GOP To Craft "Ollie North shield" for Rove?

[MrBenchley]

Anybody notice this story in the NY Times earlier this week?

"The Senate Intelligence Committee will conduct hearings on American spy agencies' use of cover to protect the identities of intelligence officers, the committee chairman said on Sunday.
The chairman, Senator Pat Roberts, Republican of Kansas, said on the CNN program "Late Edition" that the committee was "going to go into quite a series of hearings in regard to cover."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/25/politics/25leak.html

Most of the attention on the story focused on the incredibly shit-stupid comment by Roberts about "driving to Langley."

But those of you with long memories may remember how it was that Ollie North's scummy ass stayed out of jail. North went before Congress and admitted he had performed illegal acts; then he was hauled into criminal court and got convicted. But his conviction in court was overturned and he was set free by an appeals court because he had been granted immunity to testify in Congress and confessed--and that his confession might have contaminated the later trial even though it was not introduced as evidence there.

Is a similar ploy in the works for Rove, Libby and the rest?

[eleny]

1. Why do tar 'n feathers come to mind?

[MrBenchley]

12. LOL!

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. Works fer me!

[blm]

2. It's harder to get immunity because of IranContra. Dems would raise a huge

stink about it. Guaranteed.

[atreides1]

8. Maybe

But who pay any attention to what they were saying.

[MrBenchley]

13. Hope so...

but I'm suspicious of Roberts' motives.

[GalleryGod]

3. You Bet, Mr. B. I think Big Fitz has "Got 'Em!" otherwise.

The more I read about Fitz-the more I think he's one serious minded,straight as an arrow, sum'bitch!:patriot:

[MrBenchley]

14. By the way

Judge Frenchfry was in the solicitor general's office when Poppa Bush issued the 11th hour round of pardons and thus dodged indictment and trial himself....wonder what he wrote about that. I'm sure that's some of what they're trying to hide.

[JDPriestly]

4. Precisely.

There should be no Congressional investigation if any witness is to be granted immunity. The Congressional investigation is what should wait until after the prosecutor issues his report. It would be duplicative and ounterproductive for the Congress to get involved at this point.

[MrBenchley]

15. Glad it isn't just me n/t

[Richard Steele]

5. YES...and every other "ploy" they can dream up.

They are throwing as much SHIT on the wall as they can, and praying that some of it sticks.

I doubt the "North Ploy" is gonna go far this time though...


Frankly, I think they are just gonna do what worked before:
IGNORE the LAW, and rely on Public Opinion to pull it off.

But with Da Blivet's "Approval Rating" at 41%,
it aint gonna happen this time.

[jn2375]

6. Roberts will give immunity to Rove and Libby to testify

just watch. This in effect keeps Rove and Libby from being prosecuted.

[jn2375]

7. Democrats should be all over this!!!!!!!!!!

[MrBenchley]

19. It doesn't stop them from being prosecuted or convicted...

It just keeps them out of jail if their appeal is upheld...but there's precedence to uphold it.

[ThoughtCriminal]

9. The problem with this strategy is: Truth

In order for it to work, they have to tell the truth in the hearing, or they can still get hit with perjury charges. I think that:

1. Rove's head would explode if didn't lie.
2. The truth exposes a zoo-load of manure that would destroy the White House.

[central scrutinizer]

11. why?

It's not as if this panel is going to call any witnesses that might bring Turdblossom's "sworn testimorny" <sarcasm off> into question. They will given them immunity, let them spout any kind of drivel they want, then close up shop, saying, "see, there was nothing to see here, just move along."

[ThoughtCriminal]

16. Because unless Rove is asked about the

same issues that he gave before the Grand Jury, the immunity is not going to save him. He also can't avoid being asked those questions by the Democrats on the committee.

[MrBenchley]

18. Actually, that's not so...

Ollie didn't take the stand in his criminal trial and his confession wasn't introduced as evidence...but the verdict still got overturned.

[progressoid]

10. Well, Duh.

And if this falls through, they have a few more cards up their sleeves.

There is no way they are going to just let Fitzgerald do his job unencumbered.