What happened? Could somebody sum it up in one paragraph for me?

[...of J.Temperance]

Or perhaps two paragraphs if you need.

Is there going to be a NEW Grand Jury, meaning an extension and it STILL being game on? If yes, how long can that new Grand Jury sit for?

Does that therefore leave it open, for the possibility that Karl Rove and John Bolton can still get nailed? (I'm 80% sure that the latter is Mr. X, although I can't recall if Bolton gave evidence to the first Grand Jury, so I can't be 100% sure he's Mr. X)

Are the mediawhores just brushing this off because only Libby got nailed today? Are they doing BIG puff pieces about this...or do they smell blood?

That's the three things I'd like to be summed up. I went out, I missed some stuff and I can't POSSIBLY read through every thread on this subject. So one or two paragraphs would help, if someone would oblige.

[Lancer]

1. I'll take a crack at it.

Fitzgerald says this grand jury was adjourned today. Can't reconvene. New one must be chosen -- he doesn't know whether it would serve 12, 18 or 24 months. Seems as though he is planning to convene another one.

It seems that Karl Rove is "Official A," at least that's what AP is saying right now.

Reaction mixed -- Jeffrey Toobin and others saying it's all over. Others like Olbermann and Laurence O'Donnell and Howard Fineman saying this serious business, tip of the iceberg, etc.

I can't bring myself to watch the Faux News spin on it. Someone else will have to help you out there!

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Adding that Fitz basically said he can't go after the leaker because

people have not given the leaker's name up, or so I understood him to mean with his "sand in the umpire's eyes" reference.

If Libby is not pardoned and does not disappear or get the Jack Ruby treatment, some very interesting things might happen at a trial. We'd have Rove and Cheney under oath testifying. They could either spill some really stinky beans, or they could try and cover up further which could get them nailed for perjury.

[...of J.Temperance]

4. Junior can't pardon Libby before a trial though can he?

Won't there have to be a trial, or can Libby just do a plea bargain, specifically to save Cheney from testifying in a courtroom?

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. That I don't know. :^(

[...of J.Temperance]

18. Well let's hope there's a trial n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

28. My father says that he can't be pardoned before trial.

[...of J.Temperance]

30. Okay, thanks to your Dad!

I thought that a pardon could be unlikely pre-trial, considering Libby would have to be legally found guilty, thus setting forth a pardon scenario.

[lumberjack_jeff]

29. Legally, he could.

But as a practical matter, it'd be a big deal to intervene in a trial for one of your own administration. Probably even impeachable.

[...of J.Temperance]

35. Oh heck :(

The Bush bastard COULDN'T even think of doing THAT...SURELY.

:scared:

[Carolab]

37. A law professor on Bush's pardon power

http://balkin.blogspot.com/2005/10/bushs-ace-in-hole-pardon-power.html

[...of J.Temperance]

39. A POS like Junior shouldn't be allowed to have this sort of power

Because we KNOW he'll abuse it.

[Quixote1818]

12. "people have not given the leaker's name up"

I think that is one of the things that is probably driving Fitzgerald nuts! That people lied and obstructed justice and have caused him so many problems. Fitz got a degree in Mathematics and is known to have a thirst for solving problems. I don't think he will quit until he solves the puzzle.

[...of J.Temperance]

19. The leaker

I think is either Cheney or Bolton. Of course Cheney lied when he said that he'd been given the name by George Tenet, and then Tenet said he didn't give Valerie Plame's name to Cheney.

Perhaps another heart-attack is on the cards for 'ole Dick.

[...of J.Temperance]

3. So

It's still game on, which is very good news.

We've got Mr. X and we've got Official A who's Karl Rove, who's therefore ratted on Libby.

Considering that Howard Fineman in particular has been such a MEGA mediawhore for Junior, I'm more inclined to go with what his group is saying. If this was in any way good for Junior, obviously Fineman would be spinning like a top right about now. Since he's saying it's serious and just the tip of the iceberg, means that Junior's in trouble.

Who goes near Faux News, unless they're a sadist ;)

Thanks for the sum up.

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Olbermann said that Fitz was ready to indict Rove but for some last

minute info that came to him, so he held off. Rove might be a squealer. Or, he might yet get indicted.

[...of J.Temperance]

24. In order to save his own skin and to save Junior

Rove seems JUST the type to squeal like the pig he is.

[Zen Democrat]

5. Scooter said he first heard about Plame from reporters.

But, he learned about it from Cheney. So Cheney knows Scooter has been lying his ass off. And the prosecutor knows that Cheney knew.

[...of J.Temperance]

7. Did Cheney

Already lie to Fitzgerald about that? I wonder if he was under oath, or if he refused to do that.

This is why it's important to get Cheney UNDER OATH on a witness stand, in order to give him the opportunity to lie about Libby. Cheney must lie about it, he's got no other option.

[Zen Democrat]

14. Cheney said on MTP that he didn't know Wilson or anything about him.

THAT was a lie. Not under oath, but nevertheless a lie to the American people. Kind of like .... "I did not have sex with that woman".

[...of J.Temperance]

20. Cheney's

Got to be put into a situation where he's under oath. I mean we all know he's a liar, and not just about Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson.

But with these vampires, they must be under oath in order to nail them. They're going to try every which way though to avoid being put under oath, because they themselves KNOW they're going to lie.

[Spazito]

6. He doesn't necessarily need to impanel a NEW grand jury

At any time there are numerous grand juries already empaneled within his jurisdiction to which Fitzgerald can go and continue his investigation:

" Federal grand juries meet regularly, but the frequency of their meetings varies from one federal judicial district to another. Several grand juries may be meeting at the same time in large urban areas, while grand juries convened in less populous districts may only meet once a week or once a month. Generally, federal grand juries tend to meet when prosecutors need them to consider proposed indictments or to investigate possible criminal activity."

Link:

http://www.udayton.edu/~grandjur/fedj/fedj.htm

More info:

"In virtually every federal jurisdiction, there is at least one grand jury sitting every day. Generally, most federal indictments involve grand juries that sit for five days a week for a period of one month. For cases involving complex and long-term investigations (such as those involving organized crime, drug conspiracies or political corruption), "long term" grand juries will be impaneled. Such "long term" grand juries typically sit fewer days each week, and their terms can be extended in six month increments for up to three years. The schedules vary among the states that still have grand juries."

Link:

http://www.abanet.org/media/faqjury.html

[...of J.Temperance]

10. I think he's going to need the

Long term grand jury option. This is amazingly complex and it's about a whole range of dirty crimes that Bush Inc. has committed.

[Spazito]

16. There are long term grand juries already impaneled who may

be only at the beginning of their term and therefore would have the bulk of their term left to hear testimony, consider evidence, etc. In essence, Fitzgerald can borrow them for a period of time needed.

[...of J.Temperance]

21. I hope he borrows one then

Because this thing must go on, this isn't the end, the Bush bastards are in this hip deep and they must be exposed.

[Spazito]

26. I have confidence he will pursue this to the nth degree

and in listening to his press conference then reading the transcripts, he is saying he is committed. This stood out to me as a very clear intent:

"I will not end the investigation until I can look anyone in the eye and tell them that we have carried out our responsibility sufficiently to be sure that we've done what we could to make intelligent decisions about when to end the investigation. We hope to do that as soon as possible. I just hope that people will take a deep breath and just allow us to continue to do what we have to do."

[...of J.Temperance]

34. I hope so, we need this to happen

And what you pointed out that Fitzgerald said there, that's very encouraging.

Should I place a bet, I'm quite fond of doing some betting every now and then...I'd better consult my Magic 8 Ball first though...just to be sure.

[CabalPowered]

17. t/y .. that was very helpful nt

[robbedvoter]

8. Libby will have a trial - Cheney, Rove witnesses under oath - merriment

to be had by all for a long time coming!

[bluedawg12]

9. Fitz asked: how did you learn of Plame's name?

Scoots allegedly lied and said he heard it from a reporter.

The reporter, Tim Russert, said that is not true.

Fitz dug deeper and found that scoots knew about PLame before Russert. So he tried again to get the truth out of scoots who wouldn't reveal where he learned of Plame's name and that she was a spy.

Plus, scooter lied to FBI guys too, and so Fitz said hey, " you are lying while I am trying to get the facts?

You're indicted!

Now, let's see if a trial will pry scooters lips open.

[...of J.Temperance]

22. Russert

For all intents and purposes also ratted on Libby then.

Lying to the FBI, Libby's protecting Cheney...as we've known for a long time, all roads lead back to Cheney.

[bluedawg12]

27. Russert gave honest testimony for the GJ and it did not support

scooter- I think Russert may be Fitz' big witness.

[...of J.Temperance]

31. I wonder if GE will put Russert

On paid leave or something.

[Kurt Remarque]

15. sort of a mediocre day

scooter is the scapegoat even though the inferences for the direct involvement of rove and cheny are apparent but not holding up to the weight of hard evidence.

scooter lied his way to indictment for them all not a great day but let's see what the future brings. fitz seemed to be real.

[...of J.Temperance]

23. Then different hard evidence

Needs to be followed and examined, so that it will hold up. Libby is just a small part of this, we know that, the architects are Cheney, Rove and Bolton and I personally want their scalps.

So the show must go on.

[carolinalady]

25. Here is my try:

Libby lied and Karl cried.
Libby was nailed; Karl turned pale.
Libby left in disgrace as Karl hid his face.
The 'pukes are all sweating and conveniently forgetting-

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TRUTH!

[...of J.Temperance]

32. A spot of poetry 'eh?

You're obviously incredibly talented ;)

[carolinalady]

33. roflmao Thanks. n/t

[...of J.Temperance]

36. You're welcome ;) n/t

[crispini]

38. I went out tonight and had too many Cosmos.

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

Scooter is so fucked.

[...of J.Temperance]

40. I went out tonight and had too many Tequila's

But I think I'm holding up SHOCKINGLY well! I AM, it's the truth :)