The Plame debacle / Prosecutor takes the shoot-the-messenger approach

[No Mandate Here.]

The PGH Post Gazette is feeling its oats today!

Friday, October 01, 2004
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What is going on? How did it come about that what was supposed to be an urgent Department of Justice investigation into which senior Bush administration official had illegally revealed the identity of a CIA operative to the media has swung around to become instead harassment of the media to give up their sources?

By the way, whatever senior administration official gave Valerie Plame's name and identity as a CIA agent to the media to get even with her husband committed a felony under the 1982 Intelligence Identities Protection Act. The legislation designating it a felony dates from the administration of President Ronald Reagan.

<snip>

Now, none of this could have anything to do with the elections, could it? Why would anyone want to focus on a senior Bush administration figure who betrayed the identity of a CIA agent when they could instead seize an opportunity to bash the evil media?

There was at some point reason to hope that Mr. Fitzgerald, who had something of a reputation as a hard-charging straight-shooter when he came to this job, would pursue the investigation with integrity. At this point, it would appear that he is not doing so but is instead following the political guidance of his masters, including regarding timing.

<snip>

(italics in the original)

Lots more- all right on the mark.

HOLD THEM (the *istas) ACCOUNTABLE! (sorry for shouting)

[Moderator]

1. Is there a link available?

[MADem]

2. Here--this is a good thing!

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04275/388398.stm

If the freedom of the lapdog media is threatened, they'll be like a dog with a bone. They'll hop off their master's lap and bite him in the ankle.

This issue goes directly to INTERESTS. Up to now, it has been in the interest of the media to give the wee cowboy a pass, in exchange for access, which has been heavily controlled. But now, they are being rounded up like Jews in Berlin in '39, and they don't like it. It is in their interest to grow spines and bitch in order to protect their status in society, and their turf.

If the administration keeps this up, the media will go rabid on them. And like Martha sez, that's a good thing!