. I know everybody likes Fitz but his mandate is narrow and he IS a DOJ employee. And no matter who you are, it is a difficult proposition to investigate your bosses.

Not a surprise, but welcome anyway. Go Val and Joe.

Christy – hasn’t Joe Wilson always maintained that he and his wife would NOT file civil lawsuit until Fitz was done with his investigation??? Didn’t Joe Wilson say he and his wife did not want to step on Fitz’s toes or otherwise impede Fitz’s work???

Does this filing also announce that Fitz is closing shop without any additional indictments???

Why would the Wilsons be filing their lawsuit now if Fitz still has a couple of stink bombs to drop?

I fear the Fitzgerald investigation has been flushed down the toilet.

Ohmigawd, if Rove and Libby were not bankrupt from the legal fees in the criminal case, they sure must be getting close now.

Schwing!

Ba-da-ba-ba-ba, I’m lovin’ it!

SHOW NO MERCY, VALERIE!!!

Take these fuckers for every red cent you can get out of ‘em.

BTW, if you want to help Joe and Val Wilson out … here ya go.

I may be nowhere near as rich as Scooter Libby’s buddies, but I gave what I could.

http://www.wilsonsupport.org/

Christy,

Legal questions for you:

1. Could Plame/Wilson call Patrick Fitzgerald as a witness in the Civil Case, or for a deposition?

2. Would he have to get permission from the Grand Jury Judge to testify?

3. If he could be called, would he have to testify more extensively about the leak investigation if asked?

Thank you.

You can’t out an undercover in the course of your official duties, can you? How can they have it both ways? I guess I need to go back and look at the IIPA.

Stephen – impeachment (legislative proceeding) is different than a legal proceeding and to the best of my knowledge, no immunity issues could apply to impeachment.

OTOH, you can’t send someone to jail or collect a civil penalty via impeachment – just bar from office.

clueless, emptywheel thinks it’s the Statute of Limitations on Novak’s initial article 14 July 2003, three years ago. I’d appreciate it if some legal experts could confirm.

Maybe waiting for Bush to re-appoint Fitzgerald is not what the Wilsons had in mind when they said they would wait.

FWIW: Feet dragging would not be a good reason to delay filing.

There may be statute of limitations or worries memories of the principal witnesses may fade. Best to get at it while those memories are fresh.

OT

What about Specter’s ‘fisa court review’ of the NSA crimes?

Clueless at 225 — my understanding was that the Wilson’s had a two-pronged concern: (1) not interfering with the investigation, until it had been mostly completed and (2) making certain that they had not gone past the filing deadline for the statute of limitations in their jurisdiction. I think that (2) came before (1), and required filing. And, as of the Libby indictment, a lot of the case had been tied up, other than the few strings that had been left hanging. I’ve been hearing murmurs that a lot of those strings are no longer such loose ends, but nothing beyond the strictly rumor mill variety, which is why we hadn’t reported anything on it as yet. I’m wondering if Joe and Valerie have been hearing the same, and decided to file before the statue of limitations barred them from doing so. I’d say that is fairly likely, actually, but I haven’t spoken with Amb. Wilson today to verify it. (As he is likely quite busy, I won’t be bothering him with it this evening, either. *g*)

Darkblack @ 222

Digging for gold

R.I.P. Red Buttons.

Wilsons’s attorney Christopher Wolf is their neighbor. He wrote an op-ed an year or so ago in Wash Post that he had been their neighbor for several years, participated in block parties with them (even babysat Wilson twins, as I remember), but he DID NOT know that Valerie worked at the CIA until Novak’s column. I think he was one of the neighbors that was interviewed by FBI, when Fitz sent FBI to Wilson’s neighborhood to find out if the neighbors knew where Plame worked.

When Wilsons made an announcement last year that they were considering civil suit, that statement was issued by Wolf. I knew all along when Wilsons file the civil suit, Wolf would be their lawyer.

shameless superficial observation, revisited: OK, it wasn’t just me

John in sacramento @ 237:

You shouldn’t waste your beautiful mine on such obvious digital manipulation

;>)

i think they said his cellulitis was in a leg– he needs 72 hours of antibx. hope it’s not a necrotizing fascitis… or that he was bitten by a rabid lamb.

Mary 201
“…that President George W. Bush ordered/authorized his staffers to attack the Wilsons.
So, does that make the attacks within their official capacity?”

GWB apparently testified that he didn’t tell them to do anything illegal. If so, the attempt to dscredit may be an official act somehow, but illegal means (violation of IIPA?) should not be protected. I don’t know this–am just wondering. If there is an IIPA violation, how can that be immunized? Pardoned, maybe, but not immunized.

Mary says: “OTOH, you can’t send someone to jail or collect a civil penalty via impeachment – just bar from office.”
July 13th, 2006 at 1:42 pm

I agree with what I quoted from your 1:42 comments, and I agree with what you stated in the first paragraph of your comments. What I was trying to do was to see how it could best be demonstrated that something along the lines of “if the President (or some other federal official) does it, it’s legal” won’t work as a defense in criminal or civil proceedings.

I don’t know how oblique this is, but I suggested that yesterdays coverage of Novak and his bullsh*t story by the MSM was an attempt to get in front of something.

If the statue of limitations on the civil case was a certainty then perhaps trotting Novak at this time was an attempt to blow smoke over the civil suit.

Novak in this case would have been a pawn in someone else’s game, perhaps duped into thinking he might retrieve some credibility.

O/T- All we need now is for Ahmadinejad to lob some scuds at Israel. Bush, having eviscerated our military with his moronic grandiose invasion of Iraq, has put in place some VERY bad regional conditions. And, now, he’s reduced to pathetic, meandering, platitudinous babble about the current Israelis situation.

Peter Principle is bad enough in business. But, WE got the worst of all worlds now.

OT – Ed Schultz says Ned Lamont at the top of the hour, Lieberman at the bottom. Not sure if he’ll have them live, or just discuss them in that order.

john in sacramento @ 237

white gold

~

Novak in this case would have been a pawn in someone else’s game

Novak is pawned scum.

Angie 242

Cellulitis in his leg – - wanna bet it’s from sitting all day and having his britches too tight on his fat legs, cutting off the circulation at the knees?

NORON is hosting Hardballs.

Yuk.

and your little dog, too 250
Angie 242
Cellulitis in his leg – - wanna bet it’s from sitting all day and having his britches too tight on his fat legs, cutting off the circulation at the knees?

I thought you were talking about the poor race horse

NORON is covering for tweety and will be covering the civil suit!!
Let’s see what the imbecile says!

There’s “illegal” and then there’s “wrongful” or “tortious”

Illegal – criminal activity.

Tortious – wrongful activity that gives rise to a civil claim.

Things that are not “illegal” can be “tortious” and the “if the President ok’s it, it’s legal” doesn’t mean anything in a civil suit context, as best I can think, except vis a vis the qualified immunity issue.

For those with a stronger stomach than I have –

David Corn writes Robert Novak is showing that the Rove stonewall worked.

http://lists.thenation.com/t?ctl=54D7:4B2FF

New thread:
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..ights-act/

RE: #27, J.P. Spencer, on why Novak isn’t already in jail. Perhaps looseheadprop can correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the answer is that revealing the name of a covert CIA operative is a crime ONLY if it is done by a government official. The law doesn’t apply to Novak in this case. That’s why the only people named in the Wilsons’ suit are federal employees (like me). Am I right?? What do I win if I AM right???

Israel responds to Rice’s late call for restraint: stuff it.

She also tells Syria to pressure Lebanon.

all this from Germany.

Attack on Beirut imminent

no time to read all 200 posts, but am told that the judge assigned to the case is a Bush1 apointee and was the judge that dismissed the GAO suit against Cheney to disclose the energy committee info.

Bobby G @ # 246:

“O/T- All we need now is for Ahmadinejad to lob some scuds at Israel.”

Bobby,

more than enough foolishness to go around already. Iran is unlikely to take any offensive action. More likely, they’re hunkering down, protecting their air force as best possible against an Israeli Air Force first strike.

What do I win if I AM right???

A one way ticket to Gitmo on the Pecos –

Be careful what you wish for . . .

Bush resorting to mindless emotional cowboy fratty squawking.

For laughs, check out the National Review’s The Corner. JPod says Cheney & Co. are happy to be sue as: (a) they can move for summary judgment; and/or (b) they get discovery so they can prove to the world it was Val’s fault she was outed. Jonah Goldberg tries to smear the Huffington crowd by extracting one of the comments left there and claiming it was representative. That’d be like us Angrybears being branded by the garbage from serial troll Patrick R. Sullivan.

angie – No TV here, so thanks for the rolling updates, depressing as they are.

Lamont on Ed Schultz now.

Ed* -

One would hope.

I have a life-long friend in Israel. His son is on active duty with an IDF tank unit. I’m really anxious for them.

Please let the Wilsons have GREAT security. This crime family ia not above “rubbing someone out”. Sorry to be perverse and negative. But they will every night be in my prayers, right after my Hubby…

jmike says: “Perhaps looseheadprop can correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the answer is that revealing the name of a covert CIA operative is a crime ONLY if it is done by a government official.”
July 13th, 2006 at 2:05 pm

Let’s look at 50 USC 421 through 424. I will post a link in a subsequent comment.

I know I’m soooo late to the party but just wanna say to Ambassador and Mrs. Wilson

WOO-HOO! (sorry for the caps but I am yelling that!)

God Bless You, Joe and Valerie – and lots of white light every day!

Go Valerie and Joe!

Punaise 252

Nah, the horse eats better than Hastert. :)

Everyone, now is the time to show your support for the Wilsons. Go to their website at http://www.wilsonsupport.org and make a donation to their legal trust. Let’s put our money where our mouth is!

Wanted: detail oriented plameaholics to keep the dkosopedia Plame Leak timeline up to date. It has not had any attention since the terrible events of June 27, 2006.

You need a separate account at dkosopedia. Comfort with assigned special meanings to brackets and asterisks and equal signs required.

Plunking in the announcement of the filing of a lawsuit against Libby, Cheney and Rove as your first entry? How fun!

I hope the liar, Novak, is one of the unnamed in the lawsuit. This is the best news ever, but not unexpected, as they sue the crap out of these unamerican, treasonist Repug. bastards in the White house.

Here’s the link: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/…..ection_Act

Text of 50 USC 421:

421. Protection of identities of certain United States undercover intelligence officers, agents, informants, and sources

(a) Disclosure of information by persons having or having had access to classified information that identifies covert agent

Whoever, having or having had authorized access to classified information that identifies a covert agent, intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent’s intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

(b) Disclosure of information by persons who learn identity of covert agents as result of having access to classified information

Whoever, as a result of having authorized access to classified information, learns the identify of a covert agent and intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent’s intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(c) Disclosure of information by persons in course of pattern of activities intended to identify and expose covert agents

Whoever, in the course of a pattern of activities intended to identify and expose covert agents and with reason to believe that such activities would impair or impede the foreign intelligence activities of the United States, discloses any information that identifies an individual as a covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such individual and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such individual’s classified intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

(d) Imposition of consecutive sentences

A term of imprisonment imposed under this section shall be consecutive to any other sentence of imprisonment.

For definitions, please refer to 50 USC 426.

Everyone,

If you are listening to Jeffrey Toobin at CNN, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. As Bobby G, says, the preponderance of proof is lower and all she has to prove is that her career was destroyed because they outed her. That’s what happened everyone, her career at the CIA was ruined. It’s about the truth!

/bjl

Thanks, Stephen. I actually looked it up on THOMAS a few minutes ago.

My reading of 50 USC 421 (and I’m no lawyer, but I took a grad course in legal research once) confirms my thesis: This law applies to people who have access to classified information, not to alleged “journalists” like Novak. Even paragraph (c) refers to “in the course of a pattern of activities intended to identify and expose covert agents,” and I’m not sure that was Novak’s intent — his intent was to discredit Joe Wilson, and in my opinion, he failed miserably.

Looks like Mary Matalin will have to hostess a few more fundraisers — they lawyers still must be paid, even if they successfully quash the suit.

Then again, given the makeup of the WHIG, Ms. Matalin may find herself being named Jane Doe #9!

What a presidential picture that would make in front of the White House Christmas Tree! Love you Joe and Val!

Talk about yer game on…wonder if there will be news coverage?

I wouldn;t bet on it. But thank heavens for the Wilsons that there’s a thriving and angry blogosphere that doesn’t have to worry about riling the neocons or protecting careers. We have no corporate interests to protect.

My only question is why they waited all these years to sue the administration.

My donation letter from Joe & Val….

Thank you so very much for your generous support in our fight to hold this administration accountable for their actions. You are helping us make a stand against those who would abuse their positions of public trust.

You will help us make a difference.

- Joe and Valerie Plame Wilson

I just want to know why Novak is not going to be indicted. Did he get immunity for his testimony? He has basically admitted that he revealed the identity of a CIA covert agent even after he was told not to by the CIA.

Is it a knowingly question or what? I know that he covered Rove’s behind, but how is his covered? Just because you get confirmation that doesn’t mean the info is declassified and publishable without penalty of law, does it?

I just finished my newest flash game: Slap Joe Lieberman Silly for the Truth in Connecticut. Check it out at http://zenwire.com/… and we are also adding a blogroll and link exchange for any who are interested. Thanks, zenseeker. Next game will have to do with tomatoes!

Regarding ROVE:

When did it all suddenly become that if you were not indicted, and your colleagues were, that somehow now you are completely vindicated? And when did it become that if you were found innocent in a court of law that it automatically meant that you are now deemed completely innocent and had absolutely no involvement whatsoever in orchestrating the crime in the first place. And when did it become that our legal system is now all knowing and omnicient and will catch all liars and perputrator and rightfully prosecute all those scums that sell out our country. And when did it become that our goverment and federal agencies are competent and will never fail us. And when did it become that somehow money can no longer buy the best defense lies can dream up. And when did it become, that even the best procecutor in all of us, can succumb to the powers that be and end up a whore like the rest of the cowards out there. Has our country all of the sudden changed overnight? Can it be true? or does Karl Rove and OJ have more in common than you think?

The attorney who is of counsel and “available for interviews,” Erwin Chemerinsky, recently got done lecturing tens of thousands of aspiring bar exam takers (including NY) on Constitutional Law for BarBri, the bar exam prep company.

Now, back to the books.

Yeehaw! ‘Bout time the good guys were heard from.

PS: Looking at that pic helps me understand the concept of bisexual, lol!

jmike says:
July 13th, 2006 at 2:41 pm

For the sake of discussion, let’s suppose that a journalist indirectly has access to classified information without concerning ourselves with the provenance of that information. If the journalist does not disclose that information, then he/she has committed no offense under 50 USC 421. But what happens when the journalist publishes classified information which he/she wasn’t allowed to disclose? Has a violation of 50 USC 421 occurred? We’ll need to look at 50 USC 422 to see the permissible defenses to violations of 50 USC 421.

Christy I’d love to see an immunity analysis and why these defendants wouldn’t have it. Is the theory that they went beyond the scope of their job? Also will the Wilson’s get access to Fitz’s file when his case is done?

Game on baby.

Immunity? Oh, please. Character assassination is not an offical duty. There’s no immunity here. That dog’s not going to hunt.

Summary dismissal? Don’t think so. Matt Cooper and Bob Novak have already said Rove gave them Plame’s identity. JudyJudyJudy has said the same about Scooter Libby. The only thing left to prove is malice, and you don’t send Scotty McClellan out to lie for you if you just made an innocent mistake.

This is going to trial. In DC. With no possible pardons. Under the watchful eye of a special prosecutor who will make sure no one tries to change their story. Game on.

How curious that Lay had a heart attack right after he was convicted and just before he went to jail for a long time. And with no history of heart trouble either, tsch, tsch. And you say he was cremated too, with no chance EVER of a post mortem.

What a curious unfortunate thing.

My best to the Wilsons. May they live long and prosper.

For any legal layperson reading FDL who wants a solid basis for understanding some of the civil procedure issues that this case is going to soon come up against, I highly recommend the book The Power of Procedure: The Litigation of Jones V. Clinton. (Used copies can be found on Amazon for as little as $2 — here is a direct link to amazon)

karnak12’s post is rather, hmm, dark. I don’t recall seeing the name here. Hope mods are noting IP address(es) right now.

Qualified Immunity

There are different types of Immunities and privledges. don’t conflate the two.

Qualified Immunity–especailly as it will be used to try to dismiss a Bivens suit means immunity from suit. it means it doesn’t matter if you did the evil thing or not, you are immune from suit.

The analysis of whether or not you are entitled to immunity from suit, hings on whether you were performing an essentially governmental function when you did the act complained of.

Privledge is different, it goes to whether or not information is protected from revelation. Attorney/client, priest/penintent, and docter/patient privledge are the most well known.

There are also what are known as the deliberative priveledges; Executive, legislative, and related governmental.

These have to do with the right to keep information from trial on the grounds that if the people who give you advice know that it may be made public later, they may not speak to you candidily.

It is on this basis that Cheney refused to reveal the names of the people on his energy task force

Frank Probst

The qualified immunity hurdle will be the hardest to get over. It’s where most Bivens cases bight the dust.

However, the Wilson complaint has several interesting features in that it relies upon positions taken by Fitz in his capacity as speaking for the “government”. Since the governement said the WH is was obsessed and the government said these conversations occured and the government t=said they were maliciously motivated, how can the “government” in the form of the defrense in the Wilson case claim that these things are not so?

How can they make the arguement they woud need to make to prove that it was not abuse of power. Bivens is a case about an agaent abusing his authority in a way that deprived a citizen of a rights under the Constitution.

In Bivens the abuse may have been negligent, and cases in the Biven’s line spend a great deal of time analysing whether the abuse of power was intenetional, negligent or accidental.

Here the INTENT analysis is already taken care of by reliance on the representations made by the “government” in the form of Pat FItz.

so nice so nice so nice

Joe Wilson for President

A man with more brains,balls (and integrity) than the entire bush admin. combined. More than BOTH bush admin.s !!
Not to mention the hottest first lady since Jackie
Think about it , you guys!

Dead Last at 12:

Simply Brilliant! Thank you for putting all these pithy sayings in one place.

looseheadprop: great Comment!

If the major news channels are part of the Big 10, will it cause them all to STFU finally due to the suit?

I worked at Proskauer Rose as an associate attorney in NY. They are a top law firm. They will help the Wilsons win the case.

karnak12 says:
July 13th, 2006 at 4:00 pm
How curious that Lay had a heart attack right after he was convicted and just before he went to jail for a long time. And with no history of heart trouble either, tsch, tsch. And you say he was cremated too, with no chance EVER of a post mortem.
———————————————————-
In defense of the Lay family, they may have had him cremated just to prevent his former shareholders from dancing on his grave. Had the buried him, there would have been a disco glitter ball over his tombstone within 24 hours.

Isn’t Bush with Rice in Germany BBQ’ing cocktail weenies?

this all presumes an uncorrupted jurisprudence & i seriouslly doubt there exists, today in a cheney – bush , any subtantial jurisprudence at all

rehnquist, gonzales, scalia & john yoo – have over time taken care of that

I’m with Frank Probst at 289 and elsewhere.

Thanks Man!

John Dean and Laurence O’Donnell were both asked about the Wilsons’ suit today on Keith Olbermann’s Countdown. Dean thinks the Wilsons’ have a strong case, whereas O’Donnell thinks not, especially against Cheney. O’Donnell also said he thought Libby’s lawyers would seek a “stay” (I think the term is) on the suit until after Libby’s trial.

Christy, will be most interested in hearing your thoughts when you’ve had a chance to read the complaint. Thank you!

The Wilsons’ press conference will be broadcast on C-Span 3 @10:00 a.m. ET Friday so it may be on C-Span 1 or 2 at another time.

It seems to me that since Bush and Cheney did such a great favor to declassify Plame, that all the lovely evidence should be admissible in court. And wouldn’t it be great if they would televise it, like the OJ trial?

Valerie and Joe are really photogenic – they would shine. And then we could see the neocons stumble and attempt to explain away acts that were clearly treason.

Perhaps once the civil trial begins, Congress will be ready to do something like IMPEACH.

My only worry about this is proving damages. She seems to have landed on her feet and, as O’Donnell mentioned on Countdown last night, she has made several public appearances and photo shoots. From a completely objective standpoint, one could ask if her life and her family’s life was truly put as risk from the actions of Darth Cheney.

Someone legally fluent please tell me that this isn’t a make-or-break factor; I SO want her to win!

I’m also hoping that the strain of both trials will give Darth Cheney a heart attack. It would be true poetic justice if he croaked right there in the witness chair at Libby’s trial!

In response to Rayne@292 – I apologize for the seeming connection of Lay’s demise(?) and the Wilson’s well-being. There is none.

I really would like them see them spectacularly triumphant. And who knows? It might just bring down this whole BS house of cards. Domino theory anyone? (or is that a mixed metaphor)