A Spaniard in the Works

[H2O Man]

The Fat Budgie

...Some people don't like budgies
The little yellow brats
They eat them up for breakfast
Or give them to their cats ...

He sings like other budgies
But only when in trim
But most of all on Sunday
That's when I plug him in ....

It would be funny wouldn't it
A budgie on a stick
Imagine all the people
Laughing till their sick ....

-- John Lennon; A Spaniard in the Works; 1965


Yesterday, I was hoping to post an essay that examines some of the issues I think are important regarding the relationship between the media and the progressive left/democrats. The essay is about the Plame scandal, and I may take the opportunity to post it later today. However, as we are all aware, yesterday's big news was that Budgie Rove testified for the 5th time in front of a grand jury investigating the Plame scandal.

Some people don't like Budgie Rove. They want him to face justice so strongly, that they are rightfully concerned that he will escape serving time in a cage. There was some confusion about why Karl was testifying again: was it part of a scheme to get him off from possible indictments?

A report by Jason Leopold stated that "Karl Rove's appearance before a grand jury in the CIA leak case Wednesday comes on the heels of a 'target letter' sent to his attorney recently by Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald ..." Almost immediately after this report was posted on DU, there were strong disagreements among people here on the accuracy of that report, the potential consequences, and even Mr. Leopold's character. Before I continue pposting a series of essays on the Plame scandal and the media, I would like to take a few minutes to address my concerns on the direction that some of the debates on yesterday's events are taking.

I do not know Jason Leopold. I couldn't pick him out of a line-up. I've never talked to him. The only thing I know about him are the things that I've read on DU. I do enjoy his work on the Plame scandal, and think it is of great value.

I know that Will Pitt stands with him. I know Will Pitt is one of the resources that Ambassador Wilson uses in his book "The Politics of Truth." (pages 491 and 493) I've had a couple a couple conversations with Mr. Pitt over the years, but I do not know him, and I consider my opinions on him as a journalist as being entirely objective. Mr. Pitt strikes me as passionate about journalism, and thus while I do not agree many of his opinions, I respect that he is sincere in attempts to provide the most accurate news possible, using the highest standards of journalism. So when he says Mr. Leopold reported accurately what he was told, I believe Will.

That trust of Mr. Pitt's judgement on journalism stands in stark contrast to some of the nonsense I read on DU yesterday by a couple people attacking Mr. Leopold as a person. Issues a decade old were brought up, in an effort to discredit what Leopold reported yesterday. A week ago, I posted parts of interviews with Onondaga Chief Paul Waterman. I included his addressing the advantages of respecting change, and how many people go through a process where they transform youthful weaknesses into mature strengths. After decades of working in human services, I can say that many people do experience personal growth. Those who do not probably have the least to offer society, even in the context of a discussion on DU.

I think that progressive democrats should make a closer study of minority struggles in America. I note that often, be it in the Civil Rights or Native American struggles, the "enemy" didn't have to infiltrate and disrupt struggling groups. Instead, the enemy could bank on the progressives to experience conflicts based on human frailty, on petty, shallow distractions based on weak egos and self-righteous attempts at self-promotion. This I know: smart people learn from other peoples' mistakes; most of us have to learn from our own; and some people just never catch on.

We might all benefit from a lesson that Bernstein and Woodward learned in their Watergate investigation. They had a report on some grand jury testimony that was far more controversial that Mr. Leopold's report yesterday. Hugh Sloan, Jr. had told them something; they reported what they firmly believed he said, and that they believed was confirmed by another source. Then Sloan's attorney publicly denied it. (Read pages 183-198 of "All the President's Men.") It happens.

Jason's report was based upon what he was told. There are a number of possible things worth considering. The report could be correct. It could be that Mr. Leopold reported what he understood to have been said, but that it wasn't exactly what the source intended; this seems less likely after he posted a follow-up, however. It could be that his source(s) lied to him. It could be that his source(s) made an honest mistake. Perhaps Mr. Luskin did get a letter from Mr. Fitzgerald, and that letter resulted in Budgie Rove's song and dance yesterday, but it was not actually a "target letter." Time will tell.

This is an intense period in the investigation of the Plame scandal. Journalists are human beings, and at times human beings make mistakes. Yesterday on MSNBC, David Schuster made one minor error in his reporting. Does that mean we should reject everything he said? Mr. Leopold did make an error on the possible charges Mr. Rove faces; his lying to the FBI investigators is obstruction of justice. In the past week, I have made three similar errors on posts; two on DU and one on Daily Kos. On DU, two people politely pointed them out. On the other site, a person attempted to discredit everything I said, because of a small error. It happens. I am not perfect. I do not expect others to be.

Things are going to pick up, very soon, on this case. We might very well be, by May 8th, as John Lennon wrote ("In His Own Write"), "dancing with wild abdomen."


I Sat Belonely

I sat belonely down a tree,
humbled fat and small.
A little lady sing to me
I couldn't see at all ....

Then suddenly on a little twig
I thought I see a sight,
A tiny little tiny pig,
that sing with all it's might.

-- John Lennon; In His Own Write; 1964

[annabanana]

1. Thank you H2Oman.. I trust that cooler heads

will prevail here at DU. The most virulent objectors are, by the degree of their disruption, suspect.

I love Lennon's poetry..(digging around in the boxes in the attic for another looksee)

[H2O Man]

2. I remember a time

in my days as a student in school, when in an English class we had to read a favorite poem in front of the class. I read John's "I Remember a Time," which he wrote at age 17. No less than six parents of classmates called my parents to complain about my choice of poems, and about my character. Though I've changed my terrible ways in many ways, I still get a kick out of John's poems.

[annabanana]

3. All that bad spelling, probably.

Found it!

"Sing you with long voice.
For discharge
Deep breathing is Nescafe for a dark voice, deep breeding and in haley is very impotent for broadcastle and outlying ariels.... visibility nil in Rockall and Freeastaire? Practice daily but not if you're debb and duff."

(typing edit - ha!)

[Catherine Vincent]

4. Recommended!

:patriot:

[H2O Man]

5. Thank you.

My fear is that this thread will sink into obscurity and die the lonely death that the vast majority of my rantings .... perhaps if you were to post one or more of your favorite photos of Mr. Fitzgerald, more people would be inclined to read this.

[annabanana]

6. perhaps a temporary dearth of boomers online...

for your title (?)

[H2O Man]

8. A year ago

when I abused the same phrase in a post on DU, a gentle soul attempted to "correct" my grammer. I can identify with those who just don't get it.

[SmokingJacket]

22. I'm too young to get it -- but I know how to use Google,

which I did.

Reading DU is an education!

[myrna minx]

7. Thank you H2O Man.

I wholeheartedly agree with you. K&R.

[H2O Man]

11. Thank you.

That makes 3 out of the 88,405 registered DUers agree with me. I view that as progress. (grin)

[LisaLynne]

9. K&R.

As always, excellent, thoughful post.

[Squeech]

10. Yeah, but

these are times that call for clear unequivocal statements.

"Imagine there's no countries... a brotherhood of man..."

"A working class hero is something to be!"

"But if you want money for people with minds that hate,
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait..."

And just maybe the bit about Mrs. Wilson showing her toilets on the telly :P

[H2O Man]

14. At the MSG concert

to benefit the Willowbrook Hospital, John "updated" the lyric to "...a brotherhood and sisterhood of man ..." I liked that.

[peacetalksforall]

12. Thanks for your words of good old fashioned reasoning.

With help from the Brit of many worlds bard.

[stop the bleeding]

13. Reading now - I was waiting for this - thank you n/t

[stop the bleeding]

16. looking forward to this afternoon's Plame essay

thanks H2O Man

[H2O Man]

17. I hope to get

something else up later today. This was just a response to some of the nonsense that distracts us from staying focused on that which matters.

[npincus]

15. "Budgie" is what my daughter calls her security blanket!

(I know that has nothing to do with your post.) :)

[H2O Man]

18. What a nice picture!

And what a beautiful little girl! I have two daughters, and they are exactly what these threads on DU are all about -- making this country transform into the type of place these children deserve.

Thank you for posting this!

[npincus]

19. thank you!

I'm so crazy about her... I know we all feel that way about our kids. I can't fathom the 'other sides' lack of compassion for other people's children; cheering on this miserable mistake-of-a-war and the deaths of children, families torn apart by grief and death (which they are in effect doing with their approval). It boggles the mind. I can't forgive any politican who gave the Chimp authorization to start this criminal war-- they are not naive and should have figured out where it would go... we did, didn't we?

i'd love to see pics of your 2 daughters, too!

[H2O Man]

20. Okay:

Two boys, and two girls.

[stop the bleeding]

23. Who is wearing the hat?

You?

[H2O Man]

24. My oldest son ...

though it is my hat.

[npincus]

25. oh my gosh- they're beautiful!

Thank you so much for posting! And it looks like you live in a beautiful place... I dream of a house in the country (we are city folk). Best regards to your sweet children!

[Catherine Vincent]

28. Aww, how sweet!

Nice looking kids!

[stop the bleeding]

29. acorns and trees I'm guessing n/t

[ms liberty]

39. Your children are beautiful...

bright and happy - a testament to the character of their parents, to be sure. The smile on your daughter's face is priceless. What heartbreakers children are at that age!

Excellent post, with much that needed to be said. I'm not surprised to learn of your appreciation of John; I knew you were a person of taste and distinction. {{{sigh}}} 25 years, it still seems like yesterday - one of those events I will always remember, like Cronkite announcing the death of JFK (my earliest memory of a public event)...I wonder what he would be saying to us today, what he would be writing and singing today.

[Me.]

21. Dancing With Wild Abdomen

Ready!

*shadow government*

[Me.]

26. Maybe His Wife Should Buy Him Insurance

This needed to be said, there is a hysteria that builds now whenever there is movement in the case. From what I can see they have him on both OOJ and perjury, and the difference is in how many counts of each. Yes?Maybe His Wife Should Buy Him Some Insurance

*shadow government*

[Beetwasher]

27. Ok, We Rarely Disagree, But I Feel I MUST Take Issue W/ You Over Something

I find it offensive that you associate Rove w/ budgies. How dare you, sir! I happen to be a budgie lover, I currently have two. They are some of the most sweet, warm, loving, pure creatures on this planet that never fail to lift my spirits and bring a smile w/ their song. The world is a better place w/ budgies in it.

Pistols at dawn! :evilgrin:

[glitch]

32. No animal deserves to be associated with Rove.

Not even a stinky blotchy pink slimey one.

[Catherine Vincent]

30. Kick!

:-)

[myrna minx]

31. I'm kicking this thoughtful post to the top.

:kick:

[Catherine Vincent]

33. ~j~

:-)

[Nordmadr]

34. Kick and recommend for reminding me I'm not alone in this

f*cked up time.

Imagine.

Olafr

[H2O Man]

35. Thank you.

After reading Judge Walton's decision that rejected his attorneys' demand that the charges against Scooter be dismissed, I'm guessing that Mr. Libby is beginning to feel all alone. But our side .... our side needs to work in cooperation in order to remove the cancer on the presidency and on the congress. We can not afford to do otherwise.

[robertpaulsen]

36. Highly recommended!

I especially appreciated the All the President's Men analogy. I believe it took six months (from October to April 30,1973) before Woodstein was vindicated for jumping the gun on Haldeman. I think it will take a lot less time for Leopold to be vindicated where Fat Budgie is concerned. :)

[H2O Man]

37. Hello, RP!

I'm sure that you are as pleased as I am with Judge Walton's harsh response to Team Libby's motion to dismiss the charges against Little Scooter. Two days of bad news for the administration!

[robertpaulsen]

42. Very pleased!

Unlike the Sibel Edmonds case, Libby just has too much attention on him to get swept under the rug. Walton's going to have to do this one completely by the book, and he knows it. This is VERY good news for us!

[symbolman]

43. How is Leopold to be Vindicated by your reasoning?

Will it be the simple fact that at some point Rove or Luskin MIGHT recieve a Target Letter, which everyone and his sister know, all over the news.

Or do you mean that as of two days ago there's been no mention of a Target Letter being given or served to either. As I recall Leopold's headline said, "Today", two days ago.

I'm not looking for an arguement, as a matter of fact in one thread I used conjecture to show that Rove might ALREADY have recieved a Target letter.

I just want to know in a more concrete fashion what the Vindication will consist of.

Please, if you would be so kind.

nice words H20Man, there's a lot of John Lennon art to go along with them, here in Hawaii there is a "Celebrities" store with walls of Lennon's sketches in color, beautiful.

[annabanana]

38. kickin for the night owls.. . . . . eom

[DearAbby]

40. Kick, Would Nominate...

But alas I lost my star due to lack of funds, I see that there are a number of them to get your fine post up on the greatest page where it belongs. So I'll give it a nudge so it stays near the top.

I look for your insightful posts, like a cool drink of water, H2OMan..::big grin:: Corny pun...but oh so true, thanks for being on DU!

[ebayfool]

41. Kicked & rec'd ...

Thank you for the calm, yet powerful, words. Amazing how some just don't realize that screaming doesn't always get their message heard, never mind agreed with! I always pay more mind when I have to lean in to hear the words, & am more inclined to give then more consideration than those that beat me about the head. I've seen those 'en garde!' posts @ Will & Jason - all I really retained @ them were the tone, not the message. Yours & Will's, however, have stuck - & continue to be turned & considered, savored & enjoyed, all through my day!

So, just ... thank you!