NY Times: Aide to Cheney Appears Likely to Be Indicted

[Syrinx]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 - Associates of I. Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, expected an indictment on Friday charging him with making false statements to the grand jury in the C.I.A. leak inquiry, lawyers in the case said Thursday.

Karl Rove, President Bush's senior adviser and deputy chief of staff, will not be charged on Friday, but will remain under investigation, people briefed officially about the case said. As a result, they said, the special counsel in the case, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, was likely to extend the term of the federal grand jury beyond its scheduled expiration on Friday.

As rumors coursed through the capital, Mr. Fitzgerald gave no public signal of how he intends to proceed, further intensifying the anxiety that has gripped the White House and left partisans on both sides of the political aisle holding their breath.

Mr. Fitzgerald's preparations for a Friday announcement were shrouded in secrecy, but advanced amid a flurry of behind-the-scenes discussions that left open the possibility of last-minute surprises. As the clock ticked down on the grand jury, people involved in the case did not rule out the disclosure of previously unknown aspects of the case.

http://nytimes.com/2005/10/28/politics/28leak.html?ei=5094&en=f4b9e5edc0a35fdf&hp=&ex=1130472000&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print

[AX10]

1. FITZMAS EVE!

[bluestateguy]

2. Good! But we want Rove!

Rove is the trophy, the big prize, the prize that will render the Bush Administration impotent for the next 3 years. Bush cannot so much as shit in his pants without Karl Rove being there to wipe his ass for him.

[johnfunk]

41. The NY Times was wrong about Iraq WMDs

... don't be surprisd if they're wrong about Turd Blossom...

[brooklynite]

58. Um, doesn't W get permission to go to the bathroom from Condi?

[Botany]

3. If Rove is not charged then he has flipped on somebody

or agreed to a plead guilty to something.

[speedoo]

5. Rove... ".. will remain under investigation".

And the GJ is being extended.

If anyone thinks Fitz is extending the GJ without real thing to continue to investigate, they have not leaned much about him.

Rove will get nailed... I have no doubt.

[Elidor]

47. I think the extra time is to squeeze Rove for all he's worth.

It's worth leaning heavily on Turd Blossom to see just how much he'll give up on Cheney's team. I have no idea if that's what Fitzgerald is doing, but it's an obvious enough course to follow.

[joeunderdog]

123. Mixed blessing for the WH

They hate that every night is filled with speculation. I think they'd prefer to know that he is going to be charged so they can cut a plea. The media attention is killing their agenda.

The nightly coverage is delicious.

[Stephanie]

57. Fitzgerald paid a visit to Luskin late Wednesday, I think

Or was it Tuesday?

[gordianot]

63. A possibility. He may be doing a Novak.

[Miss Chybil]

71. What the hell happened to Novak, anyway?

I haven't seen him since he stormed off CNN, apparently drunk, saying something was "bullshit."

[gordianot]

125. He most probably cooperated. Who knows? n/t

[deadparrot]

4. What does being briefed "officially" entail?

Unless I hear it from Fitz, I'm not believing anything.

[xultar]

6. I bet someone from Fitz's office was told to make a courtesy call

and let BushCo know what was going to happen.

[Halliburton]

29. luskin has been associated with that moniker

so don't take much into it.

[IndianaGreen]

124. Libby probably got a letter telling him he would be indicted

Fitzpatrick met with Rove's attorney, perhaps on a plea deal which, according to Rawstory, was turned down.

Fitzpatrick will impanel a new grand jury to look at forgery of documents. This investigation will surely make Cheney a target of a criminal investigation.

The MSM media is going bonkers.

[DubyaSux]

7. Rove Not To Be Charged...

....talk about anti-climatic (if true).

Article here

[AX10]

8. Is this true?

I hope Rove is indicted!

[kikiek]

9. If true the jury was going to be extended and Rove still under

investigation. Sounds even more ominous for Rove to me! Go get him Fitz.

[Elidor]

48. Yes, for Rove it is the death of a thousand cuts.

The agony of not knowing goes on and on and on for him. This makes me happy. :)

[democrat in Tallahassee]

10. at least not tomorrow, but it goes on

[savemefromdumbya]

11. So Rove is the rat

turns on his own - how clever! Bush will be very pleased!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Hold it. Read the article!

"Karl Rove, President Bush's senior adviser and deputy chief of staff, will not be charged on Friday, but will remain under investigation, people briefed officially about the case said. As a result, they said, the special counsel in the case, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, was likely to extend the term of the federal grand jury beyond its scheduled expiration on Friday."

In other words, he's NOT off the hook yet.

[Gloria]

19. I was told by someone who spoke with const. lawyers that

Fitz really can't extend this grand jury (except maybe from a Friday to a Monday due to illness or something quickly resolved) and that he will have to call a new grand jury, no matter what.

[MADem]

37. Yes he can, he has to go to a judge to get authority this time, though

He cannot do it on his own. See here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051026/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_investigation;_ylt=AtJsYjGj.0O5gwkUY2DqK76s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

The money quote: It is possible for Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan to extend the life of the grand jury at Fitzgerald's request. Such a step would be taken in secret.

[FVZA_Colonel]

25. It did say "likely to extend"...

Odds are he will do it, but he might not.

[Carolab]

67. Why would he take more office space if not?

On edit: Just read on TWN that this was an error--apparently it's unconfirmed now and Clemons has retracted.

[johnfunk]

44. He could well be ratting the WHIOGs out!

Wouldn't surprise me. Rove is notorioous for calculating every angle...

[Arkana]

13. Sludge says the same

yet Raw Story says the exact opposite--that Rove and Libby are getting it.

[indie_voter]

14. MHO, I don't think it's anti-climatic

This sentence is music to my ears:

Karl Rove, President Bush's senior adviser and deputy chief of staff, will not be charged on Friday, but will remain under investigation, people briefed officially about the case said.

"remain under investigation"

:woohoo:

[Dagaz]

55. Sure for another 3 years

"remain under investigation"

Basically Fitz is saying he's got nothing. Might need Rove to testify against someone...maybe Libby.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

15. Has KKKarl flipped on Bush?

Or is he just being slow-roasted?

[Carolab]

68. He'd never give up his prince. n/t

[cassiepriam]

117. Rove would sell his own mother for a dime, but not Bush.

Bush is his creation, his baby. And without Bush, Rove is nothing. Too much narcissistic ego involvement in his relationship with Bush to flip. Rove pulled something fancy in his last GJ testimony. Fitz is going to slow roast him.

[Carolab]

126. Yes, until at some point Piggy smells his own flesh on the spit.

THEN, watch him squeal.

[cassiepriam]

127. That is true. But Rove always has tons of dirty tricks up his sleeve

He will not go quietly.

[AlCzervik]

16. i'm waiting for Fitzgerald to say it before i take it as gospel.

[librechik]

17. turned state's evidence in exchange for immunity?

so that's why his lawyer was on the phone with Fitzgerald's office.

Could be good news. Who cares about the Rover? It's Cheney and Bush who need to be impaled.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

53. That's what I was thinking was what his attorney's negotiation

was about. Letting Fitz know who Karl had to offer up.

[clydefrand]

18. If this is from the NYT, why isn't it on their website?

Never mind, I see it there.

[Sgent]

20. Rumor says

Rove won't be charged tomorrow, but remains under investigation...

We still don't know who the rumor comes from, so grains of salt all around.

[emulatorloo]

21. Deserves a DU 4 paragraph snip - NYT: Aide to Cheney Appears Likely to Be

Aide to Cheney Appears Likely to Be Indicted in C.I.A. Leak Case

By DAVID JOHNSTON
and RICHARD W. STEVENSON
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 - Associates of I. Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, expected an indictment on Friday charging him with making false statements to the grand jury in the C.I.A. leak inquiry, lawyers in the case said Thursday.

Karl Rove, President Bush's senior adviser and deputy chief of staff, will not be charged on Friday, but will remain under investigation, people briefed officially about the case said. As a result, they said, the special counsel in the case, Patrick J. Fitzgerald, was likely to extend the term of the federal grand jury beyond its scheduled expiration on Friday.

As rumors coursed through the capital, Mr. Fitzgerald gave no public signal of how he intends to proceed, further intensifying the anxiety that has gripped the White House and left partisans on both sides of the political aisle holding their breath.

Mr. Fitzgerald's preparations for a Friday announcement were shrouded in secrecy, but advanced amid a flurry of behind-the-scenes discussions that left open the possibility of last-minute surprises. As the clock ticked down on the grand jury, people involved in the case did not rule out the disclosure of previously unknown aspects of the case.

[Bigleaf]

22. Rove is the one I wanted the most.

I'll be pissed if he gets off. It's depressing what these guys get away with.

[Alizaryn]

23. Yuck

[kikiek]

24. What is that I smell....oh desperation...common odor these days.

[AlCzervik]

26. This line right here speaks volumes

Allies of Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby have hoped that Mr. Fitzgerald could be persuaded that any misstatements were inadvertent and not intended to conceal their actions from prosecutors.

I guess he could not be persuaded since Rove will still be under investigation.

[Giant Robot]

27. Ignore if you don't like foul language

But for fuck's sake?! What does Rove have to do sodomize a schoolyard full of kindergartners and then blow up a bus load of nuns before anyone charges him?! This has been going on for fucking years. Give me a break. He has to have so many skeletons in his closet that he can be charged with something. I understand this is not absolute yet until I hear it from Fitzgerald, and that if this is true, he will still be under investigation, but how much longer does this cartel get to operate as is?

Rant over.

[Beetwasher]

28. I Call BULLSHIT Until I Hear From Fitz

"Karl Rove, President Bush's senior adviser and deputy chief of staff, will not be charged on Friday, but will remain under investigation, people briefed officially about the case said."

I call bullshit until I hear from Fitz or I know these "people briefed officially about the case". The NYT can not be trusted about this. It may be true, but I won't take their word for it.

[ninkasi]

64. Rove is only next to Bush and Cheney for me...

Charging Rove would make me so very, very happy. He is an evil fuck, and deserves any bad things that come his way. He was the one who expedited the whole thing for Bush to take over our country. I hope he goes down in flames.

[barb162]

33. Yeah, I agree

Getting Rove would have been nice. Very nice

[still_one]

34. not true, the investigation is being extended

[bitchkitty]

59. It says he won't be charged along with Libby on Friday -

not that he won't be charged at all.

I can hope...

[janx]

30. The NYT is not about to mess up again--not at this point.

Rove will remain under investigation. The sources, at least, were officially briefed.


ARE YOU READY FOR FITZMAS MORNING? :party:

[Mike_The_Computer]

31. Safe to say, Rove did whatever he had to do to stay out of jail.

Bush is in a tough spot, now that his filthy co-conspirator confidant Rove may be turning on him. Keep him Rove in the White House? Risk letting him go? Junior is so screwed!

[MADem]

40. Like maybe rat out LIBBY?

He'd better make sure he has every T crossed and every I dotted. All it takes is someone close to him to flip without his knowledge, and he is totally HOSED...

[still_one]

32. if it is going to be extended that is extremely important

[janx]

38. YES,

it is.

[rodeodance]

35. so, the whole country has to wait on Rove. Damn!

[longship]

36. Yes, and the NYTimes is such a *reliable* source.

And, there's weapons of mass distruction in Iraq.
And, Bob Dole is an alien.
Pshaw!

[rodeodance]

39. WH will be in a long drawn out legal proceeding!!--

......Yet any indictment would leave the White House facing the prospect of a drawn-out legal proceeding that is likely to touch on what Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney knew about the effort to deal with Mr. Wilson's criticism, as well as keeping a spotlight on the shortcomings in administration prewar intelligence about Iraq's weapons.

[rodeodance]

42. neither lawyer is talking.

.....Allies of Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby have hoped that Mr. Fitzgerald could be persuaded that any misstatements were inadvertent and not intended to conceal their actions from prosecutors.

In addition, they have hoped that the prosecutor would conclude it would be difficult to convince a jury that Mr. Rove or Mr. Libby had a clear-cut motive to misinform the grand jury. Lawyers for the two men declined to comment on their legal status.

[longship]

43. My comment was not on this article,

but on the NYT losing all credibility by their coverage over the past five-plus years.

[rodeodance]

45. aaron brown and David Gergan talking now. cnn

[rodeodance]

46. Gergan said a new grand jury would be be assembled. this will be LONG

process folks!

[kikiek]

54. Good that could only mean they are going deep. This deserves nothing

but the most extensive investigation in the history of this country. If proven no higher crime has been committed in the office of the president ever. I think if they can prove they blocked pre war intelligence we should turn them in to a world tribunal and they can be Saddam's cellmates.

[DLnyc]

49. Point to consider: If Rove avoided indictment by ratting out people

on the Cheney side, there is going to be some very bad blood between the whole Cheney-Rumsfield-Bolton-neocon group and shrub's ever-shrinking 'inner circle'. Rove might avoid indictment by ratting out a number of these guys, but the blowback will seriously erode his power. Specifically, the universal loyalty/fear that Rove used to command from all corners of the shrub deathstar is history. The disarray over Harriet is undoubtedly the first glimmer of a glorious unravelling as these creeps start taking revenge on each other. I love it!

[wookie294]

50. If the choice is indicting Rove or Cheney, I'd pick Cheney

I'm hoping Rove won't be charged because he ratted out Cheney. Merry Fitzmas!

[adigal]

51. Sounds like rove is bargaining

and the only thing he could bargain to get himself out of trouble is to turn in someone higher up than he. Which is....Bush himself!!

Merry Fitzmas!!

[CityDem]

52. This sucks (if true)

Rove is the big fish in this matter and and it will really suck if he is not indicted tomorrow. Sure, Fitz may continue to investigate, but Rove would be indicted along with Libby if there was a solid case. While I am excited at the prospect of the Libby indictment, it is only for making false statements to the grand jury. No indictment for outing Plame -- this sucks even worse. The media whores will spin this as a technicality and the whole issue will blow over when the new scotus hearings begin. I sure hope this NYT report is off base.


on edit -- corrected spelling

[onehandle]

56. Charge Rove, Dammit!!!

Another lump of coal on Fitzmas.

Swell.

[seriousstan]

60. LIBBY??? The guy was unknown until a few months ago!

This is it? I guess we have to settle for this....later in the article.....

"Yet any indictment would leave the White House facing the prospect of a drawn-out legal proceeding that is likely to touch on what Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney knew about the effort to deal with Mr. Wilson's criticism, as well as keeping a spotlight on the shortcomings in administration prewar intelligence about Iraq's weapons."

I'm not sure there is a lot of consolation there.

[Independent_Liberal]

61. One way or another, Rove is definitely in a heap of trouble.

No doubt about it.

[Tom Joad]

62. Don't worry, I think Rove will resign, even if not indicted.

The White House will not be able to justify keeping this man on board, and he will be busy defending himself. So he is out too. Mark my word.
RIH Karl Rove
October 28, 3005

[madmark]

65. Its my understanding that Fitzgerald and Luskin have had past

collegial relations and perhaps that gave Luskin the angle to get Fitzgerald to refrain from moving against his client.

[snot]

73. Help--who's Luskin? --nt

[Straight Shooter]

66. Well, someone on DU asked for predictions the other night.

I said neither side will be happy.

There you have it. x(

[jaysunb]

109. you did, didn't you.....

I felt bad then, but feel worse now. I wanted Roves head on a stake.

[lovuian]

69. Losing Scooter is like castrating Cheney!!!

Fitz did his job and did it well!!!

[Edgewater_Joe]

70. It Could Mean Rove Cut A Deal

Remember all those stories about visits to Rove's attorney? That's one way to avoid an indictment, after all.

One key seems to be whether a new grand jury gets empaneled or not. If that happens, then Rove NOT being indicted is even better.

[Pryderi]

72. What kind of deal could Rove have cut? I think he may escape indictment.

[HR_Pufnstuf]

74. I thought there were going to be 22 indictments.

According to Larry Johnson's lunch partner was it?

lol. madnesss.

[mike_c]

75. Rove is bargaining....

This could get very interesting. But if Rove is bargaining, I hope Fitzgerald has his balls thoroughly in the crusher, because Rove is a devious POS.

[rodeodance]

76. (AP) White House Fears Indictment for Libby

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051028/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/cia_leak_investigation;_ylt=Av9sqsnKph1W8daTvWLxBuWs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--
White House Fears Indictment for Libby

By PETE YOST and JOHN SOLOMON, Associated Press Writers 22 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Working against the clock, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald weighed criminal charges against top presidential aides at the end of a two-year investigation that put the White House in a state of high suspense Thursday night.

Fitzgerald raced against a Friday expiration of the grand jury that has been investigating the exposure of covert
CIA officer Valerie Plame's identity. Speculation flew across Washington about who would be indicted, or whether Fitzgerald would even bring criminal charges.

White House colleagues feared Vice President
Dick Cheney's chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, would be indicted Friday for at least false statements but held out hope that presidential political adviser Karl Rove might escape criminal charges for the time being.

[rodeodance]

77. similar to NYTimes story.

[rodeodance]

78. very sim. to Times.--Rove spared tomorrow --but not in the future.

A person outside the legal profession familiar with recent developments in the case said Thursday night that Rove's team does not believe he is out of legal jeopardy yet but likely would be spared bad news Friday when the White House fears the first indictments will be issued.

Fitzgerald signaled Thursday he might keep Rove under continuing investigation, sparing him from immediate charges, the person said, speaking only on condition of anonymity because of the secrecy of the grand jury probe.

Both Rove and Libby put in their normal long work day at the White House on Thursday.

[Tom Joad]

79. I think Rove will resign, even if not indicted. eom

[Straight Shooter]

84. From your mouth to God's ear. n/t

[applegrove]

80. AND ROVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[deadparrot]

81. Reuters has a similar story...they almost certainly got it from NYT. nt

[Pacifist Patriot]

82. A media person once told me there are only four sources

for breaking print news. AP, Reuters, Washington Post and the New York Times..with the others grabbing it quickly if it's not a simultaneous break. Everything else is derivative. I don't know if that's true but more often than not it sure looks like it.

[deadparrot]

83. Since they all seem to be materializing within an hour or so of the NYT

piece, I assume that they're just "copycatting" each other at this point.

[WLKjr]

85. FOX NEWS BREAKING!!!!!!!!

LIBBY TO BE INDICTED!!!!!

Headline:

http://www.foxnews.com/


Story:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,173774,00.html

[The Backlash Cometh]

86. I can't imagine why they would be the first to know.

:eyes:

[hippiechick]

88. He probably leaked them a copy of his 'target' letter from Fitz ...

:silly:

[ShockediSay]

87. Shocked!

Shocked I say!

[deadparrot]

89. Wherever did that get that idea?

:eyes:

[SammyBlue]

90. It's not a Fox report. . .it's an AP report they posted on their site.

They can't even do their own reporting. It's a wonder anyone takes Fox seriously.

[uppityperson]

91. "to be" are the important words here. No story yet.

Someone may be indicted!!!!!!!!!!!! stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nothing yet.

[Mr_Spock]

92. Fabulous - we have Faux "News" reports on DU

:eyes:

Makes me sick to my stomach - they are a Nazi propaganda machine and we promote them :(

[WLKjr]

94. GOOGLE has multiple sites reporting the same

[Mr_Spock]

96. Right. So what's the headline on DU? "FOX NEWS BREAKING"

Makes me sick to my stomach. Heil Hitler!

[WLKjr]

97. damn, I'm sorry

I have about 5 different sites up now, and that was the first I saw a banner on.

[Trajan]

93. Fox ? ....

WTF is Fox ? ....

NEVER go there .... ever ....

[WLKjr]

98. read my reply to Mr_Spock

[Trajan]

102. Yeah ..... I repeat .....

NEVER go to Fox .... ever ....

There are SO many valid sources, and life is so short: how can I justify spending even a moment there ? ...

NAY ! .. I shant ......

I will await REAL news from somewhere else, and reject that Fox even exists ...... Life is too damned short .....

[WLKjr]

105. I didn't necessarily believe it at first, but

I posted it up and went and googled it to see if anyone else was doing it too, and google had a few different sites, second one I saw was some science site that had it up not long after fox did.

[lovuian]

95. Looks like Libby is VERY EXPENDABLE!!!

but the Brain is not!!!

[The Judged]

101. Rove's attorney leaks, Fitzgerald knows it, and it's OK?

"Fitzgerald signaled Thursday he might keep Rove under continuing investigation, sparing him from immediate charges, the person said, speaking only on condition of anonymity because of the secrecy of the grand jury probe."

How can Fitzgerald profit from allowing Rove's attorney to play spin the bottle with the media?

Please explain that to me.

[lonestarnot]

103. Holly damn cow...I'm having one! teeehehehehehehhe

[HR_Pufnstuf]

106. It's too late. Fox is already broke.

nt

[lovuian]

99. For the time being HA HA HA!!! Rove is not indicted but what

will Bush do then HA HA HA!!! Make the decision keep him or have him resign!!!

Now Bush can't sit there and say I don't know now he does and if there is ANY question of Rove involvement he should fire him... I love this let Bush be in the HOT SEAT HA HA HA!!! Fitz is Brilliant!!!

Libby is dead meat and expendable!!! Cheney lost his legg man and is castrated!!!

[kikiek]

100. I can't wait for the Plame suit too. This ain't going away like they're

fantasizing.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

104. Libby's canned

[ignatzmouse]

107. Fitzgerald may simply be satisfying the Grand Jury to a tee

Remember that the Rove machine has many friends who may or may not include Grand Jury members, but it will certainly extend to influential friends of Grand Jury members.

The hurdle must be very high -- witness the last minute scrambling with interviews of Plame neighbors. I have the sense that there is some resistance coming from the jurors. By reports, Fitzgerald is to keep Rove's participation under further investigation. It simply means that he is working diligently to meet the Grand Jury requirements. He doesn't want his work to get shot down. Give him some slack and see what he comes up with.

[jaysunb]

112. Sorry...not in DC

That GJ is probably heavily African American, and we don't play in the bushes !!:evilgrin:

[Singular73]

108. Bullshit

They are trying to lower expectations, after having raised them too high.

Watch what happens tomorrow.

[deadparrot]

110. I'll ask the same thing here that I've asked in two other threads...

If Fitz's investigations are known for their secrecy, why oh why would Fitz send out target letters/make calls informing these people of his genuine intentions? He would have to know that any calls he made or letters that he sent would be immediately leaked. The man has no history of leaking any information to the press (in fact, it's quite the opposite). Why would he do any different with this case?

It doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

[jaded_at_best]

111. WHITEWASH

pure and simple. If all we get is a perjury indictment against Scooter, Fitzgerald is the one who needs to be investigated.

What else would you expect from someone appointed by John Ashkkkroft?

I've been saying all along that it is in the bag for the Bush Crime Family.

[NeoConsSuck]

118. I agree.

As Ozymandius points out in his stock market thread every day:

Number of Enron Execs in handcuffs = 19
ENRON EXECS CONVICTED = 2

This is going to be the same deal. If you think anyone involved in this will ever spend a day in jail, I have a bridge in downstate NY I would like to sell ya.

[antonialee839]

113. How does one indict Libby and not "she's fair game" Rove?

If this front running weasel is not indicted along with Libby,
then there is no justice.

[boddhi]

114. Libby is the fall guy

it's been my fear for quite some time that the choice had been made and the cabal had two years to work out the story. The cabal knew it was likely that somebody might have to take the hit so Libby got the short straw. He'll be publicly embarrassed and get a fat consulting job with Halliburton in six months. The public doesn't know who Libby is and it'll have the least impact on the administration. It's why what's-her-face got out of jail - she was permitted out because they'd decided that they weren't going to get out of it without somebody taking the fall, so she came out and ratted Libby.

Somebody please wake me from this Nightmare Before Fitzmas...

[antonialee839]

115. Hopefully Libby is feeling like some company and dimes out the entire

cesspool.

[Peace Patriot]

116. The bad news is that this is what Libby predicted to Miller...

in his cryptographic paragraph about the "aspens," if I parsed it correctly (a very big if), and if it was truly intended for Miller. In the non-cryptographic part, he tells her many times that he now wants her to testify, and that he always did (blarney). He is taking the "fall" for the others, but the "aspens" that turn "in clusters" in the fall "because their roots are connected" are still in place and the Mideast war goes on and expands (i.e., the persons and covert 'dirty tricks' capabilities they've worked on, to keep the US in the Mideast and expand the war are all still at work, protected by my taking the fall), and she should "come back to work--and life" to cover the war with Iran and "biological threats." (He also mentions the Iraqi elections.)

Truly a downer. May be Libby wishful thinking. And it took A LOT of parsing to dig out this meaning.

The good news: There are numerous indications that Fitzgerald is expanding his investigation (new breaks in the case, new info, new offices, new internet site, meeting with the judge, rumors of cont'd grand jury or new grand jury, strong hints of relationship to AIPAC/Franklin case, and a couple of other recent news reports), with possible targets being Cheney and (I dearly hope) Rumsfeld (--don't know about Jr).

If there is only one indictment this week, I'd bet money, at this point, on a grand jury extension or new grand jury, and more indictments to come.

This is not over. The rats may have their ratty "clustering" fall guy game plan, but that doesn't mean it's going to work, and I think they are really running scared.

The AIPAC/Franklin case is a Pandora's Box of legal jeopardy for the whole Bush regime, of which Plamegate is just a part. The END of it was their outing of Plame; the beginning of it was the commissioning of the Niger forgeries, and whatever else they may have been cooking up at that Rome meeting, or within the WHIG, or at the OSP. And Plamegate itself by no means stops with Libby. It was a conspiracy, and may even involve the deaths of covert CIA agents--a hanging offense.

Also, the political climate--including both the real one and the illusory one created by the war profiteering corporate news monopolies--is very much against them. And, in the end, I think we're going to get at least a Cheney resignation, so the Republican elite can try to clear the air and get their new boy (or girl) in as VP before the '08 elections (or '06).

The Republicans are currently rudderless--Frist, Delay, Bush, all in big trouble--not that they need to have competence, experience, professionalism and intelligence running things, but they need to give the appearance of it (--that is, a barrage of fascist initiatives spearheaded by their henchmen, and some sort of sellable figurehead--Jr.'s brand is fast losing market share.)

Nothing fundamental is going to change, of course, until we throw Diebold and ES&S election theft machines into 'Boston Harbor.' But the threat to life and limb that the neocon cabal poses to us and to the world will be significantly mitigated by Cheney not having his hands on the reins and covert capabilities of gov't.

[hiabrill]

119. I'd be disappointed with watered down indictment....

Both Libby and Rove should be indicted. The continuation of the investigation is supposed to net Cheney.

[muchacho]

120. Damn!

I was looking forward to bagging the big buck (treasonous fat boy).

[Moosepoop]

121. The NYT article is full of speculation, not facts.

Boiled down, it's almost all assumptions based on assertions.

"Lawyers said" "they expected" Libby to be indicted.
"People said" Rove wouldn't be indicted yet, then "they said" that "as a result" of that assertion, "Fitzgerald was likely" to extend the term of the GJ.
WH officals said that "their presumption was" that Libby would resign if indicted.
Fitzgerald "is expected" to give a news conference today, yet his spokesman wouldn't say so.

There are also disclaimers:

As rumors coursed through the capital, Mr. Fitzgerald gave no public signal of how he intended to proceed, further intensifying the anxiety that has gripped the White House and left partisans on both sides of the political aisle holding their breath.

Mr. Fitzgerald's preparations for a Friday announcement were shrouded in secrecy, but advanced amid a flurry of behind-the-scenes discussions that left open the possibility of last-minute surprises. As the clock ticked down on the grand jury, people involved in the investigation did not rule out the disclosure of previously unknown aspects of the case.

I think the NYT knows about as much as we do, they just packaged their best educated guesses in a way that makes them sound like they're more knowledgeable than they are.

But I'm just guessing.

[Fluffdaddy]

122. True.......... no "news" here. just more wasted trees