John W. Dean: 'A Cheney-Libby conspiracy, or worse?

[jbfam4]

John W. Dean: 'A Cheney-Libby conspiracy, or worse? Reading between the lines of the Libby indictment'
Posted on Friday, November 04 @ 10:22:50 EST

John W. Dean, Findlaw
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=23484&mode=nested&order=0

In my last column, I tried to deflate expectations a bit about the likely consequences of the work of Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald; to bring them down to the realistic level at which he was likely to proceed. I warned, for instance, that there might not be any indictments, and Fitzgerald might close up shop as the last days of the grand jury's term elapsed. And I was certain he would only indict if he had a patently clear case.

Now, however, one indictment has been issued -- naming Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff Lewis "Scooter" Libby as the defendant, and charging false statements, perjury and obstruction of justice. If the indictment is to be believed, the case against Libby is, indeed, a clear one.

Having read the indictment against Libby, I am inclined to believe more will be issued. In fact, I will be stunned if no one else is indicted.

Indeed, when one studies the indictment, and carefully reads the transcript of the press conference, it appears Libby's saga may be only Act Two in a three-act play. And in my view, the person who should be tossing and turning at night, in anticipation of the last act, is the Vice President of the United States, Richard B. Cheney.

[funflower]

1. A very important article. Nominated.

[NJCher]

2. whoa! Serious!

Few are better qualified than John Dean to evaluate this situation!

Cher

[EuroObserver]

3. Libby Is The Firewall Protecting Vice President Cheney

Libby Is The Firewall Protecting Vice President Cheney from possible charges under the Espionage Act.

Yes sir. I've been reflecting, researching, and posting trying to hammer in this point for the last week!

I believe the message is getting through.

(Article filed and printed for further thought...)

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

4. How could this possibly ...

... not trace to Cheney? Libby acting of his own volition---not believable by any stretch.

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. Absolutely true. But the WH, through the press, is spinning as hard as

it can to make the American public believe exactly that.

One putrid example is this current NY Times article, currently on the DU Home Page:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1899334
thread title (11/3): NYT: Prosecutor Narrows Focus on Rove Role in C.I.A. Leak

My take - a rant, really, but I feel it is an accurate portrayal - on this despicable piece of WH pandering and propaganda by the once-respectable NYT is in this reply (#62) to the OP:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1899334&mesg_id=1901277
post title (11/4): This shameful article: a prime example of what's rotten at the NY Times

This shows just how much the NYT editors have learned and repented from driving the drumbeat into the Iraq War with Judith Miller's stenographed, lying articles: NOTHING.

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. I've been waiting for this newest installment of John Dean's insights

If you want to watch the site where they appear initially (Smirking Chimp sometimes picks them up). it's here:

FindLaw's Writ - John Dean columns arranged with most recent first:
http://writ.corporate.findlaw.com/dean/20051104.html

Keith Olbermann is a very smart, clear-thinking, experienced, savvy interpreter of news facts, but he is in awe of John Dean. I remember reading - I think it was on his blog - of how once he was discussing baseball with John Dean and he suddenly realized that Dean was citing multiple team statistics from obscure baseball teams from decades ago - from memory. In a lawyer, such total recall combined with an agile, penetrating, analytical, meticulous mind and long experience makes a potent combination. And then there is John Dean's unique knowledge of Watergate. No wonder Olbermann invites him as an analyst.

Thanks so much for posting this. Recommended.

[NJCher]

6. when I was in college

I brought in John Dean as a speaker at my school. Wish I could tell you he was a fren'ly guy but he was very distant, removed. Guess he didn't think he had much in common with a young college girl, LOL.




Cher

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. Interesting - I'm not surprised he was removed/distant. It fits my theory

that he "lives in his mind," a man whose acute and intricate mental processes are the be-all of his life. Doesn't make for a warm, outgoing personality.

Love your bumper sticker: "Gardeners against Bush"!! Shows true grassroots level opposition! (Sometimes these puns just can't be resisted. :hide: )

[Nothing Without Hope]

7. ***VIDEO from Fitzmas (10/28) - Olbermann interviews John Dean***

John Dean on Countdown Oct 28 05

Windows media: http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/johndeanoct2805.wmv

This video clip is about 7 minutes long and is streaming video from Can-o-fun. John Dean had not had much time to study the indictment text at that time, but near the end of the segment he brings up the possibility that Libby is a "firewall" for Dick Cheney.

From the Nov 4 column cited in the current thread, further reflection appears to have strengthened his views along these lines. (Or else he had to be more cautious and brief on Olbermann's show. But he did bring it up.)

This video is one of two from Olbermann's 10/28 Fitzmas show (Lawrence O'Donnell is the other) given in this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5214707
thread title (11/28): "***VIDEOS of O'Donnell and John Dean on Olbermann/Countdown 10/28***"
That thread also has links to two other DU threads discussing the O'Donnell interview and three others discussing the John Dean interview.

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. Note that the ORIGINAL, both at FindLaw & at Smirking C, is FULL OF LINKS:

John Dean's essays are always meticulously documented.

Here's a list for the current essay. He gives them as live links within the text:

Links within Mr. Dean’s essay:

• His previous column (in which he incorrectly predicted that the investigation would not go far): http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20051021.html
  
  
• The Fitzgerald indictment: http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/plame/usvlibby102805ind.pdf
  
  
• Transcript of the Fitzgerald Press Conference: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/28/AR2005102801340
  
  
• United States Attorney's Manual: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title9/crm00214.htm
  
  
• The Sixth Amendment to the US Constitution: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment06
  
  
• Title 18, United States Code, Section 793: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_search.pl?title=18&sec=793

[Duer 157099]

11. If Libby is as smart as people say, he must be sweating bullets

Just consider his predicament.

He's the only guy standing between Fitzgerald and Cheney. Would you want that job?

And I'm certain he knows full well what Cheney is capable of, probably knows things worse than our collective worst-imaginings.

He must be having serious doubts, knowing that the only real protection he can buy for his life is his testimony against Cheney.

He's probably either going to have to be medicated for stress during the next several months, or he's going to turn.

Had he pled guilty and gotten sentenced, at least then he could have the hope of pardon (can a pardon be sealed for a time?). But by pleading not guilty, he prolongs his period in limbo.

I would not be the least bit surprised if he were disappeared/suicided.

Fitzgerald knows what he's doing, but I do hope he has contingency plans of some sort in the event of a Scooter accident.

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. ***UPDATE: 11/8 Olbermann/Countdown VIDEO of Harry Reid statement***

In this important video segment, Keith Olbermann frames Harry Reid's statement, which made two main points:

• A demand that the WH issue a statement that Libby and others involved in Treasongate WILL NOT RECEIVE A PRESIDENTIAL PARDON. Rightly, he says that this is the only way to get the truth.
  
• A blast of the many evil and disastrous policies spearheaded by Cheney.

The video then moves on to the newly revealed secret CIA prisons and Scot McClellan's contentious press conference, where the reporters are unified in demanding explanations and he refuses to give them. Significantly, at one point he suggests they address questions to the VP's office instead, and an alert reporter immediately reponds by asking if that means the the Vice President is INDEPENDENT.

All this overlaps with Treasongate in one way or another. Reid's demand for a statement of no pardon being in the works to conceal what happened in Treasongate is directly related.

Here is the VIDEO CLIP - in Windows Media - from Can-o-Fun:
http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/demandinganswersnov805.wmv

(Here is the Can-o-Fun home page: http://www.canofun.com/blog/default.asp)