Uh oh - here comes the coverup of the Plame leak investigation...

[FormerRepublican]

I found this little tidbit at the end of a new news story and it gave me shudders - I fear this may yet be covered up by BushCo:

"The chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence could hold hearings on the use of espionage cover soon after the U.S. Congress returns from its August recess, said Roberts spokeswoman Sarah Little.

Little said the Senate committee would also review the probe of special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, who has been investigating the Plame case for nearly two years."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N256066.htm

Reviewing the probe - does that mean telling Fitz what he can and can't say about what happened, and getting the fix in on 'no indictments'?

What options do we have to counter an attempted coverup in the Senate?

[Goldmund]

1. Simple

Fitz needs to issue indictments before Sept. 7th.

[lancdem]

2. Fitz won't listen to the Senate telling him what to do

However, I'm sure he's well aware the WH is instructing Roberts to hold these hearings.

[FormerRepublican]

3. The real question is...

how do we hold these Senate traitors accountable for supporting treason in the White House?

Can they be prosecuted as a co-conspirator in the WH cover-up?

[lancdem]

4. I don't know

but Roberts is one of the worst.

[confludemocrat]

5. Only Fitz. will be made to comment on an ongoing investigation, not WH

Goddamn how do these people live with themselves? On the other hand, this is just gonna blow up in their faces, and in any case this is merely an attempt to intimidate the special prosecutor. Where are the Demo stalwarts on this?

[Zen Democrat]

15. They are desperately trying to keep the faithful satisfied.

Remember, when indictments come down, these guys aren't gonna say, "Aw shucks, ya got me." Do you think Limbaugh and FoxNews will throw in the towel?

There are people today who still think Nixon didn't do anything wrong. Why? Because they cling to crap like Liddy's book to prevent having to face the reality of the Republican Party.

Does anyone here recall the last time the Republican Party was pacifist? Well, it was when the US was debating entering the war in Europe to fight Hitler. Against Nazis the Republicans were pacifists.

They are in this fight to the bitter end people. And Sen. Roberts is just another pawn in their game.

[skip fox]

6. I do't think that's possible. It probably indicates that MANY Republicans

are dissatisfied with what Rove and Libby did. Outing a CIA operative (under unoffical covert) is serious business as we have been finding out for 1/2 week.

Tom Oliphant say about 11 days ago, a few Republicans will show displeasure and within a short time much of the party will be deserting the administration on this one. (Think of how hard it must be to echo the stupid and dishonest RNC spin is you have any notion of yourself as having some integrity left.)

After several days of hearings, I think you'll see a party of the Republican congressional leadership appraoch the president urging him to fire Rove because of the damage his continuance will be doing to the party.

What happens then is win-win. If Bush cannot part with Rove--who the hell is he, anyway, without his brain (tumor)?--then the tide of public opinion might change to the extent that a majority realizes that we've been lied to for years about a multiple of matters. If Bush fires him, we can point to that as corruption in the WH. Even if he resigns.

PLUS it will be very difficult for him to mount another candidate in a subsequent election (Condi Rice?).

[Zorbuddha]

11. I think that's the key

It seems there are some men of conscience on the other side of the aisle. And probably a few that just want to save their bacon and not go down with this sinking ship.

[rumpel]

7. However I think the power is vested in the House Judiciary in this case

the CFR says under Special Prosecuter (or Counsel) section that the final report be given to the AG, who then has to give it to Sensenbrenner and Conyers.
Gonzales, now clearly having a conflict of interest in the case will have to recuse himself.
Which may mean it will go directly to the House Judiciary.
Also, if any impeachment is to result out of this isn't it the House and not the Senate?

Hell will break loose, if this is not handled properly. We will win big in 2006.

[skip fox]

10. I'm always wary (esp. when Rove is known to be involved), but

this one is hard to get around. If the House Judiciary "disbands" the prosecution, the damage would be so strong that the Republicans will lose the House and Senate in 2006 or they will restart the prosecution.

But Rove is a master and I'm always amazed.

Today I realized that he was changing the moral strength of reporters into a liability. Libby and he both said they learned of Plame's identity through reporters. So far every reporter we know of denies he or she gave it to them. But if ONLY ONE reporter refuses to testify, the garnd jury can say it is unsure enough to indict.

The INTEGRITY of reporters is use to hide the CRIMES of others!!!!!

Masterful. Reporters hiding damning information instead of disclosing it. A sinful conscience banking on the honor of others, etc.

[kenny blankenship]

8. They might also get some people to testify

in exchange for immunity. This happened in Iran-Contra and was one of the reasons the prosecution was ultimately defeated. There was a limited willingness to investigate among the Democrats and Administration figures and their Republican allies on the Hill took full advantage of the Democrats weakness and uncertainty of purpose to immunize certain players without giving away the shop. Pardons took care of the rest.

[FormerRepublican]

9. That could backfire in their faces...

If the public ever wakes up and realizes exactly what this administration has done, they could go ballistic. Mega change in 2006. I think 'pubs in Congress would do just about anything to keep the BushCo dirt from ever seeing the light of day. IMO, any hearings would be a fluff only sop to pretend to look honest to the voting public. More spin - just what we need in this case. :sarcasm:

[skip fox]

12. I agree, but a colleague believes W. will never fire Rove because

W.'s presonality as a leader is predicated on Rove.

Who the hell is W., anyway, with his brain (tumor)?

[Auntie Bush]

14. Bush will never fire Rove because he would RAT him out and he'd

end up in the Hague being tried for war crimes. He'd rather step down than fire Rove. As long as we have bush...we have Rove. Afterall...how do you separate a man from his brains? I might get Agent Mike after me if I described how it could be done...think bloody and gruesome.

[FormerRepublican]

13. My next question would be can we at least light a fire under the Dems to

get them to work this issue hard in hearings? No easy questions that 'pubs can just laugh off or spin away. From the sound of things, they want to have hearings in both the House and Senate - I'm not sure what that might do to the outcome of Fitz's investigation.

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress will conduct a series of hearings on national security and espionage issues raised by the CIA-leak controversy surrounding senior Bush adviser Karl Rove, officials said on Monday.

The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence plans hearings on potential national security threats posed by leaks, including leaks to the media, and will aim to toughen legislation barring the unauthorized disclosure of classified information.

"It's time there's a comprehensive law that will make it easier for the government to prosecute wrongdoers and increase the penalties that hopefully will act as a deterrent," said Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, the panel's Republican chairman.

Media leaks and the covert status of espionage officials have become politically charged issues with the controversy over Valerie Plame, whose identity as a CIA agent was leaked in 2003 after her diplomat husband Joseph Wilson accused the White House of exaggerating intelligence to justify the Iraq war.

A Time magazine reporter said he learned about Plame's identity from Rove, deputy White House chief of staff and chief architect of President Bush's re-election. Time reporter Matthew Cooper also said he discussed Plame and Wilson with Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff."

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/bush/articles/2005/07/25/congress_plans_to_scrutinize_plame_related_issues/

My concern here would be that these hearings add to the heat on the WH over this issue, and not let them be used to let the players off the hook. It's kinda hard for me to look lightly on treason.