fitz

Marcy, Jane, Christy!

Swopa -

Now that beer thirty/happy hour buffet has arrived, I have some dynamite news: Group nominates Rush Limbaugh for Nobel

Raw Story link: http://www.rawstory.com/news/2….._0201.html

Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 3

Why do I have the impression they’re trying to hide Gore’s nomination?

It’s so totally unusual for our Dear Leader to be right about anything that when he hits one out of the park, it deserves mention.

Nestled in among all of the usual stupid stuff in yesterday’s State of the Economy speech is one tidbit of total truth, about Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley act.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news…..131-1.html

Specifically, what he said was:

We don’t need to change the law. We need to change the way the law is implemented. America needs a regulatory environment that promotes high standards of integrity in our capital markets,

I’ve been saying for at least two years that the problem with 404 isn’t the legislation itself — it’s the way the big accounting firms have been applying it to fleece their publicly-held clients.

Yeah, I know, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while — but this particular nut is a big tasty one, a Trader Joe’s World’s Largest Cashew kind of nut. But it would have been so easy for him to endorse the K Street line of 404 that I’m frankly stunned that he didn’t.

Glad to see you’re on the right side of this issue, sir. But you still have a lot to answer for.

Stephen Parrish, CPA @
3

Swopa -

Now that beer thirty/happy hour buffet has arrived, I have some dynamite news: Group nominates Rush Limbaugh for Nobel

Raw Story link: http://www.rawstory.com/news/2….._0201.html

Shorter Raw Story: “Rush Limbaugh is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life.”

Hallo Swopa, vielen Dank fuer alles. Despite how ex-Wonketters wish to spin it and FDL, media will never be the same after this. Imagine picking a 1 or 2 min Marcy blurb, trying to throw some image into the more than 60 hours of liveblogging. Please, don’t mention the years of research that went into this effort, nor the sixty hours? of as detailed as possible transcription, with informed comment. give me a break, Anne Marie.

Onward, FDL.

Swopa, you asked for links. The policies of this criminal coup d’etat revolve around controlling energy resources into the next several decades. After three decades at high levels in the windpower industry, i know in which direction we should be aggressive.

Yesterday, an interview with me about windpower was published. i believe many FDL readers would want to see it. Please enjoy, and comment.

someone want to give a go at all the little tid bits we got from todays testimony?

from the Sydney Blumenthal story:Libby, who had written a novel and prided himself on his cultural acumen, began his conversation by saying to Fleischer that what he was telling him was “hush-hush” and “on the q.t.”
So, scooter fancied himself a renaissance guy with literary prowess? Sad, very sad. Especially after reading his seedy little sonnet to Judith Miller about aspens and roots. Barroom stuff!
On the q.t. Scooter knew he was acting like a seedy little gossip monger.

For the time being. I’ll continue to go with Gore.

In honor of the juicy testimony that has come out thanks to all your hard work liveblogging this trial, I thought I would give you a little song…

I Got It From Judy
(with apologies to Tom Lehrer)

I love my friends, and they love me,
In the office of the V. P.
And just because we really care,
Whatever we get, we share!

I got it from Judy,
She got it from Tim.
We all agree it must have been
Novak who gave it to him.

She got it from Scooter,
Who got it from Cheney,
And everybody knows that Dick
Got it from me.

Scooter got it from Cathie,
She heard from Ari,
Who picked it up on Air Force One,
From Dan Bartlett, see!

Ari gave it to John,
By a road in Uganda,
“Wife worked at the CIA?
Haha! Propaganda!”

John got it from Cooper,
Who first heard from Karl.
He threw Libby under the bus,
for a White House Firewall.

Meetings and phone calls and notes,
before the whole Grand Jury row.
But Scooter forgot all about it,
And we’re still wondering how.

Ah, but I got it from Judy,
Or maybe Steno Sue,
Or Millie or Billie or Gillie or Willie,
It doesn’t matter who.

It might have been at the Aspen,
Or at the pub, or in the loo,
And if you will be my friend,
Then I might…(Mind you, I said “might”)…
Give it to you!

Original lyrics here.

Scooter’s motor-mouth was not as finally tuned as he thought it was. The Ego, Oh the Incredible Ego! He and the rest of the fat-heads are going down, down, down into a burning ring of fire but they ain’t coming back!

burnspbesq @ 5

It’s so totally unusual for our Dear Leader to be right about anything that when he hits one out of the park, it deserves mention.

Nestled in among all of the usual stupid stuff in yesterday’s State of the Economy speech is one tidbit of total truth, about Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley act.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news…..131-1.html

Specifically, what he said was:

We don’t need to change the law. We need to change the way the law is implemented. America needs a regulatory environment that promotes high standards of integrity in our capital markets,

I’ve been saying for at least two years that the problem with 404 isn’t the legislation itself — it’s the way the big accounting firms have been applying it to fleece their publicly-held clients.

Yeah, I know, even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while — but this particular nut is a big tasty one, a Trader Joe’s World’s Largest Cashew kind of nut. But it would have been so easy for him to endorse the K Street line of 404 that I’m frankly stunned that he didn’t.

Glad to see you’re on the right side of this issue, sir. But you still have a lot to answer for.

It’s obviously a mistake on the Dim Son’s part.

As nearly as I can tell, an excellent public policy decision rule is this: Ask the Dim Son and his advisors what to do, then do the opposite.

BC

For the time being, I’ll continue with Gore.

Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 3

Swopa -

Now that beer thirty/happy hour buffet has arrived, I have some dynamite news: Group nominates Rush Limbaugh for Nobel

Raw Story link: http://www.rawstory.com/news/2….._0201.html

As you might imagine, the folks who nominated Rush appear to have little respect for the rules. According to their press release (link in the RS piece above), they submitted an “unsolicited” nomination. Sadly, the only nominations accepted by the Nobel committee come from those they invite to do so.

I guess the Rush Supporters couldn’t talk Mohamed ElBaradei, Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter or Amnesty International into nominating Rush officially. Better luck next year!

Who’s in pic? From left to right, Valerie Wilson, Cathie Martin, Matt Cooper? Did they all take a Carnival Cruise together?

bilge @ 11

Priceless!

In the same vein, I’ve had “The Old Dope Peddler” kicking around in my head for the last few days.

Cheney, Rove, Libby etc. are a la carte. I want the entree.

the Nobel Peace Prize has never adequately represented hillbilly heroin users. Why, our local HH support group has a saying (and yes we think of Rush as the Prince of Peace)-

Peace is a substance by which we measure our pain…

Hey, Gavin Newsome just apologized for boinking his campaign manager’s wife. SKANK ALERT!

Oof, Biden is going to be euthanized!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..40172.html

blige@11

That’s inspired! I loved Tom Lehrer. No one like him today. (Mark Russell is a pale, pale imitation.)

Thanks.

mui @ 9

from the Sydney Blumenthal story:Libby, who had written a novel and prided himself on his cultural acumen, began his conversation by saying to Fleischer that what he was telling him was “hush-hush” and “on the q.t.”

Scooter channeling Danny De Vito in
L.A. Confidential? That is way too rich.

perris @
8

someone want to give a go at all the little tid bits we got from todays testimony?

Lots of legal wrangling. My take on the significant parts:

1. The lawyers are no longer bothering to suggest that Plame’s identity might not have been classified. There is still some haggling over “classified” versus “covert”, but no one’s trying to suggest that Plame might have just been a cleaning woman, in which case this would be much ado about nothing.

2. Libby’s in a tight spot because of his opening statement. The claim that he had no motive to lie has bitten him in the ass several times. Fitz has been able to come back with several (You blabbed about a CIA agent. If you weren’t sure of her status, you had an obligation to check. We have your signature on the damn form. You saw a number of articles saying that a crime may have been committed. One of your co-workers saw one of those articles and immediately sought an immunity deal.) Team Libby is trying to exclude a lot of this, on the grounds that it will make Libby look guilty. Fitz’s response was along the lines of, “Well, yes. That’s the point.” The part about Libby being scapegoated has also come back to haunt him, as Fitz now wants to play video of the White House press secretary denying that Libby was at all involved.

3. Fitz may play footage (audio only? video? not sure) of Libby’s grand jury testimony. He may play all of it. I think this is a very strong move on his part. It would be faster to just say, “He’s a goddamn liar!” But the video will make the same point.

“boinking”

Yeah but he said he was SORRY! (Guess she wasn’t that good).

Sparkles the Iguana @
16

Who’s in pic? From left to right, Valerie Wilson, Cathie Martin, Matt Cooper? Did they all take a Carnival Cruise together?

Yeah, there’s a group that’s got a “Lust for Life”. We got a million of them, I tell ya!

Is there a more cynical, calculating, and politically cowardly man on the scene today than McCain… aside from the current occupant of the Oval Office, anyway?

Joe Lieberman.
Mitch McConnell.

One more:

4. Team Libby is going to try every trick in the book to stall the trial. Looks like they’re already trying to call reporters to the stand to ask them about (irrelevant) confidential sources. That’s my guess as to the whole Sanger thing.

AP – The top U.S. commander in Iraq told a Senate panel Thursday that improving security in Baghdad would take fewer than half as many extra troops as President Bush has chosen to commit. Say what!

Murray Waas sez:

For the best account of what went on at the trial today, here is a video presentation by Marcy and Jeralyn– with a far better and more complete account of today’s proceedings that any “professional” reporter. No slight meant to anyone else covering the trial. One advantage they have over newspaper reporters or cable television folks is that they don’t have to compress their stories into fourteen or nineteen or twenty-six inches. Second, they don’t have to limit their video presenations to a minute or a minute and a half. But they also know the case better than most reporters who have covered the story (except for maybe one or two…)

Looking at Matthews and they’re all talking how Hillary has ‘it’ all locked up. I’m getting pissed.

The Artist Formerly Known as Bowtie Tucker today called Fitz ” a lunatic running around destroying peoples’ lives for no good reason.”
_

From Editor and Publisher…

snip

As always, we will base our updates here mainly on nearly minute-by-minute blogging from the courthouse by the women at FireDogLake.com, which has proven extremely accurate so far, along with other bloggers and wire service reports as they come in.

http://www.editorandpublisher……1003540604

Frank Probst @ 24

perris @
8

someone want to give a go at all the little tid bits we got from todays testimony?

Lots of legal wrangling. My take on the significant parts:

[snip]

3. Fitz may play footage (audio only? video? not sure) of Libby’s grand jury testimony. He may play all of it. I think this is a very strong move on his part. It would be faster to just say, “He’s a goddamn liar!” But the video will make the same point.

And it will also help Fitz remind THESE jurors that Irving is accused of lying to THOSE jurors on the grand jury. “They were doing their civic duty, just like you are today, and when the defendant was asked to tell them the truth, he just couldn’t do it.”

Can someone point out to me where Cooper’s testimony “sharply diverged” from his previous article in the text cited by Murray Waas? I’m inclined to trust Murray, and I’m probably just fuzzy-headed from a long day of hitting refresh, but the two versions look pretty much the same to me.

(And Murray, if you’re reading here, put an email address on your damn blog, so I can ask you these things directly!)

I’ve got a Gore ‘08 bumper sticker all ready to go on my car as soon as the weather clears up.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 31

Looking at Matthews and they’re all talking how Hillary has ‘it’ all locked up. I’m getting pissed.

Matthews has room for only one thought at a time in his head, and that one is usually wrong.

This is as opposed to Tucker Carlson who can entertain several thoughts mixed together in his head. These are always wrong.

BobbyG @ 32

The Artist Formerly Known as Bowtie Tucker today called Fitz ” a lunatic running around destroying peoples’ lives for no good reason.”

Oklahoma kiddo @ 31

Looking at Matthews and they’re all talking how Hillary has ‘it’ all locked up. I’m getting pissed.

OKK,

Consider the source and ignore them. At this point in the race, polls are about name recognition. It would be better if they just asked, “Have you heard of X?”

Besides which, Democratic frontrunners at this point in an open campaign don’t generally fare well. Remember that in January of 2001, people were saying, “Bill WHO?”

BC

Oklahoma kiddo @ 31

Looking at Matthews and they’re all talking how Hillary has ‘it’ all locked up. I’m getting pissed.

Fortunately, they have a long history of being wrong about these things. I believe we’re still in the time period where, four years ago, Joe Lieberman was the frontrunner.

burnspbesq @ 23

mui @ 9

from the Sydney Blumenthal story:Libby, who had written a novel and prided himself on his cultural acumen, began his conversation by saying to Fleischer that what he was telling him was “hush-hush” and “on the q.t.”

Scooter channeling Danny De Vito in
L.A. Confidential? That is way too rich.

And Matt Cooper looks just like DeVito.

BobbyG @ 32

The Artist Formerly Known as Bowtie Tucker today called Fitz ” a lunatic running around destroying peoples’ lives for no good reason.”
_

Tucker needs to realize that both of his audience members have given him up.

Frank Probst @ 24:

“Team Libby is trying to exclude a lot of this, on the grounds that it will make Libby look guilty. Fitz’s response was along the lines of, ‘Well, yes. That’s the point.’

Nice summary.
It’s gotten so that when a defense atty says “You can’t let that in! It’s [unfairly] prejudicial!” I just hear that as “that would prove my client’s guilt!”

Debra J. Saunders in her column today says ” If Cheney comes across as heavy-handed and drunk with power, he can share that honor with Fitzgerald” and compares them both to Capt. Queeq. Makes me think that the wingers have already said bye-bye to Cheney. Her best line was….”if..Joe didn’t want his wife outed, he should have kept a low profile”

Yeah, remember that, all you spouses!

Susan Collins (R-Maine) says on Hardball that she doesn’t think Bush will attack Iran. Unless something ‘extraordinary happens’. I fell better now.

I find it to be utterly repugnant that “We The People” have to jump through such crazy legal gobbledy-gook just to get a conviction. I have been the defendant before, and I didn’t get these kinds of considerations for so much as a parking ticket. The fact that Irving get’s them and we, the average citizen don’t, is a travesty.
Scooter, you’re a liar, suck it up and go to prison with honor. You want to play with the big boy’s, then you’re gonna be punished like a big boy- Man Up, you pussy!
P.S. I’ve been drinking tequila shot’s

dipper @
43

Debra J. Saunders in her column today says ” If Cheney comes across as heavy-handed and drunk with power, he can share that honor with Fitzgerald” and compares them both to Capt. Queeq. Makes me think that the wingers have already said bye-bye to Cheney. Her best line was….”if..Joe didn’t want his wife outed, he should have kept a low profile”

Yeah, remember that, all you spouses!

Saunders is the nitwit token conservative at the SF Chronicle

Is there a more cynical, calculating, and politically cowardly man on the scene today than McCain… aside from the current occupant of the Oval Office, anyway?

No.

This has been another edition of “Simple Answers to Simple Questions.”

FDL coverage of the Libby trial has been riveting. I can’t thank all of you enough!

There’s a whole wide world out there. Global Voices asks: “The World is talking. Are you listening?” This great service is a way to begin.

Through Global Voices I’ve become aware of some of the best writers anywhere. Too many recent posts come to mind, but I just loved Unarmed Combat when I read it at Kenyan blogger’s thinker’s room.

Good news

On Democracy Now, Amy Goodman just reported that in Germany 13 CIA agents have been indicted in the Kahled Al Masri case. (renditions)

glad to see that Markos has come around to my position:

“Al Gore – accept no substitutes”

BobbyG @ 32

The Artist Formerly Known as Bowtie Tucker today called Fitz ” a lunatic running around destroying peoples’ lives for no good reason.”
_

Oh, I dunno. Risking a covert agent’s life, and the life of other agents? Destroying the intel capability of the most expert group on the most urgent subject of intel?
Not to mention, destroying the Constitution, turning the whole world anti-American, advocating/condoning torture, supporting the morphing of a president (and in incompetent one, at that) into a king…I could go on, but, seems like a whole bunch of good reasons to me.
Of course, Tucker’s opinions have their usual value…

Sparkles the Iguana @ 20

Hey, Gavin Newsome just apologized for boinking his campaign manager’s wife. SKANK ALERT!

Just want to clarify by “skank” I mean Gavin, not her, though she could be one too. I don’t know her.

The troubling thing is that most Dems polled recently say Hillary is a sure thing.

As of today, I have a 25,919 count indictment awaiting Dick Cheney and his co-conspirators. I would LOVE the opportunity to serve it personally, Gitmo style.

http://icasualties.org/oif/
_

Debra J. Saunders in her column today says…

Who the heck is Debra J. Saunders?

punaise @ 46

dipper @
43

Debra J. Saunders in her column today says ” If Cheney comes across as heavy-handed and drunk with power, he can share that honor with Fitzgerald” and compares them both to Capt. Queeq. Makes me think that the wingers have already said bye-bye to Cheney. Her best line was….”if..Joe didn’t want his wife outed, he should have kept a low profile”

Yeah, remember that, all you spouses!

Saunders is the nitwit token conservative at the SF Chronicle

Ms. Saunders sent me one nasty email a few years ago in response to a criticism I leveled at her. I mean she was out of control. Wish I had saved it.

tejanarusa @ 55

Debra J. Saunders in her column today says…

Who the heck is Debra J. Saunders?

See Punaise @ 46. She’s a real idiot.

Sparkles the Iguana @ 52

Sparkles the Iguana @ 20

Hey, Gavin Newsome just apologized for boinking his campaign manager’s wife. SKANK ALERT!

Just want to clarify by “skank” I mean Gavin, not her, though she could be one too. I don’t know her.

the thing about GAVIN: he makes willie brown look good. hard thing to do.

Froggermarch, hey there!

I wrote a belated response to you in the thread below at #85. It was belated enough that it fell in EPU territory….

Oklahoma kiddo @ 53

The troubling thing is that most Dems polled recently say Hillary is a sure thing.

First of all – it’s early days and she’s got the most name recognition. Secondly – it’s all about what questions are asked and how respondents are surveyed.

Scary matinee-idol publicity shot of Frank Luntz….

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01807.html

punaise @
46

dipper @
43

Debra J. Saunders in her column today says ” If Cheney comes across as heavy-handed and drunk with power, he can share that honor with Fitzgerald” and compares them both to Capt. Queeq. Makes me think that the wingers have already said bye-bye to Cheney. Her best line was….”if..Joe didn’t want his wife outed, he should have kept a low profile”

Yeah, remember that, all you spouses!

Saunders is the nitwit token conservative at the SF Chronicle

D. Saunders is a waste of newsprint

Mabel’s Wig Shack @
19

the Nobel Peace Prize has never adequately represented hillbilly heroin users. Why, our local HH support group has a saying (and yes we think of Rush as the Prince of Peace)-

Peace is a substance by which we measure our pain…

I thought Rush’s position was “Peace Through Oxycontin” an update of “Better Living Through Chemistry” for the 21st century.

Oklahoma kiddo @ 44

Susan Collins (R-Maine) says on Hardball that she doesn’t think Bush will attack Iran. Unless something ‘extraordinary happens’. I fell better now.

Future quote : “No one could have predicted extraordinary things happening which required the US to go to war on Iran.”

Future Future Quote: “Who would have thought that the Bush Administration would manipulate things to create something extraordinary which would precipitate us into an unnecessary and expensive war.”

Sparkles the Iguana @ 61

Scary matinee-idol publicity shot of Frank Luntz….

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01807.html

separated at birth from Robert Smith of the Cure?

Oklahoma kiddo @ 44

Susan Collins (R-Maine) says on Hardball that she doesn’t think Bush will attack Iran. Unless something ‘extraordinary happens’. I fell better now.

Yeah, just like all the big wigs were saying in 2002. And even when Bush and Company claimed to be working through proper UN channels. You BELIEVE these people???

Forgive me, but after 2001 through 2004, I dont trust a thing they say until it comes out in a contract with no loopholes. Saying she doesn’t think Bush will attack unless something extraordinary happens is about as big a loophole as one can get. And the fact that Susan Collins is STILL this naive is incredible.

Cynical? You bet yer ass.

John Powers @ 48

FDL coverage of the Libby trial has been riveting. I can’t thank all of you enough!

There’s a whole wide world out there. Global Voices asks: “The World is talking. Are you listening?” This great service is a way to begin.

Through Global Voices I’ve become aware of some of the best writers anywhere. Too many recent posts come to mind, but I just loved Unarmed Combat when I read it at Kenyan blogger’s thinker’s room.

Ooooh, another person who visits that site! Woo hoo!!!!

Early days? Lets see, Nov, 2008. That’s what? A bit over 21 months from now. Senator Clinton is the DLC choice. Rahm’s choice too. And she has lot of money. And she has Bill. ‘Machine Hillary’ is rolling.

froggermarch @
22

blige@11

That’s inspired! I loved Tom Lehrer. No one like him today. (Mark Russell is a pale, pale imitation.)

Thanks.

I loved Mort Sahl. But then again, he didn’t sing. He just riffed in a jazzy speaking way with a newspaper in one hand and a cigarette in the other.

There’s a lot of stuff that was better “way back when.” And I don’t think it’s just nostalgia talking.

BTW — anybody remember Vaughan Meader and his comedy albums spoofing the Kennedy administration? My sister (darn her!) managed to make off with our family copy of that gem.

punaise @ 50

glad to see that Markos has come around to my position:

“Al Gore – accept no substitutes”

So you trust the judgment of a guy who chose Lieberman as his second in command.

BobbyG @
32

The Artist Formerly Known as Bowtie Tucker today called Fitz ” a lunatic running around destroying peoples’ lives for no good reason.”
_

Tucker: “a lunatic running around destroying peoples’ MINDS for no good reason.”

I think that if Vice testifies, he’ll lie. He has no more respect for the legal system than for Russert. Anyone want to take the other side of this bet?

You want a link?

Breaking News: Impending Terror Plot in Boston

[spew alert]

eCAHNomics @ 72

I think that if Vice testifies, he’ll lie. He has no more respect for the legal system than for Russert. Anyone want to take the other side of this bet?

Not a chance. I’ve read Rise of the Vulcans and certainly know better.

(My apologies on the reference. For some reason, the underline feature won’t stay put)

Sparkles the Iguana @ 70

punaise @ 50

glad to see that Markos has come around to my position:

“Al Gore – accept no substitutes”

So you trust the judgment of a guy who chose Lieberman as his second in command.

Punaise… would you like to handle this one. Or shall I?

Peterr @
17

bilge @ 11

Priceless!

In the same vein, I’ve had “The Old Dope Peddler” kicking around in my head for the last few days.

Great stuff folx! Someone around these threadz mentioned “Let the Eagle Soar” so (in the spirit of our after-work festivities) I canoodled this lame parody… could someone please make it better? :)

=====

The original, written and sung by
“I lost to a dead guy,” aka
John Ashcroft, former A.G. of the USA.

“Let the eagle soar
Like she’s never soared before.
From rocky coast to golden shore,
Let the mighty eagle soar.

Soar with healing in her wings,
As the land beneath her sings:
‘Only god, no other kings.’

This country’s far too young to die.
We’ve still got a lot of climbing to do,
And we can make it if we try.
Built by toils and struggles
God has led us through.”

=====

Ode to Arturo Gonzalez, current A.G. of the USA
(or, “It must hurt REAL bad to break the law while appearing to uphold it”)

Legal eagles sore,
Fighting Constitution’s lore
From Gitmo right to the core
Of what makes our hears get tore.

Sore ’cause sealing with your chains
Tries to cover shit for brains
We’ll find our Bell and let it ring –
Let Liberty and Law be King.

This country’s far too young to die;
Fascist boots are marching nigh!
We can win through with the truth,
Just let us count the voting booth!

=====

Love ya all, FDL!

tejanarusa @ 51

Of course, Tucker’s opinions have their usual value…

He did headline a show that was canceled because it was Hurting America, so maybe this goes in the “takes one to know one” file.

Sparkles the Iguana @ 61

Scary matinee-idol publicity shot of Frank Luntz….

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01807.html

Oh. My. God.

Hideous.

And then they give you the option to “Enlarge This Photo.”

Where’s the option to “Obliterate This Photo From Your Memory”?

eCAHNomics @ 72

I think that if Vice testifies, he’ll lie. He has no more respect for the legal system than for Russert. Anyone want to take the other side of this bet?

You’re right that he has no respect for the law.

However, for some reason he tries to make absolutely CERTAIN he won’t have to be under oath.

Swearing to the truth of something must be like daylight to a vampire.

Gore?

Al Gore?

The same Al Gore that made Joe Lieberman a national figure?

Kos wants more of that?!

Why?

eCAHNomics @ 72

I think that if Vice testifies, he’ll lie. He has no more respect for the legal system than for Russert. Anyone want to take the other side of this bet?

That’s what I think. He makes Libby look like an amateur. There is so much documented proof that Cheney lies without breaking a sweat (or moving his lips)

chris @ 80

Gore?

Al Gore?

The same Al Gore that made Joe Lieberman a national figure?

Kos wants more of that?!

Why?

‘cuz he has shown the capacity to learn from his mistakes. please note that he endorsed DEAN for pres in 2004 – not lieberman.

Susan Collins (R-Maine) says on Hardball that she doesn’t think Bush will attack Iran. Unless something ‘extraordinary happens’. I fell better now.
Oklahoma Kiddo
___________________________

maybe in the Gulf of Tonkin?

Long excerpts of an interview with Molly on democracy now today.

If Gore announces he should not wait to name at least a short list of VP candidates.

chris @ 80

Gore?

Al Gore?

The same Al Gore that made Joe Lieberman a national figure?

Kos wants more of that?!

Why?

The Joementum of 2000 was a far cry from the craven sleazeball sellout he became by 2006. Not marvy, but a left-of-centrist with a streak of opportunistic moralism that Al wanted to use in disassociating himself from Bill. Turns out that was a strategic mistake, but the point stands (imho) because Lieberman wasn’t as much of a stinkbomb to the left as he has become since. Now his craven craving for the limelight has led him to resort to prostituting himself to the neocon fringe in order to get elected. Feh.

President Gore in ‘09 is fine.

Eureka Springs, AR @ 84

Long excerpts of an interview with Molly on democracy now today.

If Gore announces he should not wait to name at least a short list of VP candidates.

Yes.

Quick sum-up…Tuesday I attended part of a retreat/conference for We Believe. Couldn’t stay the whole day, because that would have meant driving home on snowy, hilly,unfamiliar roads in the dark. Plus, I had no cell phone reception in that part of Ohio. By the time I was back near a tower, concerned messages from my husband started coming through to my phone, along with a message that my temp project would be starting Wednesday rather than next Monday.

So I’m a bit behind on this trial stuff.

I did, though, take some time to transcribe the “Whitey Gras” bit from last night’s Daily Show. It made me laugh out loud, and after the deaths of both Barbaro and Molly Ivins (not equating the two, but I’m bummed about both), laughter is indeed a good thing.

Hmmm.

Down below, EPU’d at #104 is a post from someone calling themselves “Watching OlbermannWatch.”

He or she states that the president/founder of the Media Bloggers Association, Bob Cox, is the creep who runs that site “Olbermann Watch.”

Did y’all know that?!?

Gore/Kerry?

is this feasible? Considering (imho) they both won their respective contests

1. The lawyers are no longer bothering to suggest that Plame’s identity might not have been classified. There is still some haggling over “classified” versus “covert”, but no one’s trying to suggest that Plame might have just been a cleaning woman, in which case this would be much ado about nothing.

actually, about half of Team Libby’s objections had to do with documents (newspaper articles, mostly) that mentioned that Plame’s job was classified/covert. Fitz wants them in for “motive/state of mind” reasons, and wants the judge to instruct the jury that whether her job was classified or not is irrelevant — but whether Scooter THOUGHT her job was classified can be considered in terms of motive/state of mind.

President Pelosi is very fine, and could happen before the year is over.

Especially with the depth charges dropped during this trial already has produced rotten dead fish floating to the surface as far as the eye can see.

Shorter Wells: “Anything that proves Irving Libby lied like a rug is PREJUDICIAL against my client.”

Look for this word “prejudicial” to be lifted out of the trial and popped out of the mouths of GOP hacks complaining about oversight committee hearings.

S.O.S. from MA @ 85

chris @ 80

Gore?

Al Gore?

The same Al Gore that made Joe Lieberman a national figure?

Kos wants more of that?!

Why?

The Joementum of 2000 was a far cry from the craven sleazeball sellout he became by 2006. Not marvy, but a left-of-centrist with a streak of opportunistic moralism that Al wanted to use in disassociating himself from Bill. Turns out that was a strategic mistake, but the point stands (imho) because Lieberman wasn’t as much of a stinkbomb to the left as he has become since. Now his craven craving for the limelight has led him to resort to prostituting himself to the neocon fringe in order to get elected. Feh.

That, I believe, is right.

Washington kabuki:

NBC News reports that Bush listened to his generals and now the generals, i.e. General Casey must defend their strategy. McCain being real critical. Final weasely caveat: Casey sucking it up for senior Pentagon officials.

The truth is simpler. Bush picked the generals who would follow his strategy from the beginning (think Tommy Franks) to the stand up stand down pantomime (Abizaid, Casey) to the current escalation (Petraeus). It’s been Bush, Cheney, and until recently Rumsfeld, now Gates. Blame them. They’re the ones who set the policy.

Shez @ 92

President Pelosi is very fine, and could happen before the year is over.

Especially with the depth charges dropped during this trial already has produced rotten dead fish floating to the surface as far as the eye can see.

That would work!

Frank Probst @ 24

perris @
8

someone want to give a go at all the little tid bits we got from todays testimony?

Lots of legal wrangling. My take on the significant parts:

1. The lawyers are no longer bothering to suggest that Plame’s identity might not have been classified. There is still some haggling over “classified” versus “covert”, but no one’s trying to suggest that Plame might have just been a cleaning woman, in which case this would be much ado about nothing.

Actually, something even more significant happened here. From Marcy’s paraphrase transcript:

DB How it happened her name and employment got to the media. Trying to find out identities of those participating in disclosing her identity to media,whether they knew it was classified, what their intent was on disclosing information.

Agent Bond confirmed that Plame’s identity and status were, indeed, classified information.

I know, not news to us. But still! This very specifically contradicts the rightwing talking point that Plame wasn’t “really” covert.

She was covert. Her identity and status were classified information. The FBI agent who is now in charge of the investigation has testified to this fact under oath.

Take that, wingnuts!

I would love for Gore to announce that he is running for Pres, but only if Clark would agree to be VP and Webb to be Secretary of Defense.

I’m sorry, I know a lot of people whom I respect have great affection for Al, but to me he and Joementum are cut from the same phony moral hectoring cloth. Maybe Al would never tacitly attack the first amendment through his wife today like he did during the PMRC days (in the process legitimizing a favorite GOP frame), but the fact that he did once, and to my knowledge has never recanted, is a huge red flag for me.

He does angel’s work today as The Man Who Should Have Been President. I don’t think it would be so good if he actually got the job. But that’s just me.

And, honestly, he really does need to be held accountable for Lieberman. That was a mistake that will haunt the party through 2012 at least.

re: cheney testimony…..

if he doesn’t testify, given how many jurors were excused because they said they wouldn’t be able to judge his testimony in an unbiases fashion, expect Walton to be VERY pissed off…

and if Libby doesn’t testify either, that’s it. My guess is that Walton will demand that Libby be remanded to custody the minute a guilty verdict comes through, rather than wait for sentencing—and will give Libby the maximum (with possible time off for good behavior/co-operating with that scrupulous (and scrumptious) prosecutor).

Yep. Somewhere I heard some right-winger put out that line just a few days ago.

Hezbollah is preparing to invade America from Venezuela! Lou Dobbs just told me so.

We have no options but to invade Venezuela. Or we could you the Bush logic and invade Iceland.

-GSD

Al Gore supports melting the terrorists…in Iceland.

For the buffet, and lest we forget, the appeal on the NSA trial is going on in my hometown.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/…..077/COL02/

Bushco is trying to argue that, since they just happened to notice the Democrat Congress in da house and withdrew this whole idea of going around FISA let’s just faggeddaboudit and let bygones be bygones. Not flying, it seems, though two of the three judges were appointed by Bushes.

Oh, and Mrs K-8: thanks for shouting out last thread on my little “Bond–Stirred, not shaken” remark. I’ve missed you, too. I hope your health is better and I’ll be seeing you around the lake a lot in the coming, interesting weeks. I’m working late trying to finish a presentation. Something–can’t imagine what–has kept me from it all day!

Lastly, count me in for Gore in ‘09. His past choice of Lieberman as V.P. may actually help him in the general election without, you know, actually sticking us with Das Lieberboot living in the Naval Observatory (as appropriate as that might seem for a man who SO needs introspection!)

chris @ 99

I’m sorry, I know a lot of people whom I respect have great affection for Al, but to me he and Joementum are cut from the same phony moral hectoring cloth. Maybe Al would never tacitly attack the first amendment through his wife today like he did during the PMRC days (in the process legitimizing a favorite GOP frame), but the fact that he did once, and to my knowledge has never recanted, is a huge red flag for me.

He does angel’s work today as The Man Who Should Have Been President. I don’t think it would be so good if he actually got the job. But that’s just me.

And, honestly, he really does need to be held accountable for Lieberman. That was a mistake that will haunt the party through 2012 at least.

agree wrt to the big red flag. on the other hand, no other (with the exception of feingold) has argued so well or so early for constitutional protections and against the imperial presidency.

no easy answers, and i’m certainly open to better choices. but none of the current contenders have anything close to gore’s defense of our values (against torture, against the nsa spying, ….), let alone his analysis of media failure, and his call to save our planet.

JPL @ 98

I would love for Gore to announce that he is running for Pres, but only if Clark would agree to be VP and Webb to be Secretary of Defense.

I’d like to keep Webb in the Senate for a few more years, until we can have good odds that his successor will be a Democrat. I really like having at least one senator who’s on the same planet as me, and I’d like to keep it that way for more than two years.

I think what America has to figure out is WHY politics attracts the worst of the worst and rewards them with power. Then do things differently.

thanks, enjoyed ‘unarmed combat’……..so bad it was good…….

froggermarch @ 104

For the buffet, and lest we forget, the appeal on the NSA trial is going on in my hometown.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/…..077/COL02/

Bushco is trying to argue that, since they just happened to notice the Democrat Congress in da house and withdrew this whole idea of going around FISA let’s just faggeddaboudit and let bygones be bygones. Not flying, it seems, though two of the three judges were appointed by Bushes.

Strangely enough, it’s hard to find a judge who’s sympathetic to the argument “we’ve stopped committing that crime, so the fact that we did it in the past doesn’t count, okay?”

Your honor, ever since the arrest I have sworn off beating my wife….can’t we just let this slide?

Not so fast Mr. Cheney.

-GSD

Gore is to be nominated for the Nobel Peace prize for his work on environmental issues.

If I say good-bye to y’all, maybe I will actually get up from the computer and go do some necessary tasks. Can’t believe it’s now evening and I couldn’t tear myself away from FDL all day. And I thought I wasn’t obssessed….

Mrs. K8 @ 89

Hmmm.

Down below, EPU’d at #104 is a post from someone calling themselves “Watching OlbermannWatch.”

He or she states that the president/founder of the Media Bloggers Association, Bob Cox, is the creep who runs that site “Olbermann Watch.”

Did y’all know that?!?

Mrs. K8 and earlier questioner … apologies for delay, I was on a work call. We have no relationship with Cox or the Media Bloggers Association. Our credentials for the trial came directly to Jane after the team at Huffington Post helped with the request.

should have said first-john powers at 48

don’t know how to use the quote keys…..
enjoyed ‘unarmed combat’ thanks

John Powers says:

February 1st, 2007 at 3:04 pm

FDL coverage of the Libby trial has been riveting. I can’t thank all of you enough!

There’s a whole wide world out there. Global Voices asks: “The World is talking. Are you listening?” This great service is a way to begin.

Through Global Voices I’ve become aware of some of the best writers anywhere. Too many recent posts come to mind, but I just loved Unarmed Combat when I read it at Kenyan blogger’s thinker’s room.

Idle speculation: Imagine if Gore had assumed office in 2001. How long do you think it would have taken for Holy Joe to stick the shiv in his back?

chris @ 115

Idle speculation: Imagine if Gore had assumed office in 2001. How long do you think it would have taken for Holy Joe to stick the shiv in his back?

As soon as he could get his hands on a step ladder.

Mrs. K8 just want to make very certain that you see my response at 4:01 – this is pretty important to us.

Cheers,
Siun

US troops will stay in Iraq, and the war will get worse

Bush and Baker agree that the country is much too important to American interests to be left to its own devices

Ed Harriman
Thursday February 1, 2007
The Guardian

Busted! YSF (you so funny). I have really been in and out in the comments, because the only time I can read the trial stuff is in the evening, when I try to catch up. How much have you been able to follow live? Impressions?

Idle speculation: Imagine if Gore had assumed office in 2001. How long do you think it would have taken for Holy Joe to stick the shiv in his back?

four years. He wouldn’t want to blow his chance at the VP slot for Gore’s second term.

There’s already been more than enough evidence admitted showing that the one ‘memory’ that Libby couldn’t have had is the Russert Memory – it was a LIE.

Besides, looking at the timeline it’s obvious that OVP went into maximum overdrive with Wilson’s July 6th Op-Ed. Libby is meeting with Roachman continuously, who is himself penning talking-points for his staff, and shutting out Martin and the ‘communicators.’

These guys – Cheney, Libby, Rove and many others – are determined to discredit Wilson. They have the NIE de-classification process going on, but that is still a long way from being officially completed. They also know that Wilson’s wife works at the CIA in the Counter-Proliferation Division and had something to do with her husband going to Niger.

So, what course of action do they choose?

1) ON THE RECORD – They are going to challenge Wilson and make it known that the VP had no knowledge of Wilson’s Niger trip or results.

2) ON BACKGROUND – They are going to put the blame for the 16 Words on the CIA

3) OFF THE RECORD – Wilson was sent to Niger by his wife, who works at the CIA on Weapons of Mass Destruction – can you say *nepotism*?

What can you say – they made the best of a bad script?

1) It turns out THERE IS a paper trail showing Cheney asked for more info, which initiated the trip. It might even be the case that Cheney knew about the trip and objected to Wilson being selected to go on it. In any case, upon his return Wilson gave a verbal report that got written up later at CIA – and sent to Cheney.

2) They were successful on this one – they pinned the 16 Words on Tenet, he resigned and got the MoF.

3) In their rush to show *nepotism* at the ‘incompetent’ CIA – Valerie sending her husband on a boondoggle – they outted a CIA Agent and her CIA front company – Ooops!

They were so scared of Wilson – who had accused BushCo of ‘twisting’ intelligence to LIE us into a war of choice – that they took a low-blow, ‘hay-maker’ swing at him through his wife – and hit a real, live CIA Agent.

Luckily for America, Cheney’s panic was cause for an investigation strong enough to mow-down the treasured Protection of Confidential Sources principle that empowers our Freedom of the Press – and there they found Libby and Rove cowering and lying away to protect Bush and Cheney from a charge of the Highest Treason.

They thought they were ‘untouchable’ behind the confidentiality of press and sources – negligently ignorant (at the least) that all the while they were endangering the security of the Country, at large, in their zeal to throttle a ‘disloyal’ Agency and a CRITIC WITH A JUST COMPLAINT.

Go Fitz!

Go Marcy and FDL!

Siun @ 117

Mrs. K8 just want to make very certain that you see my response at 4:01 – this is pretty important to us.

Cheers,
Siun

Siun- my guess is that Mrs. K8 (being Mrs. K8) is already aware that there is no connection between the FDL crew and Cox and the “media bloggers association”, but was reporting on the latter. Others may not be aware, however, so of course it is important to make sure the distinction is clear.

punaise @ 65

Sparkles the Iguana @ 61

Scary matinee-idol publicity shot of Frank Luntz….

http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01807.html

separated at birth from Robert Smith of the Cure?

HEY! No dissin’ my Robert!

Siun @ 113

Mrs. K8 @ 89

Hmmm.

Down below, EPU’d at #104 is a post from someone calling themselves “Watching OlbermannWatch.”

He or she states that the president/founder of the Media Bloggers Association, Bob Cox, is the creep who runs that site “Olbermann Watch.”

Did y’all know that?!?

Mrs. K8 and earlier questioner … apologies for delay, I was on a work call. We have no relationship with Cox or the Media Bloggers Association. Our credentials for the trial came directly to Jane after the team at Huffington Post helped with the request.

[EPU’d below]

I thought that was the case, but it’s never been stated directly. Thanks for clearing that up – you might mention that a bit more widely in your capacity as Press Secretary when you talk to folks. It’s not clear whether MBA and Cox are trying to claim all the credit for what we are doing, or if the MSM simply groups all bloggers together in an unthinking way.

Either way, we’re getting lumped in with them.

frogger!

Your use of the moniker “Das Lieberboot” — especially in the same sentence with NAVAL Observatory — made me laugh out loud, thanks for that! And let’s sink that nasty vessel.

The notion of Das Lieberboot sneaking around under the surface, looking to torpedo any decent thing the Dems attempt, is a good visual. We need to make sure he springs a permanent leak.***

My health sucks right now, in that I’ve developed lymphedema. But we’re lining up the correct treatment. So, that’s good. What’s more bothersome is the cumulative effect of isolation from human connections — can’t drive, can’t walk much (especially not on the painful concrete), the neighbors are…well, we don’t share the same values. During the hours when Mr. K8 is at work or doing necessary shopping/errands, I feel like a Trappist Monk (Monk-ette?) — but not by choice. FDL is my online haven! More helpful, personally, than anyone will ever know. Your smiling virtual face brightens the day.

—————-

*** Did y’all happen to read the Kos diary a while back, which stated that Das Lieberboot can’t tip the ship of Senate, even if he DID switch to the GOP — thanks to the clever wording of the Senate organizing legislation which was passed at the start of the session? Because the names of the committee chairs (Dems) were in the bill, even if Holy Joe pulled the switch, he wouldn’t be able to switch control of committees.

Boy, did I sleep better after reading that!

Idol Speculation: Lieberman looking in a mirror

Valley Girl @ 119

Busted! YSF (you so funny). I have really been in and out in the comments, because the only time I can read the trial stuff is in the evening, when I try to catch up. How much have you been able to follow live? Impressions?

Hi VG!
I have been sporadic in getting to follow the trial.
I don’t have a computer at home, so I have to pop in and out at work. I do a lot of catching up at lunch.
IMO, the coverage deserves many awards.Just outstanding.
I like to follow the comments.( Damn! I just got interupted AGAIN!)

The coverage and following discussion make it good for a layman like me.
Thanks for asking .

{{{{{{{{{{{Valley Girl}}}}}}}}}}

Siun –

Thank you so much for clearing that up!

Still, it was a good thing for me to read about this guy Cox. I didn’t know that before. It’s a good idea for us all to be able to keep an eye on all the weasels who worm their way into positions like that, with an eye to subverting what they claim to be supporting.

What if Gore had gone with Kerry instead of Liarman….sigh….
what if Wellstone hadn’t been killed? (I mean died…)

so many what ifs i could dawdlwe all day

Look, I find the ‘Scooter & The Toad’ (my nickname fer Cheney) excellent adventure just as engrosing as the next rabid lamb but I really hope some of you great FDL folk found time to join the Virtual March on Washington as I did.

Jes sayin’

Oklahoma kiddo ,

“For the time being. I’ll continue to go with Gore.” me too..are you familia with draftgore.com? The server is down now for some strange reason. I am going to do some volunteer work with them Sunday so I’ll more to say next week.
keith

Mrs. K8–

sorry to hear about your illness and the attendant lack of mobility:

“I feel like a Trappist Monk (Monk-ette?) — but not by choice.”

Is it fair to say, then, that you are out of the frying pans and into the friary?

p.lukasiak @ 120

Idle speculation: Imagine if Gore had assumed office in 2001. How long do you think it would have taken for Holy Joe to stick the shiv in his back?

four years. He wouldn’t want to blow his chance at the VP slot for Gore’s second term.

Holy Joe actually stuck his shiv in Gore’s back during the Florida recount.

Did anybody else hear Alex Chadwick and John Dickerson today (2-1-07) on NPR’s Day-To-Day Legal Affairs segment blithely referring to the Libby trial as a soap opera? SO amusing. Ha flipping ha. Chadwick was particularly amused by what seemed to strike him as the absurdity of it all. Oh Yeah. Lie about WMD in the SOTU, use the corrupt media to expose a covert agent for political revenge, then cover it up. That’s REAL funny. Thanks, NPR.

(((Mrs K8))), As always I am sending good thoughts your way.

Cozumel @
33

From Editor and Publisher…

snip

As always, we will base our updates here mainly on nearly minute-by-minute blogging from the courthouse by the women at FireDogLake.com, which has proven extremely accurate so far, along with other bloggers and wire service reports as they come in.

http://www.editorandpublisher……1003540604

They’re for profit, aren’t they? Hope they’re kicking in to the FDL kitty. Add .07 to tak it for Libby trial coverage — just sayin’.

froggermarch @ 132

Mrs. K8–

sorry to hear about your illness and the attendant lack of mobility:

“I feel like a Trappist Monk (Monk-ette?) — but not by choice.”

Is it fair to say, then, that you are out of the frying pans and into the friary?

Thanks, dear!

And LOL!!!

Considering that the doctors say I should wear very loose clothes (the lymphedema is also in the torso, not just the legs — so NOW I know why it looked like I was gaining weight all this time, when I was exercising like crazy and not eating much) so as not to block the limited lymphatic circulation — I guess I’m looking more like a monk every day.

Dominus vobiscum!

Bionic @
64

Oklahoma kiddo @ 44

Susan Collins (R-Maine) says on Hardball that she doesn’t think Bush will attack Iran. Unless something ‘extraordinary happens’. I fell better now.

Future quote : “No one could have predicted extraordinary things happening which required the US to go to war on Iran.”

Future Future Quote: “Who would have thought that the Bush Administration would manipulate things to create something extraordinary which would precipitate us into an unnecessary and expensive war.”

EGGZACTLY. I heard her say it, and thought: “wake up, honey.” You’re still living in the reality-based community, and your Prez is way ahead of you.

Just watched ‘nbc news’… not ONE word on this trial. Below is the link to post a complaint to Brian Williams… I think it’s time NBC got a big whiff of our disgust for burying this trial.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8046841/#050531
ps: t/y for this site.

Eureka Springs, AR @ 135

(((Mrs K8))), As always I am sending good thoughts your way.

Mwah!!!

Virtual hugs and smooches back atcha!

Thank you, the support makes all the difference, as Jane has verified for all of us who love her.

Tap Duncan @
45

I find it to be utterly repugnant that “We The People” have to jump through such crazy legal gobbledy-gook just to get a conviction. I have been the defendant before, and I didn’t get these kinds of considerations for so much as a parking ticket. The fact that Irving get’s them and we, the average citizen don’t, is a travesty.
Scooter, you’re a liar, suck it up and go to prison with honor. You want to play with the big boy’s, then you’re gonna be punished like a big boy- Man Up, you pussy!
P.S. I’ve been drinking tequila shot’s

You might want to avoid tequila, it makes you sound like a sexist.

Mrs. K8- let me add my own hugs to you. It is always great to read your comments at FDL.

Mrs. K8, blessings on you. May you have abundant grace in all your circumstances. It’s always so good to see you here.

Wooo Hooo!

Mr. K8 just came in the door with the good news. He was able to set up my first appt at the Lymphedema Treatment Center for next Monday! Yay!!!

Oh dear, won’t be here *live* for Swopa’s live-blogging and Jane back in D.C. Rats! Oh well, I know y’all will be asking excellent questions and making wonderful insightful comments, with patented FDL snark, and Jane will be her usual stunningly excellent self — all of which I’ll drink up in reading on Monday night.

Mrs. K8 @ 137

froggermarch @ 132

Mrs. K8–

sorry to hear about your illness and the attendant lack of mobility:

“I feel like a Trappist Monk (Monk-ette?) — but not by choice.”

Is it fair to say, then, that you are out of the frying pans and into the friary?

Thanks, dear!

And LOL!!!

Considering that the doctors say I should wear very loose clothes (the lymphedema is also in the torso, not just the legs — so NOW I know why it looked like I was gaining weight all this time, when I was exercising like crazy and not eating much) so as not to block the limited lymphatic circulation — I guess I’m looking more like a monk every day.

Dominus vobiscum!

Egad, Tish! I love it when you speak Latin!

And all swollen under loose-fitting garments at that! Oh, I nearly forgot. There is a wonderful MR. K8.

Mea culpa, mea culpa! But a gentle smooch on the hand, nonetheless.

OT.
Glen Greenwald is moving his blog to Salon.
H/T Shakes Sis.

Thursday, February 01, 2007
Blog news

Beginning next Thursday, February 8, this blog will be moving to Salon, where it will be a featured front-page blog. I will also be a Salon Contributing Writer and will write (at least) one feature article per month. I am very excited about this move.

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot…..-news.html

Damiana @ 97

Frank Probst @ 24

perris @
8

someone want to give a go at all the little tid bits we got from todays testimony?

Lots of legal wrangling. My take on the significant parts:

1. The lawyers are no longer bothering to suggest that Plame’s identity might not have been classified. There is still some haggling over “classified” versus “covert”, but no one’s trying to suggest that Plame might have just been a cleaning woman, in which case this would be much ado about nothing.

Actually, something even more significant happened here. From Marcy’s paraphrase transcript:

DB How it happened her name and employment got to the media. Trying to find out identities of those participating in disclosing her identity to media,whether they knew it was classified, what their intent was on disclosing information.

Agent Bond confirmed that Plame’s identity and status were, indeed, classified information.

I know, not news to us. But still! This very specifically contradicts the rightwing talking point that Plame wasn’t “really” covert.

She was covert. Her identity and status were classified information. The FBI agent who is now in charge of the investigation has testified to this fact under oath.

Take that, wingnuts!

There is a little distinction here that I would like to make. Plame’s identity could be “classified” without her being “covert” [although all “covert” operatives are classified].

Covert operatives are those whose identities are concealed who have undertaken missions abroad. Their “covert status” is retained for five years (so that they can be called up for additional foreign operations if necessary). They do not need to be “stationed abroad”, many covert operatives are based at Langley and tasked for specific missions.

After a period of time of non-foreign operations, and domestic tasking, they may no longer be “covert” (as defined by the Intelligence Agents Identity Protection Act). But their status may still be “classified” information if their activities involve classified operations and agents that do serve abroad.

I tend to think that there is reasonable evidence that Plame did, in fact, have some service abroad in the five years prior to the exposure of her identity. I won’t detail that information here.

But EVERYTHING I’ve seen indicates that her status and identity remained CLASSIFIED. In fact, the CIA still will not reveal either her former status, whether or not her position was/is classified, or even generalities about her position EVEN today. It required a special order to DECLASSIFY for release the mere fact that she was EMPLOYED at the CIA.

This despite the fact that thousands of declassified analysts, officials, interpreters, modelers, counsellors, trainers, etc. are available by name and task at the CIA. In fact, many of those in Plame’s collegues in the Directorate of Operations have had their identities and status declassified in recent years (including Cheney’s CIA briefer and the head of Iraq Operations). Yet Plame’s activities remain classified!

Valley Girl and Leslie –

My wonderful virtual gal pals! I look forward to the day I’m well enough to travel (or you guys come through Phoenix) — I surely would love to meet you ( — and lots of other FirePups!) in real life. Exchanging real life hugs!

That’s something to look forward to.

[It was great fun meeting katymine at a local PDA/DFA meeting — and I look forward to getting back in the swing of THAT, too!]

There’s so much to be grateful for, so many blessings, and so very much to look forward to — as motivation to work extra hard for healing. Meeting y’all is a big part of that motivation!

Mr. K8, being home now, wants to talk about his day, so I think I’ll go listen and then exercise my real life voice for a little bit. Be back later!

147 cinnamonape says:

“In fact, the CIA still will not reveal either her former status, whether or not her position was/is classified, or even generalities about her position EVEN today”

Gosh, I bet I know of someone who could get that information declassified right quick…

I had never seen Casey until today and was I disappointed! He did not answer questions and was let off the hook, and he agreed with–actually repeated statements from his questoners (I think this is called “kiss ass.”) He was not informed on any military documents or of any media articles cited by the senators. I came away from the hearing hoping he would not be approved because he did not appear competent. I suppose I agree with St. John, but I felt St. John and Graham tried to lead him to agree with them. Compared with Fallon of the previous day, Casey was a disaster.

tejanarusa @ 42

Frank Probst @ 24:

“Team Libby is trying to exclude a lot of this, on the grounds that it will make Libby look guilty. Fitz’s response was along the lines of, ‘Well, yes. That’s the point.’

Nice summary.
It’s gotten so that when a defense atty says “You can’t let that in! It’s [unfairly] prejudicial!” I just hear that as “that would prove my client’s guilt!”

Objection, damaging!!!!

Mea culpa, mea culpa!

frogger –

Can’t run off, sweetie, without saying you ain’t got no “culpa” for “tu” to worry about!

And just ’cause you like a little Latin, how’s this? –

Per omnia secula seculorum!

cinnamonape @ 147

There is a little distinction here that I would like to make. Plame’s identity could be “classified” without her being “covert” [although all “covert” operatives are classified].

Covert operatives are those whose identities are concealed who have undertaken missions abroad. Their “covert status” is retained for five years (so that they can be called up for additional foreign operations if necessary). They do not need to be “stationed abroad”, many covert operatives are based at Langley and tasked for specific missions.

After a period of time of non-foreign operations, and domestic tasking, they may no longer be “covert” (as defined by the Intelligence Agents Identity Protection Act). But their status may still be “classified” information if their activities involve classified operations and agents that do serve abroad.

I tend to think that there is reasonable evidence that Plame did, in fact, have some service abroad in the five years prior to the exposure of her identity. I won’t detail that information here.

But EVERYTHING I’ve seen indicates that her status and identity remained CLASSIFIED. In fact, the CIA still will not reveal either her former status, whether or not her position was/is classified, or even generalities about her position EVEN today. It required a special order to DECLASSIFY for release the mere fact that she was EMPLOYED at the CIA.

This despite the fact that thousands of declassified analysts, officials, interpreters, modelers, counsellors, trainers, etc. are available by name and task at the CIA. In fact, many of those in Plame’s collegues in the Directorate of Operations have had their identities and status declassified in recent years (including Cheney’s CIA briefer and the head of Iraq Operations). Yet Plame’s activities remain classified!

Thanks cinnamonape! That distinction makes sense.

I find it interesting that, although the administration is hinting that the Pres or VP informally declassified the info about Valerie, the FBI and CIA continue to insist that everyone treat it as if it is, in fact, classified. And quite rightly too, IMO.

GabrielOak @
134

Did anybody else hear Alex Chadwick and John Dickerson today (2-1-07) on NPR’s Day-To-Day Legal Affairs segment blithely referring to the Libby trial as a soap opera? SO amusing. Ha flipping ha. Chadwick was particularly amused by what seemed to strike him as the absurdity of it all. Oh Yeah. Lie about WMD in the SOTU, use the corrupt media to expose a covert agent for political revenge, then cover it up. That’s REAL funny. Thanks, NPR.

Alex Chadwick has been an administration cheerleader, probably from the beginning. I remember in the run up to the invasion in Iraq, Chadwick sounded damn near as if he was going to have a wet spot to cover up.

I am pretty sure he still thinks De Nile is still just a river.

GabrielOak @ 134

Did anybody else hear Alex Chadwick and John Dickerson today (2-1-07) on NPR’s Day-To-Day Legal Affairs segment blithely referring to the Libby trial as a soap opera? SO amusing. Ha flipping ha. Chadwick was particularly amused by what seemed to strike him as the absurdity of it all. Oh Yeah. Lie about WMD in the SOTU, use the corrupt media to expose a covert agent for political revenge, then cover it up. That’s REAL funny. Thanks, NPR.

Yes – I turned it off almost immediately when I heard Chadwick’s flippant tone.

NPR isn’t getting a dime out of me unless they check their slide to the right.

theExile @
107

I think what America has to figure out is WHY politics attracts the worst of the worst and rewards them with power. Then do things differently.

Access to power and money.

BTW, I had to fly to Chicago this afternoon and was literally twitching until I managed to get my laptop up and running in my hotel room so I could catch up on the excellent live-blogging and commentary from the FDL gang. I’ve contributed my $50.07 for the week, and I’ll do it again next week. Aside from the fact that I have become extremely unproductive during trial hours, this has been fascinating. Kudos especially for EW, a non-lawyer, for being able to follow and summarize the evidentiary arguments in real time. For us lawyers, this is the equivalent of the SuperBowl.

One thing I’m confused about: agent Bond says that Scooter told her he 1st heard about Plame from Chaney in June ‘03.

But didn’t Cathie Martin say that she told Scooter and Cheney at that same time that her conversation with her counterpart in the CIA revealed that Wilson’s wife worked at the CIA?

Is the clarification that Cheney looked into Plame’s employement and then gave Scooter more detail about Plame’s position?

p.lukasiak @ 100

re: cheney testimony…..

if he doesn’t testify, given how many jurors were excused because they said they wouldn’t be able to judge his testimony in an unbiases fashion, expect Walton to be VERY pissed off… …

I hear that Our Sainted VP would have been glad to serve in the witness box, but he plans to send word that he has “other committments.” And if that doesn’t work, he’ll have Lynne hormone-treated to the gills and then artificially inseminated so’s she can get pregnant, and that’ll let him off the hook. QED, no DickyBird.

Redshift @ 35

Can someone point out to me where Cooper’s testimony “sharply diverged” from his previous article in the text cited by Murray Waas? I’m inclined to trust Murray, and I’m probably just fuzzy-headed from a long day of hitting refresh, but the two versions look pretty much the same to me.

(And Murray, if you’re reading here, put an email address on your damn blog, so I can ask you these things directly!)

Here’s the non-verbatim transcription from Marcy, bless her soul!

MC Friday July 11, with Karl Rove, a member of WH staff.

MC Put in a call to Rove’s office routed to office, at first, he wasn’t there, was busy, but then put me through, we talked.

MC Ah sure, we’re interested in Wilson story. And he immediately said, don’ t get too far out, don’t lionize or idolize him. He said a number of things would be coming out. He said DCI had not sent him. He said VP had not been involved. THen he said, it would come out who was involved in sending him. He said his wife. I until that point didn’t know Wilson had a wife. I said the wife. He said she worked in WMD at the Agency, I took the CIA, not EPA. We talked a bit more, at the end he said, I’ve already said too much.

F HOw long

MC couple of minutes.

There are some differences. In his article about his GJ testimony…
Cooper didn’t specify that Cooper shouldn’t idolize/lionize Wilson, merely that the Time’s shouldn’t get too far ahead on his claims.

Cooper’s article on his testimony didn’t say anything about Tenet not being involved in sending Wilson. And in his article he didn’t actually say that Rove attributed the trip to Wilson’s wife “sending him”. And his testimony yesterday suggests that there was a direct sequential relationship between this disclosure and Rove concluding with “I’ve already said too much”.

But missing from his statement in his testimony in court was the reference in his article about his GJ testimony about Rove saying that “something will be declassified that would discredit Wilson’s op-ed.

This could refer to the Bush’s selective declassification of the NIE, or it could relate to Plame’s identity.

I suspect that this may be in the GJ testimony as well as all the other details that Cooper detailed today.

But it’s clear that Rove wasn’t just hinting about Plame’s role, and his talking points were almost identical to what was passed on to Novak to spin, regarding Plame’s supposed nepotism in “authorizing” Wilson’s mission.

It indicates that there were some “off the record” Talking Points being passed around…not just casual rumors.

As you might imagine, the folks who nominated Rush appear to have little respect for the rules. According to their press release .. they submitted an “unsolicited” nomination. Sadly, the only nominations accepted by the Nobel committee come from those they invite to do so.

What this really means is that nobody nominated Rush Limbaugh for a Nobel Peace Prize. Nobody. It didn’t happen.

Just because some hokey legal group writes a letter to Oslo doesn’t make it a real nomination anymore than if I stick a post-it on a telephone pole nominating my dog. You have to be invited to submit a nomination.

So, don’t repeat this meme. It didn’t happen.

froggermarch @ 149

147 cinnamonape says:

“In fact, the CIA still will not reveal either her former status, whether or not her position was/is classified, or even generalities about her position EVEN today”

Gosh, I bet I know of someone who could get that information declassified right quick…

Well he could…but he doesn’t WANT TO!

But like the bowdlerized versions of the NIE’s I’m sure that the Imperial Executive was considering only declassifying only PART of Mrs. Wilson’s employment profile.

I’m wondering if they asked…did Tenet really tell Cheney about Plame…or was it someone else. Maybe Tenet told Cheney that her work was highly classified and her identity could not be declassified without great risk to US Security?

Oklahoma kiddo @
75

Sparkles the Iguana @ 70

punaise @ 50

glad to see that Markos has come around to my position:

“Al Gore – accept no substitutes”

So you trust the judgment of a guy who chose Lieberman as his second in command.

Punaise… would you like to handle this one. Or shall I?

I got called away, so I trust you handled it.

Swopa – “Now you know why people like Joe Biden run, and sane people like Russ Feingold don’t.”

Senator Feingold will run when he believes it’s in the best interests of the country, regardless of any other consideration, including his own preference. He is a genuine patriot.

His place is in the Senate for now, wasting no time in his effort to stop the war. Don’t mistake that for sanity.

has anyone mentioned that there is a new thread?

Actually, I only refreshed after every beer. Sorry about the server, yesterday.

P J Evans @ 4

Stephen Parrish, CPA @ 3

Why do I have the impression they’re trying to hide Gore’s nomination?

Or trivialize it?

The News Hour’s tribute to Molly Ivins was a video of her tribute to Texas “ort” – those gross “sculptures” that don’t beautify the state. Don’t know when the video was done, but it was classically hilarious tongue in cheek Ivins. What a fabulous lady she was!

Frank Probst @ 24

perris @
8

someone want to give a go at all the little tid bits we got from todays testimony?

Lots of legal wrangling. My take on the significant parts:

1. The lawyers are no longer bothering to suggest that Plame’s identity might not have been classified. There is still some haggling over “classified” versus “covert”, but no one’s trying to suggest that Plame might have just been a cleaning woman, in which case this would be much ado about nothing.

2. Libby’s in a tight spot because of his opening statement. The claim that he had no motive to lie has bitten him in the ass several times. Fitz has been able to come back with several (You blabbed about a CIA agent. If you weren’t sure of her status, you had an obligation to check. We have your signature on the damn form. You saw a number of articles saying that a crime may have been committed. One of your co-workers saw one of those articles and immediately sought an immunity deal.) Team Libby is trying to exclude a lot of this, on the grounds that it will make Libby look guilty. Fitz’s response was along the lines of, “Well, yes. That’s the point.” The part about Libby being scapegoated has also come back to haunt him, as Fitz now wants to play video of the White House press secretary denying that Libby was at all involved.

3. Fitz may play footage (audio only? video? not sure) of Libby’s grand jury testimony. He may play all of it. I think this is a very strong move on his part. It would be faster to just say, “He’s a goddamn liar!” But the video will make the same point.

Wells gave the game away earlier this week when he let slip that Team Libby expects to be appealing the ruling. That is, they expect to lose at this level but have the cash to keep going.

I was surprised by the revelation of Libby’s testimony in the beginning of the investigation that he may have discussed with Cheney about leaking Plame to reporters.

Which is a ridiculous statement from someone who stated that he forgot about Plame and that reporters told him about Plame. So if reporters were leaking to them and telling them that all reporters knew – their strategy was what? To leak to reporters? Yeah, right.