Tuesday, October 25, 2005
See Dick Squirm
This is, er, sort of big.
Still, before you hit a heightened state of schadenfreude-uphoria, Fubar warns that all that glitters may not be gold. In other words, if Cheney exits stage left, Bush might pick a legitimate contender for 2008 - whereas Cheney has no such designs. This potential new pick would have the advantage of vice-incumbency.
As a rebuttal to Fubar's thesis, I say good luck to anyone running on the record of this Administration. It might actually be a disadvantage to be so closely associated with team Bush. Especially when more of the chickens come home to roost. If you don't believe me, just get a hold of the video of staunch Bush supporter William Kristol trying to defend the record of the Bush Administration on the Daily Show last night. Poor Mr. Kristol had the nervous look, and uncertain voice, of someone who doesn't believe their own spin. His iteration of the "accomplishments" of the Bush administration was decidedly underwhelming. It was the limp-wristed handshake of endorsements, and Jon Stewart was merciless with poor Billy. So before the post-holiday hangover kicks in, enjoy the mirth of Fitzmas.
[UPDATE: Jane Hamsher connects some dots on Dick:
Lawyers in the case said Mr. Libby testified to the grand jury that he had first heard from journalists that Ms. Wilson may have had a role in dispatching her husband on a C.I.A.-sponsored mission to Africa in 2002 in search of evidence that Iraq had acquired nuclear material there for its weapons program.As I surmised before, someone high up in the Bush Administration has been flipped. Maybe more than one such official. It now looks like "Scooter" might be throwing his boss on the fire in an effort to avoid a date with a shiny orange jump suit. Don't know if this means Cheney will be indicted for sure, but it doesn't exactly look good for Dick. The plot, it thickens.
But the notes, now in Mr. Fitzgerald's possession, also indicate that Mr. Libby first heard about Ms. Wilson - who is also known by her maiden name, Valerie Plame - from Mr. Cheney. That apparent discrepancy in his testimony suggests why prosecutors are weighing false statement charges against him in what they interpret as an effort by Mr. Libby to protect Mr. Cheney from scrutiny, the lawyers said.
It is not clear why Mr. Libby would have suggested to the grand jury that he might have learned about Ms. Wilson from journalists if he was aware that Mr. Fitzgerald had obtained the notes of the conversation with Mr. Cheney or might do so. [emphasis added]
Still, before you hit a heightened state of schadenfreude-uphoria, Fubar warns that all that glitters may not be gold. In other words, if Cheney exits stage left, Bush might pick a legitimate contender for 2008 - whereas Cheney has no such designs. This potential new pick would have the advantage of vice-incumbency.
As a rebuttal to Fubar's thesis, I say good luck to anyone running on the record of this Administration. It might actually be a disadvantage to be so closely associated with team Bush. Especially when more of the chickens come home to roost. If you don't believe me, just get a hold of the video of staunch Bush supporter William Kristol trying to defend the record of the Bush Administration on the Daily Show last night. Poor Mr. Kristol had the nervous look, and uncertain voice, of someone who doesn't believe their own spin. His iteration of the "accomplishments" of the Bush administration was decidedly underwhelming. It was the limp-wristed handshake of endorsements, and Jon Stewart was merciless with poor Billy. So before the post-holiday hangover kicks in, enjoy the mirth of Fitzmas.
[UPDATE: Jane Hamsher connects some dots on Dick:
Here is the key paragraph:Very interesting.]Mr. Cheney was interviewed under oath by Mr. Fitzgerald last year. It is not known what the vice president told Mr. Fitzgerald about the conversation with Mr. Libby or when Mr. Fitzgerald first learned of it.Cheney was interviewed by Fitzgerald last year under oath. That would make it perjury to tell a lie. Although Republican logic tells us that perjury is only a crime if you're getting a blow job in the bargain, a legitimate US attorney might not see it that way.
What indication do we have that Cheney lied? Well, if Cheney he had [sic] told the truth when he was interviewed last year, i.e., that he was Scooter Libby's source, Fitzgerald would not have needed to threaten Judy Miller and Matt Cooper with jail in order to counter Scooter Libby's testimony that he first heard about Valerie Plame's identity from journalists.
