Dare we feel hope? Listen to this NPR profile of prosecutor Fitzgerald.

[scarletwoman]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4775682

Fitzgerald Leads Way on Plame Case
by David Schaper

All Things Considered, July 28, 2005 · A grand jury continues to investigate who leaked CIA agent Valerie Plame's name and whether any laws were violated. NPR's David Schaper reports on the special counsel leading the investigation, Justice Department prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald.

As a rule, I'm not terribly optimistic about there being anything that will bring down the bush junta -- "Treasongate", notwithstanding. However, listening to all the praise heaped on Fitzgerald in this radio profile for being unafraid of the powerful and relentless in his pursuit of wrongdoing, I felt just a tiny ray of hope lightening my heart.

I highly recommend giving this a listen -- if for no other reason than that it's interesting to learn a bit more about Fitzgerald.

sw

[wtmusic]

1. If Pat Roberts is going after him

he's got to be good.

[FreedomAngel82]

3. I agree

He must be a threat to them for that.

[FreedomAngel82]

2. Thanks

I'll have to listen later this afternoon.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Yo, Scarlet. I've been (maybe unrealistically) optimistic

for some time that if Fitz doesn't entirely sink the Bushco galleon, he's gonna leave some pretty holes in the hull. Note how the press seems to have all of a sudden gotten permission from SOMEWHERE UP THERE to go after things. There are forces at large in the world that are larger than Bushco, and I think They yave decided Bushco is no longer performig in Their best interest.

To take it a step further, I think Hillary is taking steps to render herself acceptable to Them (just as Bill was in '92), and she may actually win in 2008.

[wli]

7. the real reason is that he failed in Iraq and Afghanistan

If they were in suitable shape to pump oil for dollars today they'd be backing BushCo all the way to full dictatorship.

[EVDebs]

16. Actually he's failing in Afganistan BECAUSE of Iraq.

It's like making a T-shirt with 'I went to war in Iraq and all I got was this dictator (picture of Saddam)' to hand out to our troops. WTF ?

The PNACers didn't put much thought into the occupation and like in Vietnam things can only last for about five yrs tops before the war crowd itself admits they screwed up. Bigtime.

[scarletwoman]

18. Oh, I don't know. Aren't oil company profits at an all time high anyway?

It's not like the oil companies and defense industry are suffering under the current situation....

sw

[wli]

19. it could've been to disrupt the oil supply

But that wouldn't explain why his backroom support left him.

[scarletwoman]

9. Hey, JR! I'll settle for some "holes in the hull" - maybe it will wake up

some of our fellow citizens. It will take a hell of alot more to kill off the whole Octopus, though.

I don't think "They" will let junior get totally hung out to dry. He's Poppy's boy, after all, and Poppy's been a MAJOR player for lo these many years. But it's clear that with Poppy cuddling up with Big Dawg ("Thanks again, Bill for your help in Mena, and thanks for NAFTA and the Mark Rich pardon."), They aren't at all reluctant to give a new front (wo)man a shot.

Just like in 1992, They may feel that a little fiscal reining-in is in order, and Dems do a better job of that. Someone posted a chart a couple years ago that showed that Wall Street actually makes more gains over all under Democratic presidencies.

Now if Fitzgerald could/wanted to untangle the whole corrupt web (arms deals, dirty spies, international drug trade, money laundering, etc, etc...) -- THAT would be revolution time! Not likely to happen, though.

sw

[ladjf]

10. It's a win-win situation when they have both Dem and Pub

candidates. (That might have been the case in 2004. IMHO)

[Just Me]

5. He has the reputation of being highly principled.

At a time when principles suffer at the hands of ambition, this man gives me hope. Definitely!!! :bounce:

[Warren Stupidity]

6. that reminds me

On the way home from work two days ago ATC was discussing the energy bill and allowed absolutely unchallenged the assertion from some republican fool or other that all the opposition to the energy bill came from 'extreme leftists who wanted us to just rub two sticks together'. I kid you not. That is just about an exact quote. The NPR talker did not even blink (hard to tell on radio but I'm sure there was no blink.) Not even a suggestion that perhaps that was a bit over the top. Totally unchallenged. I just about give up on npr. Another bunch of cowards.

[scarletwoman]

11. Leaving rw talking points "totally unchallenged" seems to be NPR's M.O.

these days.

I only listen to NPR on my car radio to and from work. I have no expectations for anything resembling truly meaningful journalism from them, however. Still, it's a window on what's making "news" in Amerika.

One NPR program that still has some occasional guts is "On the Media". So I haven't written them off completely, yet.

But, yeah, it's amazing when they "don't blink" -- and you KNOW they didn't blink!

sw

[AllyCat]

14. That's why I call the show "Nothing Considered" n/t

[Beelzebud]

8. Fitzgerald is a stand-up guy. Look into his actions in Illinois.

License for Bribes Scandal. Google it.

He basically destroyed the corrupt Illinois Republican party.

[G_j]

12. I think I would be worried if I were them n/t

[progressoid]

13. Didn't I read somewhere that the administration officials were pretty

pissed that Fitzgerald got the job?

[scarletwoman]

15. I have no idea. I don't remember ever reading anything like that, myself.

I've often wondered how it was that Fitzgerald got picked in the first place. Seems like they would have forestalled his appointment if they could. Or maybe they were just so confident that they couldn't be touched they didn't worry about it.

sw

[progressoid]

17. If I had time I'd dig through DU archives

of course it could just be a internets rumor.

The NPR piece certainly makes him out to be a straight shooter - definately a threat to those snake oil salesmen.