CNN--Toobin: Woodward admission doesn't help White House

[PhilipShore]

CNN
Politics
November 22, 2005

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/22/otsc.toobin/

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The CIA leak probe is again making headlines...

O'BRIEN: Does it help the White House?

TOOBIN: No, I don't think it helps the White House at all because it keeps the story alive. Almost immediately after Woodward made this disclosure, Patrick Fitzgerald, the prosecutor, went and said, I need a new grand jury. I'm going to be doing more investigating. I'm going to be subpoenaing more people, bringing in more testimony, possibly bringing more charges.

[Canuckistanian]

1. Did Woodward trigger the new Grand Jury?

I have my doubts.

[stillcool]

3. He probably just triggered the...

alert in Fitz's bullshit barometer....My new rule: anything that comes out of the box is suspect until supported by at least one credible internet source.

[Cha]

4. Yeah, that's been my

rule. The internet is the Meteorite and the tv news is the dinasaur.

[Canuckistanian]

11. Katie Couric is the prime example

Whenever I need to hear the wrong analysis of a situation, I'll watch her (which rarely happens).

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

20. Whaaaaaa? She's as good a journalist as they come.

I mean have you seen her with her serious glasses on. Every time she interviews somebody like John Kerry or Frist or whomever. She wears her I'm a serious intellectually curios glasses. She also keeps the I know what I'm doing face throughout the interview.......I can't even keep a straight face typing this.

[0007]

19. Yeah, that's mine also. Without a doubt!

[Canuckistanian]

10. That's a good rule

I think I unconsciously use it myself

[Garbo 2004]

15. Not likely. Fitz's comments were in context of media suit to release grand

jury/investigation docs regarding Libby's case. Fitz made clear, as he had previously, that the investigation was ongoing. Woodward's source most likely didn't come forward to Fitz because of Woodward, although that's the story Woodward's selling. Rather it's more likely that Fitz was still working on the case and as a result of what he found or someone else told him, Woodward's source was called in (again?) to talk to Fitz. And most likely the source told Woodward that their "casual" secret was not going to be a secret any longer and gave him permission to testify to Fitz. Then Fitz contacted Woodward to come in for a chat.

Woodward did not just suddenly volunteer info to his WaPo bosses or to Fitz after more than two years of silence. Circumstances made him do so.

And no new grand jury was triggered. Fitz can use any sitting DC grand jury, just as he did before. He doesn't have to call a new jury for his investigation.

But of course since the media thinks it's all important, it ignores what it already knew weeks ago and makes it look like Woodward was the reason Fitz was talking about presenting evidence before a grand jury.

[Catherine Vincent]

2. I know this is an opinion, but if that's the case...

thanks Woodward for all your help! :)

[Pithy Cherub]

5. Last week Toobin was burbling and babbling differently.

He caught the winds of change and has trimmed his sail accordingly. :eyes:

[alarcojon]

6. I noticed that too

That guy just goes the way the wind is currently blowing. Like most of the pundit class.

[Dances with Cats]

7. "Wayward" Woodward

I watched last night and kept thinking how it was hard to believe that this weiner broke the Watergate story. Where the hell is Bernstein, by the way?

[elfin]

8. I want to hear from Bernstein as well eom

[demgrrrll]

16. I think Bernstein did issue a short statement that was supportive of

Woodward. I wouldn't have expected him to go after him at this point.
Even if things blow up I would expect that he will remain reserved about this issue. Just a feeling, nothing concrete.

[hadrons]

9. Libby's indictment was prejury not outing Plame, so ...

Woodward didn't help him (hurt him since it proves Libby lied to the grand jury), so why would Woodward's crap help the WH ...

[bmbmd]

12. It took those media morons a smooth week

to realize that this admission only makes matters worse for the white house, and doesn't help Scooter at all.

[lovuian]

13. I think it did make the perfect excuse for another grand jury!!!

Thanks Bob!!!

[leesa]

14. THAT be an understatement!

Funny.

[Kralizec]

17. I think this thing would have progressed with or without Woodward.

Now, the question is: Is Woodward a WH goon? Or he sitting back, grabbing some popcorn, and saying to himself, "Well, that's two down... not a bad track record."

Wishful thinking on the last one, hehe. Especially with his bias with this administration (via his books).

edit: grammar

[PhilipShore]

18. Woodward could be part of the story

Well, I think that if he continues to talk on the media; he will run into legal problems. However, he wants to talk on the media because of-- all the free advertising -- he gets selling his books.

Nevertheless, my personal opinion is that he is saying to himself; they (the CIA) gave me the Watergate Story, the CIA then made me into a-- media icon -- by making a movie out of my reporting, so they could make sure, that the real reason for the Watergate story was not investigated.

My guess is his only worry is Plame. She probably knows he is CIA, and if she files a civil lawsuit against the Washington Post, she might just--come right out and say-- he is CIA because—they ruined her career anyway.