Pardon Me: Scooter Libby Drops Appeal

Photo from source, Reuters

Hmmm. My cynical left-leaning suspicions lead me to think that if Scooter is giving up on appealing his case, he just might have some sort of Presidential Pardon in his future. My prognostication has been flawed before, but I think I could be on to something. OK, sure, it's obvious, but gimme one, OK?

[Excerpt] "Scooter" Libby drops appeal in CIA leak case

A former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, has dropped his appeal in a perjury case that fueled debate over the Iraq war, his attorney said on Monday.

Libby was found guilty in March of lying and obstructing an investigation into who blew the cover of a CIA officer, Valerie Plame, whose husband had criticized the Iraq war. . .

Read more at: Reuters

Scott McClellan Blows the Lid Off: Everybody Lied

Image from source, Raw Story

Everybody knows it, even the delusional Freepers, in their little black hearts. Knows what? That the whole bloody Bush Administration was lying about the Valerie Plame affair. More than lying, they were telling then White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan to lie too (only he claims he didn't know at the time that he was lying).

As many former administration officials do, McClellan has written a tell-all (more likely "tell-just a little") book about his tenure. And like several people who left before him, he only comes clean when given the chance to make a buck. With a little luck, enough dollars will be waved in front of enough people to get at least a partial picture of the crap this team has pulled. Lord knows they won't answer Congressional Subpoenas. . .

[Excerpt]

Former WH Press Sec.: Bush, Rove helped pass along 'false information' on Plame

President Bush, Karl Rove, and other top administration officials were "involved" in misleading the White House press corps about the outing of ex-CIA agent Valerie Plame, a forthcoming book from former Press Secretary Scott McClellan alleges. . .

Read it all at: Raw Story

The Other Half: Family

Posted by NevadaJoe

Am still on vacation, though I have moved from Ohio to Iowa. The weather has been pretty good I must admit. I have a mosquito bite and am quite indignant about it. The public library here in Johnston is very hospitable and hosts about 20 computers for the likes of me to use at our leisure.

I just got a letter back from our awesome Republican Senator, John Ensign, who in responding to my letter from a few weeks back reminded me that there was no crime committed by Scooter Libby. Dubious logic on that one I must say, at least he acknowledged that it wasn't the response I was hoping for. I must admit that I think he only says what Karl Rove tells him to say. The United flights home are all full and I will most likely have to use Southwest to get home to LAS. Thank God for Southwest, they are so kind to the many employees of other carriers who fly on them regularly to get where we need to go. It is a shame that one of our main employee benefits of working for United is one we can rarely use without much trepidation and anxiety.

Well, my time is nearly up on this computer, so I better go. Looking forward to getting home on Monday and resuming my hectic life on the couch with a good book and a bad cat.

Top 10 Conservative Idiots, July 9, 2007

The new "Top 10 Conservative Idiots" is up at Democratic Underground, and this week's installment is a little different. It's an all Scooter Libby edition.

[Excerpt]

A Boatload Of Conservatives

In the wake of Our Great Leader's commutation of Scooter Libby's sentence, Republican talking heads have had just one straw to clutch at - the infamous "Clinton did it too" defense. Clinton committed perjury! Clinton gave out dubious pardons! Whatever. If the "returning honor and integrity to the White House" administration wants to claim that at its best it's the same as the Clinton administration at its worst, that's fine with me. It must be a disappointment to the people who voted for them, but there you go.

Read more at DemocraticUnderground.com

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More Plamegate Misinformation on FOX "News" Sunday

Photo from source, MediaMatters.org

On FOX "News" Sunday, as well as on other Sunday morning political shows (it's hard to remember where you saw things sometimes, they all sort of blur together), the talking heads continued to parrot misinformation in the Valerie Plame Wilson/Scooter Libby story.

Mara Liasson from NPR was only one of the people guilty of this, and she's supposed to represent the liberal viewpoint. As David Brock notes in The Republican Noise Machine, being "from NPR" does not necessarily make you a de facto liberal. She does sound sane more often than William Kristol, but that is very faint praise.

Media Matters for America has more: On Fox News Sunday, Liasson called Armitage the "real leaker"

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CREW's Melanie Sloan on Hardball

Melanie Sloan, the director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) was on MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews recently, outlining the Scooter Libby/Valerie Plame story in better detail than I've seen from most talking heads do on cable news. David Rivkin, Ms. Sloan's opponent in the debate seemed to resort to disproven talking points for most of his arguments. Melanie gave her best effort in the format, which doesn't allow for much detail. Kudos Melanie. I miss your regular reports from The Al Franken Show.

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MSNBC's David Shuster Issues Smackdown: Libby

This is an attempt to post an MSNBC video I found over at RawStory that I thought my readers would appreciate. David Shuster was filling in for Chris Matthews on Hardball, and was in rare form. Take a look (if it works!).

UPDATE: After much trying, I'm just going to post a link to RawStory's source. If anybody knows how to post MSNBC video, PLEASE let me know! Thanks.

View at: RawStory.com

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Freepers Discover the Marc Rich-Scooter Libby Connection

It's a rare thing to see the people on FreeRepublic.com actually discuss reality rather than the standard manufactured reality in their ideological bubble. Out of curiosity, I typed "Libby" and "Rich" into their search engine, and happened upon just such a rare discussion.

As you may know, much hay has been made over Bill Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich, and how that was oh-so-much-worse than the commutation of Scooter Libby's sentence. Then, resourceful liberals started pointing out the fact that Mr. Libby is the one who URGED Clinton to pardon HIS CLIENT, Marc Rich. Delicious irony.

Well, apparently, this caught the Freepers by surprise, as evidenced by the thread I just found. Want to listen in? The Lewis “Scooter” Libby and Marc Rich Connection (VIDEO) (from Political Teen) Oh My!

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Most Notorious Presidential Pardons

Hat-tip to Lesto for pointing out the Clinton Presidential pardons to me, regarding my focus on the Scooter Libby commutation. And he's right, I didn't mention it in my articles. My reasoning goes something like this (clearing throat):

If Bill Clinton posthumously pardoned Hitler and Hirohito, it would be irrelevant to the story. Why? Because Bill Clinton isn't President! Hasn't been for over six years now! Besides, if Bill Clinton jumped off a bridge, would that mean George W. would have to as well? The only real relevance Bill Clinton's actions would have on the matter would be in pointing out liberal hypocrisy. Having never been a Bill Clinton apologist myself, I don't much feel like a hypocrite.

In any event, the topic of Clinton's pardon of Mark Rich in particular will be a common refrain over the next few news cycles. That being the case, please take a look at this list from Time Magazine. It will show you that "Slick Willy" wasn't the only guy making controversial pardons. George H.W. had a hand at it too. . .

Read more at: The 10 Most Notorious Presidential Pardons at Time Magazine.

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Joe Wilson: 'Did he do this so that Libby would shut up?'

Photo from source (RawStory.com)

OK, one more Libby/Plamegate story, and I'll try to lay off for a while (but no promises!). This story, from RawStory.com, gives us the Wilsons' point of view.

[Excerpt]

Joe Wilson: 'Did he do this so that Libby would
shut up?'

David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Published: Tuesday
July 3, 2007

CNN interviewed Ambassador Joseph Wilson, husband of outed
CIA agent Valerie Plame, about the commutation of "Scooter" Libby's sentence
soon after it was announced on Monday. "There's very little that surprises me
from this administration any more," said Wilson. "I think it's corrupt from top
to bottom."

"I don't give really a darn whether Scooter Libby goes to
jail or not," he continued. "What I care about is that the rule of law and the
system of justice that has undergirded our democracy for 220 years is upheld.
And that is what has been subverted by the president's actions today. ... By
commuting the sentence, I think the president raises the very real suspicion
that he is party to the obstruction of justice or the coverup of the original
crime. ... I think the public has a right to know whether there was a quid pro
quo in this. Did he do this so that Libby would shut up?"

Read more at: RawStory.com

Plamegate Myths Dispelled

With my heavy focus on the Scooter Libby commuted sentence, it may be appropriate to dispel some common myths about the case. The first is "Since Armitage was the leaker there was no underlying crime." Irrelevant since the charge was obstruction of justice, but regardless, go here for the refutation of that claim:

Media still repeating false claim that Armitage role in Plame leak exonerates Libby

There are several other claims, but I think this link will provide you with refutations of several of the common misconceptions. Take a look:

Treasongate (Part VI): Response to GOP/Neocon talking points on the Valerie Plame expose

I still don't understand why hard-core Bushies think that Scooter's commutation is a good thing. Is there anybody out there that can clue me in? Thanks!

Bill Maher on Valerie Plame, Scooter Libby, etc.

One of my favorite shows is Real Time With Bill Maher on HBO. Although he has a real knack for going on hiatus right when the proverbial shit is hitting the fan, he has one of the most relevant, spot-on (and outrageously funny) political shows on the air.

This video is particularly apt right now, with the current story about Scooter Libby. Please try to get past the audio/video synch problems, and soak in the information while you enjoy the comedy. Enjoy.



UPDATED to add this second Maher video, while off the topic, speaks more truth to power.

Did FOX Tell "Reporters" Not to Say "Crime?"

Now, here is an interesting video. I've noticed quite often that commentators on FOX "News" will carefully parse their words, to lead the viewer to their way of thinking. They're commentators, so OK, whatever. But what about their NEWS reporters? Watch this video, and see what you think.



Hey, "They Report, You Decide," right?

Keith Olbermann on Bush & Scooter

This post from MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann sums up the whole sordid story in a fashion I couldn't possibly hope to add to. I intend to post Olbermann's "Special Comment," from tonight's show, after it airs. Please watch.

Click To Play

More (Much More) Scooter at Huffington Post

Photo from Source (HuffingtonPost.com)

One of my favorite writers has the top spot over at the Huffington Post this morning. Well worth the read.

[Excerpt]

Paul Begala BIO
George W. Bush is One Tough Hombre

Tough enough to execute Karla Fay Tucker -- and then laugh about it. Tough enough to sign a death warrant for a man whose lawyer slept through the trial -- and then snicker when asked about it in a debate. Even tough enough to execute a great-grandmother who murdered her husband -- after he abused her. A friend of mine at the time asked Bush to commute her sentence, telling him, "Betty Lou ain't a threat to no one she ain't married to." No dice.

Mr. Bush is tough enough to invade a country that was no risk to America, causing tens of thousands of civilian deaths and shedding precious American blood in the process. Tough enough to sanction torture. Tough enough to order an American citizen arrested and held without trial. But if you're rich and right-wing and Republican, George is a real softie. As George W. Bush demonstrated in giving Scooter Libby a Get Out of Jail Free Card, he is only compassionate to conservatives. Read more at: George W. Bush is One Tough Hombre at Huffington Post

Also at Huffington Post on the subject:

Bush Lets Libby Walk..."I Respect The Jury's Decision"...REACTION: Only 21% Of Americans Support...Pelosi: Bush "Is Not To Be Believed"...Clinton: "Cronyism And Ideology Trump Competence And Justice" For Bush...Reid: "Disgraceful"...Obama: Cements Bush Legacy "Of Cynicism And Division"...Edwards: Bush "Clinically Incapable Of Understanding" Consequences...Fitzgerald: "It Is Fundamental To The Rule Of Law That All Citizens Stand Before The Bar Of Justice As Equals"

Meanwhile at CNN:

A great roundup of what Washington insiderst think about the Scooter deal: Libby commutation: Washington responds

Scooter Gets Out of Jail Free

OK, maybe not free, but I doubt he'll have to pay a penny, what with his fat defense fund. Nope, ol' Scoot will probably be better in the long run financially, as a conviction that has been somewhat voided is particularly good cred in conservative circles. Think Ollie North or Tom DeLay as commentators on FOX "News."

As you can imagine, the news of President Bush's commutation of Scooter Libby's jail sentence burns me a little. Hell, it pisses me off. But we expected something like this. What weirds me out is this: I read the commutation idea on FreeRepublic.com a couple of weeks ago. Is W a Freeper? It certainly would explain a lot. Tony Snow, for example, who was a poster there as well.

I'm afraid what gets lost in the story is just how serious Scooter Libby's crime was. He obstructed justice and lied to a grand jury regarding the case of Valerie Wilson's cover being blown. Ms. Wilson was a covert CIA agent, covering matters of nuclear proliferation in the middle east. Ms. Wilson worked for a CIA front company, Brewster Jennings, which housed other agents. Ms. Wilson, all of her coworkers and all of their contacts (and families) were put at risk, and all of their work made worthless by the revelation of her identity. During a time of war.
I don't CARE what the order was of the leakage. It doesn't matter one small bit if it was Cheney, Armitage, Rove, Libby, Novak, Miller. . . The fact is, Libby helped obscure the facts to cover for somebody. If this had happened during the Cold War, he'd have suffered the fate of the Rosenburgs. And three years in jail is EXCESSIVE?

Republicans are jubilant. This is a mind-set I just can't understand. They are celebrating the escape of a convicted obstructionist/liar from the rule of law? Are you kidding me, man? If this were Al Gore's Chief of Staff, would they be so thrilled? Have we really gotten so partisan that we overlook what amounts to TREASON, as long as it's our guy?

John Aravosis at AmericaBlog has some great links about the reaction of prominent politicians and pundits on the commutation. Please take a look:


Reactions to Bush pardoning Scooter (let's face it, a pardon by another name...)

Hillary on Libby travesty

CNN: Scooter Skates

Photograph from source, CNN.com

"Scooter Skates." I couldn't have said it better myself. Grrrr. I'm going to write more about this, but at work right now and. . .grrrr. . .can't.

Read more at CNN.com: Scooter skates

Love letters to Scooter

Republicans love Scooter Libby. Before his sentencing for obstruction of justice charges, countless letters were sent on his behalf, begging leniency. People moved to write included Donald Rumsfeld, John Bolton, Henry Kissinger, Mary Matalin, James Woolsey, Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, Peter Pace, and countless others. Mary Matalin even managed to get her ostensibly liberal husband, James Carville, to attach his name to her letter. Since his 30-month sentence was handed down, this movement has led to a demand that the President issue a pardon.

I've always had the inclination to play devil's advocate. But, try as I might, I have not been able to figure out the conservative's-eye-view on this one. Any way I slice it, Scooter done wrong. Scooter got caught. Scooter gets punished. What's to defend?

The Valerie Plame case that Scooter is alleged to have obstructed the justice of is sort of convoluted, and complicated. But (unless I'm misunderstanding something) basically boils down to this:

• Joseph Wilson is sent to Niger to determine whether or not Saddam Hussein has tried to obtain yellowcake uranium from that government.
• Wilson comes back from Niger, saying basically, nope they ain't.
• The Bush Administration ignores this and uses the story as a justification for war anyhow.
• Wilson gets perturbed and writes an editorial, saying WTF? I said they ain't!
• Dick Cheney gets all--well--CHENEY on Wilson's ass, and decides to smear him somehow.
• Through dodgy means, the administration "outs" Wilson's wife as a spy. Neener-neener, we screwed up your lives, Wilson!
• The CIA gets a little annoyed that one of its agents (and all of her contacts, and the front organization she "worked" for, and her fellow spies there) were so carelessly exposed. They demand an investigation.
• The Bush administration (in an uncharacteristic move) agrees, and sends Patrick Fitzgerald to investigate.
• Along the way, several politicians have been implicated in the outing, including Cheney, Rove, Armitage, and Scooter along with journalists Judith Miller, Robert Novak and Matthew Cooper.
• Fitzgerald tries to find out the truth, but the truth seems hard to arrive at. Seems Scooter was lying his buns off, "throwing sand" in Fitzgerald's eyes.
• Ultimately, the only charges that were filed were the only provable ones, that Scooter lied and obstructed justice. . .that is prevented the prosecutor from finding out the truth.

So, Scooter is now sentenced to the pokey and a quarter million dollar fine. But, all the right-wingers are now rushing to his defense. What's to defend? OK, there are many many arguments from the right about the minutiae in my outline above. They say Mrs. Wilson either sent or suggested that her husband be sent to Niger. To this I ask, "and?" They say Armitage was the leaker, so Scooter was innocent. Maybe Armitage did, but Scooter lied to the grand jury about it, so--still guilty.

But the weakest arguement of all is, "there's no underlying crime!" Oy. Where to start on this. First, this defense didn't work for Martha Stewart or President Clinton. But, second, and more importantly, is this REALLY where we want to draw the line? Do we want our politicians to dance all over the line between illegal and legal, and declare "it's all good" if they don't cross over? Even if there is no technical "crime" here, are we really going to say it's OK that a (confirmed covert) spy--who was investigating nuclear proliferation in the middle east--can be outed for political revenge, during a time of war? If this doesn't meet a fine-tooth-comb reading of illegal, it's OK? Are you freakin' kidding me, man?

Why are the conservatives going to such extraordinary lengths to free Scooter? Why do they think ANYTHING about this sordid affair is ok? Anybody? >crickets<