Advantage Fitzgerald

[SoCalDem]

By waiting til the last day, and only indicting Scooter, the others under the magnifying glass are probably breathing a sigh of relief, and thinking that they are out of danger.

This group is B O L D .. I have a feeling that they will be soon blustering about stuff that Fitzgerald will be storing away for later, with the NEW grand jury..

None of the facts gathered will change, but there will be a let-down in the WH defenses, since they think they are in the clear.. They cannot stop spinning.. It's in their DNA.. Just like the nebbish at watergate who "mentioned" tape recordings, the larger case will unfold because someone somewhere slips up and says something that contradicts facts in evidence..

As long as this is talked about in the press, the war issue will always come up too, so more and more people will start to work the puzzle..

The bad thing is that these things take a lot of time, and if the dems gain in '06, and the investigations are still going on, by the time a trial happens, the *² admin will be on the way out. The temptation will be to "let it drop".."Move on"./.."rise above it".. all those innocuous terms are starting to appear, even on the same day of the first indictment. I am always afraid of the conciliators tone of dems..

The failure to follow through on Iran Contra and the BCCI and the Savings & Loan scandals have allowed these crooks to slink off to lick their wounds..

Wounded , but not defeated....they lay low and plot their return..

We have not seen the last of Scooter and even after *² crawls back to Texas, we will be seeing these folks again..UNLESS we taken them down HARD and PUNISH them.. They fear humiliation and monetary ruin.. That's what they understand..

They need to be seated..day after day in front of cameras..being grilled by aggressive legislators.. Their scams and sins must be hung out on the line for all to see.. I want to see shame on their faces.. I want to see their wives & kids weep..

The words.."I do not recall" should be banished from the lexicon.. They remember EVERYTHING...

[texpatriot2004]

1. Here is what I think about "I do not recall" statement

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2186643

[longship]

2. These guys are clever, but not very smart.

This is how all conspiracies fall apart. There's always somebody smarter than yourself. When that person is a incorruptable prosecutor with an eagle eye, your conspiracy is going to be exposed.

Conspiracy. It's got a nice ring to it. But why didn't Fitz prosecute Libby for conspiracy when it's clear to everybody that this is precisely what this case is?

Because the conspiracy case isn't ready yet. That's why Rove isn't indicted. It's why nobody else was indicted. The conspiracy case is the meat, the core of the case.

When Fitz was faced with an almost complete case and an expiring grand jury--a *hard* deadline--he had two choices. One, do nothing with this grand jury and start all over with the whole presentation with the new grand jury. Two, get whatever indictments he could with this grand jury and let the new grand jury take on the rest.

He chose the latter. But the indictments he sought today were only those which did not jeopardize the rest of the case. That limited it to the one obstruction count and the four counts of lying against Scooter.

Rove went home smiling this evening. I'll bet that if he knew what Fitzgerald knows, he wouldn't be smiling. Ditto for some West Wing staffers and also one Crashcart Cheney. We've only heard the prelude to Fitz's magnum opus. The first notes of the main work are just being sounded now.

When the music is over, Chimp may end up being the last person in the West Wing.

[Laxman]

3. Where Fitzgerald may be going.

I just got home and got the chance to peruse the indictment. I found the following portions very interesting. The following factual allegations set forth as background were far more detailed than were necessary to support the counts of the indictment. They were included for a reason. Fitzgerald does not strike me as a frivolous or flippant man. I don’t want to speculate on where he is going with his investigation but it appears to me he is attempting to get several points across that have nothing to do with the actual charges levied against Libby. To support the five counts of the indictment he only had to recite the statements made, the circumstances they were made under and the reasons they are alleged to be false or misleading. The statements regarding Joseph Wilson pointedly establish the the CIA sent him to Niger at the request of the V.P., the statements about Valerie Plame pointedly state that her covert status was intact until July 14, 2003. Libby's status regarding access to and promises not to disclose national security information have nothing to do with the alleged crimes contained in the indictment. I believe that there is more to come. I think that this indictment is purposely crafted to send a message. I hope and believe that there is more to come and other members of this administration will be going down hard.


Defendant’s Employment and Responsibilities

a. Beginning on or about January 20, 2001, and continuing through the date of this indictment, defendant I. LEWIS LIBBY, also known as “SCOOTER LIBBY,” was employed as Assistant to the President of the United States, Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the United
States, and Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs. In the course of his work, LIBBY had frequent access to classified information and frequently spoke with officials of the U.S.
intelligence community, as well as other government officials, regarding sensitive national security matters.

b. In connection with his role as a senior government official with
responsibilities for national security matters, LIBBY held security clearances entitling him to access to classified information. As a person with such clearances, LIBBY was obligated by applicable
laws and regulations, including Title 18, United States Code, Section 793, and Executive Order 12958 (as modified by Executive Order 13292), not to disclose classified information to persons not
authorized to receive such information, and otherwise to exercise proper care to safeguard classified information against unauthorized disclosure. On or about January 23, 2001, LIBBY executed a
written “Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement,” stating in part that “I understand and accept that by being granted access to classified information, special confidence and trust shall be
placed in me by the United States Government,” and that “I have been advised that the unauthorized disclosure, unauthorized retention, or negligent handling of classified information by me could cause
damage or irreparable injury to the United States or could be used to advantage by a foreign nation.”


Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson

e. Joseph Wilson (“Wilson”) was a former career State Department official who had held a variety of posts, including United States Ambassador. In 2002, after an inquiry to the CIA by the Vice President concerning certain intelligence reporting, the CIA decided on its own initiative to send Wilson to the country of Niger to investigate allegations involving Iraqi efforts to acquire uranium yellowcake, a processed form of uranium ore. Wilson orally reported his findings to the CIA upon his return.

f. Joseph Wilson was married to Valerie Plame Wilson (“Valerie Wilson”). At all relevant times from January 1, 2002 through July 2003, Valerie Wilson was employed by the CIA, and her employment status was classified. Prior to July 14, 2003, Valerie Wilson’s affiliation with the CIA was not common knowledge outside the intelligence community.

[Straight Shooter]

8. Welcome to DU, Laxman. I agree with your analysis. Fitz is subtle.

Member since Oct. 4, 2005 and only two posts. What are you, Mr. Ed incarnate? :hi:

[autorank]

4. Well put. They believe their spin of yesterday. One indictment is

a victory. Oh Sure, and one life sentence is just one sentence.

Now we have to sieze the time.

We have a planet to save and the old ways don't work anymore.

[meow2u3]

5. Updated scorecard

Fitz 1, BFEE 0, with at least 5 sent into extra innings.

[flyarm]

6. and i am ready and awaiting the grand slam!!

i do believe when this is over..fitzgerald wins the world series...only fitting he is from chicago!! now home of the world series trophy!!

fly

[SoCalDem]

7. This is one game I want to go into overtime

There have GOT to be more people with indictments due them