Why Libby called Russert ....

[H2O Man]

Tim Russert's testimony at the Scooter Libby criminal trial raised questions about the episodes of Hardball that the Office of the Vice President found so upsetting. The full transcripts of the two shows that Libby called Russert to complain about are now found on "hardblogger":

http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/

The Hardball episodes that concerned LibbyPosted: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 5:07 PM by
Today at the Scooter Libby trial, there was discussion about a phone call that Libby made to NBC to complain about Hardball's coverage of the nuclear case for war. Following are the transcripts from the shows that aired at the time Libby made the call.

Read More .......

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. Last night Matthews said he had been visited by three dark angels of death because of his

coverage.

[H2O Man]

3. He had said

yesterday on a morning show that he was been "warned" about saying certain things about the case.

From July 8, 2003:

"Just to recap, here's what we know. Joe Wilson, a former ambassador in the United States government, was sent to Niger to establish whether there was in fact an arms deal for nuclear materials between Saddam Hussein and the government of Niger.

"He came back and reported to the CIA at the behest of the vice president's office, that there was no such deal. That the office of the vice president, whoever is in there, Scooter Libby on down, or the vice president himself, never told the president that there was nothing to that, that was a dry hole story. And yet, the president went on television, telling the American people it was true. Somebody's to blame here, and it's a very high level and it's not speculating."

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

4. I guess by the evening, Matthews was getting braver. He really looked as if he

was letting something out that had been disturbing him for a long time.
When he was ending the show, he mentioned that it was shows like this one (last night's), that he would hear from Libby.

Thank you H2O Man for the background!

[bobbolink]

99. He's been smiling more. Kinda a "I'm up to something" smile.

:hi:

Sometimes I just wanna yell, "Tell us what is *really* going on!"

[Dorian Gray]

106. This story is fascinating.

I'd also like to reiterate the thanks for the information. :)

[xultar]

12. and he did say "three dark angels of death" o.k. he really didn't but if he had

the judge would have overruled any objection by the defense to the term three angles of death cuz that shit is TRUE!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

25. The transcript isn't up yet. He either said three dark angels of death or three angels of death.

I couldn't believe that he said that. I thought for a nanosecond that he was Jon Stewart!

[Pirate Smile]

31. I remember hearing him say yesterday that "three dark angels" visited him.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

44. Thanks! :)

[Pirate Smile]

35. dupe

[CoffeeCat]

68. Don't you guys think...

...that people--and these media members in general--are thoroughly disgusted
with the Bush thugs? BushCo outed Plame, but they blame the media. It appears
that this isn't sitting too well with them--and now they are speaking out.

Does that seem accurate?

Also--if BushCo boldly called up media members to bitch and threaten when coverage
of them wasn't glowing---it sounds as if they've been playing intimidation games for years.
The media complied for a long time. Why, I don't know.

It feels as if the media is now saying FU to these necon jerks.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

113. From the transcript..my error, he said At Least Three Archangels Of Death!!!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17049480/

FINEMAN: Well, because the furiousness of their defense here is tragic and comic in retrospect. In the spring and summer of ‘03, I was on the receiving end of some of these phone call for some of what I wrote. Not about Joe Wilson but other things speculating about the vice president‘s motives. And the vice president‘s office was all over everybody. And I think the reason they were so furious was because the president didn‘t know what Dick Cheney was doing half the time. And Cheney didn‘t want to get caught. That‘s my theory.

MATTHEWS: Well, I got visited by at least three archangels of death from that time from that same direction that didn‘t like what I was saying.

[babylonsister]

2. Per NBC News last night, Russert will be discussing his role in this

after he's done testifying, which could be tonight. Stay tuned!

[H2O Man]

5. While I have never

cared for Russert, I do think his testimony hurts Libby's case. However, I do not think that Russert comes out of this looking honest, except when compared to Libby. This entire scandal shows the level of corruption within the corporate media.

[babylonsister]

6. Yes, it does show how complicit the corp. media have been. Here's

a little I just found on digby that addresses just that topic. How many other 'journalists' have been holding out on us so they wouldn't involve the wh?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x155317

[H2O Man]

7. About 18. n/t

[Me.]

8. They Must All Be Freaking

as exhibited by Matalin's performance on Imus this morning. The trial is really causing them to all turn on each other. She tried to deny what she said about Mathews and Russert and then tried to fix it.

[H2O Man]

11. Yes. DUers should

e-mail Imus to help expose one of Mary M's big lies, about Valerie Plame's status. She said several times that Plame was not covert. Of course, she's lying. Here is a short piece to send Imus this morning:

The CIA Leak: Plame Was Still Covert
Newsweek Feb 13, 2006
Michael Isikoff

"But special prosecutoe Patrick Fitzgerald found that Plame had indeed done 'covert work overseas' on counterproliferation matters in the past five years, and the CIA 'was making specific efforts to conceal' her identity, according to newly released portions of a judge's opinion."

Send to:

[e-mail]

[babylonsister]

14. Done! nt

[H2O Man]

15. Thank you. n/t

[spanone]

21. Done also!!!

K&R

[Virginia Dare]

33. How can they continue to perpetuate that lie...

that's been debunked over and over again? Who would believe it other than the hardcore Bushbots? The jury certainly isn't going to buy it.

[ktlyon]

109. One has to wonder

I still hear Saddam/terrorists connection too
and WMDs were moved to Syria

My neighbors seem to get the Republic talking points as soon a story breaks and continue repeating it no matter what evidence follows. Is there a network that calls these people at night and fires them up with tomorrows garbage? They always have the same responses, almost word for word, with other right wingnuts. How is this possible?

[SlowDownFast]

48. Done. n/t

[mod mom]

64. gladly done. Thanks for your excellent coverage.

[fooj]

71. I heard her say that and I screamed at my TV...

woke the hubby up.

She certainly screwed the pooch, didn't she?

[conscious evolution]

32. Who are the eighteen?

I can think of 10 or 12 that fit the bill.

[KharmaTrain]

18. Two Levels Of Credibility

There's the on-stand demeanor...and how it is percieved by the jury. Russert is a "celebrity" and that had to play in his favor...and from reading the live blogging he appeared pretty relaxed...especially when being led through his 12 minutes with Fitz. This sets the tone...especially in contrast with the tapes of Libby's GJ testimony that they had just finished hearing. Russert is a familiar face, friendly voice as opposed to Scooter who is quiet and works behind the scenes...and the only way we hear his voice is indirectly.

Now there's the question about the corporate media's culpability in this story...and we haven't even begun to turn that rock over. Right now, many of these "journalists" are heaving a sigh of relief that it's someone elses ass on the line and not theirs, but the tarnish to their credibility is there. The fact Russert could and was easily used by this regime has to be addressed...Timmeh can't let impression linger that he was both steamrolled and used by this regime. The cozy relationships between the media elites that was suspect on both sides of the political spectrum are now exposed for all to see.

I was amused at how Tweety's reacted to this. While I thought he knew more about this case than he did, it appears he was kept in the dark not only by his "buddies" in the White House, but by Russert as well. The revelations in the court room have sent Tweety into super salivation...which has made for some fun viewing.

[H2O Man]

20. I can say

for sure that Mr. Matthews knows more about the case than you suspect.

[KharmaTrain]

28. For Certain He Does...

Maybe the better way to clarify here is his astoishment with what's come out in the court room so far. His radar is too keen and wide spread not to be up to his beak in a lot of the gossip and astroturfing that has gone on. There's still that lingering question I have about his role with Abramoff's charity. While he thinks he's some kinda "hero" here, I see him as a pathetic character who stumbled onto the truth and backed away when told to do so.

If there's a journalist in this story, it's David Schuester, whose done a great job in covering this story from the outset.

[H2O Man]

36. Matthews is not

in any way astonished by what is being revealed by the Libby trial. He was fully aware that people from the OVP/OSP/WHIG were going to great lengths to discredit him. They were upset that he was reporting in a way that helped expose the administration's lies that brought this nation to war in Iraq. As Isikoff & Corn note in their book "Hubris," Paul Wolfowitz had begun the campaign against Matthews in May, 2003. (pags 265-267)

Libby and Matalin were merely stepping it up in July. They failed. As a result, Rove called Matthews with a thinly veiled threat. Matthews passed it on to Joseph Wilson. It is no coincidence that Wilson starts his book -- page 1-- with Matthews' calling to warn him.

Matthews' coverage on the Plame scandal/Libby trial is second to none. It isn't because he "stumbled" onto the story. That is nonsense.

This morning, I note that over 1400 newspapers across the USA have articles on the Libby trial. I am confident that the Libby and Cheney forces are not pleased by this. Hence they send Mary Matalin out to attack. There are others engaged in similar coordinated attacks. Many will target Matthews. But those who are looking for justice in this case, and who support the Wilson's civil case, appreciate Chris Matthews.

[The Backlash Cometh]

42. Unfortunately, Chris Matthews appears to be in the right place at the

right time to write the memoirs of this horrible time. But I hope he allows the Foreward to be written by a person who will be honest about how Matthews derailed Gore's presidency and allowed this whole mess to start.

[Tatiana]

40. You betcha.

I give credit where credit was due. Even producers tried to get him to tone it down, but that just goes against his very nature, IMO. He couldn't muzzle himself for long. I think many of his issues are directly related to the stress brought on by this situation.

He called out the OVP and Libby specifically. He's the only mainstream journalist I can remember doing so. And this was back in 2003.

[Octafish]

19. Russert: ''Integrity is for paupers!''

I wasn't there, so must go only by this account from a ways back:

CHOCOLATES AND NYLONS, SIR?

By David Podvin

In 1992, shortly after being named moderator of Meet The Press, Tim Russert was having lunch with a broadcast executive. The mealtime conversation was about the pros and cons of working for General Electric’s NBC subsidiary. Russert expounded on how being employed by GE had brought him to the realization that things functioned better when Republicans were in charge.

“You know, Tim, you used to be such a rabid Democrat when you worked for Pat Moynihan,” said the executive. “But now that you’ve gotten a glimpse of who’s handing out the money in this business, you’ve become quite the Jaycee. Were you wrong about everything you used to believe so strongly?”

“I still believe,” Russert said, leaning across the table. “I believe in everything I ever did. But I also know that I never would have become moderator on Meet The Press if my employers were uncomfortable with me. And, given the amount of money at stake, millions of dollars, I don’t blame them. This is business.”

The executive agreed. “But are you concerned about losing yourself? You know, selling out?”

Russert pounded the table. “Integrity is for paupers!”

CONTINUED...

http://www.makethemaccountable.com/podvin/media/020109_Russert.htm

Good reporters are dirt poor for a reason: They tell the Truth.

[Olney Blue]

22. Oh my.

[H2O Man]

26. We do best

when we recognize that the corporate media is in business to sell a product, much in the manner that McDonald's is in business to sell a product. The corporate media's product is to "news" what McDonald's products are to "food." Tim Russert's agenda is far closer to Ronald McDonald's than to an honest journalist.

[The Backlash Cometh]

43. Then maybe it's time to rethink Freedom of Speech.

When you have FoxNews going up before a judge to defend themselves based on their interpretation that the First Amendment gives them the right to lie to the public, you know we've steered way off the reservation as far as giving the press this right for the sake of keeping the people informed and our democracy safe from the very thing that has taken it over.

Probably the most accomplished run on sentence I've ever written.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

62. This would explain Tim's apparent obsession with Clinton's penis

It was a popular topic at the time.

[WinkyDink]

34. Sounds like an aphorism from "Big Russ".

[a kennedy]

37. Oh my gawd........"Integrity is for paupers!"

CHOCOLATES AND NYLONS, SIR?

"By David Podvin

In 1992, shortly after being named moderator of Meet The Press, Tim Russert was having lunch with a broadcast executive. The mealtime conversation was about the pros and cons of working for General Electric’s NBC subsidiary. Russert expounded on how being employed by GE had brought him to the realization that things functioned better when Republicans were in charge.

“You know, Tim, you used to be such a rabid Democrat when you worked for Pat Moynihan,” said the executive. “But now that you’ve gotten a glimpse of who’s handing out the money in this business, you’ve become quite the Jaycee. Were you wrong about everything you used to believe so strongly?”

“I still believe,” Russert said, leaning across the table. “I believe in everything I ever did. But I also know that I never would have become moderator on Meet The Press if my employers were uncomfortable with me. And, given the amount of money at stake, millions of dollars, I don’t blame them. This is business.”

The executive agreed. “But are you concerned about losing yourself? You know, selling out?”

Russert pounded the table. “Integrity is for paupers!”

CONTINUED...

Wow, just wow. :wow:

[Me.]

41. Wow Is Right

By the time this is over, any integrity he pretended to have will be the dirty laundry that getting washed in public. Do you have a link for that article btw?

[a kennedy]

46. Me: look here.....

http://www.makethemaccountable.com/podvin/media/020109_Russert.htm

[ellie]

39. Disgusting

What a pig

[Supersedeas]

53. Integrity is for paupers.....and millions are at stake....

[MelissaB]

55. I wish someone would start a thread containing this for newbies.

Many people here may know this, but I'm betting many don't.

[MelissaB]

88. I posted it here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x160140

[Cabcere]

57. "Integrity is for paupers?"

:wow: Oh man. That's just disgusting...and to think I used to respect this man! :puke: (In my defense, it was when I was about thirteen or fourteen, but still...ugh.) :grr: Disgusting.

[Nostradammit]

110. That's gotta be the new Republican motto

The REPUBLICAN PARTY
because
integrity is for paupers!

[Cabcere]

112. Too true.

Hey, does anybody here have a cafepress shop or something? I feel like that would look great on t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc.... :think:

[Elidor]

65. Wow.

Every time he appears on television, that quote should be on a blurb at the bottom of the screen. I knew he felt that way, but for him to say it aloud is just...amazing. What a whore.

[Me.]

84. Can't Believe I Didn't See Your Post With The Link

Thanks for that

[Joe Chi Minh]

87. "However, I do not think that Russert comes out of this looking honest,

except when compared to Libby."

I don't know how intentional it is, H2O Man, but you seem to have the most vicious sense of humour of anyone I have ever come across. I mean the terseness with which you say these things... I mean I know it's factual, but, but... it sounds so funny.

There are only two alternatives: either you are an Australian or you are a proxy for the Holy Spirit. I've heard similar from Aussies and read similar in the Gospels. In both cases, you can't be sure they knew how funny the thing they were saying were.

I used to have an uncle, whose sense of humour was so bitter that he became quite upset when I laughed at his jokes, and a local parish priest, who was also an auxiliary bishop, had a similarly bitter sense of humour.

[oasis]

9. Double popcorn today for Tweety's "Hardball" show.

:popcorn:x2.

[Me.]

10. Previous Plame

Research Forum & Threads 1,2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_oet&address=358x192

H20’s Impeach Dick Cheney Threads:

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_oet&address=358x4640

Irving's Ghost (Plame Thread #15)

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x146204


Rosesaylavee has done a fantastic job of posting the Plame & Cheney threads in the Research Forum.


Government Documents Relating To The Plame Case:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/libbytrial/index.html

[WinkyDink]

13. Why would Libby call Russert to "complain" about Matthews' show?

Tim should do something about it?

[mmonk]

17. Looking for someone to come to their rescue

and muddy the water.

[babylonsister]

23. He's the DC bureau chief; I guess all high-level complaints go through him.

:shrug:

[H2O Man]

24. Right.

People from the WHIG assumed -- incorrectly -- that Russert's NBC position put him where he could "supervise" Matthews at MSNBC.

[WinkyDink]

29. Oh, okey-doke. Apparently, Timmeh was pegged as the sycophant he is.

[texpatriot2004]

16. K & R nm

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

27. I liked Libby's lawyer asking why, as a journalist, Russert didn't start to ask his own questions

of Libby regarding the Plame situation, I mean after all he has the VP's Chief of Staff on the phone, how often does that happen, right? Apparently, Russert replied he handled it as routine complaint call. :shrug:

That's very funny, yet sad. MKJ

[Evergreen Emerald]

30. I remember that time frame, because Matthews said on a later show...

...that he will likely never get another republican to come on his show. He was threatened to get in line by Cheney--and he did. He became the mouthpiece for the administration through threats and coercion. It is only now that the political tide is turning that he has the guts to tell it like it is.

[H2O Man]

38. Not. n/t

[Redbear]

74. The immense respect I have for you

has only grown with this thread.

[Norquist Nemesis]

45. I also remember him saying he got a call that "Wilson's wife is

fair game." I don't recall him saying that he had received a call warning him to back off, but that Russert had received a call demanding he be warned and told to back off. The reason I remember it is that I couldn't figure out why "the White House" was calling Russert instead of Matthews directly. Apparently, the WH viewed Matthews as subserviant to Russert.

[Norquist Nemesis]

47. Why do all of the MSM think it stops at Cheney?

That's what has me the most baffled. Bush isn't known for being kind and compassionate to those who disagree with him, let alone those who cross him. So what exactly is it that makes them think this was exclusively Cheney?

Sure, it's speculation but...Wouldn't Bush giving Cheney a nod and telling him to 'take care of this and let me know what you need from me' mean Bush was involved beyond "plausible deniability"? It's interesting that Bush's EO giving the VP declassification authority is dated March 25, 2003. How convenient!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030325-11.html

[Me.]

50. One Reason Is

The whole start-stop-start scenario with the NIE, when Cheney told Libbert to leak it. It seems to point to finagling and over-reaching on his part. Also, the whole earthmovers business came out of the OVP

[Norquist Nemesis]

52. All true! But isn't it also likely that Cheney's the detail guy

while Bush just gives the 'make it happen' order? Bush is a delegater, not a detailer.

As long as Cheney is loyal to "The President" who he handpicked himself to work for, Bush won't throw him in front of the train.

[Me.]

63. Not Necessarily

A long standing, unspoken, WH rule, is that you keep the president out of dicey matters. I think Cheney took it upon himself. I would wonder exactly why he told the president they needed to leak portions of the NIE. I think I read somewhere that * was told that it needed to be done to combat the critics, but what I don't think he was told was the extent to which Cheney would use it. Cheney has been a law unto himself, and I don't think even * could stop him, if he wanted to. Cheney continues to tell the same lies that * has had to disavow.

It is also a point made over and over, that Rove, *'s closest adviser didn't know the extent of the culpability for what the OVP planned and did.

And, * is the most clueless president we've ever had and he doesn't know what he doesn't want to know.

[TahitiNut]

51. Because Cheney is in charge, imho.

I don't think it's possible to believe Our Leader initiates anything that's not fed to him by his handlers. Clearly, he's turned on by the power of the Offal Orifice and regards Cheney as the "left hand of God." At the same time, his pathological narcissism puts him on a leash for any sociopath willing to exploit his disorder. Cheney has exactly the qualifications to do the job. I'm almost certain that Cheney acts like the perversion of a "father figure" that tweaks Our Leader's deep-seated maladies. Cheney has created in Our Leader an unholy sense of dependency. I think Our Leader is in terror of losing Cheney and sees him as almost the only person keeping him afloat in a job that was over his head in the very first instant.

[Norquist Nemesis]

54. Which would indicate that Bush gave Cheney the green light

to 'do whatever it takes' and let him run with it. Right?

[TahitiNut]

76. I'd say it's more like Carte Blanche ... and given in 2000-2001.

I seriously doubt Cheney asks 'permission' ... more like he only tells Our Leader what he feels is necessary to control him and tells him "you don't need to know" (plausible deniability) for a large number of things.

I'm NOT arguing that Our Leader isn't responsible. He is. I just don't believe he's engaged in much other than what he'd call "big picture" (i.e. delusions). Our Leader is so far beyond being able to assimilate even the simplest of tautologies that he'd be tuned out in less than a minute. "Just handle it" would be his 'order' as he left the room to go play with his bicycle.

[Joe Chi Minh]

90. Yes, I think he had a similar reverence for the miasma of what passes

for strength to a reductionist's simplistic mind, that Rumsfelt evidently always exuded. A very limited world view just in line with their predilections.

[TahitiNut]

92. Yup. With Rummy ...

... he didn't even have to tax his mind to compose questions. :evilgrin:

[myrna minx]

49. Thank you H20 man.

:hi. When the Plame outing happened in 2003, I did not have cable tv, so these transcripts are very helpful.

[H2O Man]

56. I thought it

was an important resource. I note that one "D.U. Waterman" is among those commenting on Hardblogger, too:

Thank you for posting the transcripts to these shows. It speaks well of "Hardball" that Chris Mathhews' great reporting upset I. Liar Libby to the point that he made an error in judgement that will help Mr. Fitzgerald get the convictions in Scooter's criminal trial. Progressive democrats appreciate the quality of your reporting. Keep up the great work!
D.U. Waterman, NY (Sent Thursday, February 08, 2007 7:15 AM)

[Me.]

60. Who Is That Masked Man?

or should I say Waterman?

[myrna minx]

67. Thanks.

I'm glad that you, I mean *someone* ;-)is bringing their very astute observations to a larger audience. :hi:

[Patsy Stone]

58. I wish to make a complaint.

"I wish to complain about this parrot, what I purchased not half an hour ago from this very boutique."

[otherlander]

82. Why?

Whatever's wrong with it? :)

[Duer 157099]

59. Matthews dogged focus last night

on one particular aspect that somehow does not get enough attention, and which was the energizing event that led directly to the Plame outing, which was the suggestion that it was the OVP that sent Wilson on the trip.

WHY was that so provocative?

Well, as Tweety kept insisting, because IF the OVP had indeed requested the trip, then there's every reason to believe that the OVP would have gotten a report about the result of the trip.

THAT is what the OVP did not want known, and THAT is why they needed to divert the attention to the issue of Joe's wife having sent him. And, that is why Scooter was freaking out so badly when Matthews kept talking about him, which resulted in the phone call to Russert. It's still not completely clear to me if (in the OVP's mind) the OVP *did* somehow instigate the Wilson trip, and whether the OVP *did* get a report on the trip.

(At least, that was what was happening on one level. This story seems to be playing out on so many multiple levels that it's exhausting to keep track of)

[TacticalPeek]

66. "there's every reason to believe that the OVP would have gotten a report"

I think it is established that they got the report and were briefed by Schmall. I believe Eriposte over at Firedoglake may have more on this, although the corporate media can't seem to get it reported somehow: http://www.firedoglake.com/



F: Do you remember receiving a fax from the CIA in June 2003 addressed to you and John Hannah? (paging Eriposte!)

L: Not specifically.

F: (shows Libby a document prepared by Hannah on Niger & uranium, summarizing an eight-page CIA memo faxed to OVP on June 9, 2003) Did you receive this when it was sent to Congress ?

L: I don't think so.

F: Did you attend any meetings or discussions about this document?

L: I don't recall any specific meetings. I remember talking about it and referring to it.

F: Did you discuss this with the VP around June 9th?

F: Do you know if you discussed the identity of the envoy sent to investigate Niger claims?

L: Yes, at varous times, don't recall exactly.

F: (shows another document) Do you recognize this?

It's 3:21.

(Fitz shows Libby a batch of documents, but I'm not clear what they are — went by too fast. One has the notation "Wilson.")

F: What prompted the delivery of the CIA memo, marked ASAP, on June 9th?

L: May have been the Pincus article . (Libby amusingly tries to explain that "ASAP" doesn't necessarily mean it was "a hair-on-fire thing.")

(More documents, including apparently a CIA cable about the Wilson trip. Somewhere in here, Fitz asks if Libby knew at this time that Wilson was the envoy sent to Niger; Libby says he didn't.)

(F. points out that one document, a version of the CIA cable, has "Joseph Wilson" written on it.)

F: Do you recognize the handwriting?

L: (with a little hedging) It looks like the Vice President's

:evilgrin:

[bleever]

61. Reading those transcripts, especially the parts in bold type,

I'm struck by the impressions that it was really quite brave of Matthews to be pinning the VP's office with responsibility for the president lying to in the SOTU, and to be calling for heads to roll.

He was pretty damn direct about it!

[Duer 157099]

69. Exactly. And that's the story that was buried beneath

the Plame eruption. I wonder if that was the point of the Plame eruption?

[H2O Man]

70. Poor Teddy Wells!

In about one minute of re-direct, Mr. Fitzgerald deflated all of Poor Teddy's hot air.

[Me.]

73. That Was A Ridiculous Cross

and when you have to work so hard to try and make witnesses look bad, your client looks desperate

[Patsy Stone]

75. That's the shape of the defense to come

I hope the jury can stay awake through it.

[Me.]

77. Interesting You Should Say That

Shuster just reported that during the cross the jurors were bored and came to life during FitzG.'s redirect.

[Spazito]

72. Sum total of Fitzgerald's re-direct....

from firedoglake's live blogging, NOT an official transcript but close enough, imo!:

Fitz: Did you take joy in Mr. Libby's indictment?

T: No and I don't take pleasure in being here.

F: Which is bigger news, possible indictment or actual indictment?

T: Actual indictment.

F: What do you remember personally from October 28, 2005?

T: Press conference was a network interrupt, which was significant — and then hearing my name, which was jolting. And then Brian Williams talking me about the case and asking me to explain my role, which I did. First time in my life I'd heard my name spoken by a prosecutor.

F: Any chance Xmas and surprises was personal joy at seeing Libby indicted?

T: Absolutely not.

F: Remember reading anything that day?

T: Possibly news articles.

F: Did you read indictment?

T: Yes, I think it was released after the news conference.

F: What did you read?

T: Parts invoving things I was claimed to have said.

F: What did you think of those things.

T: That they weren't true.

F: No further questions.

End of SNIP

With a total of 8 (EIGHT) questions, Fitzgerald brought the case back to the charges and pointed out the whole cross by Wells was moot. Awesome, imo!

Edited to add missing link to firedoglake page:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/02/08/libby-live-tim-russert-five/

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

81. Ferocious.

Breathtaking force and focus. Brutal in the best sense of the term.

[Me.]

78. So WIll It Still Be Hale Fellow, Well Met

from here on between the Matalins and Russert? Will he still be playing Uncle Timmie to their girls on MTP? How about those cocktail parties? And I bet Imus will be a riot tomorrow morning.

[Me.]

79. And This...

So who else had the combo to safe and no one knew it? And don't tell me they weren't obsessed.

From FDL:

"The testimony: Deborah Heiden (sp?), executive asst to VP, was assigned to search for documents for request dated Oct 3, 2003. Among other places, she searched a safe that contained classified and non-classified documents. She found Govt exhibit 402, found in the file in a safe. Copies were provided Oct. 7, 2003.

At time she located 402, Heiden and another assistant, Ms. Field (sp? Mayfield??) were only people who had combination to the safe. Heiden does not recall placing the document in the safe. Handwriting on exhibit 402 appears to be VPs (lists other exhibits for comparison).

More exhibits and news articles — Wilson op-ed with underlining from Libby's files, Maureen Dowd column, etc., Libby's classified information non-disclosure agreement (jury is instructed only to consider whether it affected Libby's state of mind in testifying).

Also submits Washington Post articles from October 4, 2003 and October 12, 2003. Walton reminds jurors to consider these not for truth, but only possible impact on Libby's state of mind. Jurors are NOT to consider Plame's actual covert/non-covert status."

[H2O Man]

80. Interesting, that.

Do you think that Team Libby is going to be singing, "Monday, Monday" over the weekend?

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

83. H2O, I cannot understand why I. Liar Libby and team do not throw in the towel.

Are they just going to go through the motions, subjecting every defense witness to Fitz's cross, laying bare every shred of damning GJ testimony on the part of every single defense witness? They are dead in the water without a paddle or a breeze, that I can see.

What would be the ramifications of a plea by the defense? I am aware that Libby was offered a deal quite early on, and refused, but now that he is faced with the near-certainty of conviction, does he not owe it to his wife and family, at least, to minimize the damage?

Frankly, I have always had a tremendous amount of difficulty assessing the logic and mind-set of people I observe to be without conscience, so I remain confused.

I was raised in a community that valued honesty and genuine sacrifice for the greater good. I always thought our leaders were somehow more noble and refined than me or my kind... what a letdown.

[H2O Man]

85. They are likely

considering their options. The obvious outcome is a conviction. What else? Could one juror make it a hung jury? Did the attorneys slip in anything that could become serious grounds for appeal? Is it possible that Bush will reconsider a pardon? Or should Scooter take the plea option?

The final decision sets with Scooter. The attorneys do not have to spend time behind bars. They can lead their normal lives while the appeals are being heard. That's their job.

An important factor is that Judge Reggie Walton is not known for handing down light sentences. Libby knows this. He is not stupid. This has to be a very stressful time for him.

[JNelson6563]

86. That is THE question IMO

It's obvious Fitz has what he needs and more to just bury Libby. Bury him deep. Why on earth wouldn't he take a plea? I can't believe they (BFEE) haven't whacked him yet so as to prevent all this from coming to light.

I'll bet that the WH is a veritable mad monkey-house right now, complete with shrieking and feces flinging.

As someone up-thread mentioned, I'll bet Imus will be a riot tomorrow. :-)

This just gets better and better! :popcorn: :rofl:

Julie

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

89. What others are saying:

David Corn

"On Thursday, Meet the Press anchor Tim Russert was back on the stand to be cross-examined by Wells. The previous day, Russert had kicked Libby's cover story in the groin."

[H2O Man]

91. Hardball is good.

Interesting tapes played during David Shuster's report. The guest is on target.

On CNN, they mentioned a source close to the defense, who said they are concernedthat: (a) Patrick Fitzgerald's cross-examination would damage Libby and/or Cheney; and (b) that Cheney's testimony would harm Libby, by documenting how focused the two were on the "Wilson problem." They know that Cheney can't help them.

[H2O Man]

93. See if these links work:

http://wid.ap.org/documents/libbytrial/feb8/GX005A01.PDF


http://wid.ap.org/documents/libbytrial/feb8/GX30301.PDF


http://wid.ap.org/documents/libbytrial/feb8/GX40301.PDF


On the Libby-Hannah e-mail, note the date on page 2, near VP Cheney's name.

[bleever]

94. Works for me.

Cheney tasks the CIA to investigate on Feb. 13, and on Feb. 14 is informed that an agent is being sent.

Can we start referring to them as Lying Points from now on?

[H2O Man]

97. Amazing, isn't it?

Think Dick will take the stand?

[bleever]

100. I would estimate the odds of that happening are now zero.

And having neither Cheney or Libby take the stand will look bad for the defense.

I see NO bright spots, anywhere, for Team Libby. Or for Cheney.

Wow.

[Me.]

96. The Links Do Work

very interesting, I'd say game, set, match

[H2O Man]

98. It makes it

hard for Team Libby to call either Libby or Cheney.

[bleever]

95. David Shuster on Countdown now,

looking a bit bleary-eyed.

Sounds like that's how the jury looked while Teddy was berating Russert, to such little effect.

[antigop]

101. Crooks and Liars has Imus/Matalin call from today

http://crooksandliars.com/

Oh, my! This was the first time I heard this!

[bleever]

102. Thanks!

Dessert!

[H2O Man]

103. It was hilarious.

Imus did well.

[antigop]

104. And he was having so much fun, wasn't he?

You know, I really wanted to laugh at the whole thing, but the whole sordid affair is so pitiful and the consequences so tragic, that I couldn't laugh at it.

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

105. "When your voice goes low like that you sound hot."

For once Imus' wit is actually lacerating. Matalin was all over the place, at a loss. Funny and deadly serious at the same time.

"Why would anyone lie to start a war?" - best line of the conversation.

[Patsy Stone]

111. I liked this one better:

Mary: "Tim is not a hater."

Also Imus' statement, "None of you can tell the truth, it’s insane. It’s like a disease you guys have."

:rofl:

[bleever]

108. The fury I used to feel listening to these kinds of lies

is almost matched (almost) by the pleasure of now hearing their lies clatter like empty pie tins on the floor as everyone watches with incredulity.

Mary said she was putting down Imus for $500 for Libby's defense fund, and if he didn't pony up, she'd take it out of her contribution for the ranch for kids with cancer. Classy!

[speedoo]

107. Poor Mary. She's exposed as the lying, evil POS she has always been.

I'll never forget how in the 2000 campaign, she tried to assure the country that "W" was really okay.

Prediction: Timmy will never have her and Carville on MTP again. How will we ever deal with that?