Judge says Libby, Libby, Libby, off to prison, prison, prison, he won't like, like, like it, pardon hopes fizzin', fizzin' fizzin'
Not even the 12 Angry Men could sway Judge Reggie Walton ...Nor could threats ...
The Scooter doesn't get to pass Go and collect $200 ... It's straight to jail for the former Assistant to the Vice President ... No waiting for the appeal in Aspen, he gets to stew in the big house ... He sits, behind bars, on Walton-Fitzgerald Time, not free time ...
And on The Garlic, It's A Scooterpalooza!
White House Sets Mark With No Terror Alert During Indictments; Libby's Bad News Passes Without Fear Package; Homeland Security Looks Into Missed Opportunity
Libby Indicted, Resigns and At Odds With Cheney Over Defense; VP Holds On To 'Nolo Contendere' In Event Charges Come; Has "No Problem" With Libby Doing Jail Time
Libby As Enemy Combatant Unlikely, But Treason Charges Could be Leveled; White House Quiet But Signs Indicate May Mount Offensive Against Libby; Sources Say ‘Everything Is On The Table”, Including Enemy Combatant Status; Rove Working On “Special Smears”
Top Ten Cloves: Things Overheard Last Night At Scooter Libby Fundraiser
OJ Out, Libby In, As Fox Looks To Make Lemonade Out Of Their Lemons; Reagan Snares Cheney Aide For “If I Leaked ...” Special; No Hush Money But Donation Made To Defense Fund
Trial In Chaos; Justice Dept. Gave Libby Lawyers Prospective Jurors Personal Info; Fitzgerald Livid As Emails, NSA Wiretaps, Financial Records Found In Defense Lawyers' Briefcase
Libby Trial Update: Cheney In The Crosshairs; Reports Surface Cheney Scouring eBay, Internet For Credibility; VP Office Silent, But On-Line Resellers Abuzz On Interest, Bartering With Vice President
Top Ten Cloves: Most Surprising Things To Come Out of the Scooter Libby Trial So Far
Libby Trial Update - The Scooter and Cheney Show Theme Song
Libby Trial Update - It's Miller Time!
Top Ten Cloves: Reasons Tim Russert Didn't Ask Scooter Libby About Joe Wilson and His Wife
Top Ten Cloves: Things Overheard In The Scooter Libby Jury Room
Libby Verdict Has Bush, White House Urging Cheney Into Rehab; Sources Claim 'Can't Be Trusted He Won't Break"; Iraq Comments "Last Straw" and "Were Not An Enormous Success"
Top Ten Cloves: Ways Scooter Libby May Get A Pardon
The Scooter Doesn't Skate ... New Garlic Song - Let's Jail Libby!
The Happier Days
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Libby, Libby, Libby ... It's A Scooterpalooza!
Monday, December 10, 2007
All I Want For Christmas Is My Presidential Pardon
It would appear the I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby is placing his chips on "Presidential Pardon", with the news today that, despite continuing to claim his innocence, he is ending the appeal of his trial, leaving him, for the time being, a convicted felon.
In all likelihood, that was the deal from the beginning, but, considering the mental capacity of The Decider Guy, does he even remember The Scooter Guy?
Especially after, earlier this summer, he offered "I'm aware of the fact that perhaps somebody in the administration did disclose the name of that person ..."
Did Cheney have those CIA guys erase his memory as well?
Does Scooter get his Christmas stocking stuffed with a Presidential Pardon?
Is this Scooter's powerplay, to force the hand that will sign the pardon?
With the blizzard of new scandals that whacked the Bush Grindhouse in the past week - take your pick; A) the still-growing CIA Videotape erasure, B) The Iran NIE Report C) Sheldon Whitehouse's yeoman work in exposing the self-appointed rulings, declaring The Decider Guy, well, the real Decider Guy, as whatever he says is the law, is the law - is The Scooter getting nervous that something could happen - yes, the "I" word - comes down, before January 20th, 2009, killing off his going-out-the-door pardon?
Is this pressure from Darth Vader, that, perhaps, the device inside his chest is in it's last throes and he wants to see his little Robin (Ehhh, scratch that - the thought of Cheney and Libby in tights ... Nasty), free-and-clear while he's still ticking?
This oughta' put a few talking heads to work over the next few weeks.
Everybody can synchronize their watches, for the Libby Pardon Clock is, officially, set today.
Mary Matalin must be busy, drafting up those new fundraising letters, and urging all those Friends of Scooter, to start badgering The Decider Guy to make the only decision they know in their hearts should be made - Pardon our Little Scooter!
And, for all of you waiting to hear The Scooter, or The Bush Grindhouse, spill their guts, now that the appeal process is over, think again.
There's still the matter of Valerie Plame's possible lawsuit and, no doubt, they will continue to clam-up, citing that "litigation", if the Wilson's can revive their case, after it was thrown out last summer.
Still, it would make for entertaining viewing, to see a subpoenaed Scooter, sitting in front a Congressional Committee, displaying his deep dedication to public service, by taking the 5th, over-and-over. A veritable civics lesson for the cable news and C-Span viewers.
Scooter must be banking on that The Commander Guy has a Santa suit hanging in the closet, perhaps, right next to his Mission Accomplished" flightsuit.
Valerie Plame, covert CIA agent exposed, to punish her Iraq War-critical, Op-Ed-writing husband, and no one goes to jail for treason?
Sounds like another Bush Grindhouse "Mission Accomplished" to me.
It's Another Scooterpalooza!
Let's Hear It For The Quid Pro Quo ... New Garlic Song - Hush Little Libby
Jane Hamsher: Scooter Libby Drops Appeal, Ready To Testify Before Congress?
Shaun Mullen: A Fall Guy’s Final Fall
EmptyWheel: Scooter Libby, Still a Felon; the Unitary Executive, Still a Dubious Theory
The Carpetbagger Report: Libby drops appeal — and gives the White House a chance to divulge?
Sidney Blumenthal: Bush and Cheney walk, too; Even as the president confesses that Scooter Libby engaged in a cover-up -- after all, that was the verdict -- he completes the ultimate obstruction of justice in the Plame affair.
Libby Trial Update - The Scooter and Cheney Show Theme Song
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
The Scooter Doesn't Skate ... New Garlic Song - Let's Jail Libby!
Well, Well, Well ...
No more aspens turning. No more lunches with Judy.
The Scooter doesn't skate. Hard time for one, royal hard-on.
Now, it remains to be seen if the Crony General and current Chief of Staff Josh Bolten rush over in the late of night to Judge Reggie Walton, imploring him to let The Scooter out on bail, so he can go through the charade of an appeal process, patiently tapping his toes, waiting for The Commander Guy, assuming his wrist isn't sore from signing Signing Statements, and pen his name to a pardon (that ground-shaking, like an earthquake, felt in the DC area around noontime today, was Cheney, with a head of steam, charging down to the Oval Office, red in face, foaming at the mouth, veins pulsing on his dome, demanding that pardon)
So, as we have in the past, The Garlic serenades The Scooter today, turning to the great Ray Charles' "Makin' Whoopie".
As always, sing along and let The Scooter hear you!Let's Jail Libby
Another lie, Another June
Another Bush-Cheney Goon
Another season, another reason
Let's Jail Libby
New terror news, where's Condi Rice
the Scooter is nervous. he answers twice
its so Killin that he's not spillin'
Let's Jail Libby
Picture a secret bunker
down where the neocons cling
picture the same secret bunker
Think what a smear can bring
He's washing files and Cheney's notes
He's so ambitious for Russert's shows
but don't forget folks thats what you get folks
Let's Jail Libby
Three years or maybe less
what's this I hear? Well you can't you guess
He feels neglected and he's suspected
Let's Jail Libby
He sits alone most every night
He doesn't phone Scooter, he doesn't write
Cheney says he's busy but Scooter say's "is he?"
Let's Jail Libby
He doesn't raise much money
Matalin's busier than a whore
some donors who thinks she's funny
says a pardon's gonna cost much more
Scooter says now judge suppose I fail
And Cheney says the check is in the mail
Scooter you better keep it, our little secret
Let's Jail Libby
you better keep it
our little secret
Let's Jail Libby
Bonus Links
Listen To Ray Charles and The Opening Vamp of "Makin' Whoopie"
Elizabeth de la Vega's "Sentencing for Dummies; The Fate of I. Lewis Libby"
Scooter Libby is like Lil' Kim
How About Them Apples Vicky Toensing?
Right-wing noise machine: Plame not covert
OJ Out, Libby In, As Fox Looks To Make Lemonade Out Of Their Lemons; Reagan Snares Cheney Aide For “If I Leaked ...” Special; No Hush Money But Donation Made To Defense Fund
Libby Trial Update - The Scooter and Cheney Show Theme Song
Friday, April 07, 2006
Libby As Enemy Combatant Unlikely, But Treason Charges Could be Leveled
White House Quiet But Signs Indicate May
Sources Say ‘Everything Is On The Table”, Including Enemy Combatant Status; Rove Working On “Special Smears”
“Well, he can, most likely, kiss his Presidential Pardon away,” offered David Aaronson, editor of 'What Color Is My Coat Today?', the Capital Hill Newsletter that tracks politicians who turn on their own party.
Aaronson is referring to I. Lewis ‘Scooter” Libby and the bombshell news yesterday, released in court documents, that President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney authorized Libby to leak classified information to
The sensitive intelligence information, contained in the classified National Intelligence Estimate, was used to build-up the case for war against Sadam Hussein, that
Subsequently, Libby, as well as possibly Special White House Counsel Karl Rove, and others in the Bush Administration, leaked information to Miller,
President Bush has consistently and steadfastly, criticized leaks of classified information, most notably, over his NSA Wiretapping, or what that White House calls Terrorist Surveillance Program, and the disclosure of CIA “Black Hole” prisons.
With the release of the court papers, detailing Libby’s testimony to the Grand Jury, regarding his charges of lying and obstruction of justice, placing the President and Vice President directly involved in the political and public relations campaign against a critic of the Administration, there has been an explosion of media, across television and blogs, hurling charges of “hypocrite” and “Leaker-in-Chief” at the President.
White House At Full Throttle; Bush On Libby: “He’s Clearly Against Us”
The White House has said little, citing their policy of not commenting on on-going court cases.
However, sources have told The Garlic, that, behind the scene, it’s been “all-hands-on-deck’, to deal with the Libby charges.
“The West Wing is in fourth gear, full-throttle on damage control,” said a Capital Hill veteran.
There has been an unconfirmed report, of President Bush arguing with Communication Director Dan Bartlett, with the President being heard saying “but he is clearly not with us ... He’s against us and we need to deal with that.”
Also unconfirmed is that the White House has known for months about Libby’s testimony, having conducted surveillance on Libby, and his lawyers.
“It was rather curious timing yesterday,” said Sonny Earl, editor of a Supreme Court newsletter that monitors the court's activities, 'OMIB" ('The Original Men In Black'), “of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales telling the House Judiciary Committee, on the question of wiretapping communications between Americans, that happens in the United States, without a warrant, that "I'm not going to rule it out."
Cheney “Livid” and Rove Working On Special Smears
One White House staffer, with the need to speak anonymously, indicated that Vice President Dick Cheney was “livid” when the news broke yesterday.
“He erupted,” said the source. “He started rampaging around the office, breaking furniture, smashing things against the wall, cursing Libby ... It took Addington and three Secret Service guys to wrestle him to the floor and calm him down.”
Cheney, according to the source, shouted at one point about getting his shotgun and “shooting Libby’s balls off.”
Numerous sources have told The Garlic that Karl Rove, possibly from direct order of the President, is to work up a batch of “special smears’, aimed directly at Scooter Libby, and his lawyers.
“If they let Rove loose on him,” said one person, inside the White House, “man, it’s going to go to Defcon 5 on the nastiness scale. There’s not much love lost between the West Wing and the VP’s office.”
Libby As Enemy Combatant Unlikely, But Treason Charges Could be Leveled
The activity in the White House appears to be completely focused on how to handle the Libby allegations. The White House Iraq Group is meeting to sift through their records and notes, to find anything that can damage Libby’s credibility.
“WHIG could provide some good dirt for them to use against Libby,” said Aaronson. “You’d have a whole batch of unfiltered comments and notes that could be massaged to read that everything is Libby’s fault.”
They’re looking at everything, according to Aaronson. “Brainstorming, looking through files, you name it, they’re considering it.”
Aaronson indicated that Justice Department lawyers were seen entering the West Wing, and not leaving until nearly three-hours later.
“Our reporters are telling us, from their sources in Justice, “ offered Aaronson, “that the President asked to examine charging Libby with being an “enemy combatant” and taking him completely out-of-play. Gonzales, reportedly, would back the President on such a move, but the long-time staffers, the career lawyers there, are casting serious doubts making the case for such a designation.”
“They may,” added Aaronson, “just tweak some things to throw treason charges at him.”
“Hell, they did just about everything except slip a few nuclear warheads into Saddam’s coat pocket”
“Look,” said Aaronson, “It’s obvious to just about everybody, except the Administration and their supporters, that the pre-war intel was manipulated to boost their script for taking Iraq ... Hell, they did just about everything except slip a few nuclear warheads into Saddam’s coat pocket ... And now you have Scooter Libby, seemingly, giving credence to that.”
Aaronson says this could all be “another smoke and mirrors” maneuver by the White House.
“With this Administration, and their history for, shall we say, distorting the facts, is Libby talking out of school? Or, is this part of a calculated defense - with the participation of the White House?”
Hypocrite or Leaker-in-Chief? President Bush is said to be in favor of designating Scooter Libby as an "enemy combatant" in an effort to prevent further disclosures of the White House's campaign to silence war critics
Thursday, March 20, 2008
"So Long Scooter, We're Through With You ..."
To steal from ''Yankee Doodle Dandy' for a moment ..."So long Scooter, we're through with you ...We'll have nothing to do with you ..."
No, I. Lewis "Scooter:" Libby isn't a jockey who was accused of throwing the English Derby, he was a member of the Bush Grindhouse, Vice President Death Vader's Chief of Staff who assisted outing a covert CIA Agent Valarie Plame, for the purpose of political retribution, lied about it, covered it up and was convicted of Perjury and Obstruction of Justice
(However, one of his accomplices, The Commander Guy, commuted his sentence, before Little Scooter had to really worry about if he would get see the aspens turning again)
Karma came a'vistin' to Scooter Libby today;
Former Cheney Aide Libby Disbarred"When a member of the Bar is convicted of an offense involving moral turpitude, disbarment is mandatory," the three judges wrote in their order. "This court has held that obstruction of justice and perjury are crimes of moral turpitude. Since respondent was convicted of each of these offenses, as the Board concluded, disbarment is mandatory under D.C. Code.
Jane Hamsher, from Firedoglake, has a pretty good idea;Kind of seems like some old time military "cashiering ceremony" is in order with a formal parade, where they call the miscreant out and break his sword and force him to leave.
I guess we'll have to settle for future disbarring in New York. Sets a nice precedent.
Hmmm... Can we expect a blizzard of new letters from the pen of Mary Matalin? Will she be seeking "Disbarment Funds" for the Scooter? Maybe Fred Thompson can chip in, write a few notes when Matalin cramps up, or make a few calls.
I wanted to link to the website - ScooterLibby.Com- but, apparently, they've taken it down and, rather ironically, the first Ad listing on the former link is for "Mini Power Scooters" (you can go here to see a partial listing of what was on it)
Oh, how the petty and twisted fall ...
Then again, it's a little more than eight-months to wait for the Christmas Pardon List
It's Another Scooterpalooza
Sidney Blumenthal: Libby and the White House book club - While Cheney's former aide prays for a presidential pardon, Bush and Rove hold forth in their neocon salon, and the cover-up continues
Breaking News! Domestic Spying Injected Into Libby Trial - Trial In Chaos; Justice Dept. Gave Libby Lawyers Prospective Jurors Personal Info; Fitzgerald Livid As Emails, NSA Wiretaps, Financial Records Found In Defense Lawyers' Briefcase
Top Ten Cloves: Reasons Tim Russert Didn't Ask Scooter Libby About Joe Wilson and His Wife
Breaking News - White House Bombshell: "VP Could Be In His Last Throes" - Libby Verdict Has Bush, White House Urging Cheney Into Rehab; Sources Claim 'Can't Be Trusted He Won't Break"; Iraq Comments "Last Straw" and "Were Not An Enormous Success"
Libby Trial Update - The Scooter and Cheney Show Theme Song
Breaking News! - Miller To Leave 'Times' With Movie Deal In Hand; Signs On To Star In Memento Sequel; Not Sure If She Will Continue Freelancing For Bush Admn.
UPDATE
Thanks to eagle eyes (and/or trusty links) of ZappoDave, the Libby Defense Fund website it still running!
Larisa Alexandrovna: Scooter disbarred...
Blue Girl: More good news!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Well, That Wasn't Much Of A Wait ...
If Scooter Libby leaves that Christmas stocking hung, it may end up with not much more that a piece of coal in it.
'Cuz that Christmas Presidential Pardon sure ain't flying down the chimney this year!
The Department of Injustice released their 2007 List of Pardons today, and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was not among the 29 names getting their holiday orgasm, their golden "I Got Away With It" certificate.
No doubt, the holiday eggnog in the Libby abode must be heavily rummed-up, and, perhaps, tasting a bit clumpy this evening.
What's an ass-kissing, law-breaking, CIA-covert-agent-exposing convicted felon have to do around this place to get a little love from his Compassionate Commander Guy ex-boss?
Like Tessio, in 'The Godfather", The Scooter must have been thinking "Hell, he can't do that ... It screws up all my plans ..."
Now, Little Scooter has to sit around, probably with Mary Matalin getting all in his face, constantly badgering him with drafts of new fundraising letters, listening to publishers tell him his previous books suck, but "if you write about what you did", which has to tempt the Mrs. Scooter to be barking in his ears, "Screw them, take the money!", keeping his steely pluck, relying on all his experience as a dedicated civil servant, and wait until next year to get his freedom.
Maybe Fred Thompson will drop out of the race (rather than waiting, about another two months, to be booted out of it, embarrassingly, with numbers that would only look good on a golf card) so he can be by his buddy's side, putting the arm on all those neocons to kick up a few bucks for the Little Scooter.
Wouldn't be surprised either, to hear news that Cheney was brought into the hospital -again - with a broken defibrillator.
Cheney has to be sitting around, stewing, the picture of a Looney Tune cartoon, his oversized head throwing off buckets of sweat, thinking about is this the time to say 'fuck it", and just issue the pardon himself.
Fox News will have to file away all that B-Roll, tape over the sappy soundtrack, book new talking heads for all the appearances they had the Little Scooter pegged for - across their Freakshow line-up (but, they will put him on with Chris Wallace anyway, lest they have to listen to him piss-and-moan about not getting anyone to come on his show).
Boy, sure wouldn't mind being the package of Sweet'N Low on the table, the next time Scooter and Judy get together for coffee
Bonus Scooter Links
Jane Hamsher: Poor Scooter, Always a Bridesmaid…
Breaking News! Fox Bounces The Juice and Brings In The Scooter; OJ Out, Libby In, As Fox Looks To Make Lemonade Out Of Their Lemons; Reagan Snares Cheney Aide For “If I Leaked ...” Special; No Hush Money But Donation Made To Defense Fund
Top Ten Cloves: Things Overheard Last Night At Scooter Libby Fundraiser
Scooter, you'll need to keep that pondering pose for, about, another year ...
Friday, October 28, 2005
Friday 28 October 2005
Breaking News!
Libby Indicted, Resigns and At Odds With Cheney Over Defense
VP Holds On To 'Nolo Contendere' In Event Charges Come; Has "No Problem" With Libby Doing Jail Time
Shortly after 12-Noon today, in a Washington D.C. Federal Courthouse, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald handed-up five counts of indictment against Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff, and closest advisor, Lewis 'Scooter" Libby.
The charges of obstruction of justice, making a false statement and perjury against Libby stem from the 22-month investigation by Fitzgerald on who in President Bush's administration leaked and revealed the identity of CIA Agent Valerie Plame. With that information being classified, Libby is accused of lying to, and misleading the Grand Jury impaneled by Fitzgerald to investigate this matter.
Karl Rove, President Bush's Special White House Council, and longtime closest adviser, apparently escaped indictment but remained under investigation.
Libby, reportedly, submitted his resignation earlier today, to Chief of Staff Andy Card, as well as to Vice President Dick Cheney. President Bush has issued a statement in which he says he accepts Libby's resignation "with deep regret".
Sources have told The Garlic that a clash is developing between Libby, and his boss, Vice President Cheney.
With Fitzgerald indicating the investigation is still "ongoing", Cheney has allegedly told Libby that he cannot plead "Nolo Contendere", as Cheney is reserving that option should Cheney himself become implicated or indicted.
Cheney remains at the center of this controversy, after information was released that Cheney, in a conversation with former CIA Chief George Tenet, learned the covert identity of Valerie Plame and relayed that information to Scooter Libby.
"They've been going at it big-time this past week," said one senior Capital Hill official. 'I'm talking about screaming matches and, I heard from others, punches being thrown."
There are rumors circulating in Washington that Cheney had Libby "roughed up" and his leg or foot broken.
Libby has been seen in public, the past few days, walking with the aid of crutches.
"I heard that also," said the Hill official. "All I can say is they are at odds, and very heatedly at that. Cheney, supposedly, made it very clear to Libby, months and months ago, that if charges came out of this investigation, "Nolo Contendere" was off-limits to Libby."
Nolo Contendere has not been used by a sitting Vice President or White Office Administration member in over 32-years, when then, Spiro Agnew, President Richard Nixon's Vice President, resigned from office and pleaded Nolo Contendere (which means "No Contest") to tax evasion and bribe charges from his tenure as Governor of Maryland.
Reportedly, when advised that Libby had, indeed, been indicted, Vice President Cheney, showing signs of agitation, stated that he "didn't have a problem" with Libby serving a jail sentence.
"What did they used to tell us when we were young?", said Cheney, "Commit a crime, do the time? That may be the appropriate course of action here."
White House officials have said that both President Bush and Vice President Cheney would be keeping their normal schedules today, with the President taking a block of time out to consult with his "Higher Father".
White House Special Council Karl Rove may be in the background for the moment, escaping indictment today, however Special Proscutor Patrick Fitzgerald hasn't closed his investigation into the CIA Leak Case.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Left Off Medal of Freedom Recipient List, Libby Said To Be "Crushed"
Cheney Said To Be Furious, Threatens To Expose Shadow Presidency If Pardon Doesn't Come Through
Sources tell The Garlic this morning that there are new, hostile divisions deep inside the White House.
I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, commuted from his felony conviction in the Plame Leak Case, was said to be "despondent and crushed" after seeing the list of Medal of Freedom recipients released by the President yesterday.
Libby, according to a West Wing staffer, called Vice President Dick Cheney, and in tears, expressed his disappointment to his former boss, of not being awarded one.
Cheney was said to be furious, reacting angrily and threatened to expose the Shadow Presidency he has been conducting.
Cheney reportedly called the President, "barking at him" and demanded to know, if Libby was not receiving a Medal of Freedom award, when was his pardon coming through.
"We were sure Scooter was going to get one." whined Mary Matalin (Editor's Note: Whining is Ms. Matalins' natural way of speaking), a Libby friend and former colleague, as well as one of the chief fundraisers for Libby's defense.
"I mean, he gave one to Tenet, for God sakes!"
When asked for comment, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino indicated she didn't know anything about the Medal of Freedom awards, or how the list was developed.
"However," she added, "I believe that there are certain health benefits to not receiving one."
Libby is, reportedly, in talks with the Fox News Network as to developing a new show, tentatively titled "Are You Smarter Than a Convicted, But Commuted, Former White House Official?"
Bonus Scooter Links
Libby Trial Update - The Scooter and Cheney Show Theme Song
Top Ten Cloves: Reasons Tim Russert Didn't Ask Scooter Libby About Joe Wilson and His Wife
Miller To Leave 'Times' With Movie Deal In Hand; Signs On To Star In Memento Sequel; Not Sure If She Will Continue Freelancing For Bush Admn.
Letters Cast Light on Cheney's Inner Circle; Dozens of Prominent Figures and Insiders Praise Libby as Fundamentally Decent
"We were sure Scooter was going to get one,." whined Mary Matalin. "I mean, he gave one to Tenet, for Godsakes!"
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Observers Say That The Bush Administration Aiding Mistrial Attempt
Libby’s Lawyers
May Coach Witnesses, Have Them Communicate With Each Other, Hoping For Mistrial
Coming off a minor victory from last week, the lawyer for I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby said this morning that “we may use some of the strategies from the Moussaoui trial”.
Last Friday, Federal Judge Reggie B. Walton, in a compromise, ruled that the Libby defense was entitled to receive limited amounts of highly-classified intelligence and information, instructing prosecutors to turn over "general topics of the matters" that were given to Mr. Libby when he was chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.
These lists, of the President's Daily Briefs, may be in the form of a “table of contents”, as well as being heavily redacted.
Watching the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui “with great interest”
Seeking to gain momentum, and continued to build the case the his client was “too busy” to have outted covert CIA Agent Valerie Plame, of remember who he spoke to about her, Theodore V. Wells Jr., Libby’s chief defense lawyer indicated that he is watching the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui “with great interest”.
The Moussaoui trial, the sentencing phase of it, has been thrown into chaos, and risks being declared a mistrial, after the court learned that Carla J. Martin, a Transportation Security Administration lawyer, has allegedly coached other witnesses, as well as communicate with them about the trial – doing so in violation of a court order from U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Brinkema, extremely agitated, halted the trial yesterday and threatened to remove the death penalty as a possible sentence for Moussaoui.
Plans To Force Mistrial By Coaching Witnesses
Specifically, Wells said that he may notify Judge Walton that he intends to “coach any or all witnesses in this case, and encourage them to email each other, about elements of their testimony and, overall, the scope of the trial.”
“Some have suggested that we wait for the trial to start,” said Wells, “to engage in these activities. I feel, if we can gain ground, or possible get a mistrial before we begin, then that would be in the best interests of my client.”
‘We’re looking to build some momentum off the PDB ruling.”
The momentum Libby and his lawyer are seeking my be derailed, as the White House, and CIA, has not yet decided to turn over the documents, giving some indications that a claim of “Executive Privilege” may be inserted.
Unconfirmed reports say that, when apprised of Friday’s ruling, President Bush immediately, and angrily, threatened to veto Judge Walton. When advised that wouldn’t be possible, the President summoned Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to the White House, to seek his advise on removing Judge Walton from the Federal bench.
Observers say that the Bush Administration may be attempting to challenge pretrial motions and procedures, looking for a flaw or a crack to jump the case over the Supreme Court.
“They can’t come out and overtly help Scooter,”, said Sonny Earl, editor of a Supreme Court newsletter that monitors the court's activities, 'OMIB" ('The Original Men In Black'). “What they can do is exercise their Executive Powers to the extent it pertains to the trial and make it as difficult as they can for the prosecutor and judge … Wear’em down and hope the can weaken the case.”
‘If they come up with a precedent that can get it into the big court … Well … That’s, more-or-less, is the end game here. Get the OMIB to back up the Executive Privilege claim and get the whole thing tossed out.”
Wells dismissed any talk of getting covert assistance from the White House.
“Everyone there is as busy, or even more busy then Mr. Libby was, during the period the prosecutor says he lied. I’m sure they’re so busy, that they wouldn’t even have the time to conjure up such a scheme – I barely had time to notice the Moussaoui trial and the great legal opportunities that may present us.”
Dubai Ports World Turning Over Any Libby Evidence To American Entity
In a move, not yet clear if it will be related, or not, to the Libby trial, scheduled to begin next January, Dubai Ports World announced that they are moving all their evidence and testimony on Scooter Libby to a yet-to-be-determined American entity. The company said in a statement released this morning that they wanted to avoid “any more hassles for the Bush Administration, as well as stoking any more anti-Arab, anti-Muslim rhetoric.”
Experts say that Dubai Ports World has testified in “a bevy of cases here in the
Scooter Libby is planning to use his crutchers during his trial next January, to bolster his defense that he is "too busy to remember his foot is healed"
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Breaking News! Domestic Spying Injected Into Libby Trial
Trial In Chaos; Justice Dept. Gave Libby Lawyers Prospective Jurors Personal Info
Fitzgerald Livid As Emails, NSA Wiretaps, Financial Records Found In Defense Lawyers' Briefcase
No sooner than it started, the trial of former Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, erupted in chaos, after the discovery of NSA wiretaps, emails and financial records in the possession of defense attorneys, apparently provided to them by the Justice Department.
Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was livid, charging the Libby team of lawyers, and the Vice President's office, with attempting to "intimidate the jury".
Fitzgerald said that as voir dire began, the process of questioning prospective jurors, he passed by the defense table, he noticed a memo, on the stationary of David Addington, Vice President Cheney's new Chief of Staff, addressed to Ted Wilson, Libby's lead attorney, stating;
"Teddy; I had the NSA put this package together for you ... Hope it helps ... David A"
There was also a "PS" on it, offering "Still working on the Chief to issue a Signing Statement for Scooter ... Don't give up hope for Pardon either".
'There were file folders with jurors names on them, transcripts, tapes ..." a still shaken Fitzgerald recounted to reporters.
Flabbergasted, Fitzgerald turned to U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton, asking for a sidebar. After a heated discussion between the attorneys and Judge, Walton called a recess in proceedings, and ordering the attorneys into his chambers for further discussion.
The Justice Department, as well as the office of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, refused comment, citing the policy of not making statements on on-going legal matters.
The National Security Agency also refused comment, on the basis of national security.
The Justice Department, and the Bush Administration have been under fire, and still face legal challenges, to their domestic spying, or, as referred to by the White House, the Terrorist Surveillance Program.
Libby is on trial, charged with multiple counts of perjury, for allegedly lying to Federal Agents, and the Grand Jury, investigating the leak in the Valerie Plame Case. Libby faces up to 30 years in prison and $1.25 million in fines.
Ironically,. Addington may be called to testify in the case, as the potential witness list also includes Vice President Cheney and a Who's-Who of Washington polticos and media.
Plame, a former CIA undercover agent, had her identity exposed by the Bush Administration, allegedly in retribution for action by her husband, the former Ambassador Joseph Wilson.
Wilson wrote an Op-Ed article in the New York Times, criticizing President Bush, and the administration, for placing debunked intelligence in the President's 2003 State of the Union Address, charging Iraq's Saddam Hussein with seeking Yellow Cake uranium in Africa for the purpose of nuclear weapons.
This piece of fabricated intelligence, as well as others, were used by the Bush Administration to build up the case for war and justify the invasion of Iraq.
According to reports, Vice President Cheney wrote notes in the margins of the Wilson Op-Ed, giving them to Libby, which launched what ultimately ended with the outing of CIA Agent Plame and the subsequent investigation leading to Libby's criminal charges.
White House Spokesperson Tony Snow told reporters this morning that "This isn't a head-banger... The President won't comment on on-going legal proceedings. As to dealing with anyone on his staff that leaks information, he's still thinking about that and he doesn't rule forming a new study group to look into it."
Snow would not comment on the rumors that, in an effort to keep Libby, and others, from testifying under oath about the inner workings of the Bush Administration, President Bush will declare the former staffer an "enemy combatant" and charge him with treason, under the cover of a closed military tribunal.
In a related matter, MSNBC host Tucker Carlson has been hired the Libby lawyers, to badger and threaten any bloggers covering the trial. Carlson said he was happy to be tapped and is up to the challenge, promising to "[expletive] destroy them."
The trial of Scooter Libby, and the potential witnesses called, may have the Capital squirming, as secrets of the Bush Adminstration could come tumbling out
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Breaking News! Fox Bounces The Juice and Brings In The Scooter
OJ Out, Libby In, As Fox Looks To Make Lemonade Out Of Their Lemons
Regan Snares Cheney Aide For “If I Leaked ...” Special; No Hush Money But Donation Made To Defense Fund
It may not get the ratings they initially anticipated, but it appears that News Corp, and their Fox Network, if they haven’t jumped out of the frying pan, at least turned it down to a low simmer.
Following a conflagration of condemnation for planning to air a two-hour special next week of the civil court-convicted murderer O.J. Simpson - "If I Did It, Here's How It Happened" and followed by a book of the same title, published by Judith Regan, of another News Corp. property, the ReganBooks division of HarperCollins, News Corp. Chairman and CEO Ruppert Murdoch cancelled both projects.
Sources have told The Garlic that Murdoch’s actions came only after Regan came to him with a last-minute replacement.
Running with mainly archival footage from the Fox News Division, and a hastily strung together outline of a novel by Lewis himself, the Fox Network will run “If I Leaked ... Here’s How I Would Have Exposed Covert CIA Agent Valerie Plame” over the same two-days they planned for the Simpson special.
“This is really making lemonade out of lemons,” offered Eddie Mars, editor of Please Shoot Me, the newsletter that tracks the
“Since this is, pretty much, out there in the public domain,” added Mars, “Fox doesn’t have to offer hush money to the family of Plame and they can still score some decent ratings for the Sweeps.”
Unlike the OJ Special, Libby’s faux Tell-All is being picked up by all the Fox affiliates and, according to a Fox spokesperson, “even non-affiliates are contacting us, asking if they can get the feed.”
ReganBooks will also publish “If I Leaked ... Here’s How I Would Have Exposed Covert CIA Agent Valerie Plame”, though it won’t be ready the day after the special ends, as was planned with the Simpson book.
Regan, who stated she had a personal reason for going with the Simpson television special and book, says she also has a “personal connection” to the Libby case. Regan, in a brief statement alluded to “being exposed and hurt by leaks” and, over the past 24-hours, developing a “strong bond with Mr. Libby.”
Libby’s book will be released, timed, for maximum exposure, the day Vice President Dick Cheney’s former Chief of Staff goes on trial in January, on three indictments for lying to investigators in the Plame Leak Case.
Unconfirmed reports cite that the Fox Network has made a “sizable donation” to the Libby Legal Defense Trust, and as a condition for the access to Libby’s papers and book, former colleague on the White House Iraq Group , and advisor to the Vice President, Mary Matalin will have a “unspecified role” in the television special.
Matalin would offer no comment beyond that “this will really put a punch in our solicitation letters for Scooter.”
Regan, reportedly, attempted to first, along with Libby, sign Vice President Dick Cheney for a special, “If I Was Drunk, Here’s I Would Have Shot My Friend”, however the Vice President’s office turned down the offer.
Regan, though, may have yet another plum for the Fox Network.
Reports say she is close to signing former Seinfeld star Michael Richards, for a television special and book deal that will run in the February 2007 Sweeps, tentatively titled “If I Were A Racist, This Is Now I Would Insult African Americans”
It remains to be seen who is being taken for a ride, with the planned Fox Network-Judith Regan “If I Leaked ... Here’s How I Would Have Exposed Covert CIA Agent Valerie Plame” Scooter Libby Special, a last-minute replacement for the condemned O.J. Simpson program
Thursday, July 12, 2007
"I'm aware of the fact that perhaps somebody in the administration did disclose the name of that person ..."
This may have to become a new, reoccurring feature
No shit, Dick Tracy!
It was Iraqi Iraqi Mid-Term Progress Report Day (Report Card Day comes in September), and, most likely, both the Bush Grindhouse and the Iraqi Government (well, whatever they are; Perhaps, if you have seen the movie 'Le Roi de Coeur' - King of Hearts - we can understand how the Iraqis modeled their parliament) were burning the phone lines, to get their stories straight.
It sure seems like the policy is "Well keep standing up, while they sit down".
In his press conference this morning, to crow about the possible, and slightly below 50%, positive marks, The Decider/The Commander/The Shakespeare Guy, answering the one and only question about his Quid Pro Quo bailing out of convicted felon, former Advisor to the President and Vice President Chief of Staff, I. Lewis 'Scooter" Libby, engaged in this startling response;Q If I could just switch subjects for a second to another big decision you made recently, which was in the Scooter Libby case.
Quick, someone call the Webster Dictionary folks, and have them insert Bush's picture under the words;
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q You spoke very soberly and seriously in your statement about how you weighed different legal questions in coming to your decision on that commutation. But one issue that you did not address was the issue of the morality of your most senior advisors leaking the name of a confidential intelligence operator. Now that the case is over -- it's not something you've ever spoken to -- can you say whether you're at all disappointed in the behavior of those senior advisors? And have you communicated that disappointment to them in any way?
THE PRESIDENT: Michael, I -- first of all, the Scooter Libby decision was, I thought, a fair and balanced decision. Secondly, I haven't spent a lot of time talking about the testimony that people throughout my administration were forced to give as a result of the special prosecutor. I didn't ask them during the time and I haven't asked them since.
I'm aware of the fact that perhaps somebody in the administration did disclose the name of that person, and I've often thought about what would have happened had that person come forth and said, I did it. Would we have had this, you know, endless hours of investigation and a lot of money being spent on this matter? But it's been a tough issue for a lot of people in the White House, and it's run its course and now we're going to move on.
Clueless
In Denial
Head Up One's AssSecondly, I haven't spent a lot of time talking about the testimony that people throughout my administration were forced to give as a result of the special prosecutor. I didn't ask them during the time and I haven't asked them since.
What the hell is this?
Is he inferring that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, somehow, in some way, coerced the testimony and statements implicating Cheney and Rove, and possible, himself?
Was he confusing Fitzgerald's method of conducting a lawful and legal investigation, following established U.S. laws and procedures, with the methods he has approved for interrogating prisoners at Gitmo and Abu Ghraib?
Does he believe that the "people throughout my administration" were tortured by Fitzgerald, therefore, the testimony they offered is unreliable and not to be believed?" ... that perhaps somebody in the administration did disclose the name of that person ..."
Again, this in not some inanimate object.
We pointed out before that there was a real victim, a real person, that suffered terrible consequences as a result of "somebody in the administration did disclose the name of that person ..."
"That person" is Valerie Plame, now former, covert CIA Agent, exposed, thanks to Bush, Cheney, Libby and Rove.
The persons that leaked her name, exposed her, blowing her covert cover include;
- Dick Cheney
- Scooter Libby
- Karl Rove
- Ari Fleischer
- Ricard Armitage
- Robert Novak
- Matthew Cooper
- Judy Miller
You'll be getting us thinking. Talk like this will have us adding, derisively, "Sherlock Holmes Guy" to you and your self-produced moniker list.
Bonus Links
Glenn Greenwald - Excerpt from Chapter 4 of A Tragic Legacy: How a Good vs. Evil Mentality Destroyed the Bush Presidency
Garlictorial: Happy 4th of July ... Okay, It May Be Down To This .... Citizen's Arrest!
Bonus Links II
Crooks and Liars - Bush blames Saddam for the US attack of Iraq and says: “there is a war fatigue in America”
Bonus Links III
Joe Conason - It's finally time for Bush to answer questions about Libby; Why not start with releasing the transcripts of Bush and Cheney's interviews with special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald?
Washington Post: Commuting Libby's Sentence "Fair," Bush Says; For First Time, President Acknowledges Role of an Administration Official in Leak of CIA Operative
