The freepworld response to Libby's testimony is...

[giant_robot]

...a state of complete denial. Here are some reactions to the article "ABC News: 'Leakgate' or Just a Sideshow?"

To: West Coast Conservative
So, barring a court challenge, it appears that both Bush and Cheney have the power to say what is and is not classified.

Oh, that would be great. Now we will have the stinking courts deciding what documents can be and cannot be classified. Hell, the socialist democrats will release all sensitive military intel immediately to assist their gee-had pals in the middle east terrorists groups.
4 posted on 04/06/2006 1:38:16 PM PDT by RetiredArmy (Democrats: The communist, socialist, and Al Qaeda loving party of America.)
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To: West Coast Conservative

If the President authorizes the release of information then by definition it is NOT a leak. Such incredible stupidity with this non-story.

5 posted on 04/06/2006 1:38:43 PM PDT by plain talk
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To: West Coast Conservative
So, the White House is now bracing itself for charges of hypocrisy.

This is the money line of the article. The media knows that the "Bush told Libby to leak Plame's identity" attack won't pass the laugh test. So, they'll just move the goalposts and make the story about Bush's "hypocrisy."
6 posted on 04/06/2006 1:38:57 PM PDT by CFC__VRWC
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To: West Coast Conservative

In either case, these 'leaks' are immaterial to the charges faced by Scooter.

He wasn't charged with leaking information, he was charged with lying to the FBI during an offical investigation.

7 posted on 04/06/2006 1:39:27 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (USAF, TAC, 12th AF, 366 TFW, 366 MG, 366 CRS, Mtn Home AFB, 1978-81)
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To: West Coast Conservative

A poorly written piece of crap! Preying on the ignorance of the people and the hatred of Demoncrats for Bush...

8 posted on 04/06/2006 1:39:48 PM PDT by Edgerunner (Proud to be an infidel)
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To: West Coast Conservative
In 1988 the Supreme Court ruled that the president had the right to determine who should and should not have access to classified information.

Then in March 2003, around the start of the war in Iraq, George Bush expanded that power to include the vice president.

So, barring a court challenge, it appears that both Bush and Cheney have the power to say what is and is not classified.

So, if President Bush did not do anything illegal by giving Scooter Libby the green light, is the White House off the hook?

Not necessarily. Libby's claim could still cause political damage to a president who has spoken out strongly against leaks.

For example: Oct. 7, 2003: "I've constantly expressed my displeasure with leaks, particularly leaks of classified information."

Is it just me or what. The President has the right to decide what is classified or not. So if he deemed this info not worthy how can it be considered a leak?
9 posted on 04/06/2006 1:41:18 PM PDT by rocksblues (Illegal Immigrant racist here.)
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To: West Coast Conservative

bookmark

10 posted on 04/06/2006 1:41:32 PM PDT by freema (Proud Marine FRiend, Mom, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Wife, Daughter, Niece)
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To: West Coast Conservative

"...or is it within his powers to declassify information..."

If the President can't declassify something, who can?

11 posted on 04/06/2006 1:42:01 PM PDT by Flightdeck (Longhorns+January=Rose Bowl Repeat)
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To: West Coast Conservative

To sum it up, the material was from the NIE which the President has the authority to disclose and did in full a week or so later?

12 posted on 04/06/2006 1:42:21 PM PDT by tobyhill (The War on Terrorism is not for the weak.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
Libby's claim could still cause political damage to a president who has spoken out strongly against leaks.

If it's been declassified, it's no longer a leak of classified information.

Of course, the counter point to this is that a proper declassification requires more than just a say-so. Someone with classification authority (which the President arguably has by definition) has to physically sign off on that score...

Do I hear an echo in there? Anyway, I checked it out for you, so now I must shower.

on edit: it's always good to add a link. duh! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1610467/posts

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. So, you freepazoid pinheads, does this mean

that the Chimperor could go on national television and reveal the nuclear launch codes? Sounds like high fookin' treason to me.

[saltpoint]

2. "...the stinking courts" is a lovely turn of phrase, isn't it?

Call me old-fashioned, but I'm a fool for that checks-and-balances thing.

[giant_robot]

4. LOL! n/t

[azmouse]

3. They completely miss the point of why Plame's name was leaked

It was in retaliation for her husband speaking out against the lies * repeatedly told about starting an illegal war in Iraq.
That just plain makes it wrong and illegal. What a petty little man * has proven himself to be.

[Arkansas Granny]

9. They know the point. They choose to ignore it. Denial is an

integral part of being a Bushbot. If "Dear Leader" says it's OK to out a covert CIA agent, that's all they need to know. Facts are nothing but an obstacle placed in his way by the wicked agents of darkness on the left. I'm telling you, it's almost like a cult.

[blue cat]

12. Almost? n/t

[aden_nak]

5. So what if Bush decided to declassify everything?

I mean, think about it. By that rationale, any sitting President could declassify every document currently kept secret by the government, from CIA roll calls to nuclear launch codes. But since he has the authority, that'd be perfectly okay, right? I mean, by that theory, it'd be IMPOSSIBLE for anyone elected President to commit treason. Which kind of flies in the face of what Pappy Bush said a few years back.

"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors." - George Herbert Walker Bush, 1999

[patrice]

6. They can't tell the difference between a monarchy and a "democracy".

They are the "Relativists" they Hate. That's what's so funny about them. They complain about things that they themselves are.

Dim-witted, can't engage in moral reasoning, because they lack comprehension of many things, so they follow fascist leaders right to Hell, just because some guy paying his mortgage by calling himself a "Reverand" offers them a nice white-collar job of herding sheeple.

Breaking the First Commandment is the most seriously punished "sin". Assuming you are a god who can choose War whenever it's "needed". . . And spy on anyone without anyone else knowing, and PNAC-ian-planning to get a lot of us killed

Only "god"(s) assume the power of life-and-death over and judge others as not worthy somehow, and too many with not enough attention to say "End this War of Choice!" Living with Daily Death Reports, people "Supporting" a man in Choosing Death and calling it Life . . . All of that is a damned blasphemy and any real Christian knows that.

Truth Is, by definition, Inevitable.

Even for liars. And especially for ". . . whited sepluchres."

Lies, by definition, inevitably are not Real.

People are not stupid, just lazy and distracted, but they do recognize DAILY DEATHS from the CHOICE of ONE person.

George Bush is a stupid king and not very Kind to People or Frogs.

[Maccagirl]

7. Once again, their ignorance is upstaged only by their

hate. Can they ever post anything without name-calling? I guess they love an authoritarian Pres-as long as it's a white male Republican.

[davepc]

8. What do they call it when the supreme rulers word is law?

Oh yea, a monarchy.

Silly me, I thought we had a constitutional republic.

[davidwparker]

10. Ignorance is bliss.

the socialist democrats will release all sensitive military intel immediately to assist their gee-had pals in the middle east terrorists groups.

So far only fascist wing of the Republican party is leaking sensitive information. And, giving gee-hadist reasons for attacking the troops by starting a war in Iraq and letting the real war on terror lapse. Where's Bin Laden? Who's running Afghanistan?

[giant_robot]

11. Not just that...

...we socialist democrats have to give our gee-had pals sensitive information so they can launch terrorist attacks on the blue states where us elitist socialist democrats live. :crazy:

[stepnw1f]

13. Operatives

and some dumb naive "morans".

[MaggieSwanson]

14. This little exchange is my favorite...

Now who here went and did that? I salute you! :patriot:



To: West Coast Conservative
Sept. 30, 2003: "There are too many leaks of classified information in Washington. … And if there's a leak out of the administration, I want to know who it is.

Uh-oh. Looks like everybody finally knows who the leaker is.

46 posted on 04/06/2006 3:35:25 PM PDT by George W. Bush


To: George W. Bush
Take your dim crap to the DU WHERE YOU BELONG!

LLS

49 posted on 04/06/2006 4:34:52 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Preserve America... kill terrorists... destroy dims!)



Worth going over to see. Thanks for the laugh!

-M