The "big guns" have the news and the good links:
We believe that if all the charges against "Scooter" Libby are accurate, he should suffer the consequences, including jail time if appropriate. One of the charges is perjury, which, as you may recall, Bill Clinton was exonerated of in his impeachment.
The main [possible] charge (and best hope for Democrats) appears to be a complete bust -- that of knowingly "outing" Valerie Plame as a "covert" CIA agent. As noted above, Fitzgerald isn't making that case. But this is what Dems -- and Joe Wilson -- were screaming loudest about. The law in question does indeed state that such an exposure must be knowingly made; that is, it has to be proven that Plame's ID as a covert agent had to be known.
This makes the alleged lying by Libby seem all the more uncalled for. Besides, there's plenty of holes in Wilson's claims, which we're sure will be brought in trial.
UPDATE (10/29 at 8:35am): Rhymes With Right has further analysis.
UPDATE 2: And more from Powerline.
UPDATE 3: Andy McCarthy has word for those who believe Libby is being "smeared," among other things.
"One of the charges is perjury, which... Bill Clinton was exonerated of in his impeachment."
Huh? My recollection was that he was found guilty in the House (the Trial part of an impeachment proceeding), but not removed from office by the Senate. Even the Bar suspended his law license for five years because of the perjury conviction.
Posted by: mikem at October 29, 2005 03:31 AMmike: the House brings the articles of impeachment, which are essentially like an indictment. They act like a grand jury, I suppose. The Senate determines guilt/innocence.
Posted by: Hube at October 29, 2005 07:55 AMRhodey,
That's right, ditch Libby. What choice do you have? The Bush culture of corrpution is front page news now.
I think the Democrats, and all of Americans who love this country, will have many "hopes" for getting more out of this investigation.
What I don't get is why would the Kool aid drinking America haters like you Malkin and Reynolds want to pin the hopes of conservatism on the idea that Cheney and Rove are not criminals ?
"Democrats ... who 'love' this country"? You mean Democrats who love political retribution.
I believe you'll find (unlike idiot Kay B. Hutchinson) that Repubs will not be holding a vast press conference to support Libby and/or whomever else if they're found guilty of perjury. Unlike, well, you know who ... !!
Posted by: Hube at October 29, 2005 08:39 AMIt will be interesting to see if Libby gets the Sandy Berger treatment by the MSM and Democrats. You know, that 'hey, he's such an airhead anyway, no harm done' defense.
I'm on pins and needles.
Hube: Thanks for the explanation. I'm still trying to figure out how Clinton was "exonerated" of perjury, when everyone and their mothers actually watched him commit it. I mean, no one, even die hard Clintonites claim that he did not lie under oath. Just that it was 'much ado about nothing' (sex). And how does one so exonerated end up like this (CNN):
"Days before he left office, Clinton admitted that he knowingly gave misleading testimony about his affair with Lewinsky in exchange for Independent Counsel Robert Ray agreeing not to press criminal charges. Clinton's Arkansas law license was suspended for five years, he was fined $25,000 by the Arkansas legal bar and he agreed to give up any claim to repayment of his legal fees in the matter."
So, I guess Nixon was exonerated too, since he resigned.
mike: Clinton was only found "not guilty" by the US Senate, meaning he kept the presidency. You're correct about the other penalties.
Posted by: Hube at October 29, 2005 09:56 AM