
Thanks to help from lots of folks at the Huffington Post, Daily Kos, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and a whole bunch of people who contributed to our fundraising efforts (especially the extra-generous steelthing, to whom much thanks goes out from all of us), we're going to DC to cover the Libby Trial.
It's something of a first for bloggers to be credentialed for a high profile trial like this. In addition to the two passes granted to the Media Bloggers Association to distribute through its members, Justin Rood (of TPM), Marcy Wheeler (of Next Hurrah/DKos) and myself (on behalf of Huffington Post and FDL) have been granted passes. Most of the passes are for the overflow room where the trial will be broadcast by closed circuit and WiFi will be available for live blogging; my pass (which I'll be sharing with Christy and others) will be for Courtroom 16 itself. To say I am excited to see Patrick Fitzgerald sweating Dick Cheney on the witness stand would be something of an understatement.
Pachacutec will be on hand for jury selection, one of only a handful of journalists (and the only blogger) allowed in to the proceeding via Judge Walton's ruling that only two journalists be allowed in the courtroom at a time.
This seems to be the story of the weekend, as I've been contacted by MSNBC, CNN, Reuters and the NY Sun who all want to know why this is significant. Considering the title of the new WSJ article on the trial is "As Libby Goes to Trial, Case Appears Weakened; Prosectuor's Success Hinges on Focusing on Perjury Charge," I think "having us around to beat back stupid crap like that" is as good an answer as any.
(hat tip Eric Boehlert for the WSJ headline)
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Zed!
Good luck to ya’ll in DC! Now back to reading the post.
Jane !!
JANE!!! This is what brought me to FDL initally and I am so looking forward to not only Mr. Fitzgerald sticking it to Dead-Eye Dick, but also the smackdown you and the pups will be putting on all the spin!
Yee Ha!
Was there a conventional mail address for contributions posted? If so, I missed it, and I have a check all ready to mail. Well, once someone advises as to whom/how it should be made out.
Thanks much.
Hooray for the stupid-crap-beating-back bloggers!
Fitzmas!
Are you wearing costumes? I was thinking kneepads for Judy’s testimony, orange vests for BigTime’s day in the dock, gayface and funny hats for Ari, et al.
BTW, people were asking for a snail mail address:
The Fire Dog Lake Company
8033 Sunset Blvd. #966
Los Angeles, CA 90046
I’m looking forward to the reports, even if they aren’t live!
Happy Fitzmas!
TeddySanFran @ 8
You can be fashion coordinator, Teddy.
Way to go Jane, I’m looking forward to you guys breaking it down for us. You’ll do better than the guys on the NFL pregame shows! (Just don’t wear a suit like Michael Irvin.)
For those of you in the FDL community who will be in DC next Thursday (the 18th), we’ll be hosting Dan Froomkin at Drinking Liberally, Dupont Circle. He’ll be speaking at 7:30 with Q&A afterwards, and we’ll have a happy hour starting at 6:30.
Drink discounts, appetizers, Froomkin. Good stuff.
More here for those who are interested.
Hope to see you there!
This is great. Blog the hell out of this Jane. It’s a great chance for you to show the netizenry how this stuff should be done.
I am confident you will kick some ass.
‘Course Cheney’s is so big and fat it’ll be hard to miss.
Seriously, I’d like real intense look at Cheney. In my opinion he’s just as dumb as Bush and even more incompetent. I base this opinion from my reading of “The Curse of Cheney”.
I will be looking forward to your take on his character.
Which Fitzgerald should be able to expose on cross.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee! Fat-assed NeoCon scum in the dock!
I luuuuuuuuuuuuuuv it!
Congratulations Jane. I’m looking forward to the reports.
What can one say about the WSJ?
. . . Prosecutor’s Success Hinges on Focusing on Perjury Charge,”
Yes, it’s true that a prosecutor’s success depends on focusing on the actual crimes charged. And their point is . . . what?
Also, when do we get to hear about the Ned party?
Jane Hamsher @
9
Thanks for the update. The check is, well, you know…
When you need a sanity break, go wander through the National Building Museum. Much more fun than it sounds.
Jane Hamsher @ 11
I thought they had to wear pajamas?
Nothing like a road trip, right Jane?
FANTABULOUS!!!
I don’t know how I’m going to get any work done during the trial as I try to keep up with what you all will be doing.
I hope the servers are going to have their extra special dose of Wheeties for this. The whole world will be watching and the best seats outside of the courtroom will be right here.
OT - sestak on hardballs
I’ve been told that the front doors of the Library of Congress are worth seeing, but you have to get there before they open. (Someday I’ll get to DC and see them myself. If the Neocons don’t blow up the world first.)
And the check is in the mail at 5 Pacific time (pickup for my building’s station).
Congratulations - let the real journalism begin! I have all put given up on the maid stream ie. corporate media to just report the facts. This shows that serious journalism can and dos occur outside of mainstream media.
I’m watching Hardball…
…just sayin’.
You’re going to DC and Hillary’s going to Iraq. One trip makes sense. The other does not.
RevDeb @ 19
Give the moderators on Troll Patrol some Wheaties, too, as I would not be surprised if the posts here attract some of the shrill ones on the far right.
I am almost dumbfounded that the bloggers (including the FDL folks) have been able to get passes for the trial, but I sure am happy that it is so.
Can you share any details of what it took for this historic occurance to be approved by the court?
Peterr @ 25
May need to enlarge the Troll Patrol as well as the servers. Good point, Peter.
Glad I was able to make a donation, small as it was (10.07). Think of it as a drink on me for your hosting session with Froomkin (he’s another one of my favorites)! My best to all covering the trial and looking forward to reading your posts. From Witney,
The Woodlands, Texas.
this is REALLY exciting, I cannot express
I don’t want to set myself up for a huge dissapointment so please tell me what the chances are of an adjournment
Jacqrat @ 23
Iran, Iran, Iran. Matthews is asking the right questions.
This is exciting!
Jane Hamsher @
9
Thank you. Please consider adding it above.
This is such a thrill! Ordered a book locally and on amazon.
…Howard Dean on hardball now
Howard Dean on Hardball. “No stomach” for attacking Iran.
Jane, I have a suggestion wrt your address: maybe you could put it in the “contact us” area so that folks don’t have to sort through all the comments or posts to find it. Seems logical and permanent (unless it changes, at which point, you could change it there.)
The bloggers are going to show the turd polishers in the MSM how reporting this case is supposed to be done.
I can’t wait for Janes take on it, she has a great style about her writing. Not to mention, Da SNARK!
I wonder if Anchor Baby or Pammy got a press pass? After all, they are pretty credible journalists aren’t they?
Jane,
You all have done such a reat job. The accomadations the federal court is making specifically for bloggers it leterally historic. To my knowledge this is the very first time blogging has been allowed in a federal courthouse.
This is so huge and am so excited for all of us who will be racing to our computers each day to hang on every word. Thank you for this.
Anchor Baby is currently multi-tasking: polishing turds and soiling herself in EyeRack.
Kelven @ 37
Oh wouldn’t that be a thumb in the eye if they didn’t qualify?
Pammy’s picking food out of Bolton’s mustache on Lawn Guyland.
Can anyone explain what insight Senator Hillary hopes to gather from a trip to the ‘Green Zone’?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 42
photo ops. Just like Jr. and the plastic turkey.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 42
The same thing that Joey Joe Joe Lieberman found out. That the troops love it over there and everything is going very very well.
Would Pammy even be interested? I mean her coverage these days is pretty much restricted to Islamiphobic race-baiting and making fun of non-white Dem politicians, isn’t it?
looseheadprop @ 40
It is so exciting….this could be the straw….please,please be the flipping point!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 42
Testing fellow-traveller Evan Bayh out as a running mate? Clinton-Bayh?
What about Drudge? Surely someone of his high journalistic standards got one. ‘Course I haven’t heard him crowing about it so maybe not…
OT,
Something I am very glad to see.
Jan. 12, 2007, 2:49PM
Convicted lawmakers may lose pensions
By JIM ABRAMS Associated Press Writer
2007 The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, behind bars for bribery, can at least be consoled by the federal pension he’ll continue to collect. Current or future lawmakers convicted of crimes may not be so lucky.
The Senate on Friday voted 87-0 to strip away the pensions of members of Congress convicted of white-collar crimes such as bribery, perjury and fraud. That could result in benefit losses of more than $100,000 a year.
snip
http://rawstory.com/showoutart.....66445.html
OT–but I’d really like some help in conceptualizing my anger toward Joe Lieberman.
He’s just so … so … what?
What’s a one or two-word term to best describe his maddening quality? Evil? (Nah, Bush is evil, but Lieberman isn’t powerful enough to have that be the best word to describe him.) Contemptible? (Not specific enough.) Smug? Liar? (Those are aspects but don’t capture the whole spectrum of what’s wrong with him.)
I figure if I can resort to a simple formula — “that ______ SOB” — I can work through my anger all the quicker. As it stands now, I missed the end of Bush’s speech because I was yelling at the TV when I heard Lieberman’s name mentioned.
Any help from the gang would be much appreciated. (By the way, has anyone heard how that bipartisan pro-surge commission is going? Any new members signing on?)
Federal Way schools restrict Gore film
‘Inconvenient Truth’ called too controversial
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/.....ent11.html
Scarecrow @ 17
I have some nice business clothes I don’t have to wear for work, but might bring to D.C. just to avoid journalistic stereotyping. If the ties don’t have too much dust on them.
Kelven @ 48
What about that guy (JOKER?… I never remember their names, sorry) that got that reporter fired and then thought AP made up an Iraq source…? Did he get a press pass?
Oklahoma kiddo @
51
a clip:
I’m gloating I know… sorry :)
Gotta bring the hemp clothes, Tevas and headbands. Hacky-sacks for the breaks, and lots of patchouli oil.
Matthews observes on Hardball that Brownback “is to the left of Hillary” on Iraq. Shame on you Senator Clinton.
I asked this at the time but got no answer. I sent $20.00 before I realized we needed to add the .07. Does that mean the money just went into the general fund?
An Al Sadr aid said get the coffins ready for US troops.
Says the US presence IS the problem.
-GSD
Twisted Martini @ 56
I am laughing so hard there are tears in my eyes.
NormalLiberal @
16
I strongly second this suggestion. They have a great exhibit “The Green House” going on right now. The museum is the big red THING right next to the courthouses. You can’t miss it, and it’s got free admission!
Now off the read the comments…
Oklahoma kiddo @
42
I believe she is wrapping herself in some sort of cloak…
not too different from the emperors clothes, but
If she is adorning herself maybe she’ll get off the durn fence soon
Will donate by snail mail now that I have the FDL address. I am really looking forward to the live blogging.
I’d love to be off work for the entire trial (glued to the news), but have already used my vacation time. But I do think that I may come down with a bug for a day OR TWO.
WOOO-HOOO !!!
My battle beginning next week will be to not become worthless at work. I’m my own boss, so that helps some things I suppose.
I want Edwards, Gore, Clark, Feingold, Bayh, or Kucinich, for 2008. And Rahm and DLC; don’t attempt to shove Hillary down my throat, or up my …
hi uncle toby!
Any Senate Dems who make that group tri-partisan are guaran-damn-teeing themselves a primary challenge. Who’d want the headache? Bet there’s lotsa perks, though: Camp David circle-jerks, carrier-group commemorative pins, briefings with Condi. Will OldLord McCain join the group? — W’s surge is just a wee surge, not the big manly surge the OldLord wanted.
In my best “Montgomery Burns”:
-EXxcellent!!!
looseheadprop @
60
Hee! they’re gonna know we’re there. (the DFH’s!)
uncle toby @
50
There may be a better choice than the one I’ve seen on prior threads, but it might be what you’re looking for: sanctimonious. How well do you think that fits?
oxide @
61
Damn! The last time I was there, they had a massive (yes, in multiple senses) exhibit on concrete. Which was amazingly interesting, but this sounds much better.
I wonder if I can think of a really good reason why I need to go to Washington…
uncle toby @ 50
Traitorous bastard!
Interesting squib about last night’s PR performance
raven @ 58
Support your FDL Generals..)
Another interesting bit from Jerelyn:
Links in the original.
Stephen Parrish, Ann in AZ,
Thank you! Sanctimonious and traitorous are both on the money.
NormalLiberal @ 69
No worries. We have an internet now.
http://www.nbm.org/Exhibits/gr.....nHouse.htm
Bringing our soldiers home from Iraq IS supporting the troops.
oxide @ 75
According to the president, we have several. Thanks for the link.
I’m tangentially involved with a redevelopment project that’s aiming for 100% LEED certification. I think I need a field trip.
breaking MSNBC - Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong asks to be replaced
Molly Ivins: Stand Up Against the ‘Surge’
The purpose of this old-fashioned newspaper crusade to stop the war is not to make George W. Bush look like the dumbest president ever. People have done dumber things. What were they thinking when they bought into the Bay of Pigs fiasco? How dumb was the Egypt-Suez war? How massively stupid was the entire war in Vietnam? Even at that, the challenge with this misbegotten adventure is that we simply cannot let it continue.
It is not a matter of whether we will lose or we are losing. We have lost. Gen. John P. Abizaid, until recently the senior commander in the Middle East, insists that the answer to our problems there is not military. “You have to internationalize the problem. You have to attack it diplomatically, geo-strategically,” he said.
http://www.truthdig.com/report.....the_surge/
EXCLUSIVE: DA in Duke Rape Case Asks to Be Taken off Case
(so exclusive I saw it on MSNBC first)
ooh ooh,
C&L reporting on a new article by Murray Waas:
links in original.
Eureka Springs, AR @ 72
’splain 2 me the .07, I have no idea what u r talking about
Blair pledges increased military spending as he defends intervention
Tony Blair promised more cash for Britain’s armed forces today as he defended his policy of intervention in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/mili.....45,00.html
perris @ 82
if you add seven cents (.07) to your donation (ie $20.07), the donation goes to help pay for the DC Libby trip - if not, it goes in the giant FDL slush fund
Re the Murray Waas article; for some time I’ve treasured the hope that the whole thing is a giant perjury trap for Cheney.
May the FDL team be in the room to see him take the bait.
How exciting it will be to get the truth and not spin.
OK kiddo @ 79
“You have to internationalize the problem. You have to attack it diplomatically, geo-strategically,” he said.
Well, that’s a problem right there, because George and Dick don’t do diplomacy. They keep telling us it’s because it doesn’t work, but I think it’s really because their arguments are so bad no one will buy them.
uncle toby @
50
Shitty?
Bush’s tough tactics are a ‘declaration of war’ on Iran
By Anne Penketh, Diplomatic Editor
Published: 12 January 2007
http://news.independent.co.uk/.....145136.ece
SOOOO looking forward to reading your reports…..as it will most likely be the ONLY source of unbiased journalism. and please…detail the Cheney facial tics and growls should he take the stand Good Luck!!
Oh dear. Snicker. Went and looked at the National Journal article C&L cites, and found this.
RevDeb @ 81
Welcome to our town, gang!
P J Evans @ 87
It’s really hard to do diplomacy when your idea of negotiation is “you do everything I demand, and then we’ll talk.”
Libby’s answers to the grand jury are so pitifully weak. You can just hear the contempt seeping from between the lines. I do hope that it comes back to haunt him, and that Fitz is able to turn some of the other principals and take down both Libby and Cheney!
Huge congrats to Jane, Christy and Marcy. We anxiously await your reports from the front. I am so proud of you all, and so happy you’re so strong.
Jane, maybe you can dress the dogs up in a hemp shirt and a head band for the press corpse?
Rosa Brooks mentions in The LA Times today:
How Republicans win if we lose in Iraq
Bush and the GOP are shifting tactics just like Nixon did with Vietnam — to win the next election, not the war.
January 12, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/op.....ion-center
uncle toby @
50
Distended?
HotFlash @ 91
I like this part:
From the Waas article:
That’s going to be interesting. I know that the liberal blogs think that “Pumpkinhead” sells out to the right on Press the Meat, but here’s hoping that the jury sees him as a stellar character. (I don’t think Russert is all that bad btw.)
Jane, is it too late to contribute? I’m waiting on a payday.
Considering all we’ve heard in the past few days about the role of the Cheney machine in trashing the ISG report and pushing for war with Iran, Fitzmas may be shaping up to be everything we had originally hoped. I don’t believe Bush is a complete puppet, but I do believe that impeaching Cheney or forcing him to resign is probably more important for restoring sanity to our government than impeaching Bush.
oxide @ 100
How will Timmeh cover the Libby trial? As a witness, can he talk about it on MTP? As a “journalist,” how can he not talk about it on MTP?
Ah, the crises of the career cocktail-weenie eaters.
Lindy @ 101
I doubt it, fwiw.
The Fire Dog Lake Company
8033 Sunset Blvd. #966
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Jane, reading your post, I must be honest, gets me excited…no really. Are you single, I kinda new around here. *wink
Congrats to you and the whole FDL ‘litter’. I’m sure you’ll do us all proud.
BTW ~ The FDL servers stood up pretty well to the post-speech traffic. Should handle the trial. Pat on the back to your techs.
Hello, RevDeb - you’ve got mail!
Murray Waas . . . wow. It’s a longish article, but oh-so-tasty! I’ve just skimmed it, so it’s still sinking in, but here’s a snip from near the top to whet your appetites (as if that were needed):
As I read the WH table of organization, “Cheney or other superiors” can only mean three people: VP Cheney, WH Chief of Staff Karl Rove, and President Bush.
Waas, in his usual well-supported manner, describes why investigators have been looking in this direction . . .
Jane, you are soooooooo going to enjoy this trip!
Jane Hamsher @
9
Redshift @ 102
If we could just get Junja listening to someone other than BigTime. But who would that replacement be? Condi? OldLord? RGJoe? Hagel? Santorum?
Recall that Agnew was Nixon’s impeachment insurance; Ford was chosen for an easy confirmation in rocky times, loved as he was on Capitol Hill. The flipside was, of course, that Ford as Veep made it easier for the Old Wise GOP Men (Baker, Goldwater, Scott) to make the long march up Pennsylvania to tell Nixon he had to go.
Who would W pick as impeachment insurance? Or would he need to pick a squeaky-clean Hill-popular non-ambitious replacement?
(I’m embarassed at how many waking — and working!! — hours I spend speculating about The Shooter’s replacement….)
Antiwar Tide Surging Nationwide
Helena Cobban 1-12-07
http://www.thenation.com/blogs.....pid=157014
Mandrake - time sensative!
Condi on C-Span1 per your desire to tape.
Apologies all for not taking time to check if anyone else has let you know - I’ve been off-line & off-TV the last four hours.
Jane, Christy, Pach, this is sooo awesome. Congratulations to all of you, however you pulled off this coup.
Here’s a possible Cheney defense, not that I think it will be used, but I believe he really does suffer from marked effects of pumphead syndrome, or the cognitive impairment which commonly follows coronary bypass surgery. From