Knock, knock
Who's there?
Scooter.
Scooter who?
Scooter into a new job since she's not under cover.

Next thing you know we have a 2 year investigation that still can't get to the bottom of who "leaked" the information..Woodward's failure to notify his Washington Post editors of what he knew of the Plame leaks and his refrain in his sworn deposition that "he has no recollection of speaking to.... renders hollow his recent lament that Today's press fails to get 'to the
bottom of things', But then Woodward in his desire to get heavy inside Administration access for his books, has stopped doing the first thing a good reporter should do, that is report.

Is there a hot lesbian cheerleader angle to this story?

Who knows how many million dollars? I do, it was in all the papers. The figure was under three-quarters of a million. $724,000 if memory serves.

Is there a hot lesbian cheerleader angle to this story?

If it involves Helen Thomas, I'd rather not know about it.

Well..wasn't it like 80 million to prosecute Clinton and all they got him on was Perjury (not the underlying crime).

Why all the concern now when it's less than a million dollars spent.

Actually, don't answer that. I think we all know why.

"It appears that after almost 2 years of Fitzgerald investigating (and who knows how many million dollars)..."

Less than 1 million dollars, actually.

To date less than one million dollars has been spent on this investigation....compare that to Ken Starr at this time in his so-called investigation.

"Pure speculation here but it seems obvious..."

Wizbang speculating....what a surprise.

BTW, the cost of the Fitzgerald investigation was found using the unexpected and difficult research technique of googling "cost of the Fitzgerald investigation".

Sometimes it's just as easy to dispel ignorance as to perpetuate it.

Keep grasping at straws, Paul. If Libby testified under oath that he heard about Plame from Russert, and Russert provided an audiotape proving that in fact it was the other way around (which many people believe, given the wording of deposition), then Libby perjured himself. End of story. (Unless, of course, you believe perjury is only a problem when Democrats do it.)

Sorry, too early, not enough coffee yet. "deposition" (?!) -> "the indictment."

By now it ought to be clear that to minimize or trivialize this investigation is but another attempt to blow smoke. We've had more than enough smoke from the Administration's stenographers the past six miserable years. Why add to it?

The trolls are still pissy over their lousy Fitzmas.

And it just keeps getting worse!

Gee, and I guess you were REALLY upset about the Starr investigation which lasted five years and cost 70 million. Um, no?

BTW, we don't know if Fitzgerald knew anyhting about his or not, but we do know that Woodward lied through his teeth about it, and that a difficult thing for a prosecutor to get around.

Troll? In a shocking turn of events--especially for the Bush Administration stenographers--all the polls show that most people now see the smoke for what it is. Give it up.

Hmmm.

Clinton wasn't just guilty of perjury. He was also guilty of getting Lewinski to lie under oath.

But you guys tend to forget that stuff.

Frankly this whole Plame thing is less convincing every day. Any indictment that doesn't include Joe Wilson is just not credible.

Hmmm. Looks like you got linked at one of the fever swamps again, Paul.

"Clinton wasn't just guilty of perjury. He was also guilty of getting Lewinski to lie under oath."

OMIGOD! I forgot about that! It was all about the big coverup of a blow job. Horrors! Horrors!

Get serious. This is about a coverup that is WAY more significant than that tired old line.

Hey, I knew who Plame was more than two years ago. I read it in the Novak column. Can I get my subpoena now?

This is about a coverup that is WAY more significant than that tired old line.

A cover-up of ... what, exactly?

Nothing, apparently.

Clinton was covering up something -- in a deliberate and illegal attempt to avoid a civil judgment for which he was factually and legally liable. Oh, what? You forgot that part?

Aw, come on! I already said Clinton tried to coverup his blow jobs from Monica. That's old news. Republicans impeached him. He was found--guess what?--NOT GUILTY.

Now let's turn to what on the table right now. Iraq. Torture. Deaths. Outing of a CIA agent. Based on what? The sweet shining light of truth? For this administration truth is merely something Karl Rove creates daily for the stupid "reality based community." The cynicism and fradulence of that point of view has led to an appalling disaster.

You should be appalled, but instead are blowing smoke. Wake up. It's very nearly over.

A senior official who had access to classified information, illegally leaked to Bob Woodward 2 years earlier than the leak to the 6 reporters. So this makes the later leaks ok. Yeah right. Only in Right-wing world.

Comparisons of this serious investigation to the 80 million dollar zippergate witchhunts are laughable. You people are really, really dumb.

Gee, dosen't this mean that Fitzgerald lied to the American public when he stated Scooter Libby was the first to leak the information?

"Any indictment that doesn't include Joe Wilson is just not credible."

Okay then...

Thhe Whitewater Conviction list: (includes a sitting Governor)

1) Webster Hubbell: Bill Clinton friend and political ally; Hillary Clinton Rose Law Firm partner: embezzlement; fraud; two felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Whither Whitewater?" October 18, 1995)

2) Jim Guy Tucker: fraud; three felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Second-Term Stall" February 11, 1997; Associated Press "Tucker Pleads Guilty to Cable Fraud" February 20, 1998)

3) William J. Marks Sr.: Jim Guy Tucker business partner; one conspiracy conviction (Associated Press "Whitewater Defendant Pleads Guilty" August 28, 1997)

4) Jim McDougal: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend, banker, and political ally: eighteen felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Immunize Hale" May 29, 1996)

5) Susan McDougal: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend; former wife of Jim McDougal: four felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Immunize Hale" May 29, 1996)

6) David Hale: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend, banker, and political ally: two felony convictions of conspiracy and mail fraud (Wall Street Journal "The Arkansas Machine Strikes Back" March 19, 1996)

7) Chris Wade: Whitewater real estate broker; two felony convictions (Wall Street Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)

8) Stephen Smith: former Governor Clinton aide; one conviction (Wall Street Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)

9) Larry Kuca: Madison real estate agent; fraudulent loans (Wall Steet Journal "Hard Evidence From a Federal Investigator" August 10, 1995)

10) Robert Palmer: Madison appraiser; one conspiracy felony conviction (Wall Street Journal "Hale Predicts Hillary Conviction" October 21, 1996)

11) Neal Ainley: Perry County Bank president; embezzled bank funds for Clinton campaign; two misdemeanor convictions (Wall Street Journal "Arkansas Bank Shot" May 4, 1995)

12) John Latham: Madison Bank CEO; bank fraud conviction (Wall Street Journal "Smoke Without Fire" January 12, 1996)

13) John Haley: attorney for Jim Guy Tucker; misdemeanor guilty plea; tax fraud (Associated Press "Tucker Pleads Guilty to Cable Fraud" February 20, 1998)

14) Eugene Fitzhugh: Whitewater defendant, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of trying to bribe David Hale; is appealing a ten month prison sentence (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Whitewater Defendants" February 22, 1998)

15) Charles Matthews: Whitewater defendant, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of bribery, served fourteen months of a sixteen month prison sentence (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, "Whitewater Defendants" February 22, 1998)

Of course, Democrats have no problem with Patrick Leahy. He used to be chairman of the intelligence committee. He leaked to the Press that we had intercepted Mubarak's phone call about the Achille Laural hijackers (that allowed us to intercept them). This caused the death of our informant. He was thrown off the intelligence committee.

Democrats will get us killed.

re: Fitzgerald

Go ahead Republicowards... eat your own. When the going gets frightening, attack one of your own. Don't forget to make a lot of excuses along the way. And a new terror alert would be handy too.

And to the very dim Husker above with the 'whitewater' conviction list.. you forgot the Republicowards that were convicted or associated with Iran/contra convicts. Remember that one? That's the treason where president reagan GAVE weapons to the Iranians while RESCUING Saddam Hussein from certain defeat. That's just how it went down. None of your spin can free you of that one.

If it weren't for Reagan, Saddam would have been overthrown a long long long long time ago. That's just how it is, cowards.

Why don't you join the Iraq war... oh.. that's right, joining the war that you want so badly would take courage, which you prove over and over that you have none of.

bok bok Chicken Hawks

"And to the very dim Husker above with the 'whitewater' conviction list.. you forgot the Republicowards that were convicted or associated with Iran/contra convicts. Remember that one? That's the treason where president reagan GAVE weapons to the Iranians while RESCUING Saddam Hussein from certain defeat. That's just how it went down. None of your spin can free you of that one.

Why don't you join the Iraq war... oh.. that's right, joining the war that you want so badly would take courage, which you prove over and over that you have none of.

bok bok Chicken Hawks

Posted by: Lars Gruber "

You are a fool, Gruber dude. I WAS IN HONNDURAS at that time. I saw the thousands of Nicaraguans fleeing your murderous Sandinistas. I held more than one in my arms as they died, while I recited the 23rd Psalm to them. I got lice from them and I got bit by many weird insects and a snake. It took me a year to recover.

Thank God for Reagan and Iran-Contra. I will never apologize for saving lives.

Chickenhawk??? That's you, dude. You helped the Sandinistas murder women and children. Remember Kerry's (et al) "Dear Commandante" letter.

You Democrats help the dictators of the world and hamstring the forces of freedom, including our troops.

OK, Husker

you are a liar AND a coward, but I'm not surprised by that at all. Bush himself revels in being a liar and a coward. Funny how all of those against the war of choice in Iraq were actually veterans, and all of those who wanted the war had their best battle experiences watching John Wayne movies.

If you think a little harder, you'll recall that the Sandinistas overthrew the murderous dictator Samoza. We injected ourselves into their civil war... hence all the added injury, death and destruction. I won't apologize for either the Sandinistas, nor Samoza. Neither were on my side. But at the same time it was a mistake fund a civil war, and then to make things worse, cut and run when it was over. How is it now in HONNDURAS (your spelling)?

And very conveniently, you ignored the comment about free weapons of mass destruction that Rummy himself delivered to Saddam and the free secret weapons to Iran - 2/3 of the axis of evil. The other 1/3 has been left alone now to develop all the nukes they want.

how many lives in Iraq/Iran did Iran/Contra save? how many lives did we save by militarizing central america, before AND after the Sandinistas (whom were democratically elected once).

The answer is that you cannot answer cause you are just one more of many Chicken Hawk cowards that are only interested in saving their own skins at the expense of other innocent people, just like Bush/Cheney/Wolf/Hadley did during vietnam.

the Republicowards never change. Luckily, that fact is better known every day.

bok bok Chicken Hawk

I knew as soon as I saw the headline on the Woodward story that the Bush administration apologists would immediately rush to claim that this somehow exonerates Libby, or minimizes what he did. But the fact is, as Fitzgerald made very clear, Libby's perjury made it impossible for Fitzgerald to accurately determine how the outing of Plame went down. That's called obstruction of justice. The fact that you can successfully lie enough that investigators can't uncover the whole truth doesn't mean you "win." It means you go to jail. If all of this is so innocent, then all Libby had to do was tell the truth. Instead, he lied to investigators and the Grand Jury, and was contradicted by several administration officials, not just reporters. And the fact that Woodward was told about Plame earlier doesn't mean that her identity was widely known. I'd say Woodward's knowledge was something of a secret, since we're just learning about it. If Woodward and the official who told him about Plame don't come forward, how does that make Fitzgerald a "bumbling Inspector Clouseau?" That's just wishful thinking.

Since there's a tendency on this site not to trust the MSM, I assume everyone is looking at Woodward's story with a healthy dose of skepticism. Especially since he claims to have told Walter Pincus what he knew, and Pincus absolutely disputes that. Or is Woodward above reproach because he writes fawning books about Bush?

actually, unlike the superfluous investigation into Clinton, this prosecutor is not burning taxpayer money like it's free. I don't think this boy has even passed the million dollar point yet.

Lars,
So, all of the 77 Senators that voted for the war were draft dodgers or otherwise not in service? Don't say that within arms reach of McCain or Kerry. And the people who voted against the war are all veterans? Only 19 Republicans and 16 Democrats in the senate at the time were vets. So explain how the 23 are comprised of only one Republican?
As for Husker being a liar, you have no proof that he is, or not. Just saying it doesn't make it so.

"It appears that after almost 2 years of Fitzgerald investigating (and who knows how many million dollars) he is no closer to understanding who told what to whom than I am."

I suppose if officials like Libby could pull the truth out of their asses for once, he would know exactly who told who what.

It isn't like he hasn't asked all these crooks flat out what they knew, how they knew, when they knew and who they told.

It is the PERJURY that is making it difficult. Generally, when you get a person under oath, you operate on the assumption that they are telling the truth. When the stories don't add up, you have to spend all this time figuring out who is lying. Is is Libby or Russert? So don't blame Fitzgerald for the cost of the investigation. Blame the fucker who lied under oath. That is a new crime and thus the new crime necessitates new investigations.

If there was no crime committed, then why lie about it? Anyone who has read the indictment can plainly see that Libby lied several times under oath. Why is that so hard for people to understand?

If outing Plame isn't a crime, why don't Rove and Libby just fucking fess up already and then we can all move on? Why jerk around a Federal Prosecutor and lie to the FBI for two years?

Why allow a reporter to sit in jail rather than just say, "Yes, it was me. I did it. And since it isn't a crime, and Wilson had it coming, I'd do it again."?

Wait don't tell me, because it IS a crime. Because the fact that some of you troglodytes think Wilson 'had it coming' only proves motive, not justification. That's why you lie.

Generally, when you have motive and opportunity, lying to a prosecutor about a crime that has been committed is not the smartest thing to do. Just a rule of thumb.

Remember, Clinton didn't lie about the underlying charge. He lied about cheating on his wife. Libby lied about the actual crime that was being investigated. That is much much worse. Starr was investigation a land speculation scheme. Clinton's lie did not hamper that investigation. Libby's lies (and likely Rove's as well) are still hampering this one.

Well, I see the Reality-Challenged Community has weighed in...

Lars isn't a fool, just a drool but hey, don't question his "patriotism"!

What is glaring about the indictment of Libby is that it has nothing to do at all with 'outting a covert agent' because that crime NEVER HAPPENED.

Now, Woodward is fessing up he knew long before, just as Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely has revealed that Joe Wilson was bragging about his wife's working at the CIA in greenrooms in 2002 .... good Lord, who DIDN'T know that Mrs. Wilson was a CIA employee?

It's a hoot that Woodward is claiming he felt he had to "hunker down" to "protect his source" ...

Ironically, Woodward is transmorgrifying into