dammit, Randi just had a good point re Fitz and Cheney

[LSK]

Because Cheney is VP, he has the power to declassify information such as Plames CIA status. So therefore Congress would have to start a new investigation regarding Cheney.

[NewJeffCT]

1. Isn't there a formal process to do that?

and, I believe prior to Team Bush assuming power, the VP did not have that power...

[underpants]

5. If I remember correctly (not a Libby joke) W signed an exec. order giving Dick this power

or more like Dick told W to sign it and then he gave him back his bubblewrap.

[leveymg]

10. No. That Order only allowed Cheney to classify docs in his own office

The VP does not now, and never has had, the power to declassify CIA documents. He certainly can't reveal the identity of covert CIA officers.

[librechik]

29. exactly. And even if he did, theres' a protocol where you tell people

who are involved that you are about to de-classify, and some other paperwork--so a CIA agent doesn't get caught out without knowing his work is declassified. Cheney did none of that.

[LiberalFighter]

34. Since dicky scumbag claims he doesn't fall under the Executive branch

of the government he doesn't have the right to declassify classified material.

[Kikosexy2]

2. I say...

go for it..before Ol' Dicky gets a heart blood-clot and he's kapput! Cialis, Levitra nor Viagra can't bring this limp Dick back to life..har, har..

[Kikosexy2]

3. I say...

go for it..before Ol' Dicky gets a heart blood-clot and he's kapput! Cialis, Levitra nor Viagra can't bring this limp Dick back to life..har, har..

[Lena inRI]

4. Fitz is smarter than Randi, sorry. . .

and he's waaaay smarter than Bushco. . .including Darth Cheney.

:smoke: :smoke: :smoke: :smoke: :smoke:

[robinlynne]

6. meaning what?

[ObaMania]

33. Meaning she's just trying to fill dead air time.

I take practically all of Randi's rants/points with a grain of salt. She tends to ramble on with self servitude.

[mod mom]

7. BUT...

there is protocol required to make sure parties involved are aware of the de-classification-which was NOT done.

[LSK]

13. details are what signing statements are for

:sarcasm:

[Emit]

8. This has been Cheney's strategy on damage control dating way back

to that interview he did with Brit Hume about shooting what'shisname in the face -- toward the end of that. John Dean had some words to say about it at that time.

Edited to add link: http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20060407.html

[Parche]

9. declassify

Declassify and disseminating are 2 different things!!

[H2O Man]

11. Not true.

That is simply not true. It has been debunked numerous times on DU.

[emulatorloo]

16. Kicking your comment to OP -- Cheney cannot declassify CIA agents eom

[LSK]

17. so Cheneys defense would be ignorance of proper procedures?

[H2O Man]

19. No.

They never made that claim.

[LSK]

21. Yet

Or am I missing something where

1. They did not need this defense ?

2. This defense is impossible ?

[H2O Man]

30. The idea that

Cheney could declassify Plame's identity is nonsense.

[Marnieworld]

12. They did not follow the correct process

Even with the E.O. giving Cheney the ability to de-classify (which oddly happened right around the time they started to investigate the Wilsons) there still is a process of declassification that they did not follow.

It's not like Dick Cheney or * can wiggle their nose like Bewitched or nod the head like Jeannie and then something is declassified.

The details escape me at the moment, I'm not an expert just a Plame thread junkie. I recall it requiring paperwork and processing it with the CIA or the NSA, the orginal agency that classified it. You have to detail what exactly is de-classified. Scooter showed the NIE to Judy Miller. If that was still classified (regardless of what was in Cheney's head) then it would be espionage which is easier to prove than the releasing of the covert agent's name. FItz even mentioned that it was provable and a more relevant statute to this case when he had his press conference in Oct. 2005.

Consulted google for better reference than my limited memory:

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20060407.html

John Dean-

At a minimum, the filing indicates that the President and Vice President departed radically, and disturbingly, from long-set procedures with respect to classified documents - and that the Vice President, in particular, exceeded his declassification authority.

[KoKo]

14. Thanks for posting this....remembered reading it way back and

also some posts by H20man following up on what John Dean said about what Bush and Cheney were doing not being the proper protocol.

[LSK]

20. I can see Cheneys defense going something like this

"Well I told them to put the paperwork forward. I assumed it was done."

Something along those lines.

[Marnieworld]

24. well if he's telling that to a jury

We've already won. In my heart I just can't believe this is the end. It's only a beginning with a Dem Congress and Fitz saying the investigation is "Inactive." Tip of the iceberg and I want to see the whole damn iceberg.

[annabanana]

15. He has that power according to HIM. . I, for one,

don't believe it.

[peacetalksforall]

18. I thought that the only thing they claimed they declassified was

certain parts of the NIA document related to the Niger sale to Hussein or something closely related. What they did was present it in such a way as to make it look like Plame was declassified. ?????

[DURHAM D]

22. Your post does not correctly state what Randi was saying.

She did not claim that Cheney has the power to declassify. She was indicating that Cheney "says" he has the right to declassify.

Randi was skeptical regarding the executive order. She was poking fun at Cheney's claim and Randi wants further examination and clarification on the issue.

[LSK]

23. I got the impression that she was saying that

Because Cheney's power to declassify, then Fitz was not going to pursue Cheney and it was then up to Congress to address this aspect of the case.

[DURHAM D]

26. No.

I am not sure if it is your intent but you seem to keep saying that Cheney's claim of ability to de-classify is a given. A given accepted by Randi and by Fitz. The issue of such an ability is still open. However, I assume the determination of such an ability by e.o. for the v.p. needs to be reviewed by the Justice department - but as Randi indicated they (Alberto) won't pursue the problem.

[LSK]

27. well if she has not accepted it as given, then why did she bring it up?

[DURHAM D]

28. You seem to have an agenda.

What is it?

[LSK]

31. right now its figuring out why you think I have an agenda

:shrug:

[Fresh_Start]

25. No, he couldn't declassify Plame

but he could declassify NIE.

[ObaMania]

32. He may be able to do so..

.. but not when the operative is in unfriendly territory. Right?