Very interesting comment from Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald, Plame case.

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/30/AR2005063000205_pf.html

Fitzgerald declined to comment, but in court papers unsealed yesterday he said the case remains unchanged and focuses on potentially serious criminal misconduct.

Fitzgerald urged the judge to jail the reporters as soon as possible and to start enforcing a $1,000-per-day penalty he had levied against Time.

"We shouldn't enable people to think court orders are optional," Fitzgerald said. "When President Nixon got the order to turn over the tapes, he didn't say, 'Let me think about my alternatives.' " "This case is not about a whistle-blower," Fitzgerald added. "It's about potential retaliation against a whistle-blower."

[Scout1071]

1. Fasten' your seatbelt, we're in for a bumpy ride.

The anticipation of this case is driving me nuts. I know there are some folks who are really beginning to break a sweat over this one.

[nashville_brook]

34. gawd, i hope you're right!

[BlueIris]

42. Of course, my comment means the effort will be cursed, but

there's a poster here who has made very convincing comments RE: Plame and the impeachment threat the case surrounding her poses to Bush. I believe his/her exact words at one point were: "When Fitzgerald makes his move, start counting--'s done." The person has made some very convincing arguments on this score. I actually believe that the Plame issue, almost more than the DSM, has the potential to shred Bush, almost the exact way Nixon was. I'm not holding my breath, exactly, but this newest remark from Fitzgerald has me paying attention.

[Me.]

2. Thank You Fitz!

And I wonder if there is a hint in the fact that he brought up Watergate?

[mom cat]

19. It may be just a crumb but I'll take it!

[Hissyspit]

3. I agree. Interesting comment. Nominated.

[me b zola]

4. "This case is not about a whistle-blower,"

"It's about potential retaliation against a whistle-blower."


That is exactly right. This sounds as though Fitz may be going balls to the wall on this one:)

[Hepburn]

13. He ALWAYS goes balls to the wall.

He is RELENTLESS. And I do NOT mean this in a bad way. He is thorough and honest and will dig forever to get to the bottom of a case.

[spooky3]

23. Exactly who they need! And I think I see a very good movie in the making.

[Supersedeas]

16. WWWWWWWow.....very interesting...where is the Corporate Media????

[librechik]

17. yes exactly!! These scoundrels are hiding behind the 1st amendment

and using those reporters to protect powerful criminals, not expose them. I think the mandate to "protect reporter privilege" is badly misapplied in this case.

[htuttle]

5. Schwing!

Well, well, well. And here I'd about given up hope that Fitzgerald was going to push for criminal charges. Maybe he will after all.

[montanacowboy]

6. What does he mean

by potential retaliation against a whistle-blower? his (Fitz) retaliation?

[htuttle]

8. I took it to mean the retalitation against Joe Wilson

[montanacowboy]

9. Oh, right

thanks,,,I was reading that wrong

[Samantha]

36. One might say, though, the true whistleblower was Plame

the anti-war soldier at the CIA, and Wilson was a "surrogate" whistleblower, as her husband, her confidant, former ambassador, but, along the author's vein of thought, traveler to Niger to uncover the truth behind the aluminum tube myth.

Yes, I believe the reference to a whistleblower refers to Plame, not Wilson. She after all recommended him for the mission ... they deny this, but she did bring up his name and reminded people to whom she did of his background. For all of these reasons, she, as a part of the anti-war group at the CIA, must have felt confident Wilson would debunk many myths being deployed by the Office of Special Plans. Got, how just the creation of that office must have rubbed many at the CIA raw.

[hang a left]

44. Nope, not aluminum tubes......yellow cake.

She NEVER recommended Joe Wilson for the mission. All she did was pass on the message once it was made. Your facts are wrong.

[Pirate Smile]

11. The Administration was retaliating against Joe Wilson for criticizing

them. Wilson is the whistle blower, not the leaker. The leaker is a government paid criminal who thought he was going to damage Wilson's credibility. They were trying to scare and silence the whistle blowers.

[Old and In the Way]

28. What people should remember - Bush could have gotten the leaker

to admit to it and resigned....but he didn't. Why? Maybe because he is the prime mover in this story? This WH values loyalty over any other attribute. Those that work for Bush are unquestioning yes men willing to do the bosses bidding. I'm sure no one would commit this treasonous act without clear direction from Bush/Cheney/Rove.

Maybe this investigation will shed some light on the Anthrax killer, too.

[Jackpine Radical]

40. Both Bush & the leaker were being moved by the Prime Mover,

namely Dick Cheney.

[Stand and Fight]

7. My God!

This is a whole hell of a lot of good news. 42% say impeach Bush if he lied and more on the DSM and now this... I think there's going to be some heads set to rolling and some feet put to the fire. :bounce:

[Pirate Smile]

12. It reminds me of Robert Redford saying there are 15 things this

Administration has done that could be as big as Watergate.

[Stand and Fight]

15. This is a grand development.

If Fritz goes after these crooks like he should, I think John Dean will be prophet, for as we all know the Bush administration is worse than Watergate.

[mod mom]

33. and 25% of Republicans think IMPEACHMENT if he lied! nt

[kanrok]

10. It's getting interesting now.

:popcorn:

[HootieMcBoob]

14. Can I just say...

FROG MARCH!

:kick:

[DeepModem Mom]

29. I'd forgotten that -- I love Joe Wilson! nt

[osaMABUSh]

18. Where's all the excitement??

I recall multiple threads about the Plame outing on DU many months ago. Now that Time is going to give up the source next week where's all the excitement and threads?

Since the Grand Jury ends in October shouldn't we know who is to be indicted in the next couple of months? Where's all the speculation about who in the WH did it and what the political ramifcations are?

[FourStarDemocrat]

21. We probrably won't know anything until indictment time in October...

However, this is a major development in terms of getting a feel for where hte case is headed. Time will give up it's source to Robert Fitzgerald, and he will use that info to further the investigation. The public will not be privy to it until trial proceeds, I'd think.

[kohodog]

22. There have been many new threads in the last few days.

Speculation still revolves around Libby, with Rove and Cheney possibly in the mix, but who knows. Bolton's name has come up recently too. We've been through so many ups and downs in this case, not to mention delays, the longest of which relate to Cooper and Miller, that I am just taking it in stride. I'm anticipating interesting news, possibly as early as next week.

[bvar22]

20. I'm here. I'm excited. I'm kicking.

I'm nominating!!!!

"This case is not about a whistle-blower," Fitzgerald added. "It's about potential retaliation against a whistle-blower."


It is also about protecting criminals and traitors. Whoever exposed the Plame network made America MORE dangerous, and gave aid and comfort to those terrorists trafficking in WMD.

[I Have A Dream]

32. Yes, this quote just so succinctly puts everything into...

perspective. Joe Wilson was a whistle-blower. The other person leaked his wife's identity to punish him. The latter deserves no protection by the press. It is just so logical that I just don't understand how they don't get it. (Well, maybe Time Magazine has now.)

[nikraye]

24. Woohooo!!!!! eom

[moondust]

25. Delete.

[Alizaryn]

26. I am really curious as to what Novak's

statement that he made on CNN yesterday means.. That when the case is over and he "talks" we will be surprised.

Also, IF as the judge says the "source" had already come forward I would imagine that whomever is revealed in "Time's" notes will be a second name or why the refusal to give up the name?

"Yesterday, Hogan questioned the reporters' assertions that they are keeping a promise not to identify a confidential source. In appellate court filings, Fitzgerald has indicated that he knows the identity of Miller's source and that the official has voluntarily come forward."

[DeepModem Mom]

30. That was interesting also, Alizaryn! nt

[Zen Democrat]

35. Yeah, I'm waiting for Bob Novak to tell the truth. Right.

His surprise will be something like ... he heard this from someone close to Hillary Clinton.

[SimpleMan]

27. I think the most revealing part of the quote was

I think the most revealing part of the quote was:

"When President Nixon got the order to turn over the tapes, he didn't say, 'Let me think about my alternatives.' "

Comparing this to Watergate makes me think he's going for the big dogs.

[DeepModem Mom]

31. Great find, flpoljunkie! Thanks! I'd given up hope. nt

[Toots]

37. To me it is more than retaliation it is TREASON

They exposed an American CIA Undercover Agent involed in tracking WMDs throughout the world. That is TREASON.

[BlueStateBlue]

39. I agree - it's TREASON

I wonder how many people were killed because her identity was revealed...

[Rainscents]

38. This looks great and very interesting!!! More to come... and waiting.

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[grumpy old fart]

41. Actually, Nixon did "think about it", but quickly decided against.........

the quick impeachment that would follow....

[flpoljunkie]

43. Kick!