The Raw Story: Newsweek: Leak prosecutor's boss likely to be replaced...

[RSchewe]

with Bush classmate; 'Skull and Bones'

Newsweek's Michael Isikoff will splash a story in tomorrow's Newsweek which reveals that the boss of CIA leak probe prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is likely to be replaced by a former Bush classmate at Yale.

What's more, Newsweek has found that the new boss is a fellow initiate of the Yale secret society, Skull and Bones. Details will appear on the magazine's website early Sunday and on newsstands Monday.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Newsweek_Leak_prosecutors_boss_likely_to_be_replaced_with_Bush_classmate_Scull_an_0806.html

get your Reynolds wrap out

[Dickie Flatt]

1. In other news, Fitzgerald's body to be replaced with.. [warning: rated r]

bloody pulp.

[RSchewe]

2. Hahaha

If this is true... Spikey Mikey must have seen some black helicopters today. This is too funny.

[checks-n-balances]

22. How the hell can this be funny to you?

I, for one, am not amused.

[RSchewe]

25. I don't think the issue itself is funny...

I just get a kick out of all of the Skull and Bones conspiracy stuff

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

35. You are easily amused

if you find that so funny.

[rocktivity]

3. Replaced on what grounds?

Is he planning to retire?

:shrug:
rocknation

[Son of California]

4. shit just gets weirder

but I'm a little surprised that this kind of thing is going to be put out in the MSM.
How did Isikoff dig this up? It just seems like something that would be kept totally under wraps.

are there a hundred modern deep throats right now? Republicans who love their country more than their party, attacking the Beast from the inside? Will they be making a movie about this 30 years from now.

[RSchewe]

6. My thoughts exactly.

It sounds a little too tin foil hatty for a publication like Newsweek. The key words are "likely to be replaced". I guess we will find out as this develops.

In any case, what I care about is that the CIA leak issue will get a little more gas thrown on it. It has been running out of fuel in the past few days.

[Booster]

7. There were threads on DU last week about this. The friend of

Fitzgerald who recommended/appointed him as prosecutor(Comey?) quit for reasons I have yet to hear - probably to spend more time with his family, but at least he had Fitz's back; now this new guy will put a knife in it.

[lovuian]

15. maybe he is going to tell Bush & co what fitz is up too!!!

but if I was him I would watch my butt!!! CIA is everywhere!!!!

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

37. He's going to Lockheed Martin

effective October 1.

That may be, probably is, only a part of the story.

[ShockediSay]

5. Past the Tipping Point -

I would hope. As was Watergate's tawdry attempt to control matters via the Saturday Night Massacre in which I-am-not-a-crook Nixon fired Archibald Cox, if memory serves.

Any attempt to conswerve Fitzgerald by his new boss will blow sky high and end in impeachment if not treason proceedings, IMHO, leaving Fitzgerald as a fusion reform candidate.

[wli]

8. interesting that Newsweek is reporting on Skull & Bones

I've had the impression it was not so big a deal, but maybe it's significant after all.

[Twist_U_Up]

18. so true

isnt a big deal to Kerry

[pauldp]

9. Great. The Fratboy Death Cult comes to W's rescue.

I can see why you might make the tinfoil hat reference but let's face it they ARE an elitist fraternity with a history of putting eachother in positions of power.

If true this is not good news.

[SmokingJacket]

50. Exactly. It's tinfoily to believe Skull and Bones controls everything

but it's undeniable that they are a clique of the rich and powerful.

[AX10]

10. Gee, I wonder what will happen to Fitzgerald now?!?

maybe an 'accident'?

[Amonester]

43. I hope some good friends of his advise him to stay away

from Chicago! :scared:

http://cannonfire.blogspot.com/2005/08/most-important-story-of-our-time.html

(I hope it's just a rumor!)

:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

What are these evildoers Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfailed up to??

:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[Gman]

11. Saturday Night Massacre Redux?

It's coming real soon now. Maybe even before October. Bush absolutely cannot have any indictments come out. EVerything for them will then begin to fall apart. They will NOT let that happen.

Stay tuned for what may be a constitutional crisis this fall. Maybe then people will realize that there was a revolution in 2000 and we've been living under a provisional radical right wing government.

[Halliburton]

12. could be a recess appointment

Dumbya could bypass the Senate and appoint him immediately. If he goes through the Senate it could be at least one month before he will be voted on and more time if Dems fillibuster, which would allow Fitz ample time to issue indictments.

[lovuian]

13. Bush & Gonzalez who are part of the Investigation are Replacing

Fitzgerald!!! Thats a sign of Bush's guilt right there and its definitely time for Americans to hit the streets and demand justice for America!!!Its going to look extremely bad if they replace him and I don't think Bush who has the power to do it or Gonzalez!!!

[autorank]

14. Impeach Bush for this if he does it. He's a suspect & so is Gonzo

Just let them try it. Wanna see what it's like to be president with a 30% approval rating. Watch how the 'moderates' in the house swell in membership. It will blow your mind.

Come on, Bush, do it, just do it. Watch Fitzgerald do indictments immediately after that. Name Bush as a 'person of interest' to the investigation. haha....these guys are f'ing nuts.

[reprobate]

24. An 'unnamed coconspirator'. Isn't that how it went?

[autorank]

40. Hay, I'm a "reprobate" too! Yes but "person of interest" has a certain

poetic quality, not to mention the opening of the public's imagination. Then it's indicted conspirator.
:hi:

[EST]

42. Self delete

[Twist_U_Up]

16. The Dems MUST filibuster this appointment

If they don't they will be guilty of obstructing justice.

but then again we are in bizarro world

[krkaufman]

17. Holy crap! Talk about messing w/ the investigation.

Nothing like putting some pressure on Fitzgerald. (And not too far from Nixon's control over Felt/Deep Throat's FBI boss.)

[Barrett808]

19. Saturday Night Massacre lite

They don't want to do it that same way Nixon did. but they want to do it.

[Al-CIAda]

20. Skull & Bones - Documentary about Yale's secret society

Dutch TV - Documentary about Yale's secret society, 'Skull & Bones'
(first min. in Dutch, but fantastic revealing interviews & footage)

=======

CBS News '60 minutes' - Skull & Bones
'Apart from presidents, Bones has included cabinet officers, spies, Supreme Court justices, statesmen and captains of industry'

======
video available for stream or download here-
http://www.thedossier.ukonline.co.uk/video...etsocieties.htm

[halobeam]

34. link isn't working...would love to see this..... do you have another?

[RSchewe]

21. This would look like a big time cover-up if they did do it

I hope they try it.

[napi21]

23. I think Fitz will loose his job in Ill, but not as Sp. Prosecutor.

I know he would need reappointed in Oct as Ill Us Atty, and if this friend of Shrub is still a buddy, as Fitz's boss, he will probably juat appoint someone else who is a friend. That's the eway things go in the judicial system.

I still doubt very much you'll see Gonzales replace Fitz as Sp. Prosecutor. The GJ is almost done, the investigation is near completion. If this were the firs several months, maybe, but not after 2+ years.

[still_one]

39. they can't, unles they pull a nixon and fire him

[napi21]

44. That's what I said. Gonzales could fire him, but I doubt it will happen.

I don't remember how long Cox was on the case with Nixon, but I know it wasn't 2+ years!

It's been way too long to pull that one off and not suffer irreparable political damage.

I just don't see it.

[still_one]

47. I hope you are right

[merwin]

46. This story is getting more and more like Watergate every day.

[OKNancy]

26. I find these kinds of things

from Raw Story very irritating. Who is the person they are talking about? Is it a real story or just a splash on their site to make it seem something it is not.

It has been circulated for some time that Timothy Flanigan is supposed to come on board. It's not some breaking news story if this is who Raw Story means

The ACLU is opposing the nomination:

http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=18814&c=206

Also here is a blip from David Corn:

The arrival of Timothy Flanigan as Patrick J. Fitzgerald's boss is likely related to the mountains of evidence Fitzgerald has now collected to indict senior White House officials, particularly, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, for criminal conspiracy in exposing a sensitive U.S. intelligence operation that was targeting some of their closest political and business associates
http://www.davidcorn.com/2005/07/rove_scandal_qu.php

[Whoa_Nelly]

27. Thanks for the insight, OKNancy!

Having followed the Plame case since it began, would be very disappointed, (very pissed off actually), if Fitzgerald were to be completely removed from the case.

[RSchewe]

28. I guess the breaking news is that Newsweek is reporting this...

and not the story itself.

I understand the point though. There are a lot of stories like that get released that sound like more than they are.

[OKNancy]

29. It won't be long before the Newsweek

story is out. Then we will see what's up. Until then, I'm not going to speculate.
This is in no way criticism of you for posting it btw.

[RSchewe]

32. Yeah I understand. This is what happens when you have a nested news report

Someone reporting about a release of a story that is not even out yet.

...if that makes any sense

Oh well, like I said initially - At least it is generating interest in this important issue.

[Halliburton]

30. interesting snip from Froomkin

<snip>
John Harwood (subscription required) raises a fascinating issue in his Washington Wire column in the Wall Street Journal: "Imminent departure of Deputy Attorney General Comey, who appointed CIA leak prosecutor Fitzgerald, would create a vacuum, since Gonzales is recused because of previous White House counsel service. Arriving deputy Flanigan, who also worked in counsel's office, may have similar problem, while third-in-command McCallum is Yale friend of Bush. Comey plans to give the responsibility to career Justice attorney, though the only control Fitzgerald's Justice handler has is to fire him."
<snip>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/07/29/BL2005072900853_5.html

This is a good sign. He can't block indictments or impede the investigation in anyway.

[OKNancy]

31. Same article says Fitzgerald's job is safe

Thank you so much for that link.

Another part of the column:


<snip>

But Lynn Sweet writes in the Chicago Sun-Times today that Fitzgerald's job is safe.

"Though his term is up this fall, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the aggressive prosecutor who is investigating Mayor Daley's City Hall, possible illegal White House leaks and who has a former Illinois governor awaiting a corruption trial, is in no danger of losing his job.

"House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) was asked about Peter Fitzgerald's concerns Thursday . 'I know there been innuendos about my getting pressures. I can tell you nobody has talked to me or called me about this. Anybody. Period,' Hastert said. . . .

"Legally, if President Bush does nothing, he stays on the job even though his term is over. Politically, Bush would face a storm of protest if he fired a man who is investigating his own administration."

[Jackpine Radical]

45. Why would "a storm of protest" bother the Bushies?

They seem to have a knack for weathering storms.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

33. Link to a GD Politics thread on the same topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1990852

[Turbineguy]

36. There was a bumper sticker

after Nixon fired Archibald Cox:

"Impeach the Cox Sacker!"

[still_one]

38. excuse me, they cannot replace the Special Prosecuter

on Plame Grand Jury, until the Grand Jury is done

Yes, he could lose his job in Chicago, but not the special prosecutors job as I understand it

[leftynyc]

49. I believe you are right

And either way, he has to do a report on his findings.

[BamaBecky]

41. Kick for the Prosecution!

[RSchewe]

48. Newsweek released the article

Aug. 15, 2005 issue - The departure this week of Deputy Attorney General James Comey, who has accepted the post of general counsel at Lockheed Martin, leaves a question mark in the probe into who leaked the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Comey was the only official overseeing special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald's leak investigation. With Attorney General Alberto Gonzales recused, department officials say they are still trying to resolve whom Fitzgerald will now report to. Associate Attorney General Robert McCallum is "likely" to be named as acting deputy A.G., a DOJ official who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter tells NEWSWEEK. But McCallum may be seen as having his own conflicts: he is an old friend of President Bush's and a member of his Skull and Bones class at Yale. One question: how much authority Comey's successor will have over Fitzgerald. When Comey appointed Fitzgerald in 2003, the deputy granted him extraordinary powers to act however he saw fit—but noted he still had the right to revoke Fitzgerald's authority. The questions are pertinent because law-yers close to the case believe the probe is in its final stages. Fitzgerald recently called White House aide Karl Rove's secretary and his former top aide to testify before the grand jury. They were asked why there was no record of a phone call from Time reporter Matt Cooper, with whom Rove discussed the CIA agent, says a source close to Rove who requested anonymity because the FBI asked participants not to comment. The source says the call went through the White House switchboard, not directly to Rove.

It looks like the article is cut off, unless that "article continues below" link is a mistake.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8853002/site/newsweek/

[Moderator]

51. Lock

Actual article is now posted here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1682911

Continue discussion there. Thank you