II. Ho Ho Ho
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October 28, 2005
WB: Cat and Mouse +
Comments
Holiday seasons are so depressing. Nobody gets the present they really want.
Posted by: degustibus | Oct 28 2005 16:00 utc | 2
I’m concerned that the emphasis on presents is causing us to miss the true meaning of Fitzmas.
The milk and cookies are on the kitchen table anyway….
Posted by: bcf | Oct 28 2005 16:21 utc | 3
What the heck is going on, my fellow citizens? I’m waiting to see Brent Scowcroft at Langley adding an underline to the “H.” on the big sign. Will Mr. Scowcroft look down to see Porter Goss “steadying” the ladder for him?
From the Congressional Record:
GEORGE H.W. BUSH CENTER FOR CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (House of Representatives – August 03, 1998)
[Page: H6906]
Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3821) to designate the Headquarters Compound of the Central Intelligence Agency located in Langley, Virginia, as the George H.W. Bush Center for Central Intelligence.
Posted by: yesh | Oct 28 2005 16:23 utc | 4
Here come the talking points.. Watching CNN Europe, which for once is actually showing the US feed at an interesting time.
There’s lots of talk of what a Bad Man amb. Wilson is.. guess we’re going to see Iraqi Ambassadors For Truth attack ads shortly..
Posted by: Gridlock | Oct 28 2005 16:33 utc | 5
What is the nature of his badness or is it the unspecified generic badness of the fair game target.
Posted by: eftsoons | Oct 28 2005 16:42 utc | 6
All this buzz and anticipation obscures several issues. Thousands of dead Iraqis and Americans resulted from Bushco’s lies and corruption. America’s word is no longer any good. Billions have been wasted with billions more to follow. I want Libby and Rove and Hadley in jail as much as anyone. Securing their convictions softens the bad news but doesn’t bring back the dead and won’t assure the killing stops. If the first round of indictments disappoints remember this is just the start. Bush can stitch furiously but the fabric of his cloak of lies will now unravel faster than he can repair it. There’s lame ducks and then there’s dead ducks. I think Dubya will eventually fall firmly in the latter category.
Posted by: steve duncan | Oct 28 2005 16:53 utc | 9
one gone, many to go
nah.
Not NKVD, show trial-level stuff. but, a show, nonetheless.
Posted by: slothrop | Oct 28 2005 17:01 utc | 10
We should’ve known!
As long as Rove (and others) are still under investigation, this is a very Happy Fitzukkah in my opinion.
From the Fitzgerald statement on Libby’s indiction
If convicted, the crimes charged in the indictment carry the following maximum penalties on each count: obstruction of justice – 10 years in prison, and making false statements and perjury –5 years in prison, and each count carries a maximum fine of $250,000, making the maximum penalty for 9 conviction on all counts 30 years in prison and a $1.25 million fine. Note, however, that the Court would determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed.
Aren´t republicans for strong sentences?
CSPAN 2 will have the Fitzgerald press conference on the web.
So,
Are the Roving Cheneyburtonians playing this as a limited hangout?
In other words, is the plan to cut the roots of the Aspen Cluster and have the Scooting One convert his double B’s to D’s, thereby reinventing himself as ol’ GG?
AND, the investigation is going to continue with a new grand jury.
http://www.wtkr.com/global/story.asp?s=4042769&ClientType=Printable
Posted by: Ensley | Oct 28 2005 17:44 utc | 16
As I keep saying I want to be wrong about this but it is also important to deal with the reality of a situation rather than wishful thinking.
It’s taken 2 years for Fitzgerald to get to this point and everyone has been interviewed several times. Unless someone ‘flips’ which at this point seems unlikely the investigation is going to grind to a halt.
The delays combined with ‘controlled leaks’ appear to be an obvious indication of wheeling and dealing.
Uncle $cam put up a link the other day from a veterans group which insinuated that the Federal judge may have trouble lying straight in bed and who tends to go with the powers that be.
The chances are if the fix is in all parties will be nervous as hell as this will be the biggest case they’ve ever ‘put a bit of side english’ on.
Hence the new (not extended grand jury). If the public reaction to this is outrage then they will scuttle away and try and let the air outta the balloon a bit slower. They might even do Rove over if it looks like Amerikans won’t tolerate yet another cover-up.
That would take a lot of outrage though. For them to have gone this far they must be reasonably confident they will get away with it.
I agree this is about more than whether Libby and Rove unthinkingly and instinctively gave Wilson a back hander for his cheek.
Unless there are successful indictments though, the repugs and MSM will play a soothing piece of “It’s just a bit of a storm in a teacup. Poor old Scooter got a bit carried away and has paid a heavy price. Move along please.”
Since the demopublicans are going to do little more than make a few subdued noises about the perfidy of republocrats, it is going to be up to Amerikan citizens to determine which way this goes.
Posted by: Debs is dead | Oct 28 2005 18:36 utc | 18
Fitz impressed me w/ what appeared to be extemporaneous statement.
“Justice.” It seems as though he really believes.
Posted by: slothrop | Oct 28 2005 18:41 utc | 19
My public radio station decided it was more important to hear down memory lane, old pop tunes from the thirties, forties, and fifties, than the last segment of the press conference. Would anybody watching CSPAN please tell if any interesting question were asked and answered after 3PM??
I can’t get audio on this computer.
Posted by: eftsoons | Oct 28 2005 19:03 utc | 20
I just heard interviews w/Bruce Shapiro (The Nation) & Jon Nicols. Impt. point was This Is Not Over. GJ extended. Fitz emphasized that Libby’s 1st meeting was w/Cheney. They flew tog. to Air Base In Va. Came back & Libby got to work. What kind of Conspiracy going on here. Will Fitz indict Cheney, or will he be unindicted co-conspirator. There’s still some hope.
At this point if After Downing St. etc., can build up a Mass Mvmt. to Throw the Bastards out, that will certainly help nudge things in the direction of cheney stepping down to restore order & calm. Judge can be seen to be conservative against the pressure of the “unruly mobs”. Soros, who has a specialty of training leadership for the mobs to pressure govts. to step down, could play decisive role here – all undisclosed in Elite media, of course.
Posted by: jj | Oct 28 2005 19:04 utc | 21
Watched Fitzie on CSPAN, very straight guy, lots of questions and him explaining why he can not answer them.
Doesn´t say anything, not anything, about what might comeor not come. He will have a new Grand Jury in case of, but doesn´t say anything if he is going on or not.
There is lot in the indictment that needs follow up and I agree with DiD that this needs public outrage to carry on.
Maybe Wilson will be able to something with a civil case.
justice, my ass
they’ll all walk free
fitzgerald gets to play tough guy for a day – but his desires will not be fulfilled – either by pardon or extrajudicial processus
for a marxist – i’m really a sucker for their narratives about freedom, honor & justice
no nothing will come of this
it is as i though – fantasy or wishful thinking
fat karl is eating big tonight
Posted by: remembereringgiap | Oct 28 2005 19:41 utc | 23
more wishful thinking at raw story where instead of vringing it on are bringing it up
Posted by: remembereringgiap | Oct 28 2005 19:47 utc | 24
Not quite so fast R’Giap. I’m extremely distressed about things, as well – The System is so overwhelmed w/toxins that it’s gotten bowel cancer and can no longer excrete them.
That said, Rove is still under threat of indictment so hopefully that will at least keep him partially incapacitated. Though I agree w/anyone who suggests that in the absence of Huge Popular Pressure Traitors Most Likely will Feverishly go to work Masterminding another Caper leading to Deepening the Nightmare, if not permanently ensconcing themselves & sweeping away the last shreds of law.
(didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or throw up @Fitz’s comments about No One being above the law. In fact, given the magnitude of the Crimes of these Mobsters, it was pathetic even listening to the minor questions Fitz was addressing.)
Posted by: jj | Oct 28 2005 20:00 utc | 25
not feeling good about this. are we to believe that these criminals have covered their tracks so well that all the time alloted so far is not enough to get more than libby? i too think that fitz’s patronizing wrods of caution at the end of his announcement spell out what’s really going to happen. there’s nothing exceptional about the american justice system in these matters. remember, it was fitz who whitewashed the fbi’s role the ’93 wtc bombing.
Posted by: b real | Oct 28 2005 20:38 utc | 26
not feeling good about this. are we to believe that these criminals have covered their tracks so well that all the time alloted so far is not enough to get more than libby? i too think that fitz’s patronizing wrods of caution at the end of his announcement spell out what’s really going to happen. there’s nothing exceptional about the american justice system in these matters. remember, it was fitz who whitewashed the fbi’s role the ’93 wtc bombing.
Posted by: b real | Oct 28 2005 20:38 utc | 27
not feeling good about this. are we to believe that these criminals have covered their tracks so well that all the time alloted so far is not enough to get more than libby? i too think that fitz’s patronizing wrods of caution at the end of his announcement spell out what’s really going to happen. there’s nothing exceptional about the american justice system in these matters. remember, it was fitz who whitewashed the fbi’s role the ’93 wtc bombing.
Posted by: b real | Oct 28 2005 20:39 utc | 28
I know I’ve said this before, so I apologize to those who it is boring…..but Canuckistanis know that Mr. Fitzgerald is very good at the stealth flip:
_____
Well, it looks like Vancouver resident and former Hollinger bean counter David Radler just might be getting ready to rat out his old buddy Conrad Black:
“A longtime business partner of the former press baron Conrad M. Black was indicted on fraud charges yesterday and – in what may be bad news for Lord Black – has agreed to plead guilty and cooperate in the investigation.”
All of which is interesting, and important, in and of itself.
But on top of all the ins and outs, not to mention the hand wringing about whatever will become of Ms. Amiel’s jewellery, we also found this little tidbit about the case to be extremely interesting.
“Patrick Fitzgerald, the United States attorney in Chicago, said at a news conference that the investigation into the former controlling shareholders of Hollinger International was continuing. Mr. Fitzgerald declined to say whether charges would be filed against Lord Black.”
Not the business about the charges, because that part hardly matters at the moment.
Instead, what caught our eye was the name of the prosecutor……
August 21st, 2005
_____
And an even more important point is the fact that Mr. Fitzgerald is still working over the flippee.
.
i now you’re not feeling well friend – b real nut 3 times …well
Posted by: remembereringgiap | Oct 28 2005 20:58 utc | 30
typepad must be conspiring w/ me 😉 i promise i only clicked the post button 1X. let’s see what happens w/ this comment.
Posted by: b real | Oct 28 2005 21:05 utc | 31
Benjamin:
It is quite wrong to assert that, in a constitutional state, the struggle for existence becomes a struggle for law. On the contrary, experience shows conclusively that the opposite is the case. And this is necessarily so, since the law’s concern with justice is only apparent, whereas in truth the law is concerned with self-preservation. In particular, with defending its existence against its own guilt. In the last analysis, a normative force always comes down in favor of existing reality. –from “On Semblance,” 1921
It’s all show. The “normative force” is the preservation of power: secrecy, covert atrocities, homeland security, vindications of the abstraction of democracy, duty of elected officials to constituencies, and personally my favorite: “the law is applied equally to the powerful.”
Seriously. People believe this stuff. As I said, Fitz looks like a person who believes in “justice.” Amazing false consciousness. Amazing, really.
Posted by: slothrop | Oct 28 2005 21:58 utc | 32
Perhaps some mice are prematurely celebrating right now. Oh to be a fly [or other ‘bug’] on the wall at bullfeathers tonight….
Posted by: gylangirl | Oct 28 2005 22:46 utc | 33
Or, put another way:
Jean Baudrillard: “The denunciation of scandal is always an homage to the law
(…the scandal effect hiding that there is no difference between the facts and their denunciation). “
Posted by: slothrop | Oct 29 2005 0:13 utc | 35
children, children…you got an indictment with 5 different colorful charges, a Special Prosecutor Action Figure to uphold the law, a trial by jury to come…
and you’re complaining because you wanted the deluxe collectors edition with Chengoria and Bushwackka in chains.
personally I thought it was thrilling to hear someone talk about the process of our justice system in a way that did not resemble a carny barker.
Fitzgerald gave the Legislature more than enough to reopen their investigation and to look at the various claims that led to the invasion of Iraq, it would seem to me.
His investigation should shame them into doing a real investigation. I loved the way Fitzgerald talked about “The Public Trust.” Too bad too many public servants forget that respect for the public trust.
I’m looking forward to the unfolding of this process.
Watergate did not happen in one day. The mainstream press ignored or downplayed its significance, too.
It seems to me the move from investigation to trial is a good thing. This is far from over.
Posted by: fauxreal | Oct 29 2005 4:57 utc | 36
faux,
does that mean we got an I.O.U. for fitzmas?
Posted by: anna missed | Oct 29 2005 5:54 utc | 37
Today, in light of the indictment of Lewis (Scooter) Libby by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, Rep. Waxman has renewed a request to Chairman Davis that the Government Reform Committee, the principal investigative committee in the House, hold hearings into the leak of the identity of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson.
This story is hot and wanting out. We’ll see how the cookie crumbles.
Posted by: jm | Oct 29 2005 10:28 utc | 38
thanks fauxreal for saying clearly what I was thinking. This is already more than I ever hoped for. First indictment of a sitting whitehouse official in 130 years, w exposed again as a liar in that he said he would fire anyone found to have leaked Plame’s name (Libby resigned Friday after the indictment was made public), and the general appearance of deceit that is finally being perceived by the US public.
the republicans took 40 years to get where they are now, much of it in baby steps. Well just maybe we can send them back where they came from….in baby steps.
Posted by: dan of steele | Oct 29 2005 13:17 utc | 39