Holy Moly

* msnbc:

"Even for people that have been following this case closely, the information coming out about VP Cheney will strike many people as astounding. First of all, the prosecutors made it clear that the evidence is going to show that the first person to inform Scooter Libby that Valerie Wilson was undercover at the CIA was VP Cheney. The prosecuters will also show that it was VP Cheney who directed Scooter Libby on how to handle the media inquiries on the Wilsons, on Joe Wilson's criticisms, that was a violation of protocal. In addition, prosecutors are alleging that VP Cheney himself wrote out for Scooter Libby what he should say to one of the cruicial reporters in the case and it was during that conversation with the reporter when Scooter Libby gave the confirmation to that reporter that Valerie Wilson was undercover at the CIA.

There was other information that was damaging to the Vice President concerning the State of the Union and the false claim that was made. The prosecutors say the evidence will make it clear that VP Cheney asked the Director of the CIA George Tenet to take complete responsiblity for the mistake and to make it clear that the VP and the president were not involved..."

* froomkin:

"One gets the distinct impression that something about Hillary Clinton's exultant entry into the 2008 presidential campaign, even while coming out for a cap on troop levels in Iraq, has driven the Cheney camp to distraction

Vice presidential daughter Liz Cheney has an extraordinarily petulant op-ed in today's Washington Post. It begins with a slap at Clinton, then impatiently presents as "basic facts" a series of hugely contentious neoconservative principles."

* digby:

"Holy Moly

Norah O'Donnell is asking Andy Card and Leon Panetta if the president is going to have to ask Dick Cheney to resign as a result of what's being alleged at the Libby Trial. (They both punted.)

If that's the beltway chatter, look for the Republican noise machine to go into high gear. I'll be expecting to hear rumors of Patrick Fitzgerald's affinity for bestiality starting tomorrow --- mostly from Mary matalin, Dick Cheney's most vicious attack dog, who will be snarling like a caged beast over this (and thus will show herself an expert on the subject.)"

* digby:

"And here I always thought the VP's office was part of the White House.

I suspect that when the history is written we will find more and more proof that Vice President Cheney has been running a shadow government from the very beginning and that much of the malfeasance of this era is a result of incompetent and competing power centers vying for supremacy. It begins to explain the unprecedented level of faulty reasoning and epic mistakes coming from the one administration.

It's kind of funny that Cheney is calling Rove incompetent in this matter. When it comes to lying and obstruction (the skills required for this cover Cheney's ass operation), Karl Rove is a consummate professional and Scooter Libby is a joke."