"This whole thing hinges on Russert."

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT, pg1: Novel Strategy Pits Journalists Against Source
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE and ADAM LIPTAK
Published: October 29, 2005


In pressing his indictment of I. Lewis Libby Jr., the special prosecutor is pitting three prominent journalists against their former source, a strategy that experts in law and journalism say has rarely been used or tested.

It is all but unheard of for reporters to turn publicly on their sources or for prosecutors to succeed in conscripting members of a profession that prizes its independence.

Yet Mr. Libby's trial on perjury and obstruction charges will largely turn on whether jurors are more inclined to believe a government official who played a critical role in devising the justifications for the Iraq war or members of a profession whose own credibility has been under assault....

***

Mr. Russert addressed the case briefly on NBC...."Clearly the special counsel has made a judgment," Mr. Russert said, "that when taking the comments and statements of Matt Cooper and Judy Miller and myself as opposed to Scooter Libby, he has decided that Mr. Libby was not telling the truth."...

***

Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said the case was setting a dangerous precedent. "Reading the indictment makes my blood run cold," she said. "This whole thing hinges on Russert."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/29/politics/29media.html

[Gman]

1. I'm sure Russert has already started receiving death threats

by the truckloads from the RW. He has reason to be very afraid for his life. Fitz should go the extra step and assign him a federal marshall detail for protection.

[fortyfeetunder]

2. His career as a journalist is over

If I were him, I'd go into the witness protection program and tell NBC go away. He's doomed.

[Fla Dem]

12. Nah...he'll come out of this smelling like roses. He knows where

all the bodies are buried in Washington.

[tsuki]

22. Sorry to disagree, but he is going to have real problems with

his colleagues.

On pg 7-sec 20 - On or about July 10, 2003, LIBBY spoke to NBC Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert to complain about press coverage of LIBBY by an MSNBC reporter. LIBBY did not discuss Wilson's wife with Russert.

On page 18-sec 2 - An accounting of LIBBY's testimony where he claims that Russert asked him about Valerie Plame Wilson & the CIA.

My question is, since we know Russert is quite the Conservative Tool:

1) Were they speaking over the phone? Perhaps in the WH where the phones are monitored?

2) How often did the Admin Officials complain to Russert about other reporters? What was done with the complaints? Was pressure brought to bear? Did Russert stand up for the other reporters? Were the complaints passed upstairs? Were the reporters told of the complaints?

3) If LIBBY is so smart, and a very good attorney, why did he tell some very stupid lies concerning Tim Russert? Was he expecting help from Russert that never came?

4) Is one, either Russert or Libby, more credible in the long run?

Read page 18, the actual testimony. It was very stupid. It made me wonder :wtf:

[Canuckistanian]

3. Russert should exclude himself from any discussion of this case

He obviously knows a lot about the details and will certainly be called for the trial.

For him to pontificate and steer discussions into misleading directions would be akin to perjury or at least "poisoning the well".

[DeepModem Mom]

4. You know that's an interesting point --

how is Timmy going to continue anchoring MTP with such a big role in this?

[asjr]

11. Russert will continue to shill for BushCo. His

guests are the same: Woodruff--dummy. Brooks--idiot. Safire--ogre.

[mmonk]

10. Anything he says now

may be used in a trial. I like it personally.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. No, the whole thing doesn't hinge on Russert

the NYT's continue to try to muddy the water and control the debate.

[tularetom]

6. He's gonna be swift boated

Dan Rathered beyind his worst fears. Only difference is he can't come on TV and apologize, snivelling that he should have done a better job, since he already sold out libby under oath. With any luck we'll soon see the last of his big round moon face on TV, rotflmao.

[MADem]

7. I do not care for Mr. Potato Head, but this can only work FOR him

if things continue on as they appear to be.

Basically, what Scooter did was try to PIN THE BLAME ON FAT TIMMY and the rest. He LIED, and said he got the Plame name from them. Timmy and all the others says it was never discussed, or Scooter was the one that was dishing the dirt.

Since Judy was apparently sleeping with Scooter and acting like a WH tool (the Chalabi/WMD business), she gets no sympathy. But Cooper and Russert were being set up as patsys in this instance--and it appears obvious to even the casual observer that Scooter was trying to shaft THEM so he could escape.

Oh well, Timmy, ya lie down with dogs, ya get up with fleas!

[AlCzervik]

9. Thats it right there, he got played and maybe he'll remember that

next time he feels the need to suck up to those in power.

[Justice]

8. Don't you think it is bizarre that Libby pinned his hopes on Russert?

Frankly, whatever you think of Russert, he has huge credibility with our fellow citizens. There is probably a small handful of reporters in the US that you would put in that small category.

If Scooter had said he heard it from some midlevel no name reporter from a network or a newspaper, his story would have more credibility. But to say Tim told him? Incredible.

I cannot believe Libby could be so stupid to tell a lie that could easily be uncovered. I have to believe there is far more to the story.

[MADem]

13. Fat Timmy went to the dark side in 00

He started to do really well as the GOP started going strong. He wrote his foolish book, he bought his mansion on the Vineyard, and he sent his kid to BC paying full tuition. Life has been GRAND for him since the thugs took over.

Even if he gets his soul back, it will be blackened and bruised.

I think Scooter felt that Timmy would go for JOURNALISTIC principle over all, and that his corporate masters would simply take Timmy's story at face value, realize Scooter was fibbing (or MISTAKEN!) and that eventually it would blow over. But we know that ain't how the public took it, and Timmy knew that too--they were messing with his EARNABILITY, and he has a kid at BC and massive payments on his fancy new summer manse.

The corporate masters probably looked down view and saw that this story is a ratings winner, too.

Timmy did put up the weak 'press shield' fight, but he was ready to testify, because one of his good pals LIED and fingered him to save his own ass.

[Hubert Flottz]

14. Mr. Libby lied on Mr. Potato Head.

Which might have upset Timmy Taterhead. I don't blame him for telling the truth, it's his job. The rest of the ass kissing media should follow his example and quit betraying their country. They are sheepish cowards!

I'll bet Walter Cronkite would tear into Bushco like a buzz saw, but the media today has been castrated by KKKarl and the Anthrax Killer.

[peacetalksforall]

15. I don't get it. Russert's job is to dig up dirt so that he can attack

guests that he doesn't like and aid guests who he and NBC likes on behalf of the WH admin and PNAC. GE and their NBCs are Republican arms of the right wing. They have admitted as much in print and by their entire operation, inclulding the Jack Welch owner role in the 2000 election.

This job involves cultivating contacts on behalf of NBC first and secondly to keep his job.

He needs spark and controversy to get and keep an audience and to be talked about all week. He needs to know how to refute an enemy. He gets this from his contacts.

I think of Russert as a propagandist. He relinquished his role as a journalist years ago. He will be one of the last propagandists to give up on protecting the White House and PNAC.

All he has to do is tell the truth. Let's see how he does as a self-proclaimed citizen, son, and right wing America lover.

Cultivating and protecting sources can be honorable. Participating in a major or minor propaganda push thata involves the law is another.

I don't think he is in danger. I think the role of NBC, NYT, and all the others in aiding the Republicans is in danger.

We can't let them push us over.

Do we have:

1. Wrongdoer.
2. Whistleblower.
3. Journalist and their editors and newspaper/network working with the whistleblower.

OR - do we have Journalist and their editiors working with the WRONGDOER.

Just tell the truth, Tim.

[pacalo]

16. The media set a dangerous precedent when they failed to investigate

the lead-up to war, becoming this administration's partner in crime. Can you see the irony in this statement:

Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said the case was setting a dangerous precedent. "Reading the indictment makes my blood run cold," she said. "This whole thing hinges on Russert."

[Straight Shooter]

17. Poor poor pitiful Lucy Dalgish

At least the blood still runs in your body. Can't say that for 2,012 (and maybe more now) dead U.S. troops, can we?

And how are your limbs, Ms. Dalgish? All intact, yes? Then please STFU.

[DeepModem Mom]

21. Very good point. nt

[senseandsensibility]

18. Katharine Seelye is one of the biggest * propagandists

out there. This is an effort to smear Fitzgerald. That's all it is. I'm not the only one to see that, I hope. Google her name.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

19. Russert is lying.

[CornField]

20. I listened to Russert address his part on NBC yesterday

Once the indictments were handed down, Brian Williams had Russert on split screen and asked if Russert would now tell everyone about his testimony to the Grand Jury.

Russert said he was called in about a certain phone call which came to him from Libby's office. He was asked if, during the course of that phone call, Libby confided the name of Plame to him. Russert said this was not the case at all. Libby phoned him as head of the news desk to complain about a segment on MSNBC. Russert passed the complaint along to a higher up. That was on Thursday or Friday. Russert said he did not learn Plame's name or her CIA involvement until the following Monday, when he read Novak's column.