This is quite fascinating, as we endure its early stages. The Special Prosecutor and Grand Jury were convened to investigate whether Valerie Plame Wilson, a household name in Washington social circles, was "outed" (her CIA covert cover blown) by the White House in "retaliation" against her husband, Clinton holdover Joe Wilson, whom the CIA sent to Niger to investigate (ex post facto) the veracity of statements made by George W. Bush in his State of the Union address, that Iraq had attempted to purchase "yellowcake" in an effort to develop nuclear weaponry. On the last day of the existence of the Grand Jury (by law, after a six month extension) no such leak was identified. Nobody was outed. Nobody was indicted for leaking anything. Libby, poor fellow, stuck with his "company line to reporters" to the Grand Jury and they knew it was untrue, as did the reporters. Why, I don't think I'll ever figure out. Does the CIA get investigated for sending Joe Wilson to Niger to discredit the President? Oh, I guess not. What's fun about it all is hearing democrats (even LIBERAL democrats) expound on the importance of high-ranking government officials TELLING THE TRUTH, of all things. Isn't this the crowd that excused not only Bill Clinton of lying under oath in a sexual harrassment civil lawsuit AND to a (read carefully, now) GRAND JURY!, but also Mike Espy (Agriculture Secretary-39 count indictment) and Henry Cisneros (HUD Secretary-18 count) of their indictments? Now they can hardly contain their crocodile tears at the thought of a high-ranking official lying under oath and how wrong it is. Sorry, if it was ok for Clinton, it's gotta be ok for Scooter. Wouldn't this be easier if things that are right, are called right and things that are wrong, are called wrong? The partisan double standard muddies the water so. 

UPDATE 3/6/07:  OK, Scooter's guilty of lying under oath to a Grand Jury.  Now, class, what's the next question?  Right.  Is he a republican or a democrat? 

One technical point:  What was Mr. Fitzpatrick sent out to investigate?  Right, the illegal "outing" of  a covert agent.  And who was charged with the commission of that crime?  Anyone?  Right, so that crime, evidently, wasn't committed but the perjury DID occur.  Libby should get at least as severe a sentence as that conveyed on Bill Clinton for his perjury.  Right?

1. It's the 21st century 2. It's not fascinating but predictable- if you dare criticize dubs or his faulty policies you get hamstrung in this typical fashion. . .the only thing that's fascinating is that someone was actually held accountable. Who will they threaten now?

It looks TU for Scooter Libby as today, March 6, 2007, he was convicted on four counts of various malfeasance. We shall see what tomorrow brings for his pals.

Too early to say. If Rove and Cheney were involved, this would rank as a serious abuse of power; up there with Iran-Contra, but not Watergate. If the President was involved (though this looks unlikely-so far) this could lead to resignation/impeachement.