Broder on Libby: ‘This whole controversy is a sideshow.’

[babylonsister]

In denial much?


http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/10/broder-on-libby-this-whole-controversy-is-a-sideshow/

Broder on Libby: ‘This whole controversy is a sideshow.’

The Washington Post’s David Broder today:

Despite the absence of any underlying crime, Fitzgerald filed charges against Libby for denying to the FBI and the grand jury that he had discussed the Wilson case with reporters. Libby was convicted on the testimony of reporters from NBC, the New York Times and Time magazine — a further provocation to conservatives.

I think they have a point. This whole controversy is a sideshow — engineered partly by the publicity-seeking former ambassador Joseph Wilson and his wife and heightened by the hunger in parts of Washington to “get” Rove for something or other.

Like other special prosecutors before him, Fitzgerald got caught up in the excitement of the case and pursued Libby relentlessly, well beyond the time that was reasonable.

Previously, Broder wrote that journalists “owe Karl Rove an apology” for saying he was central to this scandal (even though he was).

[Le Taz Hot]

1. Dear Mr. Broder:

Your check is in the mail.

Signed,
Karl

:eyes:

[Enrique]

8. I think they're on a first-name basis

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/04/horton-20070423rdyu

Let me disclose my own bias in this matter. I like Karl Rove. In the days when he was operating from Austin, we had many long and rewarding conversations. I have eaten quail at his table and admired the splendid Hill Country landscape from the porch of the historic cabin Karl and his wife Darby found miles away and had carted to its present site on their land. (May 18, 2003)

[formercia]

2. Broder is one of the pipes of the 'Great Wurlizer'

The harder they spin, the more transparent they become.

[blogslut]

3. He's supposed to be a liberal right?

Kind of like Joe Klein?

Mind boggling.

[AndreaCG]

4. Yeah I think the Sunday shows still book him as their token Lib

Kind of like Lie-berman is their token Dem.

[KharmaTrain]

5. Duncan Black...White Phone Please...Mr. Atrios...White Courtesy Phone

As if we were to expect a real world view of this compared to the beltway cocktail party view from "the Dean"??? I mean all he's heard for months on end is how poor Scooter is being railroaded by some overzealous prosecutor and they can't do that to a "pal". To hell with the true legalities here and the fact the case was tried in front of a grand jury first, had to get a judge to sign off on the indictment and then try and convict in front of another jury...ya know, the legal system thingee.

No "underlying crime"? Sorry, perjury is a crime...and so is obstruction...things that made it impossible to get to the "underlying crime". Now if these goons are serious about really getting justice for all those who outed an active NOC CIA agent, I'm all for it. Broder? Broder? Beueler??

[WilliamPitt]

6. Thus spake "The Dean"...and I call BS

Mmmm.

*activating time machine*

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/talk/zforum/broder0128.htm

Direct Access: David S. Broder
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 1998

Washington Post political columnist David S. Broder was live online today to discuss the Clinton scandal, the State of the Union address and the new session of Congress.

(snip)

Houston, Texas: Do you thinks it's fair to say that the American people differentiate between lies told about "affairs" and those regarding others matters of state? In other words do the American people care, really, that Clinton may have lied about Monica Lewinsky? If they don't care, what does that mean about public morals?

David Broder: I think the American people are disturbed--and rightly so--when they think a president has misled them. The subject matter is probably not as important as the pain they feel when the chief executive looks them in the eye and tells them things which he has to recant. They expect better of the man in the Oval Office

(snip)

Hong Kong: With Asian economies collapsing all around us, we can't help thinking that you in the U.S. are lucky that your greatest concern is President Clinton's libido. Are there more important matters to discuss in your country?

David Broder: There certainly are, and the president discussed many of them in his State of the Union address last night. The speech received extensive coverage in all the major newspapers today, and of course was carried in full by the television channels last night. Let's hope the other questions--about Ms. Lewinsky--are cleared up soon, so we can get the focus onto these other issues. But the president is the one who can move that process along more rapidly than anyone else.

(snip)

Waco , Texas: With Clinton acting as our Commander-in-Chief, should he not be held accountable for his sexual misconduct just as any uniformed officer would? Did we not just fire a young female officer for the same offense?

David Broder: Presidents are always accountable for their actions and Clinton is no exception to that. Just remember, the facts are still being gathered.

(snip + Irony Alert Level XVI)

Wood Lake, Minn.: Is there a moral imperative to remove Sadaam Hussein from power?

David Broder: Saddam Hussein has been a disaster for his people. He is a ruthless dictator who has inflicted terrible hardship on his country. But the United States, I think, must measure its responsibilities against its own needs and resources. Evil is not likely to be banished from the entire world by our actions. We must do what we can, but we must be prudent.

..lots more...

Glen Greenwald has nailed Broder to the shed:

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/09/david-broder-poster-child-for-sickness.html

Kinda says it all, yes?

[Enrique]

7. Broder is pretending to praise Walton

but in fact is spinning the conviction and sentencing of Libby as Walton simply making an example of Libby, which would actually be wrong for Walton to do. That wouldn't be fair to Libby.

If Broder's analysis is correct, if the Armitage revelation was as significant as Broder claims, if Fitzgerald was as out of control as is portrayed (both of which are RW talking points), then the case should have been thrown out long ago.

But Walton did not throw the case out. If Broder really believes all what he wrote, then he should be slamming Walton. Instead he frames his column as praise of Walton.

[WilliamPitt]

9. "I come to bury Ceaser, not to praise him..."

[WiseButAngrySara]

15. I so love your recent Shakespearian mood! The quotes

have been appropriate and inspiring. ("Something wicked ..")

[Captain Hilts]

10. Broder thinks Clinton "trashed" DC. Hasn't noticed Bush has trashed the whole country. nt

[UTUSN]

11. Ah, the "underlying crime" gambit. Since when does ONE crime REQUIRE another, separate "underlying

crime." That said, I agree with BRODER: The "controversy" *is* indeed a sideshow. The "controversy" alleging PLAME was NOT covert. The controversy alleging KKKarl was NOT involved. The controversy that FITZGERALD's prosecutor position was illegitimate.



P.S. His e-addy is:: [e-mail]

[UTUSN]

13. My e-ltr to him. Brace yourselves, and yeah-yeah-I-know.

Don't be flattered. I don't think I've read a single ONE of your columns, have just seen you on yak-fests spouting OLD, PREDICTABLE crap. But somebody on that new-fangled internet posted an excerpt from the one where you claim that the "controversy" over PLAME is a "sideshow." You know, like the column where you claimed that people owed KKKarl an apology.


Since when does ONE crime require a SEPARATE "underlying crime" to be judged? That said, I agree with you: The "controversy" IS, indeed, a sideshow. The "controversy" alleging PLAME was NOT covert. The "controversy" alleging KKKarl was NOT involved. The "controversy" that FITZGERALD's prosecutor position was illegitimate. The "controversy" that Shrub would castigate anybody in his mal-administration for impropriety.

Really, you have spent a wasted life. As a much younger man you should have struck out into the world and gotten dirty instead of spending a lifetime deluding yourself about your opinions.

[annabanana]

12. Since the man obviously doesn't understand the meaning of the word "obstruction"

I emailed him here:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/email/david+s.+broder/

and supplied him with the definition.

[WiseButAngrySara]

14. Screw him. Monica Lewinsky was a sideshow. ....n/t

[H2O Man]

16. Blame the victim.

Classy, David, you pathetic ass.

[burythehatchet]

18. Is it possible to have the shame emotion excised from one's personality?

They never seem to get embarrassed by their acts.

[librechik]

17. That's it. Fire that traitor Broder!

He has no respect for the rule of law, just his Rulers.

[Gabi Hayes]

19. anybody else find zero comments at the WashPo site? I can't wait

to see what they have to say there

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/08/AR2007060802398_Comments.html

am I missing something, or is there another link for comments?

thx