The Most Insidious of Traitors

"Even though I'm a tranquil guy now at this stage of my life, I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors."
-- George Herbert Walker Bush, 1999.

Was George Herbert Walker Bush unknowingly referring to Dick Cheney when he said these words in 1999? Hey, don't ask us, we're the guys with a picture of a guillotine on our site. Of course we think he did. In fact, I would be shocked if anyone on the blogrolls of the entire Unruly Mob believed that Dick Cheney did not deliberately out CIA agent Valerie Plame in order to help his cause--getting us into Iraq.

But here's some news for the independents who may be joining the grim reality of the Bush reign of terror--have you heard the one about the politically motivated purge of several U.S. attorneys?--in progress: Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald believes there's a "cloud" over the actions of our Vice President.

From The Washington Post:

Fitzgerald's summation explained, in part, why he brought charges based on imperfect evidence against Libby, even though Libby was not a source for Robert D. Novak, the author of the July 14, 2003, newspaper column that outed Plame as a CIA employee.

The jury's verdict addresses Fitzgerald's first conclusion -- that Libby lied deliberately and did not misspeak from faulty memory. But the trial showed that the prosecutor finished his investigation with his mind made up that Libby's account was meant to hide his own involvement as well as to conceal the potential involvement of the vice president.

At the trial's close, Fitzgerald expressed his concern in unusually blunt terms. After Libby's lawyers complained that he was trying to put a "cloud" over Cheney without evidence to back it up, Fitzgerald told the jury on Feb. 20, "We'll talk straight."

There was, he said, "a cloud over what the vice president did" during the period before Novak's column was published, and it was created by testimony about Cheney directing Libby and others at the White House to disseminate information on Wilson and Wilson's criticisms.

(more)

The White House still will not talk about this case, despite the fact that all along they ducked taking questions on the Plame saga because they didn't want to violate the sanctity of an ongoing investigation. Now they refuse to talk about it because Libby's appeals are pending. Lame. Even Scott McClellen says it's time to answer questions.

So, will Dick Cheney--currently also at the center of the deep vein thrombosis hysteria and petty Bill Maher controversy--be forced to resign?

Ari Emanuel says yes.

The White House says no.

Fox News says was there even a crime?

The New York Post says pardon Libby.

David Gergen says, "There's a Lot More to Know" about the leak case.

Doug Thompson says they should burn in hell, starting with the President.

Bob Geiger has the reactions of several prominent Democrats.

Blue Gal asks, "Where's Karl?"

VIDEO: Former Ambassoador Wilson on Countdown last night.

TAGS: Dick Cheney, Scooter Libby, Valerie Plame, Patrick Fitzgerald