
Well, it's not quite Fitzmas , but it's certainly a happy day for Plameologists far and wide now that the Dept. of Justice's Office of Special Counsel website has posted PDF files of Scooter Libby's first and second grand jury appearances, on March 5 and March 24, 2004. (NOTE: The last two links will download/open the PDF files, so think before you click. Also, there might be compatibility issues if you don't have the latest Adobe reader software -- I couldn't get text to appear in Preview on my old Mac iBook, and had to switch to a different computer.)
So now anyone and everyone can nitpick my live-blogging skim through the nearly 400 pages of Libby squirming in the face of Fitz's prosecutorial ferocity, such as this:
Q. It still remains that it is possible that the Vice President could have told you to talk to people about Wilson's wife working at the CIA, but you do not remember that?
A. It's, it's not what I had on my card from that meeting, and I don't recall him telling me to talk to the -- to anybody about the wife working at the CIA on the airplane that day.Q. But you do recall him telling you back in June, from your notes dated June 12th, and you recall that that stuck in his mind then in June as a curious fact the way he observed to you that his wife worked there. Correct?
A. Yes, sir.Q. And you do know that Vice President Cheney was quite frustrated during the week of July 6th through July 12th at how the media was treating this issue, and the fact that he was being unfairly maligned in the media. Correct'?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. And you had gotten an e-mail, I believe, from Jay Carney of Time magazine the day before saying people are pointing fingers at OVP. Correct?
A. That sounds right, sir. I haven't looked at it recently, but that sounds right.Q. And so, on July 12th, Vice President Cheney was still determined to get the full story out. Correct?
A. That's correct, sir.Q. And the notes show all week he said, anything less than the complete truth would be a mistake. Correct?
A: Correct, sir.Q. And during that time the Vice President was also expressing doubts about the validity of Ambassador Wilson's conclusions because, number one, he didn't think that -- he thought it unusual that they had used a former ambassador to take this trip. Correct?
A. You say, "during that week," and it could be during that week. I just don't recall it as -- I don't recall there was a discussion during that week, but that could be, I recall them later, and as you pointed out, we have -- he had something like that on the lunch of the 18th. When Vice President Cheney said, "get the full story out," what I understood by that was the NIE, the January 24 document, the CIA's comments in February to the IAEA, those sorts of things. The substance, the full substance that he wasn't the one who was told, et cetera.Q. Well, when Mary Matalin, we saw her notes last time, talked about "get the full Wilson story out, get Wilson motivation out." Correct?
.A. Mary Matalin had said that. Yes, sir.Q. . She talked about ["Wilson's a snake" -- redacted in files]. Correct? ' .
A. I don't know if that was her word. That was my note about the type of things she was saying, I think.Q. And Vice President Cheney talked about it with you for the first time that your notes reflect, he brought up that Wilson's wife worked at the CIA in the functional Office of Counterproliferation. Correct?
A. Back in June... yes, sir.Q. And the column July 6th written by Mr. Wilson with the Vice President's annotations asked, "did his wife send him on a junket." Correct?
A. Whenever he made that note. Yes, sir.Q. And so you told the FBI in your first interview, or one of your two interviews, that it's possible that the Vice President could have told you on Air Force Two that you should tell the press about Wilson's wife, but you do not recall that happening. Correct?
A. Correct.Q. And does that remain true?
A. It remains true that it was possible, I don't remember it happening.
They also released PDF files with the grand jury exhibits for the March 5 and March 24 appearances (see the DOJ OSC link above), and were handing out CDs with 450-megabyte MP3 files with audio of Scooter's testimony. So not only can you hunt merrily through the transcripts for your favorite excerpts, I suppose you can look forward to the dance remix, too.
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Fitz!
Fitz!
darn.
carolyn urban @ 2
Hee, hee! Pure luck.
Swopa!
Swopa, Jane, Christy, Pach, Emptywheel, and Jerralyn - outstanding job covering this trial. It has been riveting.
Oh, well. Not in time. Guess I should read the article now.
Thanks for your work all week, Swopa.
great cartoon!
Swopa, thanks for the post. Only if you feel comfortable, I am interested in any professional animosity/concern towards/about Timmeh (handling of this) that you saw yesterday in the media room from his peers in the main stream media?
Swopa, you did a great job this week. Thanks!
If it says Libby, Libby, Libby
And it’s Libel, Libel , Libel,
He is Lyin’, Lyin’, Lyin’
On the Bible, Bible, Bible
Ah, the old jingles were really the ones that stick with you, aren’t they?
Swopa, how do you think all the info about Cheney’s involvement that has emerged in the trial will affect the Wilsons’ civil suit? Does it improve their standing?
Great Wichita cartoon!
And THANK YOU so much for your incredible work. If I may toss in some advice about facing the TV camera, you (like many of us from the Northeast, wherever you may be from) say “weren’t” so quickly that the negation is hard to hear. Maybe use “were not” when you’re delivering key punch lines?
Offered with great admiration,
LB
Spew alert. Spew Alert.
Swopa: Those pics at your site are very funny.
http://www.needlenose.com/node/view/3788
They also released PDF files with the grand jury exhibits for the March 5 and March 24 appearances (see the DOJ OSC link above), and were handing out CDs with 450-megabyte MP3 files with audio of Scooter’s testimony.
has anyone uploaded those files to the web yet? I’ve downloaded the testimony and exhibits — but I’d much rather be able to hear him lying….
David Shuster on Hardball playing Scooter tapes.
Oh man! Another SWOPA-thon-a-tastic post. Don’t you eat or sleep? Now running to get some coffee and popcorn with Lowry’s Treason Salt and read the post…)
John Casper @
15
I wonder if Tweety will curse and drool?
Tweety and Schuster are all over this on Hardballs. If Cheney didn’t hate him before, he will now!
RevDeb @ 18
Quick!!! Shiny things over here with serial numbers and other markings!
_
the graphic reminds me of another player: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wurmser
Swopa — Thank you and thanks to Jane, Marcy, Christy, Jeralyn and Pach for the effort you have made to change the way news is delivered. It’s been ages since I read a real newspaper. As for Libby and others involved in answering questions at his trial, I don’t know how these people live with themselves — any of them, including the “journalists.” Thanks again for showing the world how it should be done.
Cspan has the audio up on their site.
BobbyG @ 19
Nah. They’ll stick with the “Anna Nicole Smith is still dead” story. The last rumor I heard was that she choked to death on vomit. I’m waiting for the “Spinal Tap” moment: “Breaking News! It wasn’t HER vomit!”
BTW, as far as the “Anna Nicole Smith is just like Marilyn Monroe” talking point, I’d argue that that’s sort of like saying “Gerald Ford is just like Abraham Lincoln”. Same planet, different worlds.
Completely agree. The audio provides a lot more context.
The better parallel to ANS than MM (really, can you imagine “Candle in the Wind” for Anna?) is Jayne Mansfield. Jayne was probably a lot smarter, but their penchant for self-promotion based on just blonde, busty sex appeal was very similar.
Amazing work all week, Swopa. Thanks so much. I’ve had a very hard time keeping away from the computer.
…tapping your toes?
In Europe, people gather in various town squares to drink and people-watch.
In the midst of the people-watching, musicians set-up and play.
If you tap your toes, the musician will come over to you at the end of the song with his donation box - it’s considered correct to give for the enjoyment.
We call it the ‘toe-tapping’ tax.
So, if you’re enjoying following the live-blogging of the Libby Trial here at FDL - ie, tapping your toes - please consider ‘giving’ to support the cause by using the ‘donation’ box that can be found at the end of each article.
Thanks, and
Go FDL!
John Casper @ 24
Here is a site from the AP that says it does :)
http://wid.ap.org/documents/libbytrial/index.html
Hilarious graphic.
radiofreewill @ 27: I gave $100.00 at the end of January. I encourage others to give whatever you can to FDL. Way worth it!
John Casper @ 8
I didn’t see any animosity, or concern — I think Tim may be more celebrity than peer to the worker bees in the media room. There was some teasing of the MSNBC representatives beforehand (”Let me guess how your story will read — ‘Russert bravely and calmly deflected…’,” etc.), and some exasperation with the repetition of the defense questioning — which I shared — but no other visible reactions.
There was some chuckling about how Andrea Mitchell’s CNBC statement on knowing about Wilson’s wife was overlooked for a long time (”Of course, no one watches CNBC!”).
It seems that Tweety wants to be the center of the story. So what else is new? Does his ego have no bounds?
Friday’s are so dull without FDL? NEway, what’s the deal with Jill Abramson (NYT) and why is team Libby bringing her in to testify for them on Monday. So she ignored Judy, Judy, Judy who might have wanted to do a story about Wilson. Wasn’t Judy still in the penalty box at the time?
TIA chums
Thanks very much Swopa.
Very grateful for “dull Fridays” (though they aren’t at all) since I do have sermons to write and my addiction to all things Plame is really getting in the way.
just dashing by to say that emptywheel’s post on the Next Hurrah ‘bringing me into the feed’ is such a gem that I sent off another donation to Plame House. I want you all to purchase a good bottle of single malt or wine or whatever and enjoy the weekend.
thanks also to each and every spouse, child, friend, partner who stayed home to keep the business going, the family fed and the dog walked.
I sent 101.07, in hopes it would stand out - and I want the Plame House folks to spend every penny on good libations, coffee, and chocolate.
gotta go now and meet the movers for the second load-in - we’ve finally gotten the last permit and am moving back into our house!
peace to all
I don’t know if I should be happy Tweety touched on the Feith story or really upset he isn’t spending the whole hour on it. Psst, Tweety, it’s called Treason.
[[[[[ Ruby Tuesday ]]]]]
RevDeb @ 35
gee, I dunno Rev Deb, I could see a whole series of sermons on not bearing false witness coming out of this week.
dwwenz @ 30
Just paid my third toe-tapping (finger-tapping) tax. (-:
member of the grateful FDL ROCKettes
Lyrebird @ 12
Should have offered tips before my TV career ended yesterday. :)
Trust me, Jane and I watched each segment multiple times as soon as they went up and critiqued every minor flaw. But four days just isn’t enough training to stand up with zero preparation and deliver flawless commentary without any “umms” or garbled diction. Especially in 20-degree weather!
Don’t worry, though, we had a blast doing it. Nitpicking our performances was part of the fun.
OT - Douglas Feith on CNN w/ blitzer
chalk up another great post for Swopa.
______
As for a certain recently dead top-heavy blonde, she is dead, and in a rather pitiful way. Making jokes about her? I’m sorry, but that’s rather low. Let the MSM do what it will. Piling on is, kinda fuckwadish ……
thanx! the c-span files aren’t opening… and the AP files are downloading so slowly I suspect that there are LOTS of people who are trying to get access to them….
(I only wish I knew how to manipulate audio files, because I’d definitely do a “libby mashup/remix” if I could) :)
Swopa,
Hope your fingers have recovered from the typing. You all did great, thank you very much. The TV videos were very good so don’t nitpick yourselves, there is no reason to.
I have a small weekend project …. and I need everyone’s help. See my current post if you have a few minutes.
Hey swopa… exactly how tall ARE you? ;)
FDL Legal Eagles:
Re the upcoming week defense case: Fitz can only Cross on stuff that Wells brings up in Direct, right? (w/ it being the judge’s role to limit the irrelevant smoke-blowing by defense counsel)
So, it seems to me problematic for Wells to call either Scooter or Cheney, ‘cuz he risks opening the door for Fitz to incinerate both of them if he goes into too much detail.
The other defense witnesses look to me like so much MEGO red herring window-dressing.
_
Outstanding work by the FDL team! Truly outstanding. For more large-context discussion of these issues, be sure to check out David Swanson’s work at AfterDowningStreet.
Also, please come to DC for anti-war marches and rallys on March 16-18. The people are really the ones providing the leadership for the congress instead of the other way around. Every one of us who shows up gives more courage to the fence-sitters in the Senate.
peace,
jim
Here’s a question for Tweety:
Many of the questions you keep asking about Cheney are really good but why do you always (make sure to) state that Cheney was keeping his actions and information from the president? That has not been established - at all. Can you state with certainty that Bush was not involved/in the loop? Your assumption is misleading and based on nothing that I can see - except your man-love for the cowboy in chief.
Please explain where this comes from…
Ruby Tuesday @ 36
Thanks for the donation — but to be honest, most of the beer donated at the start of the trial is still in the PlameFridge. Jane doesn’t drink at all, and I don’t drink much. Although, if I have to make up for lost time this weekend in order to appreciate FDL readers’ generosity, I suppose that’s a burden I’ll have to shoulder. :-)
I think most of the donated money is going toward the heating bill and cab fares.
Eureka @ 37 Treason?? Just because he cooked the books to start a war to advance the “Clean Break”?
Kramer on Hardball talking about exit of dollars into Europe, Latin America, South America, and Asia.
AZ Matt @ 45
They always came out better than they felt — we’d get in the cab thinking, “That was awful,” then look at the video at home and think, “Hey, that was okay!” If we’d ever had enough time to, like, practice once before the filming, it would have been look out, world. :)
And although my entire arms felt dead by 5pm each day, they recovered miraculously as soon as Judge Walton declared the final recess.
BobbyG–
I’ve said it early and often: no way Libby or Cheney testify. You’re in Vegas, right? If you see any odds on this over the weekend let me know. My guess is they would have it even on Libby, 2-1 against on Cheney and 9-2 on the parlay. I’d put $20.07 (I’m not a big better) on the parlay and give the winnings to the toe tappers below.
p.lukasiak @ 44
I guarantee you someone will do a remix.
I personally want to see a remix plus video, all put together by the same guy who did the remix music video of Ted Stephens’ infamous tubes diatribe.
If you haven’t seen the Ted Stephens tubes remix video yet, I urge you to seek it out on YouTube. Brilliant!
everhopeful @ 50, I have the same question for so many talking heads who insist the prez was in the dark about the Wilson smear. There seems to be more evidence he encouraged/instigated it and none that he knew nothing about it. These folks just keep on keepin’ on.
twolf1 @
42
What logical reason could CNN have for giving him airtime? I missed it. Was there anything of value?
———————————
John Casper @ 53
That’s how the haves will continue to praise our economy - by making money with foreign investments.
Okay, here’s a link to the YouTube music video of Ted Stephens “tubes” comments.
I pray that the director of this video decides to work his magic on the Libby testimony. The results may become legendary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtOoQFa5ug8
Steve - Sorry, this rabid lamb has been reading to many pamphlets…)
*xyz @ 56
I guarantee you someone will do a remix.
I have a digital recording unit at home, and Jane grabbed CDs with the Libby audio files at the courthouse.
I can’t promise a date, but there will be a remix. Someone else will have to do the video, though.
p.lukasiak @ 47
I hope this was not a rhetorical question because I am curious about that, too. The Mutt & Jeff image with Jane & Swopa was adorable, but, Swopa, are you as tall as David Gregory, for instance? Just how tall are you?
rumi - I only caught the tail end of it so I have no comment on whether there was any value to the interview or not. Feith seemed agitated is about all I can tell you — and accusatory of other people.
I think CNN used the same logic for booking this segment as they did when they booked Tom DeLay a couple days ago.
Ann in AZ @ 62
6′2″, maybe 6′2 and a half.
John Casper @ 53
How long do you think before China & Saudi Arabia (and all our other creditors, for that matter) start selling off our T-bill?
Swopa @ 61
I have a digital recording unit at home, and Jane grabbed CDs with the Libby audio files at the courthouse.
I can’t promise a date, but there will be a remix. Someone else will have to do the video, though.
Oh hell yeah!
Set it to video, put it on YouTube, and you will have gone a long way toward educating the next generation on the Scooter Libby Traitorgate saga.
I think you could get very creative with the video that you choose to juxtapose with the remix…
64Swopa says
February 9th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Ann in AZ @ 62
p.lukasiak @ 47
Hey swopa… exactly how tall ARE you? ;)
I hope this was not a rhetorical question because I am curious about that, too. The Mutt & Jeff image with Jane & Swopa was adorable, but, Swopa, are you as tall as David Gregory, for instance? Just how tall are you?
6′2″, maybe 6′2 and a half.
_______________________________________________
So not as tall as David Gregory! I heard he’s 6′7″. I’m not quite 5′, so height is always interesting to me. Thanks for the answer.
Swopa @ 54
I had hoped you wouldn’t have any problems slipping a cold cerveza into your mitt!
BobbyG @
19
Swear to God! Gates is more dangerous than Rumsfeld. Fucking Bush gets everything he wants.
Frankly, the FDL transcripts are better reading. It is, however, interesting to actually listen to Scooter’s voice as he’s spinning his yarns. The New York Times has some especially telling MP3 “pieces.” Here he is talking about the Russert phone call.
Christy will be on Phoenix AAR sometime in the next hour or so… you can stream at http://www.1480kphx.com/
Select the link - Listen Live
Or any station that takes the Peter B. Collins Show.
Peter B. Collins is on the following PST:
* KRXA 540 Monterey CA, live 3-6pm
* KPHX 1480 Phoenix AZ, live 3-6pm
* KGOE 1480 Eureka CA, live 3-6pm
* KBBR 1340 Coos Bay OR, live 3-6pm
Call Toll-Free: 1-888-573-8372
Without video, Irving sounds a bit like Tucker Carlson (in trouble).
Maybe Jane can now produce:
NATURAL BORN BLOGGERS
An FDL Production
John Casper @
53
Let the depression begin. Nice work George, you are ruining the economy too.
Even Larry Kudlow will hate you by 2008.
-GSD
Swopa- once again, what’s your “accent”? Really bugging me, like trying to remember the name of an old movie. Please?
WRT insulating Bush from DeadEye, there has been a lot of chatter (and some posts at tnh, iirc) that the GOP wants to inoculate itself for 2008 by pressuring Bush into forcing DeadEye to resign.
p.s. I hope you weren’t serious about the end of your TV career. I assume you are blogging next week? The politics TV stuff is my evening favorite.
twolf1 @
63
I missed DeLay too? If I wasn’t so financially challenged, I’d just quit my job to keep up with everything :-)
hey, I found this from TPMMuckraker.
Maybe he’s worried about the prewar intel propaganda.
Excellent question.
Swopa-
Thanks so much for your excellent work in both liveblogging and analysis this week. You (and all here at FDL) are redefining journalism as we know it, and it is immensely exciting for me to watch this historic paradigm shift happen first hand.
Can’t wait for my next fix…
Great work this week, Swopa. the transcripts/audio are fascinating. I was reading the part where Libby explains his discussion with Cheney, and he essentially tells Cheney what his Russert-told-me cover story is going to be. It’s like he’s warning Cheney what to say to back him up.
katymine @ 71
Help, I can’t find the listen live link!
katymine — you beat me to it. They just sent me the streaming links for you guys. *g*
You can listen here or here.
I’m supposed to be on starting at 7:20 or so ET and will be on the show for half an hour talking about the Libby case. And I think they take calls, but I don’t have a number.
Swopa
Thanks for all your hard work this week. It’s been a good thing watching you become more comfortable looking in front of the camera - and I enjoy learning your view on the days events.
Is the rumor I’ve heard true? That this was your only week in DC at Plame House and that you are headed back to the West Coast?
Thanks, found it!
Christy not on yet but will be soon…
http://www.1480kphx.com/
-Listen Live-
The link right over the Phoenix Air America graphic.
PHONE:
1-888-573-8372
Christy Hardin Smith @ 83
So when are David Letterman and Larry King going to bring you in!
The Peter B. Collins Show
Toll-Free: 1-888-573-8372
John Casper @ 76
All of these pukes likely have too much mutually incriminating dirt on each other. We get Medals of Freedom conferred in lieu of forced resignations.
_
Senator Levin may call Libby to testify on the phonied up Iraq intelligence.
From ThinkProgress .
scarecrow @ 81
ditto kudos Swopa.
And, Scarecrow, I’ve read your posts way past comment time, so I didn’t comment. But these have been gems, esp. the Cheney one. Thx.
Swopa — Those transcript excerpts sure do bring up an awful lot of open-ended questions that all end in Dick Cheney, don’t they?
John Casper @ 79
They’d take themselves down with us. Delicate, precariously balanced economics.
_
So you will be on an hour Christy?
Have to get ready for a dinner party….. Do NOT want to miss the interview
Christy Hardin Smith @ 92
Christy, help me out on my #48. IANAL.
katymine at 94 — I think they said a half hour. But last time when Tony Trupiano was hosting and I was on, I ended up doing 45 minutes. I think tonight they have half an hour set aside for me, though. They’ve been doing quite a bit of Libby coverage. :)
BobbyG — Yes, Fitz is limited on cross just like Wells was — to what is within the scope of direct. But also to what goes to the credibility of the witness and other matters of that sort (which is why all the stuff with Russert’s C/E was allowed by Judge Walton). Does that help?
Christy….. they have been all over it!
Yes I know *g*…. wonder who in Phoenix keeps calling into the show and pointing out the GREAT coverage going on over at FDL….. (look of innocence)
Christy Hardin Smith @
92
Yes, and I hope to have a very in-depth post about that written sometime this weekend (can I ask you to save that first Monday morning slot for me?)
OT, but I need some feedback on a 2nd letter to joe LIEberman.
please, many of you are much more smarty-pantsy than me, I?
Joe did the exact opposite this week, again.
So I was thinking about writing him a satirical supportive letter.
OR, slam him, as I just wrote (but didn’t yet send) and hope I don’t get a knock on my door.
I didn’t threaten him, but said he has blood on his hands. is that a post-9/11-world no no?
Patrick Kennedy @ 90
Marvelous. This whole scenario is starting to resemble Watergate in that the GOP is dividing, and multiple committees are pulling on different threads that all start to meet
at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenuein the same place…maybe Fitzmas is more of a beginning than an endMore Swopa and Jane TV please!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 97
Thanks. All of which, again, would seem to render Cheney or Libby too risky on the stand for the defense. Major potential asymmetry of downside vs upside. IMHO.
_
Patrick Kennedy @ 90
Indeed. This is what I like to see.
The threads exposed by Fitzgerald and others will now be picked up by those best situated to continue the investigation.
No matter what happens in the Libby trial, it has helped to open the door for others to ask the tough questions.
Even if Libby is acquitted, he won’t be out of the woods.
He’ll never be out of the woods.
We have reached a critical mass of information regarding the lies that led us to war in Iraq.
The information flow has become almost self-perpetuating, with the vast accumulated mass of data itself being analyzed and used to infer even more about what transpired within the administration prior to the war.
And these logical inferences guide our ongoing inquiry, and lead to even more revelations, which in turn add to the information pool. And so forth. And so on.
Patrick Kennedy @ 90
That would be brilliant, as I doubt there is any way he would have the nerve to lie some more. I would love to see some Senate Dems grill him. Hell, it would be even better if they would grant him immunity. Haha.
OT- quick hugs BobbyG!
*xyz @ 103
Which is why BushCo needs Grave New Shiny Iranian things for a big-assed CODE BROWN.
_
Ann in AZ @
65
China started a month ago:
China Set To Reduce Exposure To Dollar
Even two years ago, merely a report that South Korea would decrease US dollar reserves caused the dollar to deline 1.5% - trillions of dollars of wealth.
Here in California, 21% of 2006 mortgages were