Scooter Libby was found guilty today of four counts against him -- two counts of perjury, one count of lying to the FBI and one count of obstructing justice.
The last one is the most important. Think about what it means. He obstructed justice. We could not adequately punish the people who outed a covert government agent and endangered her life, the lives of all of her contacts and national security because Libby obstructed justice!
We found out during the trail why he did this -- for politics. Classy. The Vice President decided to smear the administration's political opponents and ordered several people to out Valerie Plame, who was a covert CIA agent.
How do we know this? They all admit it now! Why? Because they're afraid that Patrick Fitzgerald will also convict them of lying if they try to deny it. There are notes of Dick Cheney writing down her identity, Libby admits he talked to the Vice President about it first. Ari Fleischer admits he leaked her name. Richard Armitage admits he leaked her name. Karl Rove admits he leaked her name.
Their only defense to the criminal charges is that they weren't sure she was covert. They all outed a CIA agent for political reasons, but it's okay because they weren't positive she was covert? That might be a defense in criminal proceedings -- though we'll never know because Libby obstructed justice -- but it doesn't make the act anymore palatable. It was still dangerous, immoral and harmful to our national security (Valerie Plame worked on weapons of mass destruction intelligence).
Remember what George H.W. Bush said about people who leak the names of our agents:
"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."
They are all guilty of playing with our security for their own political gain. Will there be any consequences? In any normal administration Karl Rove and Dick Cheney would be run out of town. They would resign in shame and embarrassment. But not these guys. They never admit a mistake -- and they are willing to take everyone down with them.
Before Republicans celebrate their lack of shame, you should realize that these guys are dragging you down with them. This is the culture of corruption that voters can't stand and voted resoundingly against in 2006. You think they're going to like it any better in 2008?
The reason politicians have resigned in the past when they did something this horribly wrong is because it would harm their president and their party if they didn't. But Rove and Cheney are so selfish, they don't even care about that. So, enjoy the next two years in power because it might be the last two years for a long time to come.
If you continue to do the wrong thing and rub it in people's face, there are consequences. For Scooter Libby that might be 30 years in jail. For the Republicans it might be another thirty years in political purgatory.
The Young Turks
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 2)
16. The Republicans are starting to fall. I'm laughing as they land on their poor pathetic arses. Lies and more lies.
Tammy at 11:14AM on Mar 9th 2007
17. These last 6 years have been one of the biggest power grabs by the Executive Branch since the foundation of The United States. The arrogance of the current administration astounds me. They think most Americans are stupid and they need to "run" the country. Rise up middle class and take back control of your country. You are the majority. Chaney/Bush pander only to the rich. They do not represent the middle/lower class American.
Tim Cobb at 12:46PM on Mar 9th 2007
18. I am a Democrat because of the stinking lies and betrayal of a majority of the Republicans. Has this administration ever told the truth...Pathological liars. Cinton had one major crises in his administration, which the very damned voters who impeached him, were guilty of themselves. His was a private matter. The man was a genius when it came to the Presidency(INCIDENTALLY, THIS WAS THE JOB WE ELECTED HIM TO DO). Bush has been a total failure at every level of government. This is the difference in being intelligent(Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar) and being a drunk and cocaine user in their younger years. I strongly suspect Bush has been back on the bottle for at least 7 years now. I would vote for only one Republican if he was nominated for President. SEN. CHUCK HAGEL. Bush/Cheney administration is laughable. Failure to the American people.
AnnaLRichard at 9:18PM on Apr 7th 2007
19. From what I understand from talk in DC is that after Plame was outed several of her contacts were found very dead. Intelligence sources that were supposed to be secret are dead. That is a bad thing to happen. Who is at fault?
Robert Bilicki at 2:08PM on Mar 10th 2007
20. From what I understand from talk in DC is that after Plame was outed several of her contacts were found very dead. >>>>
Aha! Now we know the truth behind Barbaro's death! Laminitis-schlaminitis! He was fed yellow cake!
Donna at 9:09PM on Mar 10th 2007
21. I really don't see why the conservatives on the board are all riled up. During the Clinton Administration Republicans spent $41 million to pry into every aspect of their past from birth onward, and the most they could come up with was lying about a BJ. Secondly, Valerie Plame was not a "clerk/typist," she was a WMD specialist who had enough clout to send her husband to investigate. I presume she was also doing CIA work when he was ambassador.
Bush/Cheney rushed into this war without checking the facts, even though they knew they were suspect. Over 3000 US service men have died since, and 650,000 Iraqis. Plus, Bush's track record on lying is incredible, and all on videotape for posterity:
(1) Iraq
(2) "I will fire anyone connected with the leak" changed to "I will fire anyone convicted of criminal charges related to the leak" once he knew Rove was a leaker. Rove is still there.
(3) Katrina: "no one could anticipate the levees would break" followed by nationwide disclosure of a video conference he attended where he was specifically warned of the danger.
(4) Until last year's election we were "winning" and "making progress." After the election: "I was not pleased with the lack of progress in Iraq last year, now would anyone be, but we have a new way forward (more of the same)."
Dick Cheney is a chip off the old block. After he shot a casual friend in the face and didn't visit him in the hospital, he waited a day to sober up before calling the sherrif. First, he said there was no alcohol involved, then it was one beer - both can't be true. I don't think its a stretch to connect him to the Plame leak - and believe there may be criminal prosecutions to come after 2008.
Phil at 11:14AM on Mar 11th 2007
22. Scooter has no worry...he knows he'll be pardoned but he'll find out what it like in prison for a while, MAYBE. Scooter's attorney will stall it out on the appeals! All attorneys who defend those they know are guilty of a crime are nothing but criminals themselves. These are the kind of lawyers who would sell sell anything for money...LOL
Ann Richard at 4:03PM on Mar 16th 2007
23. Scooter has no worry...he knows he'll be pardoned but he'll find out what it like in prison for a while, MAYBE. Scooter's attorney will stall it out on the appeals! All attorneys who defend those they know are guilty of a crime are nothing but criminals themselves. These are the kind of lawyers who would sell sell anything for money...LOL
Ann Richard at 9:16PM on Apr 7th 2007
24. Scooter, confident of a pardonome and likely lucrative retirement in Dubai.
Bozly at 2:16PM on Mar 12th 2007
25. Interesting to read all the attempts to twist and turn and churn and obfuscate as best possible. First, regarding Val, as was NOTED by Fitz, indeed she did have CIA position that was compromised by her public outing and her employer VERIFIED SUCH. It is ignored that even her past duties included contacts that were jeopardized and put at risk. Her desk job was centered on the various issues of WMD's ,likely she used contacts made previously in service to further "information". Fineline calling Joe himself a liar for tis regarded he claims that Cheney sent him..Uh, likely Cheney did NOT sign the request order authorizing but WAS the impetus for the CIA hierarchy to seek and send someone and WIlsons background gave him access to make such inquiries. LOST is the FACT that indeed the Yellowcake/Saddam premise was shattered and ACKNOWLEDGED to have been instigated with FORGED PAPERWORK which HAD BEEN SO EXPOSED and KNOWN/ACCEPTED to be a SHAM/scam attempt. It was revealed in Italy, the Brits were aware of the discombobulation of that YellowCake/Saddam connection leaving ONLY the likes of Cheney still willing to use such despite elsewise acknowledged KNOWNS. Cheney also thought Chalibi was a reliable source. THINK ABOUT IT ALL and put it into some realtime prospectivity.
Chances are great Scooter will NEVER "flip", but Scooter KNOWINGLY, WILLINGLY did his best to OBSTRUCT JUSTICE and therefore was properly charged.
Patrick at 2:18PM on Mar 12th 2007
26. Let's see. Sweetheart no-bid contracts for Halliburton. Invasion of Iraq for WMD's. Heck of a job Brownie during katrina. Tax cuts for the wealthiest while programs are cut for the poorest. This administration is going to go down in US history as the most corrupt and inept ever. After they leave office there should be hearings in which they no longer have the pardon trump card. I believe they all need prison time. Dick plush Bush equals US getting F*cked.
SoCalSir44 at 12:19AM on Mar 13th 2007
27. There's a book in this situation, so Valerie
Plame and Wilson should make great profits
off of that. Valerie is a pretty woman;
probably likes seeing her face in the news.
Eva at 10:42PM on Apr 4th 2007