What Can Cheney Be Thinking Today?

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Lewis Libby Trial Coverage
Posted on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:05:36 PM EST
Tags: Libby Trial (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

In light of the sentence imposed by Judge Reggie Walton today on the former Cheney Chief of Staff Lewis I. "Scooter" Libby, what I wonder about is what is Vice President Cheney thinking today. Despite what some of us say, clearly Scooter Libby has done some good things in his life. He was not a person naturally inclined to perjury and obstruction of justice. But, to protect Dick Cheney, that is precisely what he did.

To me at least, the genesis of the outing of Valerie Plame was Cheney's reaction to the May 6, 2003 Nicholas Kristof column, where Joe Wilson was Kristof's principal source. For reasons still not clear, Cheney went ballistic about it and ordered a full court press to discredit the report. This included finding out "who sent Wilson" and then, trying to spread the word that Wilson was not credible (the logic is not clear why this would be discrediting) because "his wife sent him." Of course, to forward the charges of nepotism and boondoggles, it was necessary to reveal that Valerie Plame worked at the CIA.

Cheney was not deterred. Libby was ordered to do what he had to do.

More...

I suppose at the genesis of this operation, Dick Cheney and Scooter Libby did not know that Valerie Plame's employment at the CIA was classified. But it seems less plausible to believe that in their investigative efforts they did not find this out. In any event, Libby told every reporter who would listen that Valerie Plame of the CIA was Joe Wilson's wife and that she sent him on the trip to Niger.

After Robert Novak bit on the story and revealed that Plame was a CIA "operative" (Novak's word), all hell broke loose and an investigation was commenced as to who revealed Plame's CIA identity.

Instead of admitting that Cheney and Libby were behind the revelations, the Bush Administration chose to act dumb, promising to fire the person(s) who leaked the information. At that point Libby was stuck. Not only for himself. But for Cheney, the mastermind of the anti-Wilson/Plame campaign.

And today Libby is sentenced to prison. How would a normal human being feel about that? Now ask yourself, how do you think Dick Cheney feels about that? Because I think he does not feel a thing.

< Scooter Libby: 30 Months in Prison, $250k Fine | The Politics of Capitulation >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

What Can Cheney Be Thinking Today? | 24 comments (24 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

At most (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by nolo on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:26:35 PM EST

he probably feels the same as the narrator of Gunga Din.

Great summary (5.00 / 1) (#4)
by Maryb2004 on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:34:15 PM EST

In fact, it may be the best, most concise summary of facts plus reasonable conjecture that I've yet seen.

Cheney feels nothing.

Silly Rabbit..... (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by kdog on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:34:48 PM EST

Psychopaths don't feel like we do. I'd imagine it is business as usual today making plans to bomb somebody.

One more... (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by garyb50 on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:45:15 PM EST

Definitely Feels Nothing.

I would imagine (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Edger on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:52:29 PM EST

About Libby he probably feels nothing. To Cheney, Libby was dispenable, unlike Cheney.

I'm sure Addington is wrapping himself in layers of Libbys by now though.

: Cheney is a Career Criminal (5.00 / 2) (#17)
by squeaky on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 02:05:22 PM EST

He has many more soldiers willing to take the fall for him, so he must feel quite secure. He is so good at covering his tracks after such a long life of crime, that the likelihood of his getting indicted and sentenced is nil ( in his mind anyway).
Arrogance is the achilles heel for this bunch.

On top of the world, I imagine (5.00 / 3) (#14)
by Alien Abductee on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:57:31 PM EST

After all, he's not the one going to prison. What else could possibly matter?

On a side note, what significance to put on Cheney's misstating the military oath to the graduating class at West Point? Slip of the tongue? Dogwhistle? Attempted reality adjustment?

Near the end of his speech at the United States Military Academy commencement, Mr. Cheney stated:
"On your first day of Army life, each one of you raised your right hand and took an oath. And you will swear again today to defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That is your vow, that is the business you're in."
Well, not quite. Here is the actual oath that newly minted officers in the U.S. Army take:
"I (insert name), having been appointed a (insert rank) in the U.S. Army under the conditions indicated in this document, do accept such appointment and do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic...

The part of Cheney's heart... (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by Dadler on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:57:57 PM EST

...that facilitates empathy and compassion has long been permanently blocked due to an excess of butter, sausuage, and a substance much like tar which experts have yet to identify but believe associated with the toxic soil of a garden variety as*hole.

certainty (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by chemoelectric on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 07:15:33 PM EST

Now ask yourself, how do you think Dick Cheney feels about that? Because I think he does not feel a thing.

Of course he doesn't; Cheney is the very picture of an ice-cold killer by proxy.

OT: Oh to have been a fly on the wall wherever it was that someone said, okay, that's a good idea, go ahead and send that anthrax.

Cheney probably thinks (4.66 / 3) (#10)
by Jeralyn on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:50:30 PM EST

it's all Libby's fault. He's probably too arrogant to even consider that Libby took the fall for him. Or else he believes that's what good soldiers do.

What is the proof (1.00 / 2) (#2)
by HeadScratcher on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:29:06 PM EST

That Cheney ordered Libby? Or that Libby is voluntarily being the fall guy?

And why isn't Fitz going after Cheney?

Heh (5.00 / 3) (#3)
by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:33:49 PM EST

Where is the evidence? You may want to look up the definition of "obstruction of justice."

Man, you Neocons are too funny sometimes.


Ok, (1.00 / 2) (#18)
by HeadScratcher on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 02:27:14 PM EST

then why doesn't Fitz go after Cheney? Isn't that the much bigger issue?

I understand the definitions of words, but I hate when prosecutors infer something but don't follow through. If you (lawyers) got it then use it. If not, shut up!


: fingernails getting shorter? (5.00 / 2) (#21)
by manys on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 02:37:53 PM EST

Nice talking point. At least read Wikipedia or something before saying things like this. At the very least, inferences are made by the receivers of language, they are not propounded. So if you think there is an inference that Fitz should go after Cheney, maybe you could say a little something about why you are making that inference from the information available. That is, apparently you think there's more to this story in the Office of the Vice President. How do you propose Fitz "follow through?"

While you are at it, look up conspiracy as well. (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by Molly Bloom on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:40:21 PM EST

Libby sentencing (5.00 / 2) (#7)
by wlgriffi on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:40:24 PM EST

"What is the proof (none / 0) (#2)
by HeadScratcher on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:29:06 PM EST

That Cheney ordered Libby? Or that Libby is voluntarily being the fall guy?
And why isn't Fitz going after Cheney?"

I'm really headscratching over HeadScratcher. Been in a coma Headscratcher?


Heh! (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by Edger on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:44:23 PM EST

stop scratching (1.00 / 2) (#19)
by HeadScratcher on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 02:28:56 PM EST

And start typing to fill my head with the proof. I would bet that Cheney's fingerprints are all over this but why doesn't Fitz go after him? Or the congress?


: Go look it up. (5.00 / 1) (#20)
by Edger on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 02:32:24 PM EST

Kristof (none / 0) (#11)
by squeaky on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:50:35 PM EST

Minor point: I think the Kristof article was May 6 not June 6.

: You're right (none / 0) (#16)
by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 02:02:45 PM EST

MAy 6.

Cheney's reaction (none / 0) (#13)
by nal on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 01:55:55 PM EST

Cheney reacted the way he did because the press had made it seem like his office had initiated the investigation into the Niger document. Cheney, and others, knew it was a forgery. It would make Cheney look like an idiot if it was his office that had initiated an investigation of a forged document. That's why he was so determined to show that Wilson's "wife sent him".

Cheneys' reaction? (none / 0) (#23)
by Molly Bloom on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 08:41:19 PM EST

There but for the grace of God (and my lunatic aide) go I

: Cheney's reaction? (5.00 / 2) (#24)
by Warren Terrer on Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 09:13:12 PM EST

"He'll be fine once they ship him to Guantanamo. I hear it's like a country club there."