Monday, May 22, 2006

Frank RIch: there's a god other than Karl Rove

* frank rich:
" When senators as different as Mr. Frist and Mrs. Clinton both earn bipartisan ridicule for their pandering (to the christopaths), you have to believe that there's a god other than Karl Rove watching over American politics after all."

* howie klein:
"Brian Bilbray, the Republican, is a mess and a disgrace. A defeated ex-congressman from a neighboring district, he immediately moved to Virginia and hung out a shingle as a lobbyist, using his contacts in the body his constituents had just kicked him out of, to enrich himself. As expected, the Republicans are running a typically gutter-level campaign to cling onto the seat, complete with absurd and degenerate tv ads attempting to portray Francine, a dedicated and committed lifelong educator as someone who sympathizes with child pornography. The NRCC has spent over $2.5 million on the campaign, approximately 1/10 of their total cash on hand. And yet, every week, polling in this very red district... But with the national GOP pouring money into the district Francine needs volunteers and donations. Help if you can. A win here, in the heart of Wingnutia, would be a great way to help build momentum going into the November midterms."

* pincus:
"The classified status of the identity of former CIA officer Valerie Plame will be a key element in any trial of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff, according to special counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald."

* someone at dkos:
"Last Friday, Judge Reggie Walton, the presiding judge in the Libby trial, deliberated over a case titled "SEALED v. SEALED." There is growing speculation that sealed v. sealed is Fitzgerald v. Gonzales' Deputy, Paul McNulty (Fitzgerald's direct superior).

The Wayne Madsen Report and the Chris Matthews Show have both floated the theory that Fitzgerald had secured indictments against Rove, but Gonzales --via McNulty-- came in at the last second and used his power as Fitzgerald's superior to kill the indictments.

IF, this theory is true, Fitzgerald would have likely challenged McNulty's decision in court, pointing to an earlier administrative directive from then acting Attorney General James Comey that gave Fitzerald the "authority of the Attorney General." Comey is long gone, however, and was replaced by McNulty. The question then becomes what, if any, value does Comey's administrative directive have today.

let's hope that is as ridiculous as it sounds

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wondered what would happen when James Comey left. To me it is irrelevant whether senior leakers knew that Plame was covert. They knew she was CIA and they had a duty to inquire about the nature of her work BEFORE they blabbed their crooked face holes, if they cared about national security. But they only care about their dastardly plans for Wall to Wall War, so she had to go and her whole operation with her.

Now I understand why there would be an indictment titled Sealed vs, Sealed.

lukery said...

yeah - except they outed BECAUSE she was covert - and to blow brewster jennings

Anonymous said...

True of course. I'm just saying ignorance is not an acceptable excuse. Woodward tried to make the case that it was just innocent water cooler chatter. But the phrase "knew or should have known" is all through law books when it comes to public duty, just like "impropriety and the appearance of impropriety". I say they all flunk, big time on both those scores.

lukery said...

true - its difficult to understand why fitz doesnt (yet) have em all on those charges

Don said...

The sad and scary truth may be that AGAG has McNulty set to torpedo any unwelcome activity. Scooter was thrown to the wolves to appease the masses; the rest is just show.

OTOH, while Madsen's theory might sound plausible, that Rove was indicted and taken off the hook (with the side benefit of discrediting online left reporting), wouldn't there have been some kind of sign from at least one of the Leopold sources with whom Ash has been in contact?

Hmmm... unless part of the exercise was to discredit and neutralize them, too? Have they been heard from lately?

Man, these people are hard on the head!