*** Special to The BRAD BLOG
*** by Libby/CIA Leak Trial Correspondent Margie Burns
Conventional wisdom is that when a jury spends much time deliberating, it will find a defendant not guilty. After two and a half days deliberating, the jury in the Libby trial went home today for the weekend.
So the rightwing noise machine thinks it smells blood and is starting some early gloating. Here, for example, is Rush Limbaugh — premature but already tasteless: “So Fitzpatrick is sweating it out. Fitzrussert sweating it out. Fitzmatthews is sweating it out. Nobody knows what it means that the jury has yet to come back. Fitzsulzberger at the New York Times is probably sweating this out just a little bit.”
I don’t have time to rebut the kind of dishonesty that would connect the excellent and dedicated Special Prosecutor in the Libby trial, Patrick Fitzgerald, with NBC and the New York Times. I heard closing arguments in the trial last Tuesday and have not changed my own opinion that the prosecution rebuttal by Fitzgerald was awesome. Phenomenal. …
Quite possibly Limbaugh knows it, too; a federal judge ““ as it happens ““ named Limbaugh originally hailed from exactly Rushworth L III’s neck of the woods in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Limbaugh is reportedly not the unlettered clod he makes himself out to be on air for the sake of enticing more millions from the genuinely ignorant. When Limbaugh goes on the attack, it’s usually because there is a foeman more than worthy of his steel ““ inconveniently standing between him and his perpetual effort to assist the redistribution of all wealth to the wealthy and the concentration of all power into the hands of the few.
That said, neither I nor anyone else can predict the outcome in a jury trial. However, celebration by the grossly otiose at this stage would be premature, and some of the people who know it are Libby and his attorneys, who spend several careful minutes smiling for the cameras on the sidewalk, every time they exit the J. Prettyman federal courthouse. Attorney Theodore Wells has been heard to remind his client and entourage to put their smiley faces on before stepping outdoors.
Not many people in the federal courts system will be influenced by commentators like Limbaugh and Jeff Gannon/James Guckert. But their kind are likely to try to use this weekend to make hay by influencing more reputable news media. I’m not the only reader to wonder whether the Washington Post, for example, is trawling for a mistrial. If the jury deliberations are a sign of anything, they may be a sign of deadlock on some counts, but even that is too early to predict.
I don’t think Limbaugh & the other morons understand that actually happened here. This isn’t a trial that validates or invalidates a political strategy (though it undoubtedly will be described as such). It’s about a covert CIA agent who was working on 1 of the most important things a CIA agent could be working on: gathering real intelligence on WMD’s — and she had her cover blown. This ended not only her career, but put an end to whatever undercover intelligence gathering network she had amassed. It was a blow to the CIA’s real intelligence gathering effort. What happened wasn’t just illegal, it’s blatently counter to US interests.
After reading this piece here, I can’t help but conclude that Rush Limbaugh is happy that our CIA lost whatever leads it had on the WMD tracking that Plame was working on and is giddy over the prospect of nobody being held accountable for it. How’s that for patriotism?
“Even though I’m a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors.” — George Herbert Walker Bush, 1999
It sounds to me like a lone juror is holding out for acquittal (on one or more charges).
I would looooove to know what they are doing with this:
link
If this jury does their job and really goes through all of the evidence, it seems to me that there is only one conclusion: GUILTY!
Bush probably has the ‘pardon’ papers all ready to sign.
This was not a trial about the leak or the destruction of the anti-WMD network of Brewster-Jennings.
It was a trial about the strategy of LIE AT ALL COSTS as a defense for every criminal act of this Rethuglican Administration — a strategy they have had from the first days of their illegal occupation of the Executive Branch.
The LIE AT ALL COSTS strategy simply states that if confronted with a criminal act you have committed, LIE and KEEP LYING because as long as you don’t give an inch, and as long as you control government, you won’t get caught.
So, when confronted with a possible illegal outing of a spy and her network, they LIED and LIED and LIED and LIED and LIED and LIED and LIED. And, oops, somebody got caught for it.
Will he pay the price? Who knows? Will he roll on his boss? I doubt it. Will there be justice for the thousands of criminal acts conducted by this Rethuglican Adminstration and the millions who have died as a result? Only when the blood runs in the streets.
Charlie L
Portland, OR
CLL2001@gmail.com
Treasonous conduct by bu$$hco so the Zionist/corporatist/industrialist/warmongers/military complex/oil barons could have their endless war and get filthy rich.
If this crowd is not punished for this fascist behavior, down the road in a few years they will pull the same crap again – but 10 X worse. Nazi CMSM the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage et al – do not care to protect democracy, but choose to encourage and embolden the jack-boot, brown-shirts who seek to dismantle and destroy our constitutional government.
The press could’ve warned the public about Bush.
The Supreme Court could’ve stopped him.
The Congress could’ve refused authorization of force.
The British government could’ve refused to play along.
The public could’ve kicked out MORE of the Repubs in 2006.
In this era of ‘personal responsibility’ it seems there is work yet to be done.
As the jury deliberates and Fitzgerald orates…the Bushevik’s are still in power. When a group so arrogant and lawless seizes power; peaceful transition back to representative government is not likely.
Re: Shirts
Can someone please explain to me what was going on with the love shirts the jurors were wearing? Were they trying to send a message with “shirts.”
The bigger picture, is that self-proclaimed “conservatives” Limbaugh, Hannity, and O’Reilly, pumped into our brains by treasonous AM radio stations, are simply mouthpieces for whoever is really running this country…outside of our “democracy”…They are not conservatives, they are not Republicans, WHO ARE THEY? And WHO IS TELLING THEM COORINATEDLY WHAT TO SAY EACH WEEK? Their “talking points”, always in coordination…Limbaugh sets them up (1of2)…Hannitty (2of2) knocks them down. Weeky Mon->Fri on your local treasonous AM radio dial.
Mother Maid #8, it was Valentine’s Day and all the jurors but one wore the same t’s. If I were handed such a t, I wouldn’t have worn it. I’m just not into group sap. I think it’s a non-issue, IMHO Anyway.
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But back to the story, Treason. Fitz was going after the leaker. (In order to pursue it in the first place, Plame had to have been confirmed as covert). Libby – illegal block. Flag thrown. Referee currently reviewing the play. The game WILL resume, either way it is called.
As for Limpbough & Co. they are either with us or against us. Treason, no less. Good God. Actual lives.
“The Republican Noise Machine” should be more accurately called “The Corporate Noise Machine.” The corporate noise machine also attacks Republicans who don’t tow the line. It’s not a Republican noise machine. It just so happens there are way more Republicans in the machine. But they are not conservatives. They attack conservatives. But they call themselves self-proclaimed conservaties. Why? Because, in my opinion, conservatives are too stupid to realize this, and are easily tricked and fooled. And progressives and independent thinkers are not.
Remember that study, that concluded that progressives are more independent thinkers, and conservatives are followers? Well, followers are way more easily tricked. So, who do you hijack and pretend to be? Well, Limbaugh and Hannity HAD to pick conservatives. Progressive would out them. A progressive would say, “These guys are full of shit! They aren’t progressives!”
Are conservatives sayin, “These guys are full of shit! They aren’t conservatives!”???? Absolutely not!!! Until real conservatives do this, these mouthpieces for corporate America’s agenda will be blared over our AM radios, with them saying, “We conservatives…” “We conservatives have to fight those liberals…”
Conservatives: Are Limbaugh and Hannity and FOX for lowering federal spending? Are they for privacy over government interference? (wiretapping, email, spying, RFID chips, etc…) Are they for a defensive military only? (pre-emptive wars, pre-emptive strikes, etc…)
Bushco are not conservatives either. They are all “corporatives”, not conservatives. Get that through your thick, “FOLLOWER”/”NON-INDEPENDENT” thinking skulls!!!!!! They are tricking you!!!
At what point will a conservative say, “Hey! These guys aren’t conservatives!!! Look at what they’re doing! Look at what they’re saying!”
It’s not a “Republican Noise Machine”…it’s a “Corporate Noise Machine” and most of them are in the Republican party. It’s a by-product that they just happen to be in a certain party. Forget about the party! Limbaugh and Hannity are mouthpieces for corporate America, and whoever is really running this country!!!
Anymore, I’m calling “The Republican Noise Machine”…”The Corporate Noise Machine”…or “The Rulers’ Noice Machine.”
How does the outcome of the Libby trial relate to benefits for the corporate and their noise machines? Seriously, I just want to know.
Our noise machine, “The Peoples Noise Machine”, is the internet and Free Speech TV and LINK-TV. If you don’t switch to DISH for the essential channels 9410 LINK-TV and 9415 Free Speech TV, YOU are not participating in “The Peoples’ Noice Machine.”
The important people with the important messages WE NEED TO HEAR, are lining up on a waiting list to get on Democracy NOW! news. They are NOT on ANBCBSNNX. They are blacked out, you won’t see them. You will see elected officials Bernie Sanders and Maxine Waters and John Conyers and Dennis Kucinich on Democracy NOW! You will see William Kristol and Newt Gingrich on ANBCBSNNX, CONSTANTLY!!! Non-elected officials given a forum to spew the corporate and elites’ agenda, not the peoples’ agenda. The people you NEED to see on TV are ONLY ON FREE SPEECH TV & LINK-TV! They are not to be shown on ANBCBSNNX!
E-vote fraud is not to be shown on ANBCBSNNX. How the controlled corporate media works to control what we think, of course, will not be shown on the corporate controlled media.
Important things you need to know, and important people you NEED to see, are only on Free Speech TV and LINK-TV. It is essential that you switch NOW!!! And it’s cheaper and better than cable. Half the price. And not DirecTV, either, they won’t carry Free Speech TV for some reason. DISH is giving us what we need, the others are NOT!
O. I thought BradBlog was the Peoples Noise Machine 🙂
Miss Persistent: You are hired by the People’s Noise Machine! 🙂
“Adolf Hilter ,Mein Kampf:
All propaganda has to appeal to the people and its intellectual level has to be set in accordance with the receptive capacities of the most-limited persons among those to whom it intends to address itself.The larger the the mass of men to be reached, the lower its purely intellectual level will have to be set…Even from the most impudent lie something will always stick.”
mick
Let’s have a vote: Should the “Republican Noise Machine” be renamed to:
1. The Rulers’ Noise Machine
2. The Elites’ Noise Machine
3. The Corporate Noise Machine
I think it’s bigger than just “The Republican Noise Machine”. That sounds like “The Conservative Noise Machine”, which it is not. Because these creeps are NOT conservatives!!!
The past few days, they’ve been showing Danny Schecter’s “In Debt We Trust”. On LINK-TV. Important stuff!!!
BANKRUPTCY BILL BLUES: And then we hear about the shame and pain of bankruptcy as the Congress passes a bill to make it harder for Americans to get a second chance and disqualifies Hurricane Katrina victims from filing for relief.
IN DEBT WE TRUST shows how the mall replaced the factory as America’s dominant economic engine and how big banks and credit card companies buy our Congress and drive us into what a former major bank economist calls modern serfdom. Americans and our government owe trillions in consumer debt and the national debt, a large amount of it to big banks and billions to Communist China.
Did you know credit card companies spent more than million dollars lobbying the shameful credit card reform? Did you know many Dems voted for it, including Biden? Did you know that congressman and senators that voted FOR this anti-middleclass/poor bill received over TWICE the credit card contributions as those who voted AGIANST it????
Important stuff the networks are NOT telling us, ON PURPOSE THEY’RE NOT TELLING US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LINK-TV says this is an essential film to show your college kids. They prey on college kids, giving thousands of dollar balances to college kids with no income.
http://www.indebtwetrust.org/aboutthefilm.html
…credit card lobbyists spent more than 154 million, lobbying the credit card bill. WE DON’T HAVE THE $$$ TO COMPETE WITH THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss Persistent, be advised the pay totally sucks. 😛
Agent 99:
The man/woman who figures out how to make working for democracy pay in cash will save America.