"An American Prayer."

[H2O Man]

"Is everybody in?
Is everybody in?
Is everybody in?
The ceremony is about to begin!"
-- James Douglas Morrison; An American Prayer

In late April, during discussions of the Plame scandal, we have discussed how the Office of the Vice President would use the WHIG to try to distract attention from the case. This week, they brought out one of their "big guns," a man described as "a garden troll gone insane", Bob Novak.(*)

We also described the case as an iceberg, with only a small amount visible to the public. Today, a large part of the iceberg has come into sharp focus, as Joseph and Valerie Wilson filed suit against VP Cheney, I. Liar Libby, Karl Rove, and 10 unidentifeied co-conspirators.

In the morning, at 10 am, the Wilsons will be holding a press conference. I think that DUers will enjoy the presentation.

Also, as you may know, there is now a Joseph and Valerie Wilson Legal Support Trust. You can access their site at: http://wilsonsupport.org/

They are requesting contributions. These can also be mailed to: PO Box 40918; Washington, DC 20016-0918.

I strongly urge DUers to contribute to this fund. This is a chance for the grass roots to take part in one of the most important actions that has come up in a long, long time. We need to show that the grass roots can, by combining $5 here, $10 there, and more from those who are able, that we can compete with the Scooter Libby Defense Trust and its ilk.

I am sending a check out in the morning.

[jean]

1. I'm in for the duration!

[JanusAscending]

2. Didn't I tell you , "you had bigger fish to fry"????

I'm in for the prayers and in for a few bucks when I get my S.S check!! God love ya! DC

[stop the bleeding]

3. off to the greatest page

with ya'

4. absolutamundo

Salud.

[H2O Man]

5. (*)

In David Margolick's wonderful April '05 article "What About Novak?," he quotes a person who describes Novak as "a garden troll gone insane." I like that!

[stop the bleeding]

7. could you do us a favor and list all members of WHIG

official and "unofficial"

I am curious who the lucky 10 are in addition to the named devils in the suit.

Thank you in advance.

[H2O Man]

8. I might do more

later tonight. But if you read #12, and you likely did, you know they are looking not only to White House officials, but also political operatives closely associated with them. I think that we can look to Newt Gingrich as the first example of "political operative."

[hootinholler]

34. Here's who I have as members...

1.2: WHIG - White House Iraq Group
Systematic coordination began in August, when Chief of Staff
Andrew H. Card Jr. formed the White House Iraq Group, or WHIG, to
set strategy for each stage of the confrontation with Baghdad. A
senior official who participated in its work called it "an
internal working group, like many formed for priority issues, to
make sure each part of the White House was fulfilling its
responsibilities."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A39500-2003Aug9¬Found=true

1.2.1: The group met weekly in the Situation Room. Among the regular
participants were Karl Rove, the president's senior political adviser;
communications strategists Karen Hughes, Mary Matalin and James
R. Wilkinson; legislative liaison Nicholas E. Calio; and policy
advisers led by Rice and her deputy, Stephen J. Hadley, along with
I. Lewis Libby, Cheney's chief of staff.
1.2.2: Participants:
1.2.2.1: Karl Rove (1.1.1)
1.2.2.2: Karen Hughes
1.2.2.3: Mary Matalin - James Carville's wife?
1.2.2.4: James R. Wilkinson
1.2.2.5: Nicholas E. Calio legislative liaison
1.2.2.6: Condoleeza Rice National Security Advisor
1.2.2.7: Stephen J. Hadley, Rice's deputy
1.2.2.8: I. Lewis Libby, Cheney's chief of staff.
1.2.2.9: Andrew H. Card Jr. WH Chief of staff

May be more...

-Hoot

[stop the bleeding]

37. as well as unofficial people like Snooty Miller and others

thank you btw

[Me.]

39. You Can Add Newt To That List

and I wonder about David Addington.

*shadow government*

[hootinholler]

40. Where did Newt come into play?

I must have missed that. I'll need a cite to add to my file, wouldn't have one would you?

I know that Cheney was reported as attending a number of meetings, and I think Wurmser was involved coordinating the intel end over in the OSP.

I posted the outline this comes from in the research forum when it first opened.

-Hoot

[Me.]

41. I Don't

Did a quick google and didn't find anything definitive enough to pass on. His name is a "memory serves" moment for me. In all the Plame threads I remember his being mentioned in association with the group and was often a participant in the meetings. I believe he was there the day they discussed bringing out the earthmovers on Wilson and that H20Man wrote about his participation. I can give you a lot of links to Plame threads but it would entail a lot of digging. Perhaps Mr. H. will jump in here.

*shadow government*

[H2O Man]

43. Wilson's book.

There are a couple places Newt is mentioned in the book for his role. One is on pages 326-7:

"I learned that a meeting right around the time of this particular CNN appearance led to a decision to do a 'workup' on me for the Office of the Vice President. It was not made clear to me whether Dick Cheney himself attended the meeting, although I am told that senior members of his staff and quite possibly other senior Republicans, including former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, were present and that Gingrich actively participated in a strategy session, the objective of which was to figure out how to discredit me."

This meeting was in March of '03, after Wilson commented on the IAEA's announcing the Niger "documents" were crude forgeries, that the administration had more information than a State official acknowledged. See page 452.

[hootinholler]

48. Chapeter and Verse...

Right out of thin air. You're awesome H2O-Dude! I don't know how you do it.

-Hoot

[stevedeshazer]

10. Thanks for clearing that up.

It had me wondering.

Tomorrow's payday, here goes $10.

K & R

[Pithy Cherub]

6. Tomorrow at 7 am begins in earnest

an American legal drama that will be in many good history books. The Wilsons are the standard bearers for Truth, Justice and the American Way. That press conference on its face puts paid to the notion that Rove is getting off "scott free". Novakula clearly said he was a source. Darth Cheney on the other hand is going to need his own really robust legal defense fund shortly; which will siphon off funds from other needy WHIG and White House spy outters. Let the wheelin' and dealin' begin anew!

Must set alarm it will be a mite early for me on the West Coast. :bounce:

[stop the bleeding]

9. I got another question

Now that Novak has come out and made these statements in the last few days about Rove, coupled with several Fitz filings pointing to key players(Cheney etc.)

How hard will this case be for the Wilson's to win, what is the bar on something like this, me being a neophyte I would assume that the Wilson case would have an easier bar to clear based on some of the information that I touched upon in my first sentence.

Am I being to naive or what kind of reality are we looking at in regards to this suit ending up with a win for the Wilson's?

[H2O Man]

12. A good example

is the OJ case: he was found "not guilty" in criminal court, but found "responsible" in the civil case. The rules of evidence absolutely favor the Wilsons. There is zero chance they will not win the case. Zero.

[Sydnie]

27. That is exactly what came to my mind as well.

Reasonable doubt is not in play here in a civil case. I can't wait!

[H2O Man]

11. Ha!!!! Tomorrow night on Countdown:

Erwin Chemerinsky, from Duke University School of Law, who is part of the Wilson's legal team, will be discussing the case.

I can't wait!

[bleever]

13. That's a big gun.

I also exclaimed out loud upon hearing that name.

And Newt Gingrich on the list? Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

:evilgrin:

[H2O Man]

15. Looks like the Wilsons

have an outstanding team. It should be very interesting to watch the press conference in the morning, press coverage through the day, Hardball in the early evening, and then Countdown!

[Me.]

16. First I Had Been Listening To Larry O'Donnell's Blah, Blah, Blah

and how they couldn't win, ad nauseum, and then Olberman said the bit about Chemerinsky. Constitutional scholar and expert. Bah humbug to all the dis-info, got to get my face on TV, less than experts, even though they think they are the last word, talking faces out there.

*shadow government*

[H2O Man]

20. At risk of sounding

like Larry's statement deserves a response, let's put it in context. He was talking about #37, sentence one, about being subjected to increased risk by the White House exposure. He ignores the second sentence, which describes who the threats may come from.

Larry understands that in civil trials, a big part is "who does the jury like?" And the defendants' attorneys will try to make the Wilsons seem like gadflies and gold-diggers. Sorry. Get that weak shit out of here. Won't work -- not when you have Dick Cheney and Co sitting at your table.

Keep in mind that the weasals have always tried to play the "we are protecting you from the threat of the international monster" bit. Now think about Valerie's job. Now think about Joe telling about his confrontation with Saddam in the Gulf War days.

[Me.]

29. It Wasn't Only The Wilson's Are Vulnerable Bit

After all Joe put her on the cover of vanity fair! It was also him saying they didn't have a credible chance, because in all his readings he would never gone in th direction they did blah, blah, blah.

First of all he isn't a lawyer, second he is not the expert on the Wilson Team, the one who Keith will interview tomorrow. And, I could be very wrong in this but I don't think they are doing it for a win (though that would be nice) nor the money (which they are going to give away). I think they are doing this to bring out the truth and expose the felons for who they truly are.

You have risked nothing, but I think O'Donnell is putting his reputation, not only on the line but in jeopardy. If he continues in the vein he took tonight he is risking becoming a gasbag.

*shadow government*

[H2O Man]

31. I agree

with everything except the idea that they aren't going for the win. I think that Ambassador Wilson is the type who goes for the win. In boxing, there are certain people who refuse to lose. Outside of boxing, there are certain people one should not cross. I believe Wilson combines those traits. The OVP underestimated him. Badly.

[Me.]

38. I Amend My Statement

You are right on. Joe Wilson will go for the win, especially because they went after his wife. I think what I was trying to say is that getting the truth out is equally important to him as the win, but he certainly is planning on winning. Check & Mate to use the chess analogy.

*shadow government*

[Straight Shooter]

14. I will donate to the cause of justice.

Look at how much Valerie and Joe have sacrificed for the truth. It isn't just the money, it's the message we're sending.

Thanks, H20 Man.

[CrackpotAmerica]

17. Wow, that was BRIEF!

I think that this is the smallest post I have ever seen from you :)

Thx, H20. You are a huge asset to DU

:)
:::

[H2O Man]

18. Ha!

I will have a lot more to say in the days to come. I think tomorrow will be a fun day for DUers!

[trumad]

19. I was one of the first to contribute....

I'm proud to say.....

[H2O Man]

21. Great!

I'll be getting a check out in the mail. And, like you say, it's something we can take pride in doing!

[Gregorian]

22. Happy to donate.

And thank you. I'm inspired by your vigilance and kindness.

Tomorrow should be exciting. Let's hope there is swift progress.

[H2O Man]

24. On the news

it was noted that Team Libby will try to delay their client's participation. We'll see. I think the WHIG-OVP folk are in for a rough ride.

[many a good man]

23. "Unidentified co-conspirators"

Spare no expense, the netroots will pitch in whatever it takes to defend democracy!

[H2O Man]

26. Nice seal!!!

I like it!

[kohodog]

25. Finally there is an action we can take.

My check may be small but it will be powerful. It may only represent a small cut but if thousands join in....

[H2O Man]

28. Yep. Exactly.

The internet has allowed the grassroots to become an enormous force.

[ms liberty]

30. Excellent news! I've got a question...

Does the piece from Wilkerson that came out today have a part to play in this most interesting turn of events? Would you describe this as wishful thinking, coincidence, syncronicity, or other?

[H2O Man]

33. I think that many

people anticipated the Wilsons filing this week. I'm not sure that everyone expected a public announcement. But I think that we'll see a number of related events .... including that nasty poodle Novak trying to say there was no White House conspiracy against the Wilsons. Now wasn't that curious timing?

[ms liberty]

36. Yes it was, but I've found the timing...

of a lot of these stories over the last year (?) or so to be fascinating. Every time you think it's going to disappear down the memory hole and they're going to weasel out of it, something pops out there to bring it back to the foreground. Another brick in the wall, and then another, and another...

[guruoo]

32. One more k&r - n/t

[Hekate]

35. KnR. A small check will be on its way -- but as we know, they add up

:toast:

Hekate

[H2O Man]

45. They sure do.

I was pleased to see the mourning crew on Fox News yelping about the case. They even were complaining about the Wilson's web site, because they know the power of our small contributions.

[eridani]

42. So, why wait until now?

Could they not have done it at any time?

[H2O Man]

44. They could have

done it before today. I assume they went on their attorney's advice. In this case, their attorneys are people who I would trust to make the best decision.

[H2O Man]

46. Good morning!

July 14, 2003: Bob Novak's article exposing Valerie Plame was published.

July 14, 2006: A 10 am press conference will address the civil case filed by Ambassador Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson, against VP Dick Cheney, I. Lewis Libby, and Karl Rove. And, tonight, MSNBC's Countdown will feature Erwin Chemerinsky, from Duke University's School of Law, to discuss the case.

Enjoy this day!

[dpibel]

50. This suggests the answer to the timing question

Another poster asked why they're filing now, rather than some other time.

Three years is a typical statute of limitation on tort claims. Novak's column marks the first event which would have let the Wilsons know that a conspiracy was underway, and was the single event that proximately caused the damages. (But for Novak's column, Plame's identity as an NOC agent would have remained secret.)

File the case later than three years after that event and be in peril of having it dismissed as beyond the statute of limitation.

As to why not file earlier: Presumably to let as much information come out before the defense puts an additional muzzle on everyone involved.

[zippy890]

47. thanks for the link,

will gladly give them what I can. This is important, on so many levels.



:dem:

[Joe Fields]

49. I am all for the Wilson's in their pursuit of civil justice, but....

they can both go to hell, as far as asking for public support for donations in their legal support. They both have money, and are much better off financially than I will ever be. They can use their own money, by God!

Whenever I needed a lawyer, I never went around asking for donations.