Judy Miller's Timing

[journalist3072]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed tonight.

But I wanted to talk about the timing of Judy Miller's seeming willingness to talk.

Does anyone think she is ready to talk now, to take focus off of Tom Delay?

If and this is a way to detract from Delay's troubles, does anyone else find it interesting that the Republicans are in such a position now where they have to decide WHICH scandal of theirs, they would rather have the spotlight on?

[Inland]

1. I think she's willing to talk because jail sucks.

Jail sucks, and there's nothing to gain.

Why is that such a difficult thing to believe?

[journalist3072]

3. True, but still...

We all know jail sucks. Whether you've ever been to jail or not, common sense tells you that not having your freedom sucks.

But by going to jail in the first place, she showed her willingness to 'take one for the team,' so to speak.

I'm really interested in knowing WHY she wants to talk now.

[Inland]

7. Eventually, you make a point and show that you were going to fight

and then she starts looking at another month and then maybe a conviction for criminal contempt after that.....

I'm sure there's a reason for today instead of yesterday or tomorrow, but I doubt there's a good one. It's just time.

[babylonsister]

10. Is Lou Dobbs still plugging her,

at least at the end of his show? :evilgrin:

[readmylips]

23. Yes, Lou said, Miller in jail 85 days as of today....

Little bush not attending any soldier's funeral, 3 years.

[Greeby]

2. Hmm, I figured they'd cut the Bugman loose

Rather than have the spotlight on the traitors who exposed Valerie Plame

[babylonsister]

4. Scooter Libby gave her his blessing, I thought. What

makes it okay now?

[Pirate Smile]

5. Time was running out. Fitzgerald probably applied a little more

pressure in some way.

[niallmac]

6. She went to jail when going to jail was still cool...

Now jail is a crappy place without interviews or cocktails and it just never ends.
Jail is now REAL. Judy is no Martha Stewart.
What is Judy going to do to divert attention? Lie?
I Don't Think So! They send you back to jail without cocktails for a LONG time then.

[Marie26]

17. .. but now that Tom Delay's coming she wants out as soon as she can!

[niallmac]

20. Hadn't thought of that. Smart woman.

:rofl:

[countmyvote4real]

22. The poor pitiful thing didn’t get to be a cause celebre like Martha.

That’s because Martha told us good things we could do here at home, but Judy peddled the Pentagon lies that sold the invasion of Iraq. I hope that she goes down with the entire ship if the truth is ever exposed.

No tears for Judy or the NYT here.

[benburch]

8. Scooter's timing...

Not hers.

[seabeyond]

9. what i heard fitzgerald? was ready to get tougher with her

maybe he applied pressure and why she is coming out now. will have to wait and see what happens. it is all curious. bringing up plame and outing libby isn't a preferable move for whitehouse to save delay

[shaggy1974]

11. You're right

Plame and Libby over Delay is not something they want. I'm pretty sure they'd be willing to just cut off Delay...I mean everything that he's put into place is still there, it's just Blount running it now. I'm not really sure that this Miller thing is a good thing for us. I have a bad feeling about all of it, but then again, why would Fitzgerald take it this far if he had nothing?

[johnfunk]

12. I'll wager Fitz has something damning and damaging on Miller...

... and has flipped her like a pancake.

[shaggy1974]

18. But why

didn't she flip before? If he's had something on her, presumably he's always had something on her. I'm really worried that the administration thinks this is going to come to nothing and that's why they're releasing her to talk.

[mcctatas]

24. Or it could be that since the rethug spin machine has been overwhelmed

with bad press lately, moderate repukes are beginning to get a little feisty, and corruption has run amok damaging their creibility, maybe she thought the had been neutered just enough to make it safe to talk?

[Garbo 2004]

25. Libby already signed a release long ago. Judy was being a martyr

which upped her reputation considering how widely loathed and condemned her WMD reporting previously was by other journos.

A couple weeks ago I think it was rumored (huffington post at least and perhaps elsewhere) that Miller was trying to "negotiate" and get some wiggle room. Bad food and Jerry Springer reruns might have taken a toll. But the prospect of criminal contempt charges looming may also have considerably focused her mind.

Fitz already knew she'd spoken with Libby, Libby had already signed a general waiver of confidentiality and had spoken with Fitz and testified. Judy however refused to testify and magically became a heroine for the first amendment. (cough.) Now that she's gotten her super duper double dutch specific waiver from Libby, she's gonna testify. Meanwhile quite a little drama she had going there. She'll get a book out of it, no doubt.

[Marie26]

13. What I don't understand..

is why Judith Miller is jailed for not revealing her source, but Novak is still running around free when he didn't reveal his source either. Why is that?

[Beetwasher]

15. Novak Already Squealed

He testified so he's not in contempt.

[jim3775]

16. Who says Novak didn't reveal his source

I always thought that is was assumed he did.

[Marie26]

21. Ooohhh, OK.

Sorry, I'm just uninformed. So Novak did reveal his sources? I guess I was expecting to hear who they were if he'd said their names. Have there been any leaks from the grand jury? I wonder why Miller is bothering to make a stand if her source has already been identified.

[Gman]

14. I think she would have been released next month anyway

after the grand jury's term expired. She could have held out for no more than 2 or 3 more weeks. This is very interesting.

[jim3775]

19. She would have been charged with criminal contempt

And she would have been released on bail. She wouldn't have gotten away scot free.

[flyarm]

26. no fitzgerald already went to the judge and ghot the go ahead

to change judith's charge from civil contempt to criminal contempt..that would have gone into effect if anyone was charged with an indictment...so another words..if anyone was charged with an indictiment ..judith could be held in a prison not just jail like she has been but prison for criminal contempt for as long as she didn't testify!

i would bet the farm fitzgerald told judith that he has an indictment and she will be held indefinitely until she testifies..how ever long that takes...in a federal prison!

fitzgerald was smart to hold her this long in "jail" just to give her a little taste of what she has to look forward to ..only she would be going to a much nastier place should she be charged with criminal contempt...
so she was facing either singing to the jury..or praying in a prison..for a very long time!

fly

[MiniMe]

27. What else is going on that we don't know about ?? n/t

[OneBlueSky]

28. all I know is that some very powerful Republicans . . .

including, I believe, our new Chief Justice, visited her in jail . . . they were not helping her with the decor . . .

forgive me if I don't take this at face value . . . whatever that is . . .

[ladylibertee]

29. That is a strong possibility