<< SILVIO FINDS REVERSE ~ MAIN ~ WE ROCK >>
BOOTED SCOOTER
Not up to speed on Scootergate? Here’s a straightforward Libby timeline and a take on Libby’s likely defense. David Frum examines the big and little Scooter theories:
According to the “big” theory, a sinister cabal of senior administration officials deceived the United States into fighting an unnecessary war in Iraq. When threatened with exposure by Ambassador Joseph Wilson, they attempted to punish him by naming his wife, Valerie Plame, as a CIA secret agent—compromising the nation’s security and the lives of Ms. Plame’s contacts.
Under the “little” theory, there was no deception, no conspiracy, no punishment, and no compromise of security. All that happened was that Mr. Libby, as chief of staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney, called reporters to contradict a false story that Ambassador Wilson had told about his boss. A New York Times columnist had reported in May, 2003, that it was Cheney who had dispatched Mr. Wilson on his famous mission to Niger in February, 2002. Mr. Libby pointed out that it was Mr. Wilson’s wife who had chosen him for the mission—and that Mr. Wilson had grossly exaggerated his own role in the whole business. The “little” theory agrees that Mr. Libby disclosed that Mr. Wilson’s wife worked for the CIA—but it denies that she was an undercover agent or that any important secrets were compromised. If Mr. Libby had only told the truth about what had happened, there would have been no crime at all.
Might a conviction stall the Bush presidency? Not necessarily, writes Fred Barnes:
Bush doesn’t face the obstacles Reagan did in 1986. He is blessed with Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Reagan faced a Democratic Congress. Reagan was old, tired, and afflicted with both skin and colon cancer. Bush is relatively young and vigorous. When Reagan vetoed a highway spending bill, Republicans joined Democrats in overriding his veto. Bush’s political condition is hardly that pathetic. Still, it’s bad enough to say there’s nowhere to go but up.
Former Clinton special counsel Lanny Davis:
The Democrats are playing up the idea that White House officials may have endangered national security in playing hardball politics. Well, I can remember all the times I picked up the phone and talked “on background” to reporters, “pushing back” against rumors damaging to President Clinton and citing information that I thought was “out there.” I don’t remember ever worrying about whether the facts that I felt were public knowledge might have been classified. But even if I had, I would probably have rationalized that anything I had heard on the grapevine couldn’t possibly be a state secret. If every political aide was prosecuted for those kinds of conversations with the press corps, I’m afraid there wouldn’t be enough jails to hold us.
A political adviser leaking damaging material on opponents to the press? Wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for howls of astonished outrage from the general populace. This shows again how disconnected the media elite is from mainstream thinking. Not unlike here where column after column in the broadsheets attacks the Feds security measures, while 75 per cent of the population thinks they’re just fine.
Why Plame and Wilson aren’t the ones already in jail is utterly beyond my comprehension.
It reminds me of the homeowners who went to jail when they defended themselves against burglars.
Posted by zeppenwolf on 2005 10 30 at 01:40 AM • permalinkABC news readers were hyperventilating last night over the much-repeated prospect of Scooter Libby getting ‘30 years’. I hate to think of the state of their underwear when they came off that shift. On the plus side, SBS actually ran one of the authors of the UN report into Kofigate saying, in very emphatic tones, that if Kofi had a shred of moral responsibility, he would resign.
I guess this blows W’s chance for a third term!
Posted by nofixedabode on 2005 10 30 at 03:33 PM • permalinkThe Dayton Daily News? I like that newspaper. Well the sports page that is. You mean the rest of it leans to the left?
I notice the Cincinnati Enquirer’s editorial page seems to be doing the same since they acquired a new editor.
Damn it, I want good rightwing news. Why must I go to Australia to get it?
Posted by wronwright on 2005 10 31 at 12:43 AM • permalinkFred Barnes? Yeah right. The problem here is a senior white house aide lying under oath to a grand jury, obstructing justice and making false statements. That is a problem for a sitting president no matter stipe he is.
The obvious question is what was “scooter” trying to hide? What justice did “scooter” obstruct. Who was “scooter” trying to protect? Gee, I wonder who?
Tim, it’s your duty to dredge up your meagre investigative credentials and get that seeker of truth Novak on the record. So hop to it.
Posted by Miranda Divide on 2005 11 01 at 04:42 PM • permalink‘That is a problem for a sitting president no matter stipe he is’.
MEMO to Well-named Miranda Divide: No, it wasn’t in Clinton’s case.
The Senate full of noble lawyers voted 50-50 that Clinton had NOT obstructed justice. It would have taken another 16 Dems to believe in ‘truth under oath’ to impeach him.Funny how they are now persecuting the Rep Administration over a 3 year-old pre-war beat-up by partisan government employees who organised and leaked anti-government propaganda [the media-savvy couple in cahoots (conspiracy)then plead privacy!].
Page 1 of 1 pages
Members:
Login | Register
| Member List
I’m surprisingly comfortable with that…
And hell, apparently having a Republican majority is more of a handicap than Reagan ever faced…