PLAME INVESTIGATION "Appears To Be In Active Phase!" (WP)

[frank frankly]

Leak Probe Appears To Be in Active Phase

By Susan Schmidt and Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, June 6, 2004; Page A05

Vice President Cheney's recent interview with representatives of a special prosecutor looking into the leak of a covert CIA officer's name is the latest suggestion that the grand jury probe is in a highly active phase.

News of the Cheney interview, confirmed yesterday by a government official who was briefed on it and who refused to be identified publicly, comes on the heels of last week's disclosure that President Bush has lined up a private attorney in case special prosecutor Patrick J. Fitzgerald seeks to question him about the public disclosure last summer of the identity of CIA employee Valerie Plame. The grand jury investigation, now in its sixth month, has for the most part been conducted in extraordinary secrecy because it involves a national security matter.

In recent weeks, however, prosecutors have subpoenaed at least two reporters and sought to interview others in an effort to learn whether Plame's identity was intentionally disclosed by administration officials who sought to cast doubt on the credibility of her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV.

--------------------------------------

No new info here, but it feels like BushCo is about to take a direct hit.

Buh-bye, President Crackhead! Buh-bye, BushCo! You're going to jail!

:hi:

[blm]

1. Our guys are being quiet pitbulls on this.

I'm glad. It's an effective approach. The GOP is unable to scream "partisan witchhunt" to deflect from the real crimes here.

[newsguyatl]

2. and i bet the whole cabal is DAMN glad reagan died when he did

[frank frankly]

3. it's not going to help them.

The mediawhores are going to be exhausted after fawning over Ronnie, and then StupidAss comes back and will keep being a StupidAss.

[keithyboy]

16. Not only that, even the dittoheads will get sick of the media overkill.

They have very short attention spans...even for Reagan. When they turn on Rush they will hear it, when they turn on FOX they will hear it. It's going to drive them nuts ..like playing hard rock a full blast night and day. I am a news junkie, but this Reagan coverage has allowed me to kick the habit. I am about to finish a novel (Angels and Demons) and I will begin another one right after. I must say, I slept better than I have in months and my brain has stopped being angry. I can flick right by any news channel to either a home improvement show or a movie. I even put on some of my old music tapes which sound better than ever. I come to DU to find out what's going on and to release myself of my last political anger. My life is getting better. That you Ronnie!!!

[shimmergal]

37. Keithyboy, good for you!

It sounds like the media orgy is having great side effects in your case.

I'm mostly decompressing from news junkiehood too, for the same reason. Even watched part of the "South Pacific" movie last night, instead.

Now, if it could just push me back to writing _my_ WIP novel full-speed-ahead like it did you! Hearing about your experience is inspiring. Thanks!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. It is the perfect antidote for Reagan overload

Perfect way to observe things in the long, long shadow of Iran Contra and all other BFEE endeavors.

[boobooday]

4. Chicago Style Plame-Broiling!

I was reading somewhere that assigning investigators from Chicago has really moved the case forward, because they don't have the same sycophantic obsession with power and protocol, and are going for thoroughness and fairness instead.

Cheney has a private criminal attorney too. This could get very interesting. And this story is HUGE, but wow, just in time to save W., we get wall-to-wall Reagan tributes.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[indigobusiness]

19. Deep-Dish Plame-Broiling

LOL

What a KICK.

Ain't justice a bitch?

[frank frankly]

5. kick

:kick:

[takebackourjobs]

6. Coming right on time

Fitzgerald is a man to be reckoned with. His integrity is unquestionable. He's also got a history of taking out republicans. Hopefully, that won't hurt the PR war that will surely follow any indictments.

I don't think he'll get to the top, though. This administration has only one thing going for it, and that's secrecy.

[The Night Owl]

12. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Ugnmoose]

8. You will see indictments soon

There is no way that Fitzgerald is going to conclude a six month long investigation and come up empty. Somebody or bodies heads will roll. The biggie question is how high up will they go. The fact that Chimpy is consulting with a private attorney might indicate that the investigation is getting close to him. If in fact Chimpo knew of the outing and did noting about it he is an accessory. If he authorized it either tacitly through Rove or directly, then he is guilty as all hell. No matter what comes out of this I think Bushco will take a very big hit.

[spotbird]

11. It is also possible that the grand jury investigation could drag

on until next year, isn't it?

[FreakinDJ]

14. I think before Sept 1 we will see some being handed down

Wouldn't mind seeing Novak behind bars protecting his sourses either

[spotbird]

17. Why do you think they will come by 9/1?

Is there any information that they are winding down?

[PurityOfEssence]

33. Don't toy with my affections

That would be sweet. What moral claim does one have to protect sources when they're actively committing treason? Any decent person realizes the caveats that come with confidentiality: if a lawyer finds out that someone with whom he has a personal relationship reveals plans to touch off a thermonuclear device in Chicago the next day, he/she should realize that this rises above the concept.

Even as a stalwart on the subject of free speech, shouting fire in a crowded theatre or putting up billboards of hardcore sex acts is still off limits in my book.

Now that we've mitigated the abstract concepts with some reality, it all becomes a question of degrees. Novak willingly served as a mouthpiece of the administration to out someone in a way that would send a warning to everyone in the intelligence community: if you don't cover for our crimes, we'll throw you to the wolves. It wasn't so much a petty act of revenge against or discrediting of Joe Wilson, as he pointed out, it was a warning to the whole system.

Novak enabled the endangering of the part of our spy network that was specifically working on tracking WMDs, and if the irony isn't enough to make you gasp, the proof of this junta's ruthless disregard for our safety should be.

Novak's a dick, and he should be called to account for this. He was helping people make this country more vulnerable, and that must be said; he needs to be confronted by this in public.

[snippy]

26. I hope you are right, but it bothers me that Fitzgerald has subpoenaed

reporters. The reporters will fight the subpoenas in court which could take a long time, especially if there are appeals by the losing side. If Fitzgerald needs the testimony of one or more reporters to get indictments, I do not see any way of that happening this year. If Fitzgerald does not need the testimony of one or more reporters to get indictments, then why bother issuing them subpoenas?

Interviewing Cheney, and perhaps even Bush, may indicate that others have implicated them in information given to the investigators or the grand jury. But it also could be Fitzgerald's way of establishing that he was thorough and did everything possible to fully investigate the matter.

[JanMichael]

9. kick

:kick:

[frank frankly]

10. kick

:kick:

[Thaddeus]

13. I hope they go down

but I'll beleive when I see it. If the CIA turns on the neo-con fascists, which might be happening, then they're toast.

[bacchant]

15. I remain hopeful but I'm not going to hold my breath

The incomprehensible stuff these criminals have gotten away with will be puzzled over by future generations. We'll see, I hope you're right.

[scarletwoman]

18. Um, would have been nice if you'd included the link... (n/t)

[frank frankly]

20. kick

:kick:

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

21. I will believe it when I see it. Bush has had alot of good luck.

It could also be that the GJ wont hand down indictments if the stonewalling is effective.

There will be a report, but nothing will be proven and no indictments due to unco-operative witnesses and stonewalling.

And the WH has plenty of time to develop a spin strategy, too.

Sorry if Im a bit pessimistic about all this.

[DeepModem Mom]

22. If investigation involved Clinton, every story would be pg. A1,not A5 nt

[frank frankly]

30. the media is whorable. *sigh*

:kick:

[Disturbed]

23. Most likely outcome

It will reach into Cheney's goons. At least two of them will be indicted. Big question is: Will they spill the real story or take the fall silently?

[supercrash]

24. Hehe

If the Patriot act tells us that the Plame leaker is a 'domestic terrorist'

And Bush knew about the leak and did nothing to stop it

Bush says he cannot distinguish between terrorists and those who support them

This means...using Bush's own words, and his own Patriot act definition of the word domestic terrorist

He IS a admitted terrorist

IF he knew

[Kazak]

25. "Buh-bye"

LOL

[John_H]

27. It'll be interesting to see if Steno Sue is as "fair and balanced" as

she was with the Ken Starr witch hunt. Now that she has a real criminal case with actual lawbreaking and national security issues at stake, will she do some actual reporting? Or just she just gave her GOP Brand steno and knee pads at the ready?

[Lori Price CLG]

28. Uh, that's *dictator* Crackhead --Crackhead Bush was never elected!

Yes, that's bye-bye, Nazi Terrorist Idiot Usurper!!
:bounce:

Lori Price
http://www.legitgov.org/

[frank frankly]

29. you got that right, LP

Dictator Bu$H

[MallRat]

31. Hope they wait until next week for indictments.

Otherwise, they'll just get flushed down the memory hole thanks to "All Reagan, All the Time."

-MR

[frank frankly]

32. it could be next week

i'd almost bet on it!

[Stephanie]

35. Frog March!

Taking bets:

Libby?
Hannah?
The Great Dick Himself?

Rove?
BUSH JUNIOR?

Dying to know. Bring it ON!

[calimary]

34. Got a link?

Thanks! I love this stuff.

[bobthedrummer]

36. Kick.

:dem::kick: