Where are those Plame Indictments I was promised?

[PlanetBev]

I saw all those huge discussion threads on DU, but nothing seems to be coming down the pike. Somebody know something I don't?

[mdmc]

1. nope

and when you ask for a summary, you are treaded to links filled with... the unknown.

[Tellurian]

12. I was going to start a thread on the 'outing' of Tellurian..

but the indictments haven't comeout yet..
plus, the sources lack credibility..

Ho-Hum..

[snowFLAKE]

2. Yes, is it all "Sound and Fury Signifying Nothing?"

[Padraig18]

3. Fitzgerald will get them when he's sure he can convict.

No one can 'promise' you an indictment, but having seen his work first-hand here in Illinois, I can assure you that they will be forthcoming; I can further assure you that when they DO come, a conviction/plea bargain will be a lead-pipe cinch. Take it to the bank.

[spotbird]

7. No, if they come there will be pardons.

Unless they come in after Kerry is inaugurated.

Could that be the gamble?

[Padraig18]

Bush hasn't got that big of a set.

He'd doom ANY chance he has at re-(s)election, and he's too venal to do that...

[spotbird]

15. But as a lame duck he would.

It isn't as if he is guided by morality or anything.

[TacticalPeek]

19. The Prez can't pardon himself, probably, or anyone in case of impeachment

But all others are fair game, anytime. Even before conviction, or even before indictment or charging with any specific offense.

So there is almost no conceivable reason why any pardon would issue before elections; and then, win or lose, the power is there in the office of President to let mercy and coverup fly, like Ford did to Nixon and Poppy did to Weinberger. And there is apparently no 'recourse', appeal or questioning of any presidential pardon.

[olddem43]

4. And why the hell is Novak still allowed to continue

spreading his crap all over the media? That ass needs to be in jail, awaiting trial for treason. Everyone should be calling/writing CNN to demand his immediate suspension.

[Padraig18]

6. 1st Amendment

He's protected by it, is the one-line answer.

[spotbird]

8. Dean speculated that Novak may have committed a crime.

There are limits on 1st Amendment freedoms, but it is a pretty high standard. I'm not sure how Dean thinks the prosecution would overcome that hurdle, but anything is possible in the Brave New Patriot Act world. Novak was told not to publish and did it anyway, that could be the jest of the prosecution, but who knows what the laws are on this sort of thing?

It could explain why Novak hasn't been called to testify, he is a subject of the investigation.

[Tellurian]

14. wasn't there something the other day the GJ has determined Novak

MUST reveal his sources?

[spotbird]

16. Where'd you see that?

That must mean that he has been called to testify, I'll be darned.

[Tellurian]

18. I had to have read it here..

I'll see if I can find a link..

please don't take it as gospel until I find the link..

[spotbird]

20. I looked around, Novak was subpoenaed with the rest of them,

I guess he is just keeping his response out of the press. You'd think a journalist would want to keep the country appraised, wouldn't you?

[Tellurian]

21. This is what came up when I googled..

http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:ndPi3_6FoxoJ:www.h...

[Not Me]

11. I already have complained to CNN...

I cannot stand to see this traitor's face.
While I respect his journalist's right to maintain his confidential contacts, he should never have revealed her name. He is just as guilty as the staffer he got the info from.

[spotbird]

5. The problem is that Fitzgerald is running a basically leak proof

operation. Consequently, all speculation about the timing of indictments is centered on peripheral information. There are indications that they are pending, the best being the trashing of Wilson and an article in the Washington Times claiming that Plame's cover was lost years earlier in inadvertent intelligence failures.

Now, there is some political gain in slandering Wilson so that may be unrelated to the grand jury.

The news that there were intelligence failures in the years preceding Novak's crime could have only one political benefit, to stage the defense. The reason the release of earlier intelligence failures must be related to worry about pending indictments is that up until now the talking point on Plame was that she was either too low level to matter, or the more widely circulated point was that Novak didn't print anything that wasn't already public knowledge. The right pounds the point that it was all over the DC party circuit that Plame was an operative. The Washington Times report that she was indeed a covert agent contradicts the low-level, party girl, fraud to its core. They wouldn't give that talking point up unless for a good reason.

But there is no way to know when, or if, there will ever be an indictment. There is no doubt there was a crime, but the identity of the perpetrator may never be known. But that the administration seems worried is a promising sign.

[librechik]

9. uh--it's the weekend?

I'm pretty sure they'll wait until court is in session to bring those. If they ever do. I don't count on justice with these guys.

[warrior1]

10. after

our convention?

[Tellurian]

17. The timing would be great between the Dem and Puke conventions

It sure as hell would take the wind out of the sails of the RNC convention..

[mhr]

13. Maybe The Prosecutor Is Waiting For The Republican Convention

To arrest KKKarl in prime time. Now that would make news.

------
Never Forget The Face Of American Fascism'THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HAPPENS AT THE SKULL & BONES INITIATION...I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING A GOOD TIME. THESE PEOPLE -- YOU EVER HEARD OF EMOTIONAL RELEASE? YOU EVER HEARD OF NEEDING TO BLOW SOME STEAM OFF?'

[CaTeacher]

22. honestly, I don't think

anything will happen. This will blow over and we will be disappointed. I feel very pessimistic at the moment.