March 07, 2007

3/7: Investigation Season Has Begun

Patrick Fitzgerald's insistence that his investigation is over, barring any new information, places the possibilty of any further Plame outing action squarely in the laps of cong. Dems. And since, as lefty bloggers admit, the WH can fire and hire US attys as they please, that story will not include any illegality. However, it does appear Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) may have violated ethics rules in their contacts with at least one atty. Again, it's going to have to be cong. Dems to move the ball down the field on the story with more hearings. While Dems may still be divided on Iraq, it's becoming clear they'll still have plenty of opportunities to beat up the current WH straight through 'til Election Day.

SCOOTER: Congressmen, Start Your Investigations

Jane Hamsher told her Firedoglake readers her "heart was pounding" in her chest as she waited for the Scooter Libby verdict, since "it all started to become real for me, all we'd done, how far we'd come." After the guilty verdicts came in, Hamsher asked: "It's a good day to be an American, huh?" Firedoglake's Marcy Wheeler was also in a good mood: "I gotta say, it was a pretty cool scene with Fitz and his team walking out of the court room. It made you believe, at least for this day, there was justice. I'm pretty happy about the events of the day. I'm relieved, more than anything else."

Fellow lefty bloggers quickly moved to stress the importance of the verdict. Arianna Huffington blogged: "Before the GOP spin machine kicks into high gear, shouting from the mountain tops that the Libby verdict is just about making false statements to the FBI, and that no one was ever charged with the underlying crime of outing Valerie Plame, let's make it clear that Libby was found guilty not just of perjury but of obstructing justice -- obstructing justice in order to encumber the investigation and keep secret the dark, ugly truth about how the White House sought to cover up its lies about Iraq and its efforts to intimidate and silence critics of the administration." Also at HuffPo, Russell Shaw writes: "Blaming Libby For The Plame Leaks Is Like Blaming Lyndie England For Abu Gharib."

Many on the left fully anticipate a pardon for Libby and hope the GOP will pay a heavy price for the act. AMERICAblog's John Aravosis writes: "It's a done deal, Libby is getting pardoned. Hell, I'd be surprised if he doesn't get a medal. ... but nothing will wipe away the taint the next two years will leave on the Republican party for a long, long while." TAPPED's Jeff Lomonaco has similar thoughts: "I don't think anyone thinks Libby is going to turn on Cheney, so that means indeed that whatever consequences there are for Cheney will be in the political domain -- which I think is good, at the end of the day, in this particular case."

There were also many suggestions that the ending of Fitzgerald's investigation ought to only be the beginning of a cong. one. TPM Cafe's Larry Johnson: "Although Patrick Fitzgerald indicated he has no plans to file further charges in this case, there is still work for Congress to do. At a minimum, charges of impeachment against Dick Cheney should be introduced. ... It is time for Congress, the House and the Senate, to conduct hearings on the falsified case for going to war and to look specifically at the smear campaign launched against the Wilsons." Andrew Sullivan was on the same page: "Something is rotten in the heart of Washington; and it lies in the vice-president's office. The salience of this case is obvious. What it is really about - what it has always been about - is whether this administration deliberately misled the American people about WMD intelligence before the war. ... We now need a Congressional investigation to find out more, to subpoena Cheney and, if he won't cooperate, consider impeaching him."

SCOOTER II: A New Forum To Fight?

Three main talking points seem to be emerging from conservatives blogging on the Libby verdict: 1) Libby should be pardoned; 2) the jurors "Where's Rove?" comments make an appeal likely; 3) Joe Wilson is still a big fat liar.

There is also plenty of blogging on the prudence of Fitzgerald's prosecution without an underlying crime, but there is no consensus. Captain's Quarters sentiments are representative of both sides of the debate: "Regardless of the pettiness of the probe, people cannot be allowed to lie to the police or under oath at hearings and trials. It undermines our system of justice even more than out-of-control special prosecutors. ... Of course, I made this same argument in 1998, when Bill Clinton committed perjury during another court case."

At The CornerBill Bennett and Mark levin also worry about "the criminalization of politics" with Levin noting the voting registration numbers in DC put GOPers at a severe disadvantage in the courtroom: "[A]s long as cases with political overtones are tried in the [DC], Republicans will be at a severe disadvantage. ... I don't believe in every case [jurors] are able to ignore their own biases. And that's especially true when they're being prodded in that direction by the prosecution. Until something is done about this, people like Bill Clinton and Sandy Berger will get what amounts to a pass and Lewis Libby will be facing prison time."

SCOOTER III: No Time For Losers ...

Noting "the knowledge that reporters in the courthouse media room had about the Libby case was remarkably good," firedoglake's Jane Hamsher instructs fellow bloggers to "Take A Victory Lap," citing Glenn Greenwald analysis that blogs kept the MSM from getting lazy on the story. In a similar vein, MyLeftNutmeg's Scarce details Firedoglake national recognition for Libby coverage and The Left Coaster argues "Libby Verdict A Black Eye For Washington Post."

Talk LeftJeralyn Merritt posts video of the final v-log from Hamsher and Marcy Wheeler on the Libby trial and after crunching the numbers from U.S. Sentencing Guidelinesestimates that Libby will get between a 15 and 33 month sentence.

US ATTORNIES: A WH Is Using AUSA Posts To Advance Political Careers? Do Go On!

With the latest phase of the Libby/Wilson about to end, many on the left are eager to extend the story line into the brewing US Attorney investigations. Digby writes: "I would suggest that everyone keep at least one eye on the next brewing legal scandal. It's looking more and more obvious like the Bush administration fired all those US Attorneys because they were investigating Republicans or allegedly dragging their feet in investigating Democrats. ... With the vice president's office being completely discredited today and using the justice department for political purposes, we are now officially in Nixon territory."

DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas outlines a pattern he sees developing between Scooter and the US Attornies: "1) a gross abuse of power occurs, 2) the traditional media yawns, while 3) the beltway punditry laughs at those silly bloggers making much ado about nothing. Then 4) it turns out there was reason enough to make "ado", and finally, 5) the traditional media belatedly enters the scene."

Fully established as the blogging leader on the subject, Talking Points MemoJosh Marshall explains what the scandal is all about: "Let's be clear. The DOJ needn't establish a lengthy or any paper trail to justify firing a US Attorney. ... The issue here is different. There is a clear and growing body of evidence that at least three of these fires were canned for not allowing politics to dictate their prosecution of political corruption cases. Or, to put it more bluntly, for not indicting enough Democrats or indicting too many Republicans. Which is to say they were fired for not perverting justice."

The Corner's Ramesh Ponnuru sees more Pres. Bush incompetence at work, not justice perversion: "The administration has the legal right to fire U.S. attorneys for pretty much any reason, and even its critics are conceding as much. ... My best guess is that the administration wanted to season and credential some up-and-coming Republican lawyers as it drew to a close. But instead of just saying, "We just wanted some fresh blood in these positions," or something like that, deputy AG Paul McNulty claimed that most of the firings were the result of subpar performances. ... Nice job."

DODD: Coming Soon To A Blog Near You

MyLeftNutmeg's Matt Browner Hamlin doesn't "have a specific time right now" but does expect Chris Dodd to "be posting at My Left Nutmeg to talk about legislation he's currently working on in the Senate" sometime "around mid-day or the early afternoon."

EDWARDS: Biggest Little Debate-Skip In The World

John Edwards dep camp mgr Jonathan Prince was the first to respond to DailyKos' founder Markos Moulitsas call for all WH '08 Dems to announce they'll skip 8/14's Fox News sponsored debate in Reno, NV. Prince emailed Kos:

We will not be participating in the Fox debate. We're going to make lots of appearances in Nevada, including debates. By the end of March, we will have attended three presidential forums in Nevada - and there are already at least three proposed Nevada debates. We're definitely going to debate in Nevada, but we don't see why this needs to be one of them.

Kos comments: "Great job by the Edwards campaign on this, showing real leadership on this issue. Hopefully others will soon follow."

OBAMA: We Didn't Know Markos Was Such A Townhall Reader

Barack Obama continues to receive highmarks in netroots circles. Positive posts from 3/6 include

• Kos noting "A conservative Harvard Law Review colleague of Barack Obama talks about how nice, fair, and self-confident Obama was over at the wingnutty Townhall. Not the sort of thing conservatives want to read about one of the Democratic front-runners."
• Matthew Yglesias on Obama's use of the Joshua generation on his Selma, AL, address: "Certainly, I'm not a grizzled veteran of the Civil Rights movement, so I can't say for sure how this will play, but it seems pretty clever to me. ... I think it can also work as a larger metaphor. Progressives these days have a sometimes angsty relationship with the social movements of the 1960s and 70s."
• The Huffington Post's Robert Naiman on Obama's vote to end US use of cluster bombs: "Among the Democrats voting no were Senator Clinton, Senator Biden, and Senator Dodd. Wouldn't you like to know why these folks, who talk a good game about reforming U.S. foreign policy, voted no?"

GOP FIELD: Nobody's Perfect

Noting Mitt Romney's promise to repeal McCain-Feingold, The Corner's Ramesh Ponnuru 'surprises' readers by pointing out Romney has "been on both sides of campaign-finance reform" in the past. Ponnuru also identifies past Rudy Giuliani and Sam Brownback troubles with the issue and blogs about John McCain: "People who believe that campaign-finance reform is an attack on free speech may legitimately regard McCain as the worst of these three candidates because he fought year after year to enact a federal law on it, but they won't be able to look at the other candidates' records with great enthusiasm. "

BROWNBACK: No Reparations Here

Commenting on Politico reports that Sam Brownback has introduced a bill "offering 'an apology to all native peoples' for hundreds of years of government hostility and oppression," RedState's Streiff writes: "How about someone offering a one-time omnibus "Sorry our ancestors kicked your ancestors around" resolution? Let everyone who has been wronged sign up. Criminey, let's get this over with because it is really beginning to resemble a boil on the butt."

Trying to quell a blogstorm before it gets started, Brownback E-Campaign Coordinator Leon Wolf responds at Brownback's official blog: "There's not really a lot to say about this. Senator Brownback is a man who is motivated by his faith, and some years ago he came to the realization that this would be a simple and Christian way to help bring about reconciliation with certain communities which have historically been marginalized. It's possible to be suspicious of this move, I guess, since it's so often linked with reparations, but as you can see from looking at Senator Brownback's record, this is not an avenue he's ever explored, and it's not one he intends to bring up at any point in the future."

GIULIANI: Below Ed Koch!?!?

Conservative blogger push back against Rudy Giuliani is slowly mounting. Power Line's Scott Johnson ultimately defends Giuliani's record reducing crime as NYC mayor, but also posts a rebuttal from Power Line contributor Paul Mirengoff's cousin who is critical of Giuliani's term in office:

Dinkins

appointed Ray Kelly as Police Commissioner and crime declined during the last two years of his administration by a higher percentage than it did during Giuliani's tenure. ... Among the New York Mayors I've experienced during my life Rudy ranks far above Dinkins, Robert Wagner, Vincent Impellitieri and the execrable John Lindsay. In my view he is below Ed Koch, Mike Bloomberg and the underrated Bill O'Dwyer.

Back in IA, the Caucus Cooler posts vintage NYC TV news coverage of Giuliani's "open and notorious adultery" and comments: "Let the comparisons begin ... to you know who! Come on, you know who we at the Caucus Cooler are talking about."

In better Giuliani blogging, Pajamas Media's Austin Bay files a report on a Giuliani fundraiser from Brentwood, CA, including: "The crowd who had gathered to hear and take the measure of the man reacted with an unrestrained applause had the rowdy feel of a Fourth of July celebration at a Brooklyn fire station. ... Security is clearly Giuliani's strong suit, both as a crime fighter and as "America's Mayor," the leader who brought New York through the crisis of 9/11."

HUCKABEE: Every Liberal's Favorite Social Conservative

The American Scene's Ross Douthat tells Newsweek "why can't Mike Huckabee catch fire?" Maybe it's because the people who seem most enthused by him are Matt Yglesias, Ezra Klein, Russell Arben Fox, and Salon's Michael Scherer.

ROMNEY: Doesn't Want To Be That Socially Liberal Mormon Guy

Politico's "Romney Rehab Plan" drew conservative blogger reviews of Team Romney's plans. Bull Dog Pundit of Ankle Biting Pundits argues Romney's past on campaign finance reform prevents him from effectively using the issue, but does agree that Romney could gain ground against John McCain and Rudy Giuliani by stressing their support for 'amnesty'.

The Corner's Peter Suderman suggests whatever the differences on issues are, they need to be stressed now: "If Romney's to have a chance, he'll need to make his views on issues the first thing people think of when they hear the word "Romney"-not "Oh, he's that Mormon guy who used to be kinda socially liberal, isn't he?"

At Townhall, Matt Lewis interview Romney Deputy Campaign Manager Peter Flaherty, and The Brody File posts video of his 700 club segment on Romney.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Music Fans Need More Than Love

Impressed by the more than 90 minutes of remixed Beatles music on the soundtrack of Cirque du Soleil's new Vegas show "Love" The Volokh Conspiracy's Randy Barnett argues for changes to intellectual property law so that he can enjoy more similar efforts:

IP is supposed to create incentives for innovation. Here, as elsewhere, it is suppressing innovation. ... One problem with IP is the "P." ... The Constitution does not use the term "property," but merely "exclusive right" for "limited times." Hardly how one would express a full-blown property right. If you really MUST have a legal subsidy for authors, composers and performers, unlike chefs and dress designers, there is no reason why copyrights, like patents, could not be for a 5 or 7 years nonrenewable term, after which a work is in the public domain. Probably 99% of all value to be gleaned by artists from all copyrights would be captured by these terms leaving the works to be exploited by others with creativity rather than by entertainment companies collecting rents.

LEST WE FORGET: We Can't All Be The San Diego Chicken

Reacting to reports the Phillie Phanatic was recently attacked by a dog, Deadspin admits: "We are terrified by the Phillie Phanatic. Everything about him creeps us out: That weird tongue thing he shoots out, the googly eyes that we see in our nightmares, the purple (purple!) eyelashes. He's not a monster, he's not cuddly, he's not a being with any recognizable cousins in the animal kingdom. We suspect he will someday reproduce an army of Phanatic spawns who will commence World War Phi, enslaving our women and children and exterminating us through a series of anal probes. But that's just us. ... Oh, and a particularly skittish dog."

Posted by Conn Carroll at March 7, 2007 12:27 PM