Bush spent 70 minutes talking with the Plame prosecutor.

[nixonwasbetterthanW]

That information was reported in June. It's now five months later.

If Bush knew nothing, then the conversation with Fitzgerald would have ended about 69 minutes sooner. The answers had to be either "yes," "no," "I don't recall" or "Fifth Amendment."

Those of you who work in the legal system -- doesn't 70 minutes indicate that Fitzgerald was hunting for significant information from the president himself?

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. Not neccessarily.

Depositions are, by their very nature, long and detailed. That he spent X amount of time talking with Mr. Fitzgerald is, in and of itself, meaningless.

[chiburb]

5. I don't think it was characterized as a "deposition"

Just an interview. And I recall that the length of that interview was MOST significant to Marshall and Dean.

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. I didn't see anything that made it clear...

It was unclear whether he was sworn, or not; in any event, the length isn't terribly significant.

[Mabus]

2. Not really

Fitzgerald would have been wise to ask questions of the who, what, when, where and why questions. For example, Fitzgerald would be interested in finding out when Bush found out about Plame, what were the circumstances, why did he know, etc. etc. The best questions would be those that would elict a response more than just "yes" or "no."

As to Bush's answers they are probably dependent on what Rove told him to remember and what details to go into.

[chiburb]

3. That was the thought here at the time...

And on other sites as well. I specifically recall Josh Marshall and John Dean saying what you're saying.

Remember the young prosecutor in the movie "Z"? He brought the Generals down with his investigation. That's the one post-election fantasy I'm still clinging to... that Fitzgerald will do the same.

(I still suspect Asscrack's resignation was because he's the one that gave Plame's nmae to Libby... and indictments are near.)

[shoelace414]

4. Maybe he asked under oath

"did you have sex with anyone other than your wife"

[farmbo]

7. 70 minutes= A handshake, a slap on the back and six gin & tonics

I'll bet they chortled over how they were pulling the wool over the country's eyes.

This little meeting was the one where Bush promised Fitzgerald the appointment of his choice... as long as he pushed the Plame investigation off until sometime after November 2nd.

Mission accomplished!