Chaney is setting up a stupidity defense

[EC]

just like Gonzales, they are going for the "Oh, Well then I miss interpreted it", defense....

Yesterday he said he could declassified info, citing an executive order,(of which was also posted yesterday) well the way I read that order, it says that only when he is acting in the executive role, I simply cannot remember a time that ** relinquished his executive authority to the next in line...can anyone else? It also says that it can only occur with the authority of the Classification Commission authorities, not by himself...then there were other riders that mentioned Human classified materials (spies) would need the approval of dept. heads (Tenet at that time)

So I think he is just playing stupid, and he knows better...

[liberal N proud]

1. Well it should be an easy sell for all of them

We all know just how damn stupid they are.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. I've got a few better questions

1) IF Cheney has the authority to declassify information and IF he did indeed declassify it before it was leaked to the media, why the cover up? Why not avoid a multi-million dollar investigation and just present the official document with his signature?

2) Further, if the assertions above are still true, is this not a clear abuse of power? After all, there was no other purpose for declassifying the information other than to use it for political means.

For the first time, i'm really starting to think he's fucked either way.

[EC]

4. Right and me too,

For the first time, i'm really starting to think he's fucked either way.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. He figures it always works well for Shrub, why not give it a try. n/t

[fasttense]

5. I think he is just plain lying.

If he had declassified the identity of Plame as a CIA operative there would be:

1. Documentation proving it somewhere, in Libby's hands.

2. Cheney would have told the AG, Bush or Fitzgerald and ended the investigation before his C of S was indicted for lying to a GJ and Investigators.

3. Fitzgerald would not have come out specifically, clearly and with no hesitation declaring that Plame's identity as a CIA officer was classified at the time of the leak.

There is an executive order (that I don't doubt). If Cheney had declassified Plame's identity, certainly his C of S would have known and used it as a defense before now. They are just trying to make it look like the Plame leak was just a minor administrative error and not treasonous behavior so the remaining 30% who actually approve of these idiots will still support them.

[Kagemusha]

6. The point is sand was kicked in the umpire's eyes

Libby is being charged with lying multiple times to the grand jury, FBI interviewers, and obstructing justice. He's not being charged with leaking classified information at all. Why not? Because sand was kicked in the umpire's eyes. Libby wants to fight the charges as if he was charged with leaking classified information. He was not charged with that, so this poses uh, difficulties.

[EC]

7. That's true of Libby, but Chaney was not sworn in, so he

can't be brought in for lieing, but I guess obstruction would still stand...

[Kagemusha]

8. Cheney being charged with anything is several steps down the road

And the thing with a senior executive official lying is that you have to well, prove it, first.

[texpatriot2004]

9. stupid is as stupid does nm