i think that if fitzgerald could indict libby..he could indict many more..but didn't ..why?...if libby is guilty they are all guilty...if he indicts 20 people in the administration..what happens to the country...if he indicts 20..does he look partisan?..why did he goe out of his way to make it very clear how serious this is..which i thought was outstanding....he did it and left the door open..if he was done he's done..if he's not he's not...there is more to follow
Posted by dennis at October 30, 2005 03:37 AMI still don't get the thing about the law regarding passing of classified info being too broad, so it shouldn't be used. What's the law, and what's up with that? If it's ok to pass classified info to reporters (which affects national security) to further an agenda of the White House, then what's NOT ok? What is the law intended to do?
Posted by CG at October 30, 2005 05:57 AMOver at TPM Cafe, Jack Balkin says the nomination list is down to two: Luttig and Alito. I've actually seen an appeal where Alito was the presiding judge. It would be sort of a "before they were stars" moment if he got the nod.
Then it would be time to convince every single Dem in the Senate to fight his nomination until their dying breaths.
Posted by dj moonbat at October 30, 2005 05:58 AMI still don't get the thing about the law regarding passing of classified info being too broad, so it shouldn't be used. What's the law, and what's up with that?
England has no First Amendment, so an Official Secrets Act, criminalizing the traffic in state secrets, has no constitutional defects. Here we do have the First Amendment, so courts tend to read the Espionage Act more narrowly than it's written. With the precedent of United States v. Morison, 844 F.2d 1057 (4th Cir. 1988), however, that notion was eroded considerably. (Defendant was convicted for passing a picture of a foreign plane to Jane's, because that information could compromise the intelligence mechanisms that got us the picture).
So, although the spirit of what Fitz says about the Espionage Act is true, the actual black-letter law would pretty clearly allow him to nail Scooter to the wall. I have little doubt that he is going to do just that if Scooter doesn't get a little more cooperative in busting up the conspiracy.
There are a lot of people out there assuming that Fitz would necessarily have indicted everbody for everything he had on Friday. There are potential strategic reasons for him not to do that.
Posted by dj moonbat at October 30, 2005 06:09 AMreally good point dj...
Posted by John B. at October 30, 2005 06:18 AMThanks dj.
Posted by Judith at October 30, 2005 07:30 AMThinking more about this after reading the indictments and press release several times I can't understand the lack of charges on the conspiracy angle especially since there was so much talk among gov't officials about Ms. Plame and her role. Maybe the other shoe is still yet to drop?
I know this indictment focuses on Libby but there is so much in there that opens up a whole set of questions and thoughts about many people including the VP, Rove and others.
One interesting part of the indictment is when it mentions Libby talking directly to the VP about how to respond to questions and what to say to Cooper. I assume this is Matt Cooper the Times magazine reporter..yes? Here's my thoughts, didn't Cooper tell us long ago after (one of) his source(s) signed a personal waiver allowing him to testify and avoid jail time and that that source he was emailing and talking to was Rove? So now after reading this indictment it is established that Cooper was also talking to Libby. Plus we know from Cooper that he testified to Fitzgerald about his conversation(s) and email with Rove, but did he also testify to Fitzgerald about his conversation(s) with Libby? And if not why not? I wonder what Matt Cooper has to say about his conversations with Libby? Doesn't this show more than one person gov't official was talking to Cooper about Plame in a concert effort? I would like to hear more from Cooper on this issue?
Posted by emal at October 30, 2005 07:32 AMThinking more about this after reading the indictments and press release several times I can't understand the lack of charges on the conspiracy angle especially since there was so much talk among gov't officials about Ms. Plame and her role. Maybe the other shoe is still yet to drop?
The notable absence of indictments for Hannah and Wurmser should be the big tip-off that more is to come. I find it extremely difficult to believe that Fitz let both those guys off scot-free just to get Libby on perjury and obstruction. No, the conspiracy angle has not yet played itself out.
The other tip-off would be that the right wing attack monkeys aren't in flesh-rending berzerker mode. If they thought Libby's obstruction was all Fitz had, no matter how clearly Fitz nailed him, they'd have thrown all their energy into howling "Is that IT?!" But no.
Posted by dj moonbat at October 30, 2005 07:47 AMIn honor of my mom who yesterday said "and you never hear anything about Katrina anymore":
Myths of New Orleans: Poor, Bad Blacks -- Who Got What They Deserved
Posted by Sharon at October 30, 2005 11:42 AMWhen is enough, enough?
George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have illegally occupied the White House since January 20, 2001, and have repeatedly failed to carry out their oath to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Planned to invade Iraq - even conquer the Middle East - without a Congressional Declaration of War as required by the Constitution, in violation of the UN charter
Allowed September 11 terrorist attack to succeed by ignoring numerous warnings and failing to take precautions against hijackings
Threatened seven nations with nuclear war
Promised America "perpetual war"
Let Osama Bin Laden escape from Afghanistan
Failed to catch the US weapons scientist responsible for the Anthrax terrorist attacks
Attemped military coup d'etat to overthrow Venezuela's democratically-elected president
Enacted an unaffordable tax cuts for corporations and the rich, and then lied about its effect on federal budget deficits
Returned to massive budget deficits by cutting taxes for the rich
Raided Social Security Trust Fund despite his repeated promises that he would not do so
Cut health care despite firm promises not to do so
Made global warming worse by opposing conservation and promoting oil drilling
Undermined efforts to protect clean air, water, and national parks
Sabotaged key environmental and arms control treaties
Helped Enron steal billions from California consumers
Created a secret Energy Task Force under Dick Cheney, and refused to comply laws requiring disclosure of its activities
Established an unconstitutional shadow government without notifying any Democrats
Appointed business executives who engaged in massive fraud to top positions - including Dick Cheney (Halliburton) and Tom White (Enron)
Appointed Iran-contra criminals to top positions, including Elliot Abrams and John Poindexter
Detained nearly 1200 people without charges in violation of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments
Authorized government surveillance without warrants, including telephone wiretapping and e-mail interception
Appointed right-wing judges who oppose the Bill of Rights
Had enough? So have we!
Don't forget: He has not properly taken care of the returning disabled Vets from Iraq and Afghanistan, as he promised!
His administration outted a CIA agent for his petty arrogance!
Truly, enough is enough!!
Posted by bbtb at October 30, 2005 08:08 PM