Apparently, she doesn't fit the requirements to be legally considered covert. Darn. On the other hand she has told conflicting stories about her role in sending Wilson to Niger. Let's prosecute.

Well, yes, sysprog, but then again.... The point's a simple one, really. Hostility always seems to come from places we already know. Defending yourself against it is never easy, but the task is clear enough. How to get at the ignorance which is usually driving it isn't so clear. Which is, I take it, what we're all doing here. Not just to fight, but to understand. I mean, it isn't as though we can't do a bit of both, even simultaneously if necessary.

I just don't think that it's a good idea to derive our strategy from our tactics just because tactics are easier. In my opinion, the abstract isn't always an enemy of the concrete, and this is a case in point. Your mileage may vary, but then that's the point of a discussion, isn't it?

As for whistling, you just put your lips together and blow, nicht wahr? :-)

Glenn Reynolds is at the University of Tennessee Law School, and not at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. I know that is splitting hairs, but it is all i got to distance myself from that lying turd in a tie.

I was opposed to building a law school in Knoxville anyway. Knoxville had already suffered enough without an influx of lawyers! :-)

Posted at CREW's blog:

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/28590#comment-5969

emptywheel of FDL and Next Hurrah

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/05/details.html

Apparently Ashcroft considered this option when he was a Senator wrt Clinton... If enough State AGs do it...

http://indictdickcheney.blogspot.com/2007/05/some-answers-why-did-james-comey-only.html

Especially now that we know Fitzgerald's investigation was entirely aware that Valerie Plame was a covert agent, it is preplexing to me that there have been no charges brought against the individuals known to have divulged her covert identity.

There are any number of reasons why Fitzgerald concluded that Libby can't be convicted of this charge. Seems to me that that strongest case may well be directed at Cheney, but there's no mechanism for Fitzgerald to follow in doing so.

One of the things that is striking about Fitzgerald is his probity. It's irresponsible to bring a charge that you believe you cannot get a conviction on. It happens way too much, IMO, to encourage plea bargains. In this case, though, Fitzgerald had to be absolutely on the straight and narrow.

And, from a political perspective, it would have been still worse to have the jury acquit on the underlying crime, but convict on the perjury. Then they would be screaming that there was no crime at all. Where were these people when Martha Stewart needed them?

One other thing that I haven't noticed having been posted. That may because this is completely obvious. It's important to understand that they don't care whether their claims are true. In fact, it's in their interests to peddle false claims. The noise machine strategy is to drown out real facts with chaff--to make reality a political rather than a factual issue. They say this stuff over and over again, as with the President going back to the al qaeda well in his last press conference, to muddy the waters, to confuse people, and make it seem like there is nothing real.

It's good to document the dishonesty, but that element of their tactics aren't relevant to them. It's in their interests to lie, and then say "everybody does it. everybody lies. They're lying to you right now."

This is why, if I understand the themes of Gore's new book, that it is so important that it get out there. Republicans do not want to engage in honest policy discussions. Republican positions are terribly unpopular. Getting the media to realize that slogans aren't policies, and labels aren't legislation is something we have to keep pushing. I saw a C&L clip of Gore on Olberman. These are exactly the themes we need to press--rational debate about the real world, and not mindless fearmongering.

Glenn, I also wanted to thank you for bringing this issue to light, because Lord knows Fux Newz isn't. For some insane reason I actually sat through episodes of both The O'Puh-Leeze Factor and Inanity and Gnomes to see what type of lies they would try to spin this "new" (giggle) revelation about the Valerie Plame case. They didn't mention it at all. But then, all those Miss Universe clips and Rosie O'Donnell analysis/hit jobs aren't going to showcase themselves you know. (By the way Michelle Malkin also chose to comment on Miss Universe over Valerie Plame, like did the Donald rent out a few right-wing shills for the day or something? Sheesh!)

Of course you know what this means, right? When these bottom-feeders DO get around to responding to the Plame claims (assuming they're not distracted by Anna-Nicole reanimate corpse untill then of course) they'll pretend this confirmation Didn't Happen, and they'll still be debating whether Plame was covert or not. (After all, Sean Hannity, in the above mentioned episode revealed that he must be secretely be GoldenBoy since he repeated the same set of distortion about 25% of Muslims approving suicide bombing.)

From HARDBALL, 5/25/07

MORGAN: Two and a half to three years, I think it‘s deeply unfair, grossly unfair. This was an entirely manufactured scandal in Washington, D.C. Like Fred Thompson, I think this man has been rail roaded.

MATTHEWS: So, you disagree with the jury?

MORGAN: Absolutely I disagree with the jury. Valerie Plame was never a covert agent.

Fantastic post, Glenn (The good Glenn)! Thanks for showing all the potholes in the Conservative logic that has been going on since this scandal began. I'm particually saddened/amused by "Instapundit." I loved how he was trying to assert that Plame's covert status was merely Fitzgerald's opinion that was somehow "kept" from idiots like him (even though the only people who were claiming that Plame wasn't covert in the first place are simpletons like him.) And while I'm sure you probably already know this, Glenn, I am amazed to see from his bio that Glenn (the bad Glenn) is a LAW PROFESSOR. First of all, based on his "reaction" to the recent news, one would think he was so bratty immature 13 year old, so it's a surprised to see an "educated" adult making these type of bullshit assertions and non-apologies. Secondly, I'm blown away that a LAW PROFESSOR doesn't think it matters whether he gets facts right or not? Where does this man teach, Lionel Hutz' School of Law? His excuse isn't even original! (It's plagerized directly from Rush Limbaugh apologist who claim that Fatty McLimpdick can spout any kind of nonsense he wants because he's just an "entertainer." Like the tubby loudmouth lesbian they constantly attack.)