Thinking Right

By steve-o

March 7, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this

First post of the day!!

Libby needs to sit in a cell for a little time-out to ponder what he did. Playing games with the life of someone’s wife just because they disagree with you and then lying about it is a little low-down for my taste.

Bye Scooter. It would be great if we could send you your old boss to keep you company!

By Reece

March 7, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this

Jim you partisan hack,

I welcome the idea of Bush pardoning Libby. That would be a nail in the coffin of many of these reichwingers going forward. If he does that it’s truly going to be the death knell for the Neoconservative cult for years to come.

By Shar

March 7, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this

A pardon for Libby would be such a blatant admission of the political, biased, self-serving nature of Presidential pardons that it could spark a movement to get rid of the practice altogether, which is not a bad idea.

Libby exposed the covert identity of a political enemy’s wife, without shame or remorse, in order to undermine the credibility of that enemy’s argument. Your comment about “one band of power players out to get another” is the right headline but cites the wrong players - people at the highest level of government launched an illegal, personal attack on a private citizen who disagreed with their “spin”. Libby know what he was asked by Cheney to do was wrong - that’s why he lied about his behavior to a grand jury.

The legal system cannot condone perjury and obstruction, and that is true whichever side of the political fence you choose. It was, in fact, the rationale for the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton, only he was not convicted. Libby was, and should absolutely serve his sentence.

By Southern Democrat

March 7, 2007 9:08 AM | Link to this

Good idea. It worked out well for your party and the nation when President Ford pardoned Nixon (sullying the then-sterling record of a good man).

Mr. Wooten, perhaps you and Hillary should discuss the vast right and left wing conspiracies that you each see in the day-to-day workings of our government.

On a partisan note, apparently Republicans STILL haven’t learned that it’s not the ACT, it’s the COVER-UP (see Scooter Libby and Foley).

Americans appreciate honesty.

I encourage anyone who has not seen it to watch “The Ghosts of Abu Ghraib.” Perhaps I am biased because my grandfather served as an Army MP officer, but the way that this Administration allowed private contractors and the CIA to order MPs to commit acts of torture is not just inhumane and unethical; it’s illegal.

Do you advocate doling out pardons for that, too?

By Aquagirl

March 7, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this

Hey Jim, did you defend Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky episode, when one band of power players in Washington was out to get another?

Didn’t think so.

By Jim's a Cherry Picker

March 7, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Omigosh…stop it….it hurts.

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.

Pathetic.

By CJ

March 7, 2007 9:23 AM | Link to this

So, Jim agrees after all that innocent persons can be convicted of a crime. Even so, he continues to advocate legislation that would require less than a unanimous jury decision to impose the death penalty. Why? Jim thinks, it seems, that only well-connected white Republicans are convicted of crimes they didn’t commit.

Of course, Scooter Libby should not be pardoned. He was prosecuted by a political appointee of President Bush (I’m sure the Attorney General would have fired Fitzgerald if he thought nobody would notice) and found guilty by a detail-oriented jury that actually asked questions of witnesses during the trial and deliberated for ten days before reaching their verdict. Libby was found guilty because, in all likelihood, he is guilty. Let him have his appeals, but…no pardon.

By Curious Observer

March 7, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this

I watched another version of the Wooten spin on Faux News last night, where Bob Novak and others used the sophistry that because no crime was committed in outing Valerie Plame, there was therefore no crime in lying to FBI agents and the grand jury in answering questions about that outing.

Perjury is a felony regardless of the nature of the surrounding investigation, for it strikes at the very heart of the justice system. Libby perjured himself and in doing so obstructed justice. Even a jury that was sympathetic to Libby recognized the seriousness of the crimes he committed. It doesn’t matter whether Libby was the first to identify Plame as a CIA employee or whether he was the last. It doesn’t matter whether Plame’s identity was recognized as covert. Lying to a grand jury and to FBI agents is criminal, regardless of the circumstances.

So go ahead and spin Libby’s conviction as some kind of clash of political parties. The fact is that Wooten and his ilk didn’t hesitate to recognize the seriousness of Clinton’s perjury when he was being investigated. If this kind of reaction to a criminal conviction is the best we can expect from the neocons, then justice itself will have been sacrificed long ago. The use of a presidential pardon to exempt Libby from the punishment for his crimes will be but one more rape of the law by this administration.

By Dusty

March 7, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this

Jim Wooten,

You have described very accurately what went on in Washington with Scooter Libby. It is truly a sad day for American justice.

All the hysterics from liberals on these AJC blogs only confirms what you have said. It was a political revenge act, not one for truth or justice.

I hope this travesty will be corrected in the courts. President Bush should not have to correct a verdict that was given with subterfuge and vindictiveness. The courts should correct their own mistakes. This verdict sounded like something out of the Dark Ages, not a time when facts and truth were the basis for decisions.

By TW

March 7, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this

The visiting team? The system of justice in this country is ‘the visiting team’? You tip you hand, Wooten. Perhaps an Al Qaeda jersey would be a good purchase with some of your tax cut.

By abc

March 7, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this

None of the jurists thought Libby was innocent, they just thought he was a fall guy. So be it; a pardon would be inconsistent with justice. He broke the law, he serves the time.

However, in being nothing but a fall guy, perhaps it should be pursued exactly who he was a fall guy for; and if those individuals broke the law too, then prosecute them also.

By melo

March 7, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this

The political spin on both sides of this episode makes clear that, as with much of the rest of life in partisan America, what you conclude depends on your taste — or distaste — for this Administration. That statement is true Mr Wooten, only as it relates to all of us, you and me included!! However, in this case, THE JURY has concluded and not evry Tom, Dick and Harry as you would want to deceive on this blog. The Jury verdict has sifted through the SPIN and thats the conclusion that matters!! HAHAHAHAHA OFCOUSE!!!

By jbmlaw

March 7, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this

Good morning all. The WSJ has an excellent history of the prosecution today by Ronald Rotunda, assistant majority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee (for our slower leftist friends, that means he worked the Democrat side.) “…(A)s most people know by now, Patrick Fitzgerald never charged anyone with violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982… after he quickly determined there was no violation of that law. …

“,,,about the time of Mr. Fitzgerald’s appointment, …Richard L. Armitage told the FBI that he was the primary source who revealed Ms. Plame’s identity. Mystery solved!… But rather than going home, Mr. Fitzgerald asked Messrs. Armitage and Novak to keep that information quiet. He also asked for and received approval to expand his investigation…”

The only “crime” in this case arose in an investigation that commenced after proof that the investigator held irrefutable proof that there was no crime. I respectfully suggest that such abuse of prosecutorial discretion merits a disbarment action.

Perhaps on the upside here, though, it is heartening to see leftists interested in laws against lying when there is no crime committed. I wonder if they now justify prosecution of a high official who lies under oath in a conscious effort to deprive an average citizen of a fair trial.

By Shar

March 7, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten, it is truly worrisome that you would write this item. It was not “a jury’s affirmation of your bias”, it was a jury’s finding of guilt, after ten days of very careful, thoughtful deliberation. You ignore the facts presented, dismissing the jury’s conclusions and their ramifications as merely reflecting “[their] taste - or distaste - for this Administration”. You don’t even address the perjury and obstruction felonies, coming from the heart of the Vice President’s office. Instead, you just advocate getting rid of the whole unsightly mess with a pardon, “of course”.

The defense posited, and jury believed, that Libby was a “fall guy” for others in the Administration who chose this method of dealing with opposition to their plans, and who ordered him to carry out illegal activities. The jury, and many Americans, can feel sympathy for a man, by all accounts a smart and decent one, who lost his moral compass under duress. However, he committed felonies and tried to subvert the justice system. Unless the Nuremburg plea of “I was ordered to do it by my superiors” is invoked, and those superiors called to account, Libby must answer for his actions. Your piece this morning offers nothing but the bitter resentment of someone whose compatriots have been caught, and as such is not a meaningful or even appropriate editorial on the part of the AJC.

By UGAlaw

March 7, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this

The real shame here is that Libby is riding the heat for the real culprit. His 5 deferment boss historically doesn’t have the gonads to step up to the plate and be a man about anything. The biggest mistake George Bush ever made was putting Dick Cheney on the ticket.

By Writer's block

March 7, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this

We have to ask how badly America has been hurt by W’s administration. (Reputation, financial condition, and strategic defensive posture). Did W allow Al Queda to become an invicible quadruple threat by squandering the last six years in Iraq and Afghanistan instead of going after the infant cells now approaching maturity? Or are the rumors of Al Queda’s second coming greatly exagerated? We simply have no data. We cant know their strength. We only have fear, which W seems to weild with the mastery of one annointed by oil.

Then we have roadside bombs and casualties. The conspiracies of terrorists live in our imagination as our fears get punctuated one by one when these suicide attacks and IEDs explode. The situation could seem more dire than it really is. We simply dont know.

I dont think Bush knows either. That means nobody is in charge. That means anything could happen quickly.

Watch for exploding spring market rally as the dow climbs this wall of fear.

By time for the truth

March 7, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this

So … predicktably the usual puss filled line of leftist afterbirth slithers on here to rabidly gloat about the despicable evil lynching of a true selfless patriot like Libby by a sick and twisted power crazed prosecutor who knew there was no crime commited. As this whoralicious leftist hag Plame wasn’t a “covert” operative and its turdbrained lying Bush hater hubbie puked up pathetic empty lies about WMD’s in its odious involvement in a blatant attempt to try and discredit part of the war on towel head terror!!

My astute comments simply reflec and almost mirror back the level of rabid Bush hate speech that huffington.puke revels in everyday!!

Yesterday the resident leftist filth p!ssed and moaned in triumphalist hypocrisy about forum hate … yet jim’s an arselicker - as just one example of an utterly worthless leftist on here - posted typical hysterical huffington.puke about the wit and wisdom and perspicacity of national treasure Ann Coulter. I’m generously just wittily mirroring back your visceral hate speech jim’s an arselicker!!

Libby became the probably inevitable fall guy for a scumbag prosecutor faced with NO case and NO trial for a NON-EXISTENT crime - this poisonous marxist lite hag wasn’t a covert operative!!

The white trash cocaine sniffing (see his brother Woger’s FBI surveillance tape) Arkanasas rapist committed blatant perjury and had VASTLY greater lapses of memory than Libby ever did. As did the heffalump obsessive eco whacko nutter - the alBOre when questioned about the illegal Bhuddist Temple fundraising scam. The Little Rock rapist should have been jailed for perjury and venal presidential pardon selling!!

Libby should of course be pardoned immediately. Watching the rabid Bush derangement syndrome leftist scum screech and screech for weeks about this would be fabulous free entertainment for us normal, patriotic, clear thinking Americans.

By Van

March 7, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this

Whether or not Libby should be pardoned, fall solely in the powers given the President. There are certain instances where the President can not issue a pardon, but Libby does not fall within these restrictions.

As with Clinton’s questionable pardons, some allegedly for money, we can rant and rave all we want, but if President Bush pardons Libby, he has that authority.

By Brad

March 7, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this

I just know the democrats don’t want to go down the road of pardons during the Clinton administration. Now how many times did Hillary say she doesn’t recall during Whitewater again? That said, this was nothing more than a political mine’s bigger than yours contest between Libby and Fitzgerald. Their rivalry goes way back. Everyone knows that. Libby in jail while a real criminal like Samuel ‘Sandy’ Berger walking free is the real crime here. I would surmise that lifting top secret documents subpoenaed from a federal institution by the 911 Commission would be more detrimental to this nation than mentioning a name of someone who was never proven to be a covert CIA operative at the time. It’s all about going after Bush. This is also still payback from the Republican Clinton smearing. Such is the ugly world of politics. Never fear, the Republicans will find a way to hit back down the road.

By jbmlaw

March 7, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

One additional note on the Libby prosecution is the judicial fallout that arises.

(1) There is no longer any effective legal shield for reporters’ sources. There was never anything enshrined in statute, merely a traditional respect for the value of “sunshine,” now destroyed by the bad-faith prosecution.

(2) Nobody who is a potential subject of an investigation will ever speak with an investigator again, not if he has a brain. “Mis-remembering” is now criminal. Far safer to simply invoke the fifth amendment against self-incrimination.

By Jim's a Cherry Picker

March 7, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this

All you apologists remember this:

Fall guy or not, Libby is GUILTY of lying under oath on several ocassions and hindering a federal investigation.

Period. That’s a fact.

It doesn’t matter how “noble” the cause. It doesn’t matter how nice of a guy he is or how bad the jury feels for him.

All that matters is that he lied under oath.

Guilty. He’s Guilty. Scooter Libby is Guilty.

He’s a Guilty man. Scooter Libby, that is…the former top aide to the Vice President of the United States of America…he’s Guilty of lying under oath.

Just for kicks…let’s review some of the text from the GOP’s Contract wtih America. As you read these fine words, please remember some of the things that are ongoing with the GOP at this very moment, Scooter Libby’s GUILTY verdict first and foremost:

REPUBLICAN CONTRACT WITH AMERICA

As Republican Members of the House of Representatives and as citizens seeking to join that body we propose not just to change its policies, but even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives.

That is why, in this era of official evasion and posturing, we offer instead a detailed agenda for national renewal, a written commitment with no fine print.

This year’s election offers the chance, after four decades of one-party control, to bring to the House a new majority that will transform the way Congress works. That historic change would be the end of government that is too big, too intrusive, and too easy with the public’s money. It can be the beginning of a Congress that respects the values and shares the faith of the American family.

Like Lincoln, our first Republican president, we intend to act “with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right.” To restore accountability to Congress. To end its cycle of scandal and disgrace. To make us all proud again of the way free people govern themselves.

So, with those words in mind and remembering that they were written by the GOP and used for political purposes:

Who’s proud of our government?

Have the “bonds of trust” been restored?

Has the “cycle of scandal and disgrace” ended yet?

By NoWonder

March 7, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this

By Dusty

March 7, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this hope this travesty will be corrected in the courts. President Bush should not have to correct a verdict that was given with subterfuge and vindictiveness. The courts should correct their own mistakes. This verdict sounded like something out of the Dark Ages, not a time when facts and truth were the basis for decisions.

Dusty, I always heard that ignorance is bliss. In your case it it not just blissful ignorance, you are truly brain dead! Somebody please remove Dusty’s feeding tube.

By Dennis

March 7, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this

Well, it didn’t take you long to get to the heart of you comments today, Mr. Wooten. So let’s think about your topic.

Through out this trial Libby has been a good soldier. He hasn’t rolled over on Dick Cheney and why let/make him (one of the good ole insider boys) go through all of the appeal processes?

No doubt in a conservative’s eyes, that alone is worth the presidential pardon you are calling for.

Bush being practically a lame duck president anyway and his popularity poll is at rock bottom already, what difference would an immediate pardon make? Why not just pardon Scooter Libby now and get it over with?

No. For “political considerations”, Libby, an “innocent man”, must continue suffering for the good of the Bush administration for something Libby “didn’t do” - at least until the end of Bush’s term.

Of such is “conservative” politics.

But, geezz, that sound just like the way “political prisoners” are being treated at Guantanamo.

You don’t have to be a blind conservtive not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

By melo

March 7, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this

“,,,about the time of Mr. Fitzgerald’s appointment, …Richard L. Armitage told the FBI that he was the primary source who revealed Ms. Plame’s identity. Mystery solved!… But rather than going home, Mr. Fitzgerald asked Messrs. Armitage and Novak to keep that information quiet. He also asked for and received approval to expand his investigation-JBMLAW No new revelation here!!!!

the only ‘crime’,yes, thats the one that matters. If you have nothing new to offer, go early to the country club today. Enjoy your drinking day!! LIBBY, GUILTY AS CHARGED. SO LOSER.

By Writer's block

March 7, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

Libby will end up with a great job with big oil or some defense contractor. Like Rummy did.

By Writer's block

March 7, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this

Bush should pardon the astronaut stalker-lady first. (Just to test the waters and see how big the backlash is).

By melo

March 7, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

As with Clinton’s questionable pardons, some *allegedly for money, we can rant and rave all we want, but if President Bush pardons Libby, he has that authority-VAN* So true. As of now, the JURY VERDICT IS IN. Have a nice day and lick your wounds good!!

By Dusty

March 7, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

NoWonder,

What are you doing at the computer when the rest of the mob is out celebrating? I thought you would be running in the streets by now.

I appreciate your concern but I am doing just fine, thank you. But you better worry about our Justice System. When politics become the rule of law, even a misguided liberal like you might find it incomvenient.

By Southern Democrat

March 7, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

Jbmlaw,

I would respectfully disagree with your assessment of Fitzgerald’s job performance and, as you know, any insinuation of prosecutorial misconduct is incredibly serious. I don’t know if you’ve ever worked on the prosecutorial / investigative side of our field, but I can tell you that based upon my observations of it, there are many, many times where the intially suspected crime does not turn out to have sufficient evidence to bring before the grand jury, but the actions of witnesses and persons of interest don’t “pass the smell test” and require some deeper probing; as I mentioned above, sometimes the cover-up is infinitely worse than the act.

While I think that your conclusion regarding the rights of reporters post-Libby trial is correct, your blame is missplaced. Remember the source of this whole accusation: Armitage leaked proprietary information to a conservative reporter in an attempt to discredit someone who was speaking out against the administration’s reliance on faulty intelligence. This action put a government officer’s life at risk and was purely politically motivated.

Take a step back and look at it again.

By Mid-South Philosopher

March 7, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this

It hit me like a ton of bricks!

All along, this administration has reminded me of something that I had forgotten or, at the very least, had pushed back into the inner recesses of my memory. While the challenges have been different, yet, throughout the past six years there has been something strangely familiar about the environment at the White House.

It became clear last evening after learning that Lewis “Scooter” Libby had been convicted of “perjury.”

The George W. Bush White House is cut in the pattern of the Nixon White House. Major players in the administration are dishonest and lie blatantly. There is no accountability among the inner circle, except to sacrifice the incidental “scape goat”, i.e. Scooter Libby.

Republicans should never lie. They are not as talented at it as the Democrats and it always looks worse when a Republican lies…after all, we expect the Democrats to do it, but the Republicans…they are the pillars of the community are they not?

Hell, if Georgie “Lost in Alabama during Vietnam” Bush had any guts, he would be a man and issue the pardon for Scooter now, and while he is at it he would go ahead and include Cheney and Rumsfeld for “any” crimes they “might” have committed. I don’t think “Georgie” is really as brave as he would like us to believe.

I don’t know about the rest of you “conservatives”, but Georgie Bush was the worst mistake I ever made.

Unfortunately, had I to do it over again, with what was running against him…I probably would have voted the same way.

Too bad we can’t outlaw “politicians” from running for President.

By Bag-o-donuts

March 7, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

The visiting team, huh? I thought there was only one team with a couple of political divisions. Jim, you wave your own partisan team’s flag once again while claiming the reason for guilt is partisan divide, a great diversionary tactic. No, guilt would be due to the facts of the case. People seem to forget that an op-ed was written and then a CIA officer was exposed in petty retaliation. That is fact. I’ve heard the trivial splitting hairs commentary on whether Valerie Plame truly was a CIA officer and it reminded me of the ridiculous Clinton comments on the definition of the word “is”. Lies are lies regardless of the party affiliation.

Add Scooter to this list: Duke Cunningham, Tom Delay, Bob Ney, Mark Foley, Brian Doyle, Claude Allen, David Safavian, Bob Taft and Ernie Fletcher. These republicans have all been indicted, convicted or resigned in the 6 years the Bush administration has been in power. The residue of Jack Abramoff still lingers. Is there any credibility left for Republicans in DC? Do you believe anything Cheney says anymore?

Pardon Scooter if you want W, but absorb the consequences. Republicans lost the midterm election because of a combination of lousy execution of government and lack of credibility and truth. Those are the facts, not partisan comments.

By Writer's block

March 7, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this

I wonder if Nixon would have pardoned or forgiven deep throat for what he did to his own administration? Nixon actually realized on National Television during an interview with Frost that he should have simply pardoned haldeman and erlichman, and the second story men. He blurted it out with a really revealing change in facial expression. “….you know what? I could have just pardoned them….”

By Redneck Convert

March 7, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this

From now on if I ever get innervued by a FBI agent or a grand jury, I ain’t saying nothing. I won’t lie or say I don’t remember. I will just clam up. They can’t get me then. If I’m stopped for speeding in my beer truck I don’t plan to say a thing to the cop. I will just stay all stone-faced. I won’t even show him my driver liscence. He could probly get me for something if I did.

Wooten is right. Libby was chased like a rabbit by a bunch of libruls. What I can’t figure out is why the Justice Department that is Republican would appoint a librul as a persecuter. They must have been a lot of good conservatives out there willing to take the job. This Fitzgerald guy must be a big Democrat. He was the one making all the calls. We need to fire the whole Justice Department for putting a librul in charge of the case.

So I say let my President pardon all the conservatives and keep all the libruls in jail. If enough of them stay in jail we will get our two House districts back and be able to tell a few fibs without getting jailed for it.

Sorry to see that TFTT is still on the drugs. He’s been ranting for two days now about black people and how the white people is getting the shaft and other stuff. What he says is true and all but I wish he would use Those People and other names us rednecks use to hide how we really feel. Too bad they don’t give drug tests before they let English people into this country. TFTT woulda flunked so bad even England would deport him somewhere else.

By Southern Democrat

March 7, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this

Dusty,

I would respectfully submit that if politics are the rule of law, it became crystallized as such in Bush v. Gore when all 9 justices voted along partisan lines, a terribly sad result. I would have much preferred a 9-0 result one way or another that was grounded more in law and not each justice’s subjective interpretation of it.

By melo

March 7, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

Add Scooter to this list: Duke Cunningham, Tom Delay, Bob Ney, Mark Foley, Brian Doyle, Claude Allen, David Safavian, Bob Taft and Ernie Fletcher. These republicans have all been indicted, convicted or resigned in the 6 years the Bush administration has been in power. The residue of Jack Abramoff still lingers. Is there any credibility left for Republicans in DC? Do you believe anything Cheney says anymore? Bag-o-donuts

Say Amen.And its not over yet because there is still 2 some years to go and still some people’s scalps to claim in this DUMB Presidency. How worse can this incompetency and dishonest be and how long can Americans continue to take it??

By getalife

March 7, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this

One of worst Jim. They outed a CIA operative!

Why would Libby lie?

Duh, to protect cheney of course.

I am amazed watching the hate party making excuses for this convicted felon.

Their character and souls are corrupted by their blind devotion to their hate, criminal party.

These are the worst of Americans. What in the world will it take for these failed Americans to say enough with the hate and corruption?

Geez.

By SOBEIT

March 7, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

To hell with all this misplaced sympathy for Scooter Libby! Anybody dumb enough to do the dirty work for the most dishonest, unscrupulous, and cowardly man ever to inhabit this planet deserves to stew in his own juices as Libby is having to do. The real injustice here is that it is Libby and not Dick Cheney on his way to the slammer.

By jm

March 7, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive!” -Sir Walter Scott, Marmion 1808.

By time for the truth

March 7, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

How come a few decent black folks aint long ago lynched inbred rednekkk for its unremitting, blatantly racist utterly unfunny hateful remarks about blacks??

I ONLY wisely and reasonably despise blatant black racists/bigots … like the execrable crackpipe and sharptongue and calypso louis farracrap et al!!

Whereas inbred rednekkks’ moronic despicable racism is viscerally aimed at ALL blacks!!

GO CRASH YOUR STOLEN BEER LORRY inbred - you sorry brainless crystalmeth abusing rednekkked turd!!

By Brad

March 7, 2007 10:36 AM | Link to this

Libby is guilty of lying. That is an undeniable fact. But as jbm said, it’s nice to see you leftie wingnuts finally pay attention when someone lies to investigators, let alone a grand jury and under oath. That said, you wingnuts are ones to fingerwag about ethics. Did not Speaker Pelosi say something to these words?

‘We will have the most ethical congress in history.’

With William Jefferson Ziploc being elected to a congressional committee and Harry Reid Land Flipper as majority leader, I can see you wingnuts are off to a thunderous start in just a few months on teaching Republicans a thing or two. I can hardly wait for more lessons this year.

By Writer's block

March 7, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

Bush should pardon me too. What is the minimum tip for having a veal sandwich delivered to your hotel room in NYC? I gave the guy a ten, and the sandwich was 6.50. I thought later that five would have been better. The pizza holes, those wonderful little stores, are all manned by south americans now. Five years ago it was all Russians. Every hot dog joint, every hotel, every minimum wage job is taken by south americans now. The russians must have moved up to the next tier. New York City. Opportunity. Somehow traffic keeps moving. That’s an indication that Americans know how to solve problems. Lots of traffic cops waving traffic on and stopping new yorkers from blocking the intersection by encroaching into cross traffic when the light is green. You have to stay back and wait your turn. There’s a $350 fine for honking, yet all you hear are horns. (all nite long) Somehow accidents are rare even though lane changes are rule-free, and pedestrians face red-light-running taxis . I saw a dozen near fatal slaughterings by taxis against foot traffic, it was a damn near thing each time, and yet at the last minute, the person stepped back, like they were alerted by radar only a new yorker could develop. I’d just stare in amazement. New Yorkers start crossing well before the light turns red for oncoming cross traffic so they’re in the middle of the intersection if there’s late taxi traffic coming from the peripheral. and taxis suffer no fools. The hotel had a smell of carpet cleaner and smoke and exotic BO that you would not believe However, the hotel had free parking, so it was almost worth it. It’s 60 bucks a day to park in nyc. I’d still never stay at that horrid hotel again. I liked the neighborhood it was in though. New York City has neighborhoods that evolve as the new apt. towers go up. It’s really quite nice. I could live in NY. The hotdogs are to die for. I could live on hot dogs. brown mustard. perfect. they grill them. there’s this taste you cant get anywhere else. pizza heaven. and the pastrami on rye!!!! I dont think I had one vegetable the entire week. How much is the blood test for rickets, anyway?.

By Dusty

March 7, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this

MidSouth Philosopher,

We don’t need to stop politicians from running for President. We need to stop weak kneed philosphers from making political statements while jumping ship.

Bush’s White House does not look like Nixon’s. Bush has not lied nor deceived. Cheney has not lied and deceived. And I doubt that Libby has. But you are so prejudiced that you want to condemn the President, Cheney and Rumsfeld, none of whom have been convicted or even discovered doing anything illegal.

The American people will not be fooled. The Libby trial was a farce. Justice was served only for political revenge, not for finding the truth.

The weak always run, change their minds and maintain no loyalty. So, run with the crowd, midsouth, but I wouldn’t be proud of it.

By getalife

March 7, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

Just freaking disgusting.

By Van

March 7, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

SOBEIT,

You had me confused for a second, I thought you were going on about Al Bore.

By steve-o

March 7, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this

getalife,

I’m just waiting for Markus’s attempt to exculpate Libby through endless links to conservative blogs and bolded caps font, as well as endless name calling.

But something tells me that our other conservative apologists on this blog may beat him to the punch…

By Van

March 7, 2007 10:49 AM | Link to this

Southern Democrat,

The two decisions that came out of the Bush Vs. Gore recount in Florida, were 7-2 against the Florida Supreme Court and 5-4 on what to do about the recounts.

Last time I checked , there was never a 9-0 decision regarding the Bush vs. Gore p#ssing match.

By Brad

March 7, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

Clinton’s national security adviser, Samuel ‘Sandy’ Berger, walks free. That’s a real tragedy of American justice.

By Realist

March 7, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

Wow..looks like the walls are tumbling down on this administration. I’m proud that I am at command of the helm of my own mind now. I fear Dusty will continue to throw the life jacket away. Kill yourself

Even though I know its liberal trash that voted…but how awful can you be to have numerous towns vote to impeach you..Vermont was it?

By melo

March 7, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/07/washington/07cheney.html?th&emc=th

Bush’s White House does not look like Nixon’s. Bush has not lied nor deceived. Cheney has not lied and deceived. And I doubt that Libby has-Dusty

Even monkeys are laughing at you Van!! Re-read your statement and look in the mirror while doing that. Tell me if you like the contotion on your face. THE JURY VAN, THE JURY. Its an American tradition, THE JURY.Embrace our justice system or else you rooting for Alqeada.

By getalife

March 7, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

steve-o,

Yes, the wingnut blogs are full of excuses today.

Check out these comments

Geez.

By Realist

March 7, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

Van…re-read what Southern actually wrote..then re-type a response.

By DNC

March 7, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

By steve-o

March 7, 2007 10:44 AM |

I’m just waiting for Markus’s attempt to exculpate Libby through endless links to conservative blogs and bolded caps font, as well as endless name calling.

steve-o, Markus is exactly the kind of conservative poster that is needed here. He has become the stereotypical right wing trash that chases others to the left. Nobody wants to be associated with such ignorant scum.

By Dusty

March 7, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this

Southern Democrat,

Your mind has crystalized over Bush and you can’t even get your facts straight about Gore vs. Bush.

But you have given us one of the obvious reasons for prejudice in Libby’s case. You are still seething over the fact that Gore/Democrats lost an election and that it was confirmed on all counts.

If you were honest with yourself, you would not be celebrating a loss of justice, a case where the guilty, Armitage, was not even tried. Libby was actually convicted on “loss of memory” as crime. I think it is beyond your will to see things fairly in politics.

By steve-o

March 7, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this

getalife,

Yup…the Freepers are cyber-Blackshirts indeed. Hang the jury??? They are completley insane. These guys believe that a female country band is more threatening than a lying high-end political staff member!

DNC,

Point well taken!

By Southern Democrat

March 7, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

Dusty & Van,

Please re-read my posts, comprehend them, and then decide whether to attack me.

By Mid-South Philosopher

March 7, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

We can’t have it both ways, Dusty. Either “Georgie” Bush is corrupt or inept or maybe both.

I, and a lot of independent voters, though we were replacing Clinton with a person of higher standards. What we got was not what we were seeking.

If the honest Republicans (assuming that there are some left) don’t get their act together and reign in this President, we will have Hillary or Barack to look forward to for the next four years …not to mention a pro-socialist Congress.

By JohnD(the actual)

March 7, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

The campaign of misinformation never stops pouring from the Left. “They”, Libby and the administration according to the Left, outed, exposed, revealed a CIA operative. Yet, the reality says otherwise and the Left charges on undeterred by the fact that Richard L. Armitage admittedly leaked the name of Valerie Plame. Several posts here still accuse Libby of being the source.

Quoting Curious Observer,

“Perjury is a felony regardless of the nature of the surrounding investigation, for it strikes at the very heart of the justice system.”

Where was all this righteous indignation for acts of perjury when President Pants-Around-His-Ankles was the perpetrator?

And the Left here accuses Jim Wooten of partisanship!

By Brian Curtis

March 7, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

It’s good of Wooten to offer thoughtful commentary on the Libby case right after explaining that he knows nothing about it.

Thanks for clearing up that silly notion of “blind partisanship,” Mr. W.

By UGAlaw

March 7, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this

By Dusty

March 7, 2007 11:08 AMLibby was actually convicted on “loss of memory” as crime. I think it is beyond your will to see things fairly in politics.

Uh, Dusty. Get the facts of the case straight. Libby was convicted of perjury, not “loss of memory”. The charge was Perjury. The verdict was guilty. I guess your next point will be that there were nothing but liberal democrats on the jury. And by the way Dusty, you would have a hard time in any case whining about the “politics” of the case when the prosecutor was a republican appointed by a republican Department of Justice. You just can’t stand the fact that the prosecutor actually did his job. You expected and wanted just another political hack didn’t you?

By Reece

March 7, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this

Brian,

Jim Wooten’s word are simply his attempt to emulate his alter-ego mAnn Coulter.

By Dusty

March 7, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

Mid South,

If you want to compare Bush to Clinton, then you are not an independent voter. Clinton is a man without morals. Bush is maintaining his. The two are not comparable.

I see Bush as honest, intelligent and looking to the future. If he has been “inept” making some decisions for our country during the greatest mishaps of our times, then it only proves that he is human and few could have done any better.

I believe he saw the growth of terrorism in the Middle East and its terror already reaching us on 9/11. I believe that he saw the future of our country was in jeopardy and did what he thought was best.

I also think that the future will prove that he was correct in taking action, not waiting until the terrorists were at our throats.

I know that you, and Southern Democrat, will continue to work against the President and his efforts. I know you’d rather wait on terrorism and not wage war. But I cannot negate the knowledge that what you are doing, perhaps unintentionally, undermines the country and encourages our enemies.

By Barbara

March 7, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this

Regardless of whether or not Bush pardons, it is a sad day for Republicans. Mid-south, I loved your comment that Republicans aren’t allowed to lie, but we expect it from the Dems. That is so true. Bush has been vilified so much that the libs will find a way to tear down this administration, whether deserved or not. I’m in agreement with you on the voting choices too. I voted for Bush twice, but if I had another conservative choice, I most likely would have picked differently. However, with the choices before me, I agree to that my vote would be the same today.

Brad, I love your posts and I’m totally with you on your opinions.

Realist, you seem to have changed a little since about 4-5 months ago. Are you the same poster, or has someone else assumed your name later on?

By jm

March 7, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

I wonder what the over/under is on date that Alberto Gonzales will ask for Patrick Fitzgerald’s resignation.

Libby got caught lying (presumably for his boss) and will have to face the music. If W had any smarts, he would have done what his father had with Caspar Weinberger and pardoned him before the investigation started.

As for Sandy Berger (I would have at least liked to have him face a judge), it was a republican administration that let him walk off “scot free”, so quit whining about that.

By UGAlaw

March 7, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

By JohnD(the actual)

March 7, 2007 11:21 AMWhere was all this righteous indignation for acts of perjury when President Pants-Around-His-Ankles was the perpetrator?

So JohnD, you have a problem with this prosecutor doing his job just because another didn’t?

By Reece

March 7, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

Dusty,

With the resources and minds that are available to the POTUS there is absolutley no excuse for the ineptitude that you mention. Bush has the mental capacity of an orange. As for his morality?? C’mon, you must be kidding, he’s shown time after time that his idea of moral conduct is twisted beyond rationality.

By steve-o

March 7, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this

Yeah Dusty…your favorite child-king is a pretty horrible leader.

And it’s not only “leftists” that believe this, but rather 70% of the country.

By Dusty

March 7, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

Reece,

If you liked the “morals” of Clinton then I don’t doubt that you think Bush has twisted morals.

If you think the mental capacity to secure a master’s degree at a top line university is that of an orange, then you yourself are full of juice.

We have nothing to discuss. In the meantime, why don’t you look up the definition of morals and intelligence? You might find that you have neither.

By pothead

March 7, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this

Libby was convicted of purjury. People here say that it shouldnt matter that he lied because the act of outing a covert op (whether in the field or at home) caused no harm?

So wait, by that same reckoning, if I grow my own weed and smoke it, Im causing no harm (not helping the drug trade, not trafficing, just smoking my own) and therefore its perfectly ok?

Pass da dutchie to the left hand side…

By Realist

March 7, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this

Barbara,

Welcome back…the time I was in hiatus was for a lil soul searching. After the defeat in November I thought long and hard about the direction we were heading and the future life form my son. I didn’t like what I saw. I have not lost my conservative principles, but only strengthened them. I’m a Reagan conservative and I know now that the Bush administation, this war in IRAQ, the blind eye to illegal mexigration will have a negative effect on my son’s future.

Oh..I still hate liberals

By melo

March 7, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this

I see Bush as honest, *intelligent and looking to the future-DUSTY* Van has some company. Monkeys are having a field day laughing, i tell ya!

When DUMB, I mean Bush competently and successfully swallows a Pretzel and they actually print that in the Wall Street Journal and on Jim Wooten’s blog, than I will have to believe that he has some intelligence. I just think competence and intelligence go hand in hand. Do you believe that Dusty? IF not please feel free to change my mind.

By Southern Democrat

March 7, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

Dusty,

What is most entertaining about sparring with you on this board is watching you continually expose your own hipocrisy.

As I have stated before, I did not condone any of President Clinton’s behavior and found the blind loyalty of many Democrats to him troubling and dangerous to this country.

You have stated that those who criticize a president during wartime are either traitorous or not supporting the troops; yet you admit that youd did not support President Clinton during the Bosnia Conflict, the Somalia Conflict, or the bombings of al Qaeda bases.

You claim that an independent prosecutor bringing charges against someone who is convicted by an independend jury is politically motivated in this instance, but the independent prosecutor investigating Bill Clinton was not?

Who is the blind partisan again?

And, FYI, I can name 10 Republicans I’ve voted for in general elections for either statewide or nationwide office over the past 10 years, how many Democrats have you voted for?

By Mrs. RepubLady

March 7, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

Yes, pardon Scooter! He gave me some great stock tips once, and I made a fortune. Friends should be able to talk without fear of repercussion. A simple breach of national security (which has led to great financial gain for me) is not as bad as getting a bl-w job! My goodness, you should all rot in Hades for just asking for one of those! Disgusting and truly unforgivable.

By Jables

March 7, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

Are you f*** retarded?

By Seriously

March 7, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

Has anyone here ever claimed what Sandy Berger did was right?

Has anyone here ever defended what he did?

I didn’t think so.

By Jesus

March 7, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

Realist wrote, “I still hate liberals.”

You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to Realist, love your enemies. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

By rarringt

March 7, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

Afternoon all,

Dusty said,

I see Bush as honest, intelligent and looking to the future. If he has been “inept” making some decisions for our country during the greatest mishaps of our times, then it only proves that he is human and few could have done any better.

With all due respect, I would encourage you to take the larger view on “some” of his decisions.

9/11 was a horrible event, the worst terrorist attack in our country since Timothy McVeigh and the OK City bombings. Thousands of people - americans - lost their lives due to the dubious actions of 19 members of a then-extremist-even-in-the-Arab-world Al-Quaeda.

The world sympathized, welcomed us into the reality of international terrorism, and stood with us ready to eradicated Bin Laden (remember him?)

That was the stage set for Bush in 2001. He had near unanimous support, including mine for tracking down and killing the b**s responsible.

But then, some peculiar things happened.

He confused Al-Quaeda with Iraq.

He confused Bin Laden with Hussein.

He ignored his father and Secretary of State (former Chmn, JCS) who told him he couldn’t hold Iraq easily.

He ignored his generals, who told him he couldn’t do it cheaply or with a skeleton force.

He ignored most of the rest of the world that had previously supported him, relying on staunch allied like the UK (which has rebelled), and of course the fine people of Palau) (who also brought their troops back).

He confused his razor-thin victory in 2004 as a mandate, and considered the 2006 elections, where independents and disaffected GOPers returned the Dems to power, as a marginal non-event.

He prepared budgets that are so frontloaded as to put this country in its worst financial crisis since the depression, and are set to collapse starting in 2009, the year he leaves office.

He presided over the Walter Reed scandal, which has been brewing since at least 2004.

He insisted on elements of the PATRIOT act which have effectively hamstrung the first and fourth amendments.

He lobbied for the indefinite detention of suspects in secret locations, with no charges brought except in secret trials.

And that’s just the foreign policy stuff. Sure, Clinton shouldn’t have lied about cheating, and Whitewater and Travelgate were unnecessary exercises in stupidity on their part. But let me ask:

How did Lewinsky help create budgetary rules that literally sets the country up for near-bankruptcy?

How did travel favors for constituents vilify our country worldwide?

How did selling nights in the Lincoln Bedroom result in our wounded being subjected to horrid conditions in stateside army hospitals?

And, oh yeah, how many troops and civilians died and were wounded because of a cattle deal gone wrong?

Seriously, Dusty, I know you want to vilify Clinton and deify Bush because that’s what partisanship is all about. Problem is, partisanship ain’t what it’s cracked up to be. Look at things from an independent, free-thinking viewpoint, and you’ll see that Bush isn’t “making decisions during the greatest mishaps of our times.”

Bush, and the mentality that voted for him in 2004, is the greatest mishap of our time.

By Captain Freedom

March 7, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

The Captain heard that Barbara issued a clarion call for his wisdom during yesterday’s exchange. It warms my heart.

The Captain would love to engage in the mockery today. How he would love to expediently disparage our centuries old legal system and to call a Republican prosecutor a traitor and a tool of the Bush haters (yea, alas, Fitz is one of those weak-kneed Republicans who lets principle stand in the way of devotion to True Belief).

How the Captain longs to stake out a position that is beyond refutation because of its inherent stupidity and logical cupidity. How the Captain yearns to make sweeping generalizations that blindly support our efforts in pursuit of True Belief.

Yea and verily, the Captain wishes to stand arm-in-arm with stalwart feces-flingers like Markus, Timeless Truth and Dusty (along with the newcomer Brad, who is quickly proving his bona fides as the dullest knife in the drawer, true Corner material, that fellow).

But the Captain despairs at the possibility that his remarks could possibly make the True Belief crowd look any worse, any less principled, any less concerned with factual consistency, than this crowd can do on its very own.

For if, as Dusty believes, I am really just making fun of these yokels, then my mission is a fools errand. For if the aim is satire, it is pointless to strike a blow against a crowd that works so hard to trumpet their own pernicious ignorance and deep-seated hatred of American traditions. A crowd that satirizes the very idea of Patriotism as it uses our Constitution like a roll of cheap fanny ribbon.

The Captain is alarmed…perhaps Dusty was right. Perhaps I really have been mocking her all this time. How could she possibly have known?

By melo

March 7, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

If you think the mental capacity to secure a master’s degree at a top line university is that of an orange, then you yourself are full of juice-Dusty

The Yale admission was a ‘hook up” Daddy secured that, just as he secured the Texas national guard posting(and never really served but was awol), instead of Vietnam and the connections to the baseball team and fortune and to the Presidency ahead of Mccain and other Republicans ahead of him. If you think villifying veterans like Mccain during the presidential elections, sending troops to a war and having them killed when noone of your own kith and kin(philandering daughters included) have ‘volunteered’ for the volunteer army, is good morals, then you and Bush have a macabre sense of morals indeed!!

By DumbDetector

March 7, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

By Dusty

March 7, 2007 12:00 PM If you think the mental capacity to secure a master’s degree at a top line university is that of an orange, then you yourself are full of juice.

And you Dusty are full of sh&t! Shades of Edwin “I am the one” Williams. It’s a shame that this “master’s” degree program didn’t consist of anything more than blogging for dummies 101. You are a PHd when it comes to that. Thanks for the joke of the day Dusty.

By rarringt

March 7, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this

Didn’t realized how long the post was. Sorry ‘bout that.

By Dave

March 7, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this

They should put him away for a long long time. They should make sure there are plenty of cells available for Dick, Rummy, Dubya, and Wolfman as well. They are all crooks, criminals, liars, and most of all murderers! May they all rot in hell.

By Webspinner

March 7, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this

Why is it you right-wingers seem to always have “trouble getting drawn into” stories, arguments, debates you know you can win, or that reflect poorly on people of your ilk? Awfully convenient to ignore a story that reveals the true nature of hard-ball Washington politics and exposes VP Cheney for the mean-spirited, manipulative so-and-so he truly is. Way to go, Jimbo.

By Killin' Time

March 7, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this

Seriously at 12:17. You’re exactly right!

Former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger was sentenced to 100 hours of community service, fined $50,000 plus administrative costs and placed on probation for two-years for removing classified documents from the National Archives and destroying some of them. Here’s what Berger said after his sentencing:

“I deeply regret the actions that I took at the National Archives two years ago, and I accept the judgment of the court…”

There were no cries of prosecutorial misconduct or team victories or losses. No appeals were filed, and no pardons were advocated or requested. In other words, there’s no comparison.

By Libertarian, former Republican

March 7, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this

It’s this simple: perjury is perjury. I am glad that Mr. Libby was convicted, as it certainly appears that he did perjure himself.

And, yes, I did support trying President Clinton for perjury and suborning perjury if he was convicted in his impeachment trial and removed from office.

By ckt

March 7, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this

Dusty -

Gore won the 2000 vote by just under 600,000 in the popular vote. Tell me if the tables were flopped, you wouldn’t still be b**ing about it.

By Webspinner

March 7, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

OK, “By time for the truth” … now that you’ve puked all over this blog, I guess it’s time to go drown some kittens. What a sad, sorry life you must lead.

By Matthew

March 7, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Bush is certain to pardon Libby before Bush leaves office AND he is certain to bomb Iran on his way out as well, just because he can.

By Barbara

March 7, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this

Hey Captain! I may not agree with your politics, but you always make me smile. I look for you at Starbucks all the time.

Realist, I can understand having a change of heart. My boys are 11 and 13, and girls 14 and 16, and each year I think I’m closer to hearing those words I don’t want to hear. “Mom, I want to join the military.” (Or become a police officer…..) What will I say, since both their father and I are vets, and I admire the police officers? Ughhh, I hope that time is slow in coming….. It scares the hell out of me.

And Jesus, the “I still hate liberals” comment was meant for my entertainment. Even Jesus laughed…… In fact, he laughed a lot. And I think he smiles when we laugh too. You might want to read up on the “judge not…” verses while you’re calling Realist out.

By JP

March 7, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

Just what I expected: Wooten, you are a worthless hack.

Libby lied THROUGH HIS TEETH to protect Cheney and Rove, who were clearly scrambling to discredit an opponent of the administration. Denial is laughable at this point. Congress needs to move forward with further investigation of Cheney, as it appears his backstabbing a$$ was the one in charge of the operation.

The buck did NOT stop with Libby, and neither should we.

By JP

March 7, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this

Perjury is a felony regardless of the nature of the surrounding investigation, for it strikes at the very heart of the justice system. Libby perjured himself and in doing so obstructed justice. Even a jury that was sympathetic to Libby recognized the seriousness of the crimes he committed. It doesn’t matter whether Libby was the first to identify Plame as a CIA employee or whether he was the last. It doesn’t matter whether Plame’s identity was recognized as covert. Lying to a grand jury and to FBI agents is criminal, regardless of the circumstances.

If Clinton deserved impeachment because he lied, which it appears he did, Libby’s actions were criminal.