Nutjobs Ranting About Politics.

[baltassoc]

Journalist Testifies in CIA Case

Looks like it's probably not Scooter after all: he keeps waiving confidentiality, and journalists keep testifying that it's not him who coughed up Plame's name.

The article is an interesting summary of recent events in the case. But I found this quote the most interesting, in a how naive can you be sort of way"

"To go about finding out who Novak's sources are by going after half the journalists in town seems pretty indirect, and a little weird," said Lucy A. Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. "I think it's absolutely clear these reporters don't have information that goes to the heart of who the leaker is. "

A little weird indeed, unless of course as a prosecutor you want to collect enough evidence against Novak to put him away for revealing to the public the identity of a CIA agent.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by baltassoc


A little weird indeed, unless of course as a prosecutor you want to collect enough evidence against Novak to put him away for revealing to the public the identity of a CIA agent.

Why, if what you're trying to do is not only find the source of the leak but also trying to find out who's not telling the truth to the grand jury. After all, Clinton got impeached for lying in a deposition, not for having Monica blow him.

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Why, if what you're trying to do is not only find the source of the leak but also trying to find out who's not telling the truth to the grand jury. After all, Clinton got impeached for lying in a deposition, not for having Monica blow him.

Yes. I think.

The only way Novak is going to testify - assuming the resolution of any confidentiality issues - is if he receives immunity for prosecution in exchange for waiving his rights against self-incrimination. If I'm a diligent prosecutor, I'm only playing that card if I absolutely have to.

[Aloha Mr. Learned Hand]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Rassman/Cleland going to Bush's ranch to protest Swift Boat ads...

I don't see what this accomplishes either. What's next, a Vietnam Veterans Against the War reunion camporee outside the gates?

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
I don't see what this accomplishes either. What's next, a Vietnam Veterans Against the War reunion camporee outside the gates?

It's obviously an attempt to further tie the Swiftees to Bush. It's Clintonian. Do not address the charge directly, just smear the persons making the allegations.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by sgtclub
It's obviously an attempt to further tie the Swiftees to Bush. It's Clintonian. Do not address the charge directly, just smear the persons making the allegations.

My understanding is that Kerry has called a lot of the SFT guys personally to address the issue, and he called Bob Dole. That seems pretty direct to me.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Aloha Mr. Learned Hand
I don't see what this accomplishes either. What's next, a Vietnam Veterans Against the War reunion camporee outside the gates?

2. I don't get it.

I suppose I see the merits in highlighting the Bush connections (which seem to be popping up on a daily basis now). Tethering BC'04 to Swiftvets has its benefits, to the extent that Swiftvets is identified as an ideological smear group.

That said, this tactic looks stupid. I just hope Cleland and Rassman don't reduce themselves to protesting outside the gates using one of those plastic arm connector things.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by sgtclub
It's obviously an attempt to further tie the Swiftees to Bush. It's Clintonian. Do not address the charge directly, just smear the persons making the allegations.

Oh, the irony!

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by sgtclub
It's Clintonian. Do not address the charge directly, just smear the persons making the allegations.

You're too modest in support of your party. The GOP has honed this to a fine art over the last three years.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
My understanding is that Kerry has called a lot of the SFT guys personally to address the issue, and he called Bob Dole. That seems pretty direct to me.

Right, but he hasn't addressed it publicly.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Gattigap
You're too modest in support of your party. The GOP has honed this to a fine art over the last three years.

Cite please? Who has the GOP smeared? I know I know, Max Cleland, right? Bullshit. That was a policy dispute, which the DEMS pulled a bait and switch on and tried to say Bush was questioning Cleland's patriotism. Same with Kerry. The response to any legitimate policy dispute is "Bush is questionning my patriotism."

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by bilmore
Geeze, AG, he gets no credit from you at all, does he? "Cheney blesses personal freedom; women, minorities hardest hit."

Any conception that a father with a gay daughter might truly believe what he said? Any credit for having said this long ago, while making it explicit that he follows Bush's lead 'cuz Bush is the President, but that his personal views differ? Any realization that this isn't a "fringes" election, but a "bases" election, and this seriously interferes with said bases?

Actually, I give him a lot of credit. I think Cheney really does believe it's a matter left to the states.

The cyncism in my post was not directed at him personally (on this issue, at least) but on the predictable results of any marriage that's 30/70, and the fact that the 70% will get its agenda pushed over the objections of the 30% every time. You in the 30% will have to grin and bear it because you can't win elections on your platform; you have to win them on theirs.

Also, I raised it because I want to be the guy who gets credit for predicting that if the SCOTUS gets five votes to overturn RvW, the "federalism" called for by the GOP will be a sick fucking joke within two election cycles, the same way that federalism is already a sick fucking joke to us misfortunates who live in blue states with blue legislatures, negotiating with a red Congress for the states' rights they campaign on back home in their own districts.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Cite please? Who has the GOP smeared? I know I know, Max Cleland, right? Bullshit. That was a policy dispute, which the DEMS pulled a bait and switch on and tried to say Bush was questioning Cleland's patriotism.

Um, don't you regularly profess love and admiration for Ann Coulter, the woman who gnawed on Cleland's stumps for laughs?

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
federalism is already a sick fucking joke to us misfortunates who live in blue states with blue legislatures, negotiating with a red Congress for the states' rights they campaign on back home in their own districts.

huh? if you guys had outlawed Starbucks, I think the ordinance would have stood the challenge.

[The Larry Davis Experience]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Cite please? Who has the GOP smeared? I know I know, Max Cleland, right? Bullshit. That was a policy dispute, which the DEMS pulled a bait and switch on and tried to say Bush was questioning Cleland's patriotism. Same with Kerry. The response to any legitimate policy dispute is "Bush is questionning my patriotism."

Bullshit yourself. The attack ad juxtaposing Cleland's picture and Osama's picture may have sprung from a policy dispute, but it was a smear just the same. Cleland was not a friend to Osama because he had a difference of opinion as to how DHS should be set up.

If it makes you happy, I don't think this is just a partisan thing. The most appalling smear to me still is the McCain business from 2000.