More proof that Patrick Fitzgerald is good at what he does

[Catherine Vincent]

When you have republicans coming to reality about Fitzgerald, there's no hope for Libby.


GOP candidates: Ryan likely to be convicted
March 9, 2006

BY DEANNA BELLANDI ASSOCIATED PRESS Advertisement

Some Republican candidates for governor said Thursday that former Gov. George Ryan likely will be convicted in his federal racketeering and fraud trial, but if he's not, he's at least guilty of abusing his office.

State Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington went the farthest, saying he believed Ryan is probably guilty because U.S Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald would not have brought a case otherwise.

"I have faith he wouldn't waste the taxpayers' dollars nor his time in trial if he wasn't sure George Ryan is guilty," Brady said during an Associated Press election forum on the issues that have taken center stage in the days leading up to the March 21 Illinois primary.

Aurora businessman Jim Oberweis says Ryan likely will be convicted on some counts but not others.

He then tied it to larger issues of ethics in the state.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/ryan/ryan09gop.html

[Sammy Pepys]

1. So what's taking him so long?

So far all we've got is Libby on what basically amount to technicalities. When do we get the red meat? :shrug:

[Radical Activist]

3. George Ryan left office almost 4 years ago.

Your question is a good one and the answer may be the reason why he was chosen.

[stop the bleeding]

5. Fitz works his way from the bottom minor charges and crooks up wards

toward the heavier charges and bigger players.

I don't know what the stats are exactly but Fitz has been working on this Ryan case since 1997, and is up to his 67th indicted person. When you look back at this case and Fitz's others this is text book moves for him.

I feel your pain on the patience thing, but waiting and it taking longer is actually a good thing.

Peace!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

28. well said. He started with the bottom feeders in the Daley admin, too.

and he is closing the noose around some of the highest crooks in the City.

The way he is dealing with Cheney is no different than Ryan or Daley. DeadEye should be worried.

[Squeech]

8. Sometimes

technicalities are enough. They convicted Al Capone for tax evasion.

In Scooter's case, an indictment for the actual crime of violating the Intelligence Identities Protection Act would give him carte blanche to exploit what's called the "graymail" defense-- using the pretrial discovery process to demand as material to his defense other secrets that he knows the Smirk administration would never release, with the expectation that the judge would thereby have to dismiss the case. And of course this is exactly what his lawyers are attempting, but none of the other secret stuff is relevant to the indictments Fitzgerald actually handed down, which is probably why he did it-- he is, as noted, no fool.

Of course what Fitz really wants is for Scooter to turn state's evidence against Cheney or Rove, and here again, the threat of a further indictment is another potential club.

[stop the bleeding]

2. I love Fitz - but not as much as you cat_girl25

meeeooooww, I agree with Bill Brady's statement and yours- Fibby is guilty as hell and Fitz knows it, but better yet Fitz will prove it.

[Lin]

6. taking so $%^&** long, WHY?? have to admit I'm SICK of waiting for Fitz-

wth takes THIS LONG????

[Missy Vixen]

15. Investigations, questioning witnesses

And certain defendants who want to allegedly play word games with the prosecution.

I'm just sayin'.
Julie

[Marie26]

17. Indict Cheney

I like Fitzgerald too, but since he hasn't indicted Cheney yet, I don't think he will.

[Catherine Vincent]

11. Cspan is reproducing Fitzgerald's news conference for me as we speak.

It cost $37 bucks but Fitz is worth it! Now that is what you call love. ;-)

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. ROFL! Oberweis talking about 'ethics'

:rofl:

[Nickster]

16. I know! LoL. N/T

[cynatnite]

7. Fitz is great, but I hope he moves on the rest of the cabal...

before the * term is up.

[myrna minx]

9. Not only is he good at what he does, but he's dreamy too!

*swoon* :loveya:

[Catherine Vincent]

10. Well since a couple of posters are asking why Fitz is taking so long,

I decided to call his office to ask. The operator wouldn't let me talk to him. :-)

[stop the bleeding]

18. you better be careful he might come after you for stalking

but you would just melt at the chance to meet him, even if he was prosecuting you:rofl:

[Catherine Vincent]

20. True dat!

LOL!

[never cry wolf]

33. If you had come to Chicago for the trial, you could have seen him

Apparently visitors are allowed in the courtroom:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/services/newspaper/premium/printedition/Tuesday/metro/chi-0603070240mar07,1,7783224.column?ctrack=1&cset=true

snip----------
If you were to go (which you can, by the way) you'd walk down a 12-foot-wide carpeted corridor on the west side of the Dirksen Building, 219 S. Dearborn St., and enter through wooden double doors that each have horizontal 18-inch-by-5-inch tinted glass peek-in panels about 5 feet off the ground.

The walls are made of 108-inch-by-40-inch panels of dark wood. Cherry? Walnut? Oak? Teak? I was feeling dumb, not knowing my grains and stains, but then I asked around the courtroom Monday and found that neither Chief Judge Charles Kocoras nor U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald, who were watching the first day of closing arguments, knew what kind of wood it is either.

[global1]

12. Ryan's Lawyer - Webb - Is Very Good At What He Does And.....

apparently gave a good closing argument. I believe the case is in the hands of the jury now.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

29. Webb is famous more for losing cases than winning them.

Of course the - what $11 million in costs and fees that his firm "donated" to Ryan's defense says nothing about the corruption deep throughout illinois, even through the scummy firm of W&S.

They are just too big and powerful to disbar, and too connected to even report for ethical lapses. They have been in many seriously criminal-political events, yet they seem to skate.

13. on Fitzgerald and Chicago politicians

their jaws dropped open when Fitzgerald had the gall to call them on their cronyism.


On Patrick Fitzgerald - An independent prosecutor

ELIZABETH BRACKETT: The mayor (Mayor Daley) denies any involvement in political hiring. But some aldermen in Chicago's city council say it's the way the city works.

Alderman William Beavers says the U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has gone too far.

WILLIAM BEAVERS: I think what he's trying to do is trying to dictate to city hall how to do hiring. The federal government hires on the patronage system. The city should hire on the patronage system. There's nothing wrong with recommending somebody.

MAYOR RICHARD M. DALEY: I'll tell you, I don't know of any, per se, political hiring on the basis of political hiring. I do not do the hiring, John. Departments do the hiring. Every other department do the hiring. I do not do the hiring.


http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/july-dec05/fitzgerald_8-8.html

[Missy Vixen]

14. Of course, we must have a photo or two!

He's just got it all, doesn't he? ;-)



:loveya:
Julie
president for life of the PFEB

[Catherine Vincent]

19. ooh la la!

:evilgrin:

[foreverdem]

21. Thanks Julie!

You have made my day! And yeah, he sure does have it all :loveya:

[Catherine Vincent]

22. ...

:loveya:

[Missy Vixen]

23. Okay, that's a great picture.

:swoon:

:loveya:
Julie

[H2O Man]

24. Nominated.

Fitzgerald does his job correctly.

[Catherine Vincent]

25. Why thank you H2O Man.

And I hope we ladies aren't annoying some of you with our swooning over Fitz. :hi:

[Missy Vixen]

26. Of course, H20 Man,

we think brainy guys are sexy! You fit in just fine on this thread! :hug:

Julie

[IndyOp]

27. I stand in awe of your skill at

understatement... "Fitzgerald does his job correctly."

:rofl:

:hi:

[Javaman]

30. Why complain about Fitz? He's doing his job.

Investigations actually take time.

Unlike the bullshit that is spewed to us daily from the sensationialist MSM, who don't check any of their sources or have at least two sources to confirm a story, the law, on the other hand, is an entirely different animal. It sometimes takes years to build a case before it ever gets to trial. Because, the lawyers (good lawyers) have to make sure all their evidence pans out and is actually true and they have real sources and witnesses.

To me, the longer it takes for something to go to trial, the happier I am. That means that the lawyer involved is doing his or her homework and is guaranteeing that there are no escape hatches.

There is plenty more to come. Good things come to those who wait.

[Catherine Vincent]

31. Dearest Javaman,

I hope you didn't direct that at me. I would never complain about Fitz.

[Javaman]

32. Naa, just a general statement. So many people on here

are hungry for info regarding his investigation, but I think they forget how long real investigation take as opposed to the ones they see on TV.