The real reason Karl Rove and many others are GOING DOWN HARD!

[Walt Starr]

Nearly every special prosecutor in the history of the position in Washington D.C. conducted their grand jury investigations both before the grand jury and before the Washington press corps. It's been a given that if there's something there, they trot themselves in front of reporters, cameras, and microphones to proudly proclaim what wonderful prosecutors they are, patting themselves on the back and giving the targets of those investigations ammunition to use against them.

Look no further that Lawrence Walsh and Kenneth Starr. Both were reviled by their repective targets and both ran unsuccessful prosecutions.

The thing about Rovegate is this. The beltway was in no way, shape, or form, prepared for a Chicago Style grand jury investigation of political corruption and lawbreaking.

These fools never saw Fitzgerald coming. He is the consummate professional. He is deliberate, and he sees no reason whatsoever to present his case in front of reporters. His job is before the grand jury and only the grand jury.

Think. Have you once seen a Fitzgerald press conference during the past two years?

NO! YOU HAVEN'T!!

That's because Fitzgerald conducted this one just like he conducted the licenses for bribes investigation in Illinois and just like he's been investigating the Daley machine lately.

This is it, folks. These idiots thought they had it made in the shade, never expecting what was steamrollering down the road straight at their dumb asses! Fitzgerald will speak on his findings with one set of documents. Those are commonly referred to as "indictments".

[ChiDem]

1. Makes a guy like me proud to be from Chicago

[RetroLounge]

42. Me too!

Go Fitz!

RL

[dweller]

2. Indictments!!!

damn, i thought you meant incitement, and i'm ready to riot!

lol,
dp

[Walt Starr]

3. I left out the "d"

All better now.

;)

[dweller]

i hate being a grammar cop...

but you needed the 'd' to make your point!

and i am ready to riot/march/protest at the soonest opportunity.
dp

[Pepperbelly]

4. I think your words are wise.

And truth rings from them. This guy doesn't seem political at all. I couldn't even tell you what he looks like.

[Walt Starr]

7. Yup, and you're amongst political junkies here!

I bet 90% of the people here have no clue what Fitzgerald looks like, either.

[Pepperbelly]

13. I follow shit pretty closely and ...

truly, I wouldn't know him if he slapped me. I would, however, probably notice him then. :D

[Old and In the Way]

12. Me neither...not a single pic.

I gotta think Rove has finally met his match. As a wise man once sang,

"The Harder They Come, The Harder They Fall...One and All."

[Walt Starr]

29. Here's one, I hope

?

[goclark]

36. Handsome, beats the hell out of Ken Starr

He is very easy on my eyes.

[Clark2008]

45. I was surprised, too. I thought he was much older.

And, he is a bit of eye candy.

I love smart men! :7

[goclark]

57. Me too,smart like Wes Clark

[FreedomAngel82]

70. I really like him too

:loveya:

[Booster]

40. Man, you're right; I thought he was much older and sort of book-

nerdy looking with glasses. I'll be paying more attention to this man in the near future, I hope.

[crispini]

48. Not bad!

And you're correct, I've never seen him before. I'd remember. :evilgrin:

[Pirate Smile]

50. I googled for an image of him yesterday - out of curiosity.

[Old and In the Way]

52. He's got that "don't f*ck with me" look of a confident winner.

Those eyes must put the fear of God into these criminals. I'll bet he's all business, in a very commanding way, in the courtroom.

[FreedomAngel82]

71. Oh yeah

And I'm sure he's that way in another type of room too. ;) If you ask nicely. Dunno if he's married or not of course so sorry if so but hey a girl can dream. ;) :blush:

[leftchick]

99. He looks like a Knight in Shining Armour to me!

:loveya:

[Walt Starr]

102. LOL

I really didn't intend to get the DUer female population up in arms over a prosecutor!

Remember, too. Fitzgerald is well on his way to doing to the Illinois democratic Party what he did to the Illinois Republican party! Political affiliation matters not to this man. What concerns him is getting to the truth of the matter in cases of political corruption.

As far as politically corrupt administrations go, few political machines can boast at being more corrupt than the Daley machine.

[Athame]

79. Weren't there rumors he was going to run for governor of NY?

Isn't that why some thought he was stalling the investigation last fall? Maybe it was just speculation.

[DoYouEverWonder]

95. You're thinking of Eliot Spitzer

the AG from NY, who is another ass kicker.

[Athame]

103. Ah, you're right. Thanks. n/t

[lancdem]

5. Great post, Walt

What I love about this is that WH has no more idea what Fitzgerald has than we do, and this is a crew that thinks they can control everything.

[fishnfla]

6. Well in an investigation about leaks to reporters......

I suppose he has to avoid all conflicts of interests....

:shrug:

You're right though, he's shut like a clam. But the suspense is driving me crazy! Whats he got?

I remember Starr asking about how to deal with the press: "should I invite them in? Should I serve them libations?" He actually said that, libations for drinks.....

[H2O Man]

8. I agree.

Fitzgerald is a serious man.

[Imagevision]

9. Bush will probably try and fire Fitzgerald like dumb-ass Nixon

[Walt Starr]

14. That will result in impeachment

no way around the consequences of such an idiotic move. The only way they would do such a thing would be if Cheney and/or Bush were named as unindicted co-conspirators, and Fitzgerald will hold any cards like that tightly to his chest.

[kestrel91316]

21. Wrong ...........

this Congress will NEVER impeach Bush, no matter what he does. They want to be able to point back to him and Clinton historically and say "See, Clinton was WAY worse, HE got impeached and Bush didn't".

[Walt Starr]

23. Oh come on, there can be no repeat of the Saturday Night Masacre

without major consequences.

It won't happen.

[kestrel91316]

37. Bush will NEVER fire his criminal cohorts ...............

to do so would be an admission that he has made a mistake in hiring them in the first place, and that they had actually engaged in wrongdoing. He will never admit that, he thinks he is God.

[kurtyboy]

53. Actually, Bush CAN'T fire Fitzgerald...

Only the Attorney General, Alberto Gonzalez, can do that, and his hands are tied if he ever wants to see a spot on the USSC. Look to the case of one Robert Bork to see what I am talking about.

The Cheney Administration has stuck a garden rake in their own arses this time, and don't know whether to shit or get off the pot.

Good luck, assholes! See you all in Hell!

[UpInArms]

58. this crew learned the art of stonewalling during the Walsh Investigation

Here is the relevant chapter from the Walsh Report:

http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_28.htm

excerpt:

On March 27, 1987, OIC's request for the production of documents was circulated throughout the White House complex, including the Office of the Vice President (OVP), by A.B. Culvahouse, counsel to President Reagan.11 This document request represented the product of negotiations between the White House, the congressional Select Committees and the OIC to develop an omnibus document request.12 A cover memorandum attached to the document request stated that the request included ``all personal and official records'' of the staff members of the White House, NSC, and the Executive Office of the President.13 The attached request explicitly identified relevant ``notes,'' ``diaries,'' and ``audio tapes'' among the materials required to be produced. As a result of the prior negotiations, the document request was limited to material from the period January 20, 1981 to January 2, 1987.14

11 Memorandum from Culvahouse to Assistants To The President, et al., 3/27/87, ARZ 003929-37. This document was generated, in part, in response to a letter from Independent Counsel to Culvahouse's predecessor, Peter J. Wallison, dated February 27, 1987. This letter forwarded the initial document request from the OIC to the Executive Branch.

12 Letter from Friedman to Wallison, 2/27/87, ARZ 004369-70.

13 Memorandum from Culvahouse to Assistants To The President, et al., 3/27/87, ARZ 003929-37.

14 Ibid.

Following the disclosure of the existence of the Bush diary, President Bush retained private counsel. In January 1993, his counsel conducted an internal investigation and reported that Bush did not recall reviewing the 1987 document request and was not aware that it called for the production of personal diaries.

There was, however, substantial evidence that a copy of the March 1987 document request was received by Vice President Bush, and that the requirements of the request, including the demand for personal materials and documents, were communicated to Bush by his counsel, C. Boyden Gray.

[madaboutharry]

10. I think so too.

They were not prepared for this guy. They are used to partisan hacks and clowns who make a joke out of their crimes. Here is a man who takes himself and the law seriously. Patrick Fitzgerald may turn out to be a hero of democracy. Maybe they thought since the special prosecutor was a registered republican that they were going to get a free ride. I think they have figured out that that is not going to be the case. The bubble that the occupants of the west wing have lived in for the past 5 years is about to break. What a shock it must have been to come up against someone who wasn't a sycophant.

[FreedomAngel82]

73. A republican going after them?

Wow. Maybe that's why they aren't firing him. Maybe that's why they hired him in the first place and then they thought he would go easy and wasn't expecting a real lawyer who's a republican. Wow. I didn't know that! I hope you're right. He does seem to have a plan though and to be doing proper things and he's not doing steps like Ken Starr did so you know he's serious.

[bridgit]

11. conclusive, thanks & agreed ~

:kick:

[LondonReign2]

15. The question nagging me is...

..why did they appoint Fitzgerald? I seriously can't figure out why they didn't appoint one of their loyal friends, Silberman perhaps. They must have seen what Fitzgerald, a Republican, did to the Republican party in Illinois.

Was this just glaring error? Yes, BushCo cenrtainly makes mistakes, but they've always blatently stacked the deck in other investigations like the 911 panel.

[Walt Starr]

19. Think back to the leadup to the appointment

Ashcroft recused himself from all aspects of the case and his deputy AG, James Comey, made the appointment. Comey has been close friends with Fitzgerald for years.

That's where the screwup that is leading to justice happened.

[thinkingwoman]

26. the screwup that is leading to justice

I'll take it!

From your mouth to Goddess's ears.

C'mon Karma, we've been expecting you.

[AmBlue]

35. Feels like winning the lotto...

doesn't it? The odds are about the same, that's for sure!

[thinkingwoman]

49. absolutely

in fact, the odds of winning the lotto may be better.

But this will be worth more than a million to me if it pans out. I want my country back.

[AmBlue]

87. Amen, sista.....

I'm with you.

[LondonReign2]

27. Interesting, I had assumed Ashcroft had made the appointment

Still, do you think they underestimated the potential implications of this situation and simply overlooked who was being appointed?

'Cause if so, that was one collosal fuck up, given their propensity to appoint loyal BushCo agents to every other open post, position, or panel.

[Walt Starr]

28. They 'misunderestimated'(sic) Patrick Fitzgerald from day one

and suspected he had nothing when he never went before the press during the course of the investigation.

This one smacked them in the face straight out of left field. They never expected what is rolling oer them.

Watch for it. The next phase of the Right Wing Attack Machine will be directed squarely at Fitzgerald, but it's too late for that.

[LondonReign2]

30. But he had already done his job in Illinois

You saying they weren't aware of his takedown of Ryan and all things GOP in Illinois? Or that they simply discounted it as of no consequence? Because then, like I said, collosal fuck up.

Screw up leading to justice! LOL.

[Walt Starr]

31. Discounted it when he did not trot himself before the cameras

They made a collosal screwup.

[Occulus]

43. That could mean he has something much bigger in store

It would be one reason for him to keep quiet. Wouldn't it be delicious if both Bush and Cheney knew of the leak, and actually gave permission for it to happen?

[kurtyboy]

55. Do you actually think that Cheney and Bush didn't know?!!?!!

Come on, if they didn't know at the exact moment the leak happened (I think they did...), they certainly knew the next day.

Sheeesh....

The only question is whether they covered their tracks well enough.

Right now, they having meetings deep in the bowels of the White House to determine just how devastating this can be, and strategizing ways to mitigate the loss of public trust.

Be afraid, very afraid, of their solutions....

[CAG]

65. I would think it would be miraculous if they didn't know, even if they

didn't orchestrate it.

BUT, the kicker is finding proof that they did so, which will take some corroborating testimonials, and nobody in that administration will fess up to that

[Occulus]

67. their pants are meeting something right now, that's for sure

I don't honestly believe that they didn't know, but I suppose it is a possibility, in the sense that there's a probability attatched to it. A very very small one, but a chance nonetheless.

I'd say something like .0000000000000000000000001% chance they didn't know.

[kestrel91316]

85. You are so right ................

Bush and Cheney know exactly how to mitigate loss of public trust. the last time they did it/let it happen it cost over 3000 American lives.

[Beam Me Up]

60. I hope he is being very VERY careful.

Does he know what he is challenging here? Does he understand that the BFEE/neo-con octopus will do anything to sustain its hegemony?

[AmBlue]

34. Why did Ashcroft recuse himself?

Do we know?

[Walt Starr]

72. There was never a reason given

Presumably, targets and subjects of the investigation had close political ties to Ashcroft and he knew he'd take a beating if he did not recuse himself.

[AmBlue]

89. Hmmmm....

That sounds very promising, Walt. Ole "Let the Eagle Soar" Ashcroft flew the coop just prior to some major shit hitting the proverbial fan. Can't wait to see who all the "targets and subjects" are. Bet they're not too happy with John-boy right about now.

Any idea when indictments will be announced?

[Walt Starr]

94. The Grand Jury has a little less than four months

Given how thorough Fitzgerald has been in the past, I'd say probably ten weeks. September would be the best bet.

What a great time to introduce a new product, eh?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

91. Rove worked on three of Ashcroft's campaigns

Two governor's races and one in which Ashcroft ran for the Senate. That conflict of interest would be more than enough reason for recusal, and the failure to recuse would look very, very bad. Would this perhaps suggest that Mr. Ashcroft knew in advance (before the prosecution had even begun) that Mr. Rove would be the focal point of interest? Might this also have prompted Ashcroft to get out of Dodge altogether, since he apparently tipped his hand in recusing himself? I would propose that everyone in the Bush Administration knew who the leaker was, before Mr. Fitzgerald ever came on the scene and began his investigation.

[FreedomAngel82]

76. Interesting

I didn't know that. So maybe Fitzegerald has more on them then just the Plame/Wilson case? Maybe he got tons of info from being on the inside.

[mopinko]

20. see reply 18 nt

[Ysolde]

24. Do you think we're all just hoping too hard?

Cause I sure wouldn't put anything past the Bushco mafia. And, like you, I would have expected them to appoint another bought-and-paid-for lapdog.

[FreedomAngel82]

75. I'm lost

but what did he do to the party in Illinois???

[Walt Starr]

83. HE took down George Ryan's administration

and the IL GOP hasn't yet recovered.

That is the primary reason Obama was able to win in a landslide with no Republican wanting to ruin their career by running against him and why Blagojevich was able to win in a cakewalk for governor.

Right now, there is only one Republican who holds a statewide elected office, Judy Baar Topinka.

[CrispyQ]

16. The fact that they didn't see him coming rocks.

These "we create reality" assholes wallow in their arrogance & self rightousness & think they are in control of everything. How sweet it will be to see someone take them down. Similar to that old saying: revenge is a dish best served cold.

Fitzgerald sounds like just the type of guy we need in our corner.

[immoderate]

17. You paint a strong picture, Walt.

As Butch said to Sundance, "Who ARE those guys?!"

--IMM

[mopinko]

18. only one quibble, walt

they saw him coming. peter fitzgerald gave his political life to push patrick fitzgerald's appointment through. that is THE reason the party told him to take a hike.

[Walt Starr]

22. James Comey appointed Fitzgerald

and Comey has been Fizgerald's friend for a LONG TIME!

Comey is still Deputy AG, and won't be facing any firing any time soon.

Pete Fitzgerald's beef was with the Illinois GOP because he woudln't roll over for their wishes on political matters.

[mopinko]

25. i remember his confirmation well, tho.

it was a real knock down drag out. i might agree that the danger to bushco was not obvious, at the time i think they were a little more interested in keeping george ryan out of jail. but there was no doubt in their minds that patrick intended to do his job. and that it was a threat to all rethug shenanigans everywhere.

[shraby]

32. I certainly hope that Fitzgerald has some

real good bodyguards. He'll have to watch his back until he talks to the public about what he has.

[Cocoa]

33. speaking of George Ryan

he has a website up, soliciting donations for his legal defense.

http://www.georgeryanfund.com/index.php

[housewolf]

38. Wonder what has been going through Fitz's head this week....

I wonder if Fitzgerald has been sitting there, shaking his head in horror at the firestorm that's been raging.

Or sitting there laughing his head off at all the speculation.

Or feeling like it's time to bring this thing home.

Or not even paying any attention????

Boy,, would I love to be a fly on his wall this week!

[ThoughtCriminal]

39. I'm hoping we've found a hero

[longship]

63. Marge!!!

Marge Gundersson rules!
:yourock:

[jaysunb]

41. In my early frustration over the last 2 years

I posted several " what the hell is Fitzgerald doing " threads. Many Chicago area DUers assured me that this guy ,while a republican, was a real bulldog.
They have been proven correct...and so are you !
:hi:

[FreedomAngel82]

78. Nice

A real republican who's a bulldog (and not that kind that Bush likes haha), but hopefully there is more to this. I've had the feeling lately there is. There's a lot more. Maybe since he has ties to these people he has more that will come undone and he has a whole plan. Sure sees like it to me sometimes. For those who know of Fitzegerald has he always taken his time on cases like this? This one is huge though and one mess up could ruin the whole thing so I'm glad he's doing this.

[bleever]

44. Very good point. Thanks. n/t

[bunny planet]

46. Dayam I hope you're right.

[understandinglife]

47. I agree with your assessment. What Fitzgerald has accomplished ..

... that we do have detailed knowledge on this case are his interactions with various judges. He has had their total support and they have expressed that support in one very significant context - "National Security."

Bu$h, Cheney, Rove, Libby, Bolton, Gonzales, Rice, Feith, Rumsfeld, perhaps Tenet, likely Miller, maybe Powell, maybe others .... going down, hard.

WATCH IT; SPREAD IT http://www.bushflash.com/right.html

Peace.

www.missionnotaccomplished.us - How ever long it takes, the day must come when tens of millions of caring individuals peacefully but persistently defy the dictator, deny the corporatists their cash flow, and halt the evil being done in Iraq and in all the other places the Bu$h neoconster regime is destroying civilization and the environment in the name of "America."

[longship]

51. Bingo!!

You've hit the nail squarely on the head. During the Watergate scandal the special prosecutor, Archibald Cox, *never* had a press conference, that is until he was summarily fired by Solicitor-General Robert Bork (after Attorney General Elliot Richardson resigned and Deputy Attorney General William Ruckelshaus was fired). It took a Constitutional crisis for him to talk the press, the Saturday Night Massacre.

This Fitzgerald is doing things right. There's going to be some "unindicted co-conspirators" just like the grand jury had in 1973. In 1973, it was President Nixon; this time it very well might be CuckooBananas and "Are the lambs still crying, Charisse" Cheney.

This is why the press is so in tune to this. There's major blood in the water.

[FreedomAngel82]

80. I love it

I remember last year having this feeling not long before the election that something HUGE will bring down Bush. I think it's this case. I've been feeling dejavu a lot since the election too. More then I have before. :shrug: After the election things felt weird and different and not right, but now they're starting to head in that right direction. :shrug: People in the astrology group also predicted that a blonde woman will bring down Bush and Plame/Wilson is blonde. So sweet sweet justice. Hallelujah!

[KharmaTrain]

54. Walt, Kudos From Another Chicago DU'er...I've seen DAs in Action

I sat on a jury in a Federal gun case several years ago. I became very familiar with the Federal Prosecutor's office. These are the super smart guns...the best lawyers with the emphasis on "law". To these guys a conviction is a blood sport. They savor the battle and are tenacious as the day is long. While the defense attorney comes with a briefcase and a couple dossiers, the Prosecutors walk in with lift trucks loaded with documents...and you know they've fine-toothed each one. Welcome to Prosecution: Chicago style. Yep, they haven't seen anything like this in the Beltway since Watergate.

One thing that really pisses these guys off is lying. One thing they also know is a good conspiracy case when they see one (decades of chasing the Mafia has honed their skills). They've gone up against the meanest gangbangers and mafiosi, some ego-centric reporters and politicians are nothing to these guys.

Come September, us Illinois DUers, and hopefully the rest of the country, will get the pleasure of seeing Mr. Fitzgerald's past work. The trial of George Ryan will begin. This scandal not only took this guy down, but the entire state party with it.

The deal is, Repugnicans are too stupid to study history, thus they're repeating two of the worst mistakes of our lifetimes...Vietnam and Watergate...at the same time. It's their own hubris and stupidity that is bringing this on...and it's about time. May the fall be long, hard and ugly.

:popcorn:

[longship]

62. The historic context is very important.

You've got things really in focus there. Viet Nam and Watergate are really the important history. What's remarkable is that these guys are so incompetent that they haven't drawn from history that which any numb nuts could.

When all is said and done we're all going to be saying, "Why doesn't this country realize that when you put Republicans in power you're going to get war and scandal." (I know that Viet Nam was Johnson's war, and actually Kennedy's, too. But Nixon lost his public because of it, which in turn lost him his office.)

I see so much Watergate in this Rove business it's downright scary. Next we'll have CuckooBananas telling Gonzales to fire Fitzgerald. One hopes he'll resign. I imagine he won't have as much principle as Elliot Richardson. He'd probably do it.

[KharmaTrain]

66. Here's Hoping New Ideas Take Hold

Here's hoping those concept of Repugnicans as being "fiscally responsible" and "family values" are all but trash heep material now. They can't run on those issue and any one who tries must be running in Oz.

Now, with Rove, the concepts of "national security" and "honesty and integrity" are severly compromised. It's being shown that this regime is putting party and personal power ahead of the national interest...that is political suicide...but it couldn't happen to a "nicer bunch".

It's a shame we have to relive these worst moments of our history...my hope is that this is the last time we'll have to do this and this time we do it right.

When the Repugnicans fall, it's going to be long and hard. I suspect if they blow the trust to lose their majorities in the House and Senate, it will be years, maybe decades again, until they are given a chance to get power again.

Have patience in Fitzgerald. It took him 5 years to nail our crooked governor and expose his criminal enterprise. He's doing the same work here. Good things comes to those who wait.

Cheers...

[longship]

77. Yup!

Have patience in Fitzgerald. It took him 5 years to nail our crooked governor and expose his criminal enterprise. He's doing the same work here. Good things comes to those who wait.

I'm beating the same drum. It was 16 months between the Haldenman/Erlichman resignation and Nixon's. In between there were Senate hearings, a Constitutional crisis (Sat. Night Massacre), indictments, House Judiciary hearings, SCOTUS findings, and all sorts of press revelations. All along the way, there was a special prosecutor, first Cox, then Jaworski. These two were the ones who kept Watergate alive. The press like to think it was the press, but they'd be wrong.

[KharmaTrain]

86. I Remember Well To Well

I was a young "pup" working at a college radio station during that time. I sat through all the NPR coverage of the House-Senate Hearings (John Dean) which was June '73 to the resignation in August '74.

By then Woodward & Bernstein were long gone and the biggest parts of the biggest revelations...the telephone taping system, 18 minute gap, smoking gun tape, enemies list and more came out in testimony gathered by Cox. Jawarski made sure the work was completed...and throughly.

Also, don't forget Judge John Siricca, who stood Nixon's goons down and forced them to turn over the tapes. That man was a real hero that never got his due.

Cheers...

[FreedomAngel82]

82. Beautiful

Sounds like my kind of prosecutors! Fitzegerald is the man! :loveya: Go get the lying traitors! :popcorn:

[Catherine Vincent]

56. You're right. I don't even know what this guy looks like.

But isn't he a republican?

[kevsand]

61. Not when he's at work... nt

[HR_Pufnstuf]

59. cue music...

"Breakin the law, breakin the law" - Judas Priest

[steve2470]

64. why Patrick Fitzgerald is Special Prosecutor, a good article

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4096092&mesg_id=4096092


<snip>

Patrick Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney, Chicago


Late year, Deputy Attorney General James Comey appointed Chicago-based U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald to investigate who leaked the name of undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame to reporter Bob Novak.


Attorney General John Ashcroft then recused himself from the case.


Why Fitzgerald?
<snip>

"They have taken one of the most experienced and independent U.S. Attorneys in the country," said Lawrence Barcella, a partner at Paul Hastings in Washington, D.C."And they made Pat Fitzgerald the special counsel for this case. Pat Fitzgerald and Jim Comey are old long-time dear friends. They served in the U.S. Attorneys office in the southern district of New York. They tried some terrorism cases together. And that could cut both ways. It probably does mean that Jim Comey has complete utter confidence and trust in Fitzgerald. And when he says -- you handle it, and you just come to me when you need resources – I'm sure that is exactly what he does mean."

<snip>


Even (former Illinois Governor, my insertion here) Ryan's defense attorney, Dan Webb, thinks picking Fitzgerald for the CIA leaks investigation was the right move.


"This is perfect for him," Webb told Corporate Crime Reporter earlier this year. "He's an outstanding prosecutor. He will clearly get to the bottom of the issues in this case. People will have confidence in the results."

<snip>

http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/toptenprosecutors...

edited to insert snips.

[bklyncowgirl]

98. Why would they appoint an honest man?

The only thing that I can think of is that they wanted this Plame thing to go away--at least until after the election. If they appointed a party hack, there would have been howls from the Democrats and it would have become a political issue. By appointing an honest man, they dodged that bullet.

Besides, they may have figured, by the time Fitzgerald concluded his investigation the election would be over, the war would be over (Mission Accomplished) everyone would be happy and no one would care except a few Democrats who could be easily dealt with.

Instead the war dragged on with no end in sight--we know they didn't see that coming--and with the publication of the Downing Street Memos, Americans are becoming increasingly aware that they were lied to about WMD.

The Administration is facing a shitstorm that they never thought they'd have to face.

[FreedomAngel82]

68. To me

it shows he's serious about his job. He's not like Kenneth Starr who was in it for money and popularity who disappeared. I think this whole thing is going to get good. :popcorn:

[central scrutinizer]

69. I ran into another lawyer from Chicago on July 4

at my sister-in-law's birthday party in Portland, OR. He was on a long road trip with his son and was a friend of a friend who showed up at the party. I don't remember his exact title but he works for the state or city or county investigating shady CPAs and other financial crime. He is a progressive and his whole shop of lawyers is unionized under AFSCME. Somehow Fitzgerald's name came up as we were just bullshitting. I immediately said, wow - that's the guy investigating the Valerie Plame leak. He acted kinda surprised that I knew that but went on to say that he thought Fitzgerald was as honest and tenacious and intelligent as they come. This was before Rove's shit really hit the fan - I wish I could pick his brain for more details.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

74. The only argument that I have with your comments is that....

...Ken Starr's "prosecution" was very far from successful. When he discovered Whitewater was an empty bucket, and that nothing else could be proven, he played the Lewinsky card. And what was the "high crime" for which Clinton was impeached? He lied about his sex life.

Walsh, on the other hand, prosecuted real crimes that were unfortunately negated by Bush 41's pardons.

But yes, I agree that Fitzgerald is going to fall on the NeoCons like a ton of bricks.

[Walt Starr]

81. Walsh was discredited in the media

and the spinmeisters were able to convince Joe Barcalounger that Walsh was a partisan hack, even though he wasn't.

Walsh trotted himself out before the press regularly, which fed the attack machine. That's the only thing that gave Bush I the cover for the pardons.

Fitzgerald won't make that mistake

[FreedomAngel82]

84. He doesn't seem to be

You can tell by his actions and how he's not in the press that he's a serious prosecutor. And since he has connections in DC I'm sure he can find out all types of information with the right motivation.

[Cha]

88. You and Sidney Blumenthal

are saying the same thing in your own inimitable styles.


<<snippet>>
"The sound and fury of Rove's defenders will soon subside. The last word, the only word that matters, will belong to the prosecutor. So far, he has said very, very little. Unlike the unprofessional, inexperienced and weak Ken Starr, he does not leak illegally to the press. But he has commented publicly on his understanding of the case. "This case," he said, "is not about a whistle-blower. It's about a potential retaliation against a whistle-blower."


More perspective from Sidney Blumenthal..
http://salon.com/opinion/blumenthal/2005/07/14/plame/index.html

[barbaraann]

90. What worries me is how confident and smirky Bush was today

when asked about Rove. He didn't seem worried at all and seemed especially smirky when he talked about an "ongoing investigation."

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

92. Alfred E. Neuman

[SeveneightyWhoa]

93. Um, he lives in a bubble.

He really doesn't know what's going on.

He's merely fed Rove talking points just like any other Republican bobblehead.

[DoYouEverWonder]

96. That's how bullies always act

except this time it's not going to work. Rove just might take Bu$h down with him, especially if Bu$h committed perjury when he testified to the grand jury.

[farmbo]

97. I wish I shared your confidence in Fitzgerald...

With Novak having (apparently) spilled his guts, any second year APA would have obtained a Grand Jury indictment four months into the investigation-- and well before the 2004 election. After all, this case was refered for prosecution in 2003. Alas, Fitzgerald HAD to go after some small-potato journalists, knowing full well that their Publishers would appeal every subpoena literally to the US Supreme court, thereby running out the clock on the November election.

Rove and Bush were therefore free to run an unemcumbered re-election campaign on their "We'll keep you secure" platform...one which would have dissolved under their feet if it were revealed that the President's principal political aide had, in fact, committed high treason.

I hope your high expectations pan out. No matter the outcome, we should never forget that, had the indictment come down last year, Kerry would be President today.

[Walt Starr]

101. The fact that no indictments came out are indicative of something else

This is going well beyond a couple of high ranking administration officials and just the revelation of classified information to reporters.

There is more to it than that. Watch, September is going to be a fun month.

[Q]

100. The Prosecutor Never Rests

The Prosecutor Never Rests

Whether Probing a Leak or Trying Terrorists, Patrick Fitzgerald Is Relentless
By Peter Slevin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 2, 2005; Page C01

CHICAGO


"...A solidly built former rugby player who enjoyed getting muddy and bloody well into his twenties, Fitzgerald is nothing but confident in his own skin. Just as he does not fear bin Laden, he seems to fret little that he is now tangling simultaneously with the Bush White House and the New York Times, two of the nation's most powerful and privileged institutions.

Fitzgerald, 44, is the special prosecutor investigating the leak of covert CIA operative Valerie Plame's name to columnist Robert Novak. The gifted son of an Irish doorman makes no bones about challenging the establishment. His office is also prosecuting former Illinois governor George Ryan and loyal associates of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley on influence-peddling and corruption charges.

He sees his task as getting to the bottom of things in ways as creative as the law allows. The law doesn't say you can't question a sitting president about his contacts or an investigative reporter about confidential sources. So Fitzgerald has done both, including quizzing Bush for more than an hour in the White House last June. His assiduous demands for answers from journalists alarms critics who believe he has created the greatest confrontation between the government and the press in a generation. --- http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55560-2005Feb1?language=printer

[ProfessorGAC]

104. Right You Are, Walt

And Fitz ran for States Attorney as a Repub. They thought they were bringing in one of their own. But, NO! They were bringing in a shark to eat the baracudas.
The Professor