(Photo credit NYT Photo/Doug Mills via Common Dreams)
Update: Some have asked about the juror clothing. They're in jeans again, sorry.
One thing we've talked a lot about is the way in which Libby and his wife pose for the pictures. Every time they enter or leave the courthouse, there's a phalanx of photographers waiting to take almost the same picture they did of him the day before. I joked with one of the reporters yesterday that–for days like yesterday when there was no news–it ensures you have something to put below the headline reading, "Still Waiting."
Mind you, I'm not faulting Libby or his wife for posing for these photographers. The case against the Administration and the case for a pardon are being made in the public sphere, and it is just as important for Libby to wear his game face for those photos as it is to mount a credible defense in the court room.
In almost all of those pictures, Libby has had a huge grin on his face, almost a howdy doody smile. Even when we're waiting in line at the Starbucks cart in the morning (I seem to be on the same caffeine schedule as the defense team), it's that same big smile, a smile that makes me think of both senses of the word, "plastered."
But it seems like the stress of deliberation is taking its toll on Libby's ability to maintain that mask. Yesterday, for example, as the teams left the court room after the jury's head fake ("Sorry, we don't want your stinking instructions after all! Psyche!"), Libby had to come back for a portfolio he had left behind. He was distracted. The mask was down. He had a haunted (or, perhaps more generously, just exhausted) look. At other times, the mask looks exaggerated, which when you're starting with a howdy doody smile, is really saying something.
Again. I'm not blaming Libby. Consider the stress Judy Miller was very visibly under when she was on the stand. She didn't maintain her game face, either. Heck, liar extraordinaire Ari Fleischer couldn't even do it, not when Jeffress asked him if he had been indicted for perjury about the Pincus conversation. Take the stress they experienced on the stand, multiply that by the days we've been waiting and the real possibility of jail time, and I'm sure my game face would be cracking too.
But I get the feeling that that mask is really close to cracking.
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Fitz!
FITZ!!!
Doh!
Give truth back.
I keep forgetting – does the jury work on Fridays during deliberations?
“liar extraordinaire Ari Fleischer couldn’t even do it,”
In his TV interviews after the testimony, Ari looked like the grey ghost, his faced matched the color of the bare concrete around him.
Funny, I was thinking this very same thing last night. As much stress as I feel, waiting for the verdict, it is nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to how Libby must feel. His life, his career, hang in the balance, and every day and night must be torture.
Not that this is a bad thing. If only Cheney could be waiting with him.
*taps foot impatiently, waits for verdict, thinks FDL is the greatest site on the net, taps foot impatiently…*
FUN
Stupidest man in the world Doug Feith set up his own website to “explain” (read justify) himself. http://www.dougfeith.com/ Oh, and note that the “Media Myths and Facts” section is blank. Guess he couldn’t find any myths.
Here’s the parody site – much better! http://webpages.charter.net/micah/feith/feith.htm
Thanks to TPM for this tidbit http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
Marcy, did we get a jury clothing update?
*xyz @ 5
Yes. Thank goodness! I hope this is settled today or tomorrow. I’m at a retreat from work Monday and Tuesday and will be totally out of pocket.
Who is that man beside the curtain?
Did we ever get an update on the Fitz “lunch date”? I’d love to know how it went. Thanks
It has to be very stressful to have ruined your life for the likes of Dick Cheney. But all indicators seem to say that Scooter is a true believer. He’ll keep his mouth shut, do some brief time, and post-pardon he’ll join some wingnut think tank or get his own radio show.
The jury needs to send Scooter to prison soon, so as to save his strength.
Talk about posing – this picture of Scooter makes him look like he’s on the board of directors of Halliburton, or something…
Newbie @ 12
My “lunch date” was with some bloggie people and some Hill people. It was all about making Democrats on the Hill more successful.
LoudounLib @ 15
VP’s chief of staff, Halliburton director…in this administration, really, what’s the difference?
I wonder how much influence his wife will be if it comes down to making deals during sentencing – who wins the loyalty – wifey or Cheney?
Maybe he should try some Botox for that fresh-as-a-spring-day Nicole Kidman look.
Diane @ 18
It comes down to who has Scooter’s balls in a small, ratty leather sack, doesn’t it? So, Cheney.
There are probably some very heavy duty medications in Scooter’s brain trying to keep-up that happy face….
EvilDrPuma @ 17
Heh – ‘zackly!
Agreeing completely with the post and merciless @ 7. This has to be incredibly stressful for Libby. He and his wife are doing their best to put on their Tom DeLay-like grins to appear confident. But, any moment now, he could be labeled as a convicted felon for life. He may face prison. This can’t be anything but agonizing for him.
Granted, I think he’s a liar and he deserves what he gets… but I can’t fault him for trying to smile and look confident.
Also, I’ll summarize something mentioned at the end of last thread: Tonser made a great point that we shouldn’t criticise the jury for taking their time and asking for a lot of office supplies. They must feel the stress of this awesome responsibility as well. Every member of that jury doesn’t have 1/4 of the information we have, they probably had little knowledge of the case going into the trial and haven’t been privy to the the legal wrestling behind the scenes nor the legal expertise we have. I hope they take their time and get it right… even if the waiting is sometimes grating.
Libby’s strikes me as a “gamey” face.
Teresa @ 9
Jeans again.
Marcy, can you comment on whether Scooter would even be able to cut a deal with prosecutors? If he’s convicted on any counts, he would no longer be a credible witness who could testify against someone else, correct?
As a photographer I can tell you that we “shooters” live for that one photo that allows you to see “into the soul” of a person. The photogs burning through gigs of bytes (or for those of us who are still traditionalists, miles of film) are hoping for that one iconic shot of Libby with his guard down-that he’s really scared shitless, or the one that reveals his wife maybe isn’t that supportive after all.
We don’t seriously believe he’s going to do time, do we? Libby knows where all the bodies are buried, and who put them there. Would YOU cross Shooter and expect to live to tell about it?
Well he can’t be THAT much of a Great Man — where’s the US flag behind him?? That’s such a photgraphic trope, it’s significant by its absence.
And in re Libby trying to put on a happy Howdy Doody face — exactly — he’s got the facial lines for it…!
thanks Marcy. Any feelings from lawyers about whether their clothing really matters?
Marcy, Did you ever post your conversation with Fitz? Something about rugby? Did Jane give him your book? :)
Marcy!
oh goodie. thanks for this post. ashamed to admit i get some pleasure out of hearing about scooter’s discomfort. well-earned agony.
if only for that, i can have endless patience, sorta.
NOW! dear dear gal, please, did you remember your powercord?????
I simply MUST know. *sniffle*
And I’m wondering whether the prosecutors’ shoulders are sagging a bittoday. Can’t imagine the invincible Fitz gives away anything, but how ’bout the others?
EvilDrPuma @ 17
George Soros might have something to say about that.
Scooter Glibby.
-GSD
The stock video footage used on MSNBC always has Scooter holding the door to the courthouse (for Wells or someone else). The thing is that it’s different footage and he always does it.
As if we care whether or not he’s courteous.
I sat on a double defendant, double homicide trial in Boston some twenty years ago and it was a complex case, but the charges, like these were straightforward. So what could possibly be taking a week?
I remember reading that Libby’s wife is a Democrat (or used to be). It would be interesting to know what she thinks about the company her husband keeps.
I think a study should be done on the women who marry men of this type. Certainly late in the midnight hours, it must hurt to know what you don’t have. Even if you can’t admit it publicly.
I haven’t read that the jury has requested read-backs of testimony–have they not requested? Are they just going on their own notes and memories? Is this usual for juries in trials like this (whatever “like this” might be)?
You know, I almost feel sorry for Libby. He’s simply a stooge taking the fall for Darth. He seems to have a lovely wife and family. But then, maybe he’ll flip in a deal with Fitz. Who knows? This may well be the tip of the iceberg, as they say.
conniptionfit @ 28
he’ll stay free pending appeals, and end up doing a couple months at Allenwood. It’s all part of the pardon deal.
dunno if this was already posted: AP has a new story about how the jury hasn’t given out many clues as to what’s going on, and there’s no indication they are deadlocked.
via MSNBC
No new info for the FDL addicted, but it’s interesting to see how they’re reporting the story and their timeline. It gives us an glimpse of what the regular Joes might be learning about the trial.
Is it automatic that Libby will be disbarred or lose his legal license if (when) convicted?
LandOfTheFree @ 23
I’m not too sure about that. I think he expects the Elliot Abrams treatment: get pardoned, get appointed to serve in the next Republican administration.
needmoreblue @ 42
He will be promptly given a medal by George W. Bush is all I know.
-GSD
I was watching Olbermann last night. The footage he had of Team Libby did not show them with their game face(but who knows when that was shot – I always hate it when footage that is old is not labeled FILE FOOTAGE). If that was footage from yesterday either the can’t mantain it any longer or they have been reading all the post about how phony it looks.
Still waiting?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tqBzt1cUVyo
conniptionfit @ 28
I put it at 50/50. The problem for Bush will be to cross Scooter or cross the CIA. They surely won’t want Scooter to get pardoned.
And you wouldn’t want to piss off the CIA any more than you would Shooter.
I’m [involuntarily] thinking about losing. If Libby is acquitted, Rush Limbaugh is going to praise the American Criminal Justice system; Cheney’s going to gloat several octaves below middle C; Bush is going to swagger down his red carpet and say something corny.
What will we say? What will Joe and Valerie say? What will Jane, Christie, emptywheel, and Swopa say? What will all of us feel? Will we blame Patrick Fizgerald, or the Jury, or for that matter, blame anyone?
I do kind of doubt that any one of us will say, “Well, I guess we just got caught up in a silly conspiracy theory and mistakenly demonized Cheney and Libby. Sorry.”
For me, I know what I’m going to feel. I got a preview in November 2004. But I have no idea what I’m going to say. I envy Chewbacca. He had a particular characteristic this-isn’t-good groan that would about sum it up…
I get the sense that this jury kind of enjoys what they’re doing and doesn’t want to go back to their regular jobs on Friday.
My guess — a decision tomorrow morning, guilty on 4 counts. That way, they get their 15 minutes of fame with the newsies in the late morning / early afternoon — and wrap up in time for beer:30.
I detest what Libby, Cheney, Rove, Bush and company have done. I think Bush, Cheney and Gonzalez should be impeached for soiling our constitution– and yet I can feel a sympathy for Libby’s plight– not by any means as great as the sympathy I feel for Wilson and Plame. I don’t begrudge Libby his non-posed worried look. I sometimes wonder, why can’t Libby just admit that what he did was very, very wrong, offer a public apology, and receive some non-felony level punishment that won’t destroy him completely. Perhaps it’s just old style liberalism sloshing about in my head.
Crap,
I deliberatly stayed away for 2 hours this morning, hoping a verdict would be in by the time I logged in. Another day shot to hell, I can’t escape this site once I get here.
he’s already a folk hero over at Just One Minute. he’s got a ready made audience for the next chapter in his life.
Libby’s not a mere stooge. He was one of the most powerful neocons in the administration.
Adviser to Bush and Cheney.
A powerful man.
After he was indicted, some work was done to make it appear that he was just a lower-tier company man.
Don’t buy what they’re selling.
Biodun– I have zero pity for Libby, he was a knowing ’stooge ‘and lied and obstructed justice– he’s PNAC and part of the cabal.
just sayin’ :)
Sparkles the Iguana @
26
Any info he give would probably have to be corroborated for a jury to accept it. OTOH, if he’s Shooter’s only back-up won’t that be fine?
I read this last night, in Tony Hillerman’s Skinwalkers:
I thought of poor Scooter; he had no such luxury from the get-go. He was locked in to his story when he first testified to the FBI.
If/When Wells loses this case, what’s in store for him from the Mob?
For your information.
Arthur Schlesinger, historian and Kennedy confidant, has passed away at 89.
If Libby is convicted and pardoned, will he still be eligible to receive the Medal of Freedom?
JGabriel – I think you’re probably right… but it still has to be stressful. He knows how these people operate, and he could get stabbed in the back. The Judge could order him held while the appeals continue (though I’d guess he wouldn’t, with these being relatively minor crimes, him being a 1st time offender, and probably not a flight risk). Who knows when a pardon would come down. It would still sting badly to know that you’re taking the fall for everyone, you’re a convicted felon and seen as a liar, you screwed up badly enough to embarass the VP and shed more doubt on him and his boss. The hope of a pardon eases that a bit by clearing his record, but there still has to be shame for a man who believes he is so righteous as it appears Irving does.
I still want to know – if the answer is known – was Libby offered a plea bargain?
Because Martha was offered a deal, rejected it, went to trial, was convicted (for lying) and went to jail. I think the cases are similar.
The feds just HATE it when they’re lied to!
diplo65
At some point, does the judge go in to see what’s taking them so long?
When the proceedings were going on, did the jury look at Libby? What kind of facial expressions/body language did they make toward members of the defense team and the prosecutors? (sorry—I’ve been watching too many Law & Orders!)
Whenever I read how addicted people have become to this trial, I always think of the song “Basketball Jones”.
Libby trial Jones, I got a Libby trial Jones
Got a Libby trial Jones, oh baby, oo-oo-ooo
Yes, I am the victim of a Basketball Jones
Ever since Fitz turned on Libby, I always be dribblin’ In fac’, I was de baddest dribbler in the whole blog.Then one day, Jane bought us Plame House. And I loved that house
I took that house with me everywhere I went
That house was like a basketball to me
I even put that house underneath my pillow
Maybe that’s why I can’t sleep at night
I need help, ladies and gentlemens
I need someone to stand beside me
I need, I need someone to set a pick for me at the free-throw line of life
Someone I can pass to
Someone to hit the open man on the give-and-go
And not end up in the popcorn machine
So cheerleaders, help me out
{cheerleaders sing repeatedly…}
are we there yet?
Balrog:
Are you still here? Are you in downtown Mpls?
t greenberg @ 50
why didn’t he just answer the questions he was asked honestly?
scooter’s game face beginning to fade from facade-fatigue?
Reminds me of our kid describing what it’s like for an orchestra to play Ravel’s “Bolero” (think of movie “10″ – yeah, that one!), with a conductor who, brimming with an overabundance of enthusiasm, starts the crescendo way too early.
By the end of the performance, all the wind players are either grotesquely purple-faced or passed-out on the floor. Keep watching irving’s happyface as the days drag on, heh.
Does the crumbling facade suggest that he actually has a conscience?
Wil @ 51
Wil, yeah, me too. And I *have* to get some work done! Let’s hold hands and jump back the the Real World, one-two-thre, JUMP!
Marcy, is there any co-ordinated effort for the Hill to see or get a digest of Blogville daily?
As a Leftwards-turned former Attila I am especially anxious to hear that every single Republican member of Congress gets a list every morning of what has been said about them yesterday and overnight.
The Centre-Left, properly called the Commonsense View, must be beginning to scare them. You are all so clear and one-tracked.
The hell with winning in ‘08, I want them to Turn on Edgar and Dubya NOW.
JEP @ 59
Bush will give him TWO!
lisongare @ 70
no
How did 67 get posted?
Although I’m still laughing, it’s not fair, I got chewed out just for referencing Cheney’s convenient ties to the petroleum jelly industry…
[Mod Note; refresh your screen and things may look a little different.]
GSD @ 44
LOL
Chady @
37
Ann Landers once said that women who marry for money earn every penny of it.
G’morning, all.
Mickey @ 48
This is a battle, it’s not the war. We used to say FIDO, Fuck It and Drive On!
Since Fitz got “on-the-record” testimony about the ADMIN’s outing of PLame, can the Democratic Congress hold hearings and whom can they “INVITE’??
umm, just wild speculation – if convicted -is there a chance he will develop a very aggressive form of “cancer”? It’s happened before Just sayin’
Wil @51 I feel your pain. This is endlessly frustrating. Am trying to meet a drop dead-line on a report and this is killing me. BUT I CAN’T STOP LURKING ONCE I START. AGHHHH
Mickey – I hear ya. The amount of noise we’d hear from the rightwing screaming machine will be deafening. I just keep hoping that justice will prevail, that the jury will find him guilty on most or all of the counts. I hope this will lead to more investigations. As Jane said on Rachel Maddow’s show last night, if Libby’s acquitted, it’s likely that all other investigations will cease. So, let’s keep the faith that the prosecution was able to present their case without reasonable doubt in the eyes of the jury.
urban pirate @ 65
Five more miles. Now be quiet and stop poking your sister.
Emptywheel @ 16:
” . . . all about making Democrats on the Hill more successful.”
Crikey! It’s about time someone turned their attention to that matter. Why not the bloggers? The rarefied atmosphere in Congress seems to do something to even the most well-intentioned Dems. They get — what? — diluted. Their strong intentions get watered down and become weak soup. Throw in some garlic and cayenne and raw beef and get those people back on track!!
*xyz @ 53 and angie @ 54:
Thanks for the reality check.
Marcy,
Great post. I have never been a defendant, but have been in the witness box a few times. I guarantee the stress I felt under cross is nothing like the stress the other side felt.
But I still think the sucker is guilty as sin!!
HotFlash -
i can’t, I can’t, I can’t. must hit F5
http://www.dougfeith.com/
Didn’t Doug Feith co-star with Bill Murray in “Stripes” and “Ghostbusters”?
*xyz @ 53
THIS BEARS REPEATING. Please read, all who feel any pangs of sympathy for irving.
Thanks xyz.
24/7 Anna Nicole coverage is finally ending on the cable shows, maybe the Libby verdict will actually get some attention.
Adie @ 68
ROFLMAO.
Wil @ 51
You must be living in my skin. Slept in today, thinking maybe there’d be some movement by the time I got here. No joy.
Yup, another day down the drain. Thank god the company’s good.
Former Fed @ 85
yea, well I have, can you say “pucker factor”?
Sachem515 @
36
The “Look How Polite I Am By Holding The Door So Please Think I’m A Great Guy” has always struck me as . . . fake / weird / lame.
I asked you legals the other day, but right at the end of a thread so did not see an answer…… From my wish list, if the famous Sealed Knot indicts Cheney and names Dub as an Unindicted Co-Conspirator, can Dubya pardon Libby?
Adie @ 88
I can’t stand it how CNN and Headline News refer to him as Vice President Cheney’s “aide”. Please, Cheif of Staff does not just an aide make.
Peterr @ 83
but she looked out my window!
kim @ 90
You mean the jurors have been watching the ANS coverage? “Now that that’s done, where were we? Oh yes — lying to the FBI. Guilty? One, two, three, four, five . . .”
*g*
Peterr @ 83
But Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad. (she poked me first)
You know, at this point I’m kind of glad Walton sided with Wells on not allowing an alternate on. Given the glacial pace of this jury, if they had to start over from the beginning, we’d be here a month from now.
In any case, I don’t know what’s taking them so long. For crying out loud, the Enron jury decided their case in 6 days! That was a WAY more complicated trial.
Elliott @ 97
OK, we’ll sing 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall instead.
I’m semi-delurking in response to the invitation a few threads ago. I have made a few minor comments, but am here to keep up with the trial. Even made a contribution in thanks for the fine work here.
I found about fdl on DU, many thanks to DU!
Someone is going to have to take up a collection for me if a verdict is not announced soon!
BTW, I am in Little Rock, AR, and I Miss Bill!
lisongare @
69
my. that’s a stretch! feelin’ sorry for hissownself, i could buy. conscience? nah! no evidence a’ that so far that i know of….
I would imagine he’s suffering from shrinkage.
LandOfTheFree @ 82
To me, the important thing is that either way, the jury is able to provide serious reasoning for the verdict. The length of time they are taking does seem to indicate a great deal of care. I personally thought FITZ had a weakly presented case (just my opinion folks!)but if the jury can provide solid reasons why they thought the case was proved, I can live with that. I don’t want to see the verdict, either way, be based on political bias.
LandOfTheFree @
81
Thanks. I’ve got the faith, and as Raven @ 77 says, the “FIDO.” too. But right before the “Faith and FIDO” listen for a loud groan from the North Georgia Mountains.
pwrlght @ 93
yeah but he also buys lotsa hamburgers, doesn’t he?! i mean, WHAT A GUY!?!
How’s the jury dressed today? I heard speculation that they’ll return to being a bit “dressed up” to return a verdict. Thanks very, very much!
Mickey @ 105
What’s cooking with the weather, I’m from Athens but I’m in Virginia?
HotFlash @ 100
when I was 5 my family took one of the trips from hell – 4 weeks from DC to San Francisco to move overseas. This thread is giving me serious flashbacks.
Does anyone remember the song “Convoy”? I think we heard it 30,000 times.
Ned Lamont has an open letter up at HuffPo to Joe L4L.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..42370.html
Wil @ 109
OH yes!
zig alert!
Meanwhile, has McCain and/or some of his aides been reading FDL?
From AP:
My bold. Huh?
Wil @ 110
breaker, breaker
Peterr @ 82
She’s looking at me! I have to go to the bathroom!
-S
went on one too many car trips with my father as a child
Patti, emptywheel said jeans.
twolf1 @ 112
hi twolf – that isn’t for me, is it? I removed all blockquotes except the most recent.
Even Richard Nixon is an improvement over this lot.
Glad your here, NancyDrew.
During the wait, I wish Fitzy had passed out the 200 e-mails that were confiscated at the
OVP’s office…
Jack
JoyB – nope, not for you. #109’s gettin’ a little big.
cool – that’s the one I pared down.
I think the zig alert was for me, not sure how to remove the other quotes, sorry
Strategerie @ 116
Me too, but my husband didn’t. His father used to complain, “We can never take any vacation trips because you kids always get carsick!” Thirty years later my husband asked his father, “But Dad, didn’t you smoke cigars in the car?” Well, yes, he did. My husband and I now greatly enjoy our many long and smoke-free drives. (note — ultimate quote before margin-break)
What Would a Wingnut Say?
If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Libby trial jury quibbles over flip-chart paper
WASHINGTON (CNN) — The jury in the Scooter Libby trial has asked for a particular type of flip chart paper, after eschewing the kind the government had offered, according to a source on the defense team.
At least it’s not Anna Nicole
Seriously though.
After reading Taibbi’s piece on exactly how much the richest 1% benefit from these tax cuts, (sorry no link, but it was in the BILLIONS per family), it becomes crystal clear where the echo-chamber gets its motivation.
After reading about how this wingnut welfare supports the rule breakers and partisans (Ken Starr and the Brooks Brothers Mafia off the top of my head.)
After seeing these paid shills subvert their professional oaths for partisan gain (Natasha)
After watching the evolution of a smear this week with this bogus Al Gore electricity bill nonsense.
I have to admit I’m a little awed buy the powers we’re up against. It’s hard to compete with billions of dollars in paid spin.
Not trying to be a downer, but the vrwc is real and huge, and we seem to be the only ones calling it out.
raven @ 108
A helluva rainstorm this morning with big fire in the sky [that “cooked” my modem for a time, requiring reprogramming]. Another nasty line of green and yellow on the radar, then blue skies. How’s Virginia?
Former Fed @ 85
I HAVE been a defendant, albeit in a civil suit(s). In fact, today is the last day of a thirty-day appeal period in a case originally filed in state court against me in 2005, thrown out, refiled in Federal Court, and thrown out again. At midnight tonight we’ll find out if the relentless pursuit is over.
Nobody…I repeat NOBODY…can possibly know what it’s like to be a defendant until they’ve been there. Your life stops. Your checkbook drains. Relationships shatter. You get fat as a pig or lose forty pounds. You can’t sleep. Depression rules. You can’t think straight. The case overwhelms everything.
Even in a case like mine, where my attorney assured me from the beginning there was no chance we would lose, you don’t escape. If Wells has been honest with Libby (or if Libby has half an ounce of intelligence) he knows there is a good chance he’ll be convicted.
Don’t let that smile fool you for one second.
Big ‘ol grin.
“It was the dark of the moon on the 6th of June and a Kenworth haulin’ logs…”
I drive a Kenworth. Mr DOT officer pulled me over once and asked to see my log book. I told him I wasn’t haulin’ no logs.
Them guys have no sense of humor.
Wil @ 125
I see Team Libby is still leaking.
Biodun @
66
I’m here in Stillwater. What up?
Mickey @ 127
It’s supposed to get here tonight here in Lynchburg. We still have some big limbs hanging on my in-law’s power line from the storm 2 weeks ago but I’m not touching it! The juice is on so the heck with it.
What does Pachacutec think of Libby? What is behind the facade and what goes on in his head? Why is he covering for Cheney? Hmmm.
holy moley– check out the Poo’s Pol Chat:
(bold mine, bias hers)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..02213.html
Adie @ 88
add me to the list that believe Irving knew exactly what he was doing. he’s not an idiot – in a dougie feith kinda way -. he knew exactly what he was doing. let him be the first but not the last.
and for all you squirmers out there, just remember, it hurts them a lot more than it inconveniences us. it would be nice to have it wind up in the next thirty minutes but i’ll wait just as long as it takes.
and if the jury lets him off its like raven says, this is just a battle in the war, the war to get our country back.
FDL is the Libby Trial Black Hole.
Once you get sucked in, there is no escape.
Fiore gives Scooter a chance to speak in his latest animation (hope this hasn’t already been posted to death)
http://www.markfiore.com/animation/slimy.html
(via Norm at onegoodmove)
Meanwhile, Howie Kurtz at WashPo slams HuffPost (he often has Arianna as guest on CNN’s Reliable Sources), but hearts Michelle Malkin:
raven @ 131
I expect a lot of us have undone tasks waiting around while this Jury has Flipchart/Post-it fun. Never pass up a good reason to procrastinate, I always say.
Call me crazy, but that grin seems mighty out of place. Whether a contrived facade or genuine happiness at knowing his butt is covered regardless of the verdict, it seems at odds with the seriousness of his position as a defendent. Someone should tell Libby, wipe that smile off your face, its not funny!
Just tuned in. Did EW post anything about her conversation with Fitz yesterday?
Mickey @ 139
The land of manana!
urban pirate @ 126
That’s one of their not-so-secret weapons: making you think you’re alone in your dissent.
Don’t fall for it! NO-SIR-EEEE!
!I.AM.NOT.ALONE!
!YOU.ARE.NOT.ALONE!
Rinse and repeat. Apply daily as needed.
Mickey @ 127
Battening down the hatches here waiting for the bad stuff. DARK off to the southwest of us. Hot, humid and breezy is NEVER a good thing on a March day in Mississippi. It usually means people are going to lose houses and folks are going to be hurt. It certainly makes for a miserable day working at an elementary school.
I’ll swap with you Northern folks . . .a couple “tornado days” for seven or eight inches of snow.
Urbanpirate and Peterr- My kids used to sing a song in the car, it goes like this:
Are we thereyet?
I gotta go!
She’s touching me!
She touched me first!
Are we there yet?
(repeat ad nauseum)
It’s the first time in my life that I’ve had any sympathy with them for singing it *g*
Good Toles Cartoon today:
http://www.uclick.com/client/nyt/tt/
Here’s more Kurtz, implicitly deferring to Malkin by citing her:
Biodun @ 138
I wrote to Countdown and nominated Howie the hypocrite as worst person in the world. The Post has 22 pages of spew (some vile) commenting on Cheney’s horse head Valentine from Pervy Mush, and Howie makes nary a mention.
AZ Matt @ 146
that about sums it up
Biodun @ 147
Is this an example of clutching of pearls?
Biodun @ 147
Yea, but outing a CIA agent isn’t, right?
Biodun, were you looking for me?
Balrog @ 131:
I thought maybe you were downtown. johnSwifty said during one of our lunches that you work in downtown Mpls. Do you live in Stillwater? I live in the Warehouse District in Mpls. If you’re ever downtown, email me. biginla at yahoo dot com.
There ya go.
OFG @ 129
Sounds like your DOT guy came from the same mold as the lawyer my brother met while being an ‘expert witness’ in a civil case. He asked my brother if he’d ever been deposed, and my brother told him he’d never been a ruler. Didn’t go over too well, but the deposition got done.
oregondave @
56
OMG, I read that a few weeks ago and thought about the application to Libby also, how weird!
I’m going nuts waiting for the verdict. I have a ton of stuff I am working on all at crunch time right now, but hitting refresh is doubling as my watercooler break…
I’m also encouraged by the length of time they’re taking, and the use of big notepads. I know we can’t really predict anything, but these little good signs are the only thing saving what is left of my nails.
Biodun @ 153
I live in Grant, 2 miles east of Stillwater. I’ll do that, and thanks.
Biodun @ 138
Sorry to have to admit it, but i’m utterly convinced at this point that Howie is either the world’s biggest shill, or idiot, or both. I can’t watch him anymore. he’s utterly shameless. a total waste of airspace. Listen. You can hear a little rattle inside the head when he switches cameras – that’s the lost earpiece from ’bout 7 yrs ago.
politicalpolyanna @ 144
You’re seeing what I’m seeing, and the drizzlin’s started and the clouds are streaming fast from the Gulf.
Don’t think I’d swap with the Yanquis though – unless maybe for a snow tornado.
-
pwrlght @ 93
More like practicing for his next profession.
#140 – EW is being coy about Fitz encounter, not the teensiest kernel of information despite repeated pleas from pupdom. Sure would help to pass the time though.
At what point do we alljust stampede over and storm the jury room. Would that b wrong. Good thing I’m not a lawyer.
Doesn’t it bother anyone that Armintage has never been charged? He is the one most directly responsible for her outing – he’s the reason her name got in the paper. It really has no bearing on this trial, but its always bothered me?
Balrog @ 157:
Grant. Two miles east of Stillwater either puts you in Wisconsin or near it. Correct?
I’ve been out of town a few days, no access to FDL. So don’t anyone get on about Jonesing. You have not been there. Jonestown.
One day around lunchtime, I was musing about whether there was any verdict yet? Some person said, in the ANS case? No, the only one that matters. Libby.
I was in Amurika. A lot of Koolaide out there.
politicalpolyanna @ 145
We had the tornados here in Missouri last night and now it’s snowing and the wind is blowing so hard the snow is coming down horizontally. Bizarre, aint it?
The reason we are all obsessed with this trial is that it marks a turning point in American history. Libby can be found guilty, and there could be vast repercussions, and hopefully healing of our nation. On the other hand, he can be found not guilty, and this might go the way of Iran-Contra and be swept under the rug. Surely it has dawned on these jurors that their decision will change the course of history. It’s a huge burden on ordinary citizens. They do need to take their time.
Howie will have Malkin and Coulter on this weekend to talk about how violent and unhinged the left blogosphere has become.
-GSD
The really sad thing about WAPO lashing out at bloggers on the left is that we are the most likely people to read newspapers. So now we know that most of their reporters hate us. Best thing I ever did was cancel my Washington Post subscription, even if it means I had to buy bubble wrap to pack all my pottery when I move.
politicalpolyanna @ 143
Yikes! I just looked at the radar. The big nasty goes all the way from East Texas to South Carolina, and we have a tornado watch! Talk about March “coming in like a lion”…
We need a Verdict [preferrably, at least four guilty’s] before the next modem attack…
GSD @ 167
the hypocrisy is mind blowing
Adie @ 158:
Howie tries hard to be “nonpartisan” (as they say in the Beltway) but he can’t help it. His wife is a Repug consultant. At least he has Arianna on frequently, who doesn’t let away with anything. That woman is sharp as a razor.
Putnam @ 161
Ack! I gotta know what happened with Fitz. Please, emptywheel? Pleeease?
I am not a consultant and am confused by these Post-It Note flipchart things the jury asked for. Are they Post-Its as large as flip charts or just large Post-Its (say 6×8 in.)?
Sorry, just wondering what’s out there.
I can’t stand it anymore, and now they get to go to lunch. WAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH
The stress of pretense (maintaining a lie) is in itself exhausting but can be maintained by peer support. Libby, like his buddies, is an authoritarian ideologue. Trial by jury is an authoritarian system that frightens these guys to the marrow. Elitists are used to being protected by fellow wealthy and powerful folks from self-awareness through exposure.
The truth may be painful but is supported factually. Fictions eventually fracture then go belly up.
It’s a long “eventually” for most of us, unfortunately.
Tithonia @ 166
Or he can get convicted and it will all get swept under the rug. I remember how happy I was that EVERYONE in the Nixon Whitehouse, except the Trickster, went to the slammer. So, what did it mean? Same old shit 30 years later.
173: there are post it flip charts, large size.
I knew Howie was a tool when his BIG QUESTION on Reliable Sources was “Have we (journalists) been too hard on the administration wrt their Katrina response?” His way of “questioning” the media donchaknow.
And that was the first time I’d ever seen Reliable Sources…
ohioblue @ 174
Yes, there are Post-It notes as large as flip charts. Have used them frequently.
yellow snapdragon @ 172
My theory is that he said something SO nice about her analysis that Marcy feels she just canNOT pass it on. Out of humility, out of not tipping the prosecution’s hand. Just a theory. Mebbe really dumb. Back to lurking today.
raven @ 175
That’s depressing Raven.
Plame trial Jones: part 2
C’mon Coach Vicky, Judy, sing along with me
That be bad, honky
Yeah I want everybody in the whole blogdom to stand up and sing with us
Oh yeah, sing it out like you’re proud
All right, everybody watchin’ coast-to-coast, sing along with us
Ricky Armitage, sing along with us
And you, without the valentine shirt, sing along with us
Tim Russert, don’t sing nothin’
Oh, it feels so goodGimme the leak I’ll go one-on-one against the world, left-handed
I could stuff it from center court with my toes I could jump on top of the backboard, take off a quarter, leave fifteen cents change
I could, I could leak behind my back I got more leaks than Bushco I’m bad I could leak with my tongue Here I go down court, try to stop me You can’t stop me ’cause I got a Plame House Jones….
My fervent hope is that the cracking facades do break, and in as public a way as possible. In particular I’d like it if Cheney continues down his road of increasingly public irrationality, to an eventual spit-flecked, bug-eyed meltdown, snarling like a cornered wolverine. Preferably on the stand.
Lord yes, keep our VP safe from suicide bombers. I want to see him exposed, not martyred.
Mickey @ 169
Stay safe folks. That weather looks really nasty out there today.
I was foreman on a D.C. jury (not a federal) a couple years ago and we took two days to convict a guy on aggravated battery and assault, even though we all felt he was guilty (like Libby, he didn’t testify). One of the lesser charges one juror had questions about made the second day drag out longer than we (or the judge) would have wanted, so this six days doesn’t seem unreasonable or unexpected to me in light of the greater complexity and import of this case. As foreman, I tried to indulge the juror with misgivings, but in the end she simply relented to everyone’s impatience on the last charge. I try to be optimistic, so I’ll look at yesterday’s question as analogous to our extended consideration of the lesser charge. Generally speaking, I was impressed with the logic, recall and conscientiousness of every other one of the jurors.
Have no sympathy for the devil. Libby is an evil genius. He is a neocon mastermind and a principal of PNAC, Aspen Group and other right wing think tanks. Libby and these orgs directly influenced the policy that gave us the godforsaken catastrophe we have today at home and in the ME.
Mikey @ 162
It does bother me, but we don’t know how Armitage found out…he may have spread the word the same way Ari did…just being used without having all the info.
The CIA does not just tell everyone around who has high level clearance a list of all their operations or their assets.
Who knows, maybe Armitage (like Ari) also told the truth to the FBI when questioned about his role.
Remember, no one has been charged with outing Plame YET. That story may be yet to come.
Fresh sheets.
-
one possible explanation for the (relatively) lengthy deliberations is that there are one or two holdouts who don’t get Libby’s guilt…
is that a possibility?
Mikey @ 162
Armitage only knew about Plame because Cheney & Libby were asking questions about who sent Wilson, right?
They were going to smear Wilson regardless. I also find it entirely possible that Rove leaked to Novak before Armitage.
MariaSquared @ 181
I don’t mean for it to be but check it out. I just can’t get to high on the highs or low on the lows. Equanimity?
DSG @ 167:
Thanks for the heads-up. Can’t wait. I confess I watch Relaible Sources. Part of my Sunday routine. I used to watch Timmeh at MTP but had to tune him out. Don’t ask why.
Ned Lamont takes Turncoat Joe to the woodshed here.
powwow500 @
8
Richard Pearl was a attendee at the Bilderberg meeting in 2006, wonder what he had to say.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L….._attendees
Biodun @ 146
Exactly.
So at WaPo we fight the two gate-keepers (Kurtz and Howell) to do their job, and intead of reforming, their bias against us becomes more transparent. It’s disgusting.
We need –
1) Campaign Finance Reform to increase transparency.
2) Churches to lose tax status for political speech.
3) Fairness Doctrine
4) Breakup of Media Monopolies.
Before its too late.
Biodun @ 171
I get a kick outta Arianna. Amazing lady! As long as howie keeps inviting her on, I guess I can keep from going totally nuts. But he’s gotten really really bad the last few years. His “balanced” act is a total joke at this point. At best, he’s selectively blind. imho of course.
We keep reminding people that the Libby trial is about the larger scandal of the Administration lying us into war, but it’s also part of the larger scandal of the Republican party, in general, cynically and arrogantly breaking the law, so the domestic (Abramoff, Cunningham, et al) component is also important, speaking of which …
The US Attorneygate scandal is starting to look like it has legs. Heather Wilson & Pete Domenici have stopped returning calls. A lot of great post to TPMuckraker lately.
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002654.php
Heather Wilson just barely pulled out her reelection in 2006 and of course she’s up again in 2008. Not sure about Domenici.
Biodun @
163
Argh. I meant west.
Re Feith: The Inspector General of the Department of Defense (!) recently called Feith out for his pre-war “intelligence” activities.
http://tinyurl.com/386w8f
Can someone refresh me about the chronology of when Kristof first wrote that Wilson had been sent by the VP and Wilson’s editorial? Thanks!
NEWT RIPS ‘NASTY’ HILL
DROPS NICE-GUY APPROACH TO ‘RUTHLESS’ RIVAL
March 1, 2007 — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich yesterday called Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton “a nasty woman” who runs an “endlessly ruthless” campaign machine.
Well Hillary. If you lay around with vipers, sooner or later they will bite you. Senator, speaking for myself only, obviously, I sure do not feel sorry for you. Do you think Newt is part of the “vast right wing conspiracy”? I do. You seem to have forgotten these bad boys. You’re not only naive, stupid and bull-headed. You are a fool. For cozying up to the wingnuts almost from the moment you assumed office. And you want to be the Democratic presidential nominee more than anything in the world? And as for you Newtie boy; STFU! Hypocrite.
raven @
132
Good plan, dangerous stuff, those wires. BTW, a FOAF is the on Ontario Hydro’s crack team that handles live wires in water/ice conditions. (Note for non-Canadians — Hydro is our electric power company up here.) She and her team were on alert to go to LA for a week before Katrina, they waited and waited and waited for the OK to go in. It never came. I must ask her about that, if she ever heard why. The Cdn mobile water purification plant DART was not allowed to go in, either, nor was an urban search-and-rescue team from Vancouver.
GSD @ 166
powwow500 @ 8
Just saw this. Too funny…
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..y/#respond
new thread
Adie @ 196
He’s probably still got her listed as (R) on his Rolodex.
good to see the jurors have asked for the good newsprint. the stuff with the stickum built right in to each sheet so you don’t have to keep ripping those pieces of masking tape.
OK – Why would you want a Post-It as large as a flip chart? Why not just use the flip chart?
(Light bulb goes off – she answers her own question) So you could stick them to the wall when you were done?
I was in public education – we used masking tape and rolls of paper. Those huge Post-Its must be VERY expensive.
kim @ 89
Wishful thinking I’m afraid. One of today’s headlines: “The Bahama Funeral for Anna Nicole Smith Will Be Over the Top”.
It’s what the people think they want.
Coming out of lurkdom to say:
Even though I think Libby is guilty and should be convicted, I do feel sorry for him in a way. He is married and has small children at home, and if he is convicted, it will be tragic for his family.
I don’t understand the animosity towards Libby’s wife. Why do people assume that she deserves this, that she married him for his money or that she is a trophy wife? IMO, this type of thinking is just as sexist as the defense team referreing to Valerie Plame as “the wife.” She is an attorney who worked for the Democrats on the Hill and may even love her husband.
Re Marcy’s converstion with Fitz, maybe she has not posted the details of her conversation with him because she feels it would be inappropriate/rude to publish it her for everyone to comment on.
Finally, this is a great site and I think Marcy, Christy et al are doing a great job covering the trial.
pwrlght @ 190
armitage is named in amb wilson & v. plame’s civil suit – (along w/ scooter, shooter & rove)
The reason Armitage wasn’t charged in the leak seems obvious: he came clean immediately about the conspiracy to out Plame but could only testify directly to his own involvement and maybe a few others, none of the originators. Fitz couldn’t use him to prove the conspiracy but Armitage provided a road map. With the help of others such as Fleischer, Martin, etc. who testified truthfully, Fitz got all the way to Libby where he was stonewalled. It’s so simple even Victoria Toensing could understand it!
raven @ 151
What did Cheney have to say about the people who died? Anything, or was it just, “I’m ok!”?
ohioblue, they make pads of newsprint that have a strip of stickum along the top of each sheet. you write on your pad and then strip off your sheet and stick it to the wall. they are more expensive than the old masking tap and newsprint pad but not alot. like chip manufacturing the technology of endless group brainstorming sessions advances moment by moment :)
Check out some interesting info on Scooter’s wife at http://bfinterracialmarriage.b…..women.html
She seems very classy.
Question: Here in Washington State Gov. Gregoire (D) won by fewer than 150 votes, as I recall. Big issue was R’s charge that felons voted for her (odd idea), so will a convicted Libby be able to vote in elections?
LoudounLib @ 15
Maybe he’ll sit next to George Soros at those Board Meetings:
From http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/3776:
“But the latest move by globe trotting, hyper-liberal billionaire George Soros borders on being too much. According to papers filed with the SEC, in the fourth quarter of 2006 Soros purchased nearly 2 million shares of … hold your breath … Halliburton. The Halliburton shares reportedly went for an average purchase price of $31.30 a share. That puts Soros’ total investment in Halliburton at around $62.6 million, or about 2 percent of his total portfolio. “
Is this enough stock to put George on the BOD of Halliburton? Could be interesting!
Has the jury asked for scissors?
Elmer’s glue?
sequins?
feathers?
construction paper?
okay good. They’re being productive.
singe @ 213
okay I apologize for this in advance. But have you ever seen the episode of ‘My Three Sons’ where Chip manufacturing the technology of endless group brainstorming sessions advances moment by moment?