Rove tried to throw Fitzgerald under the bus

h/t Raw story

Anyone who is paying attention is not surprised by this assertion.

Why hasn't Rove been charged with high crimes and misdemeanors?

Return of the Press Secretary!

Funny how the kid who just follows orders, in corner is rendered insignificant. How fitting if Cheney lands in jail based on the testimony of the not so bright loyal one.

We all know, Libby took one for the team. He was just protecting Cheney. I'm sure he has stock in Haliburton or Black Water so his finances are set.

Go get 'em Scott!

Krugman: Scandal a Bush Family Tradition

"Mr. Bush says that Mr. Libby’s punishment remains “harsh” because his reputation is “forever damaged.” Meanwhile, Mr. Bush employs, as a deputy national security adviser, none other than Elliott Abrams, who pleaded guilty to unlawfully withholding information from Congress in the Iran-contra affair. Mr. Abrams was one of six Iran-contra defendants pardoned by Mr. Bush’s father, who was himself a subject of the special prosecutor’s investigation of the scandal.

In other words, obstruction of justice when it gets too close to home is a family tradition. And being a loyal Bushie means never having to say you’re sorry."

Yet another bad decision

The decision as was the timing was wrong. Since Bushie pulled this option out of his bike shorts, he simply put the spotlight on the obvious class distinctions.

Just because an option is available, doesn't mean you have to exercise it.

Or did Scooter threaten to sing if he served one hour behind bars?

The Untouchable Responds

Brooks: Farce over? I don't think so

Last time I checked lying to the Feds is a crime. 30 months a harsh sentence? Ask the kid in Atlanta, facing 10 years for having consensual sex with one of his peers what's harsh.

In Mr. Brooks little world, I guess someone who looks like him gets nailed for a crime, it is a little harsh.

The only farce is Shrub's presidency. Even the 26% of the population who still support him, don't recall elected Cheney as the POTUS.

Tell me you're not surprised...

THEY live by a separate set of rules.....

Libby's pals will throw a fundraiser and chatter about the injustice of it all....

How about love letters to our soldiers?

These kids were sent to an unnecessary war, and now getting care for all of their injuries is next to impossible. The "system" like everything else associated with this administration was not prepared for the influx of returning soldiers.

How about the laundry list of political hacks, leaders, step up and resolve the problems of outpatient care for the true patriots.

Frank Rich: Cheney v Gotti

"It's disgusting that people are still obsessed with Gotti and the mob," she told The Daily News. "They should be obsessed with that mob in Washington. They have 3,000 deaths on their hands." She demanded to know if the president and vice president have relatives on the front lines. "Every time I watch the news and I hear of another death," she said, "it sickens me."

Far be it from me to cross any member of the Gotti family, but there's nothing wrong with being obsessed with both mobs. Now that the approval rating for the entire Washington franchise, the president and Congress alike, has plummeted into the 20s, we need any distraction we can get; the Mafia is a welcome nostalgic escape from a gridlocked government at home and epic violence abroad.

But unlikely moral arbiter that Mrs. Gotti may be, she does have a point. As the Iraq war careens toward a denouement as black, unresolved and terrifying as David Chase's inspired "Sopranos" finale, the mob in the capital deserves at least equal attention. John Gotti, the last don, is dead. Mr. Chase's series is over. But the deaths on the nightly news are coming as fast as ever."


I think the mob was more honorable.

Bill Moyers: Fans of Libby

"BILL MOYERS: One beltway insider is quoted saying the neo-cons are "weighted down by the sheer, glaring unfairness" of Libby's sentence. And there's the rub. None seem the least weighted down by the sheer, glaring unfairness of sentencing soldiers to repeated and longer tours of duty in a war induced by deception. It was left to the hawkish academic Fouad Ajami to state it baldly, as he pleaded on the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal for Bush to pardon Libby. For believing "in the nobility of this war," wrote Ajami, Scooter Libby had himself become a "casualty" -- a fallen soldier the president dare not leave behind on the beltway battlefield. Not a word in the entire article about the real fallen soldiers. The honest-to-god dead and dying and wounded. Not a word about the chaos or the cost. All the beltway warriors can muster is a plea of mercy for one of their own who lied to cover their tracks. There are contrarian voices.

PATRICK BUCHANAN: This is an open and shut case of perjury and obstruction of justice. And the Republican party, you know, stands for the idea that high officials should not be lying to special investigators.

BILL MOYERS: And from the former Governor of Virginia, James Gilmore, a staunch conservative, comes this verdict: "If the public believes there's one law for a certain group of people in high places and another law for regular people, then you will destroy the law and destroy the system." So it may well be, as the Hartford Courant said editorially, that Mr. Libby is "a nice guy, a loyal and devoted patriot"...but none of that excuses perjury or obstruction of justice. If it did, truth wouldn't matter much."

Pardon Paris First

We are not talking consensual sex here folks. Libby perjured himself, no doubt to protect Cheney. He now has plenty of time to pump out his new novel.

For the likes of Broder to scream about the injustice is amusing. If Mr. Libby would have told the truth this would not be an issue. There would not be a need for a pardon.

Hell Paris should be pardoned first.

Suckers

Great piece by Suburban Guerrilla on Kristol's fetal position response to the Libby Case.

30 months for Libby

The judge surprised everyone by giving Libby more than the time recommended by the prosecution. More telling was Shrub's "what a shame"n response. It seems to me that Shrub will not pardon Libby.

A friend in need....

Scooter Libby was a loyal servant, if not to the administration, to Lord Cheney. After being convicted of lying to the FBI, Lord Cheney has "not had the occasion" to speak with Scooter.

It is bad enough Lord Cheney is in a happy place about this war he manufactured. He could at least buy Scooter a decent cup of coffee before he starts serving his time in Club Fed.

Sestak body slams Delay

Why is Delay given a public forum?

Why is free?

When will he share a cell with Libby?

Fine, Fabulous, Fitz

It's long but worth it.....

Where in the world is Cheney?

While the loyal subject Scooter Libby's fate rests in the hands of a jury, his boss suddenly had the need use his frequent flyer miles.

Not to worry, if he gets convicted, he will get a Medal of Honor along with his pardon.

OH SH@#T, no Hohit: Who?

So much for protection from a friend. During the Libby trial, Robert Novack testified that he provided Richard Hohit with an advanced copy of the now infamous article that outed Valerie Plame. Hohit is a the consummate Washington insider who just happens to be pals with Karl Rove.

A behind the scene type of guy is only effective, if he is remains behind the scene. A successful lobbyist, he raises plenty of cash for the republicans.

He can thank his boy for naming names. This is playing out like a bad Seinfeld episode.

I wonder if Karl Rove told the FBIs the truth about when and whom told him about Ms. Plame's identity. It would be just lovely, if he lied.

Christmas in February? March? I will be happy with April.

I heart David Shuster

When he files his reports on the Libby trial David Shuster really seemed to be amused by the daily events or non-events. The good news is the emergence of Shuster. He is smart, funny and a hottie.

The defense team did not put on much of a defense today. The Judge seemed to be put off and said so. No Cheney, no Libby, no defense. Game Over.

Libby has shown his loyalty to his boss. Your get out of jail free card is in the mail.

Firedoglake reporting live from Libbyville

Robert Novak testified today.
Check it out.