"It's Just A Mess For Everyone Involved"

Andrea Mitchell chatted with Don Imus yesterday, and Crooks and Liars was there.

Don Imus has twice asked Ms. Mitchell about her role in the Plame leak investigation, wondering whether she had received a Woodward-style leak early in the hunt.  Twice Ms. Mitchell has floundered hopelessly. 

Yesterday, discretion was the better part of maintaining her credibility - she sent out the punting team on third down, and changed the subject:

Imus: What else is going on-how's Woodward doing, is he going to get off?

Mitchell: Why I don't know, it's just a mess for everyone involved...

Imus: It is?

Mitchell:...but I think Iraq is really what people are focused on here in Washington...

Even her evasions are fraught with meaning!  Why is it a mess for everybody?  A mess for Woodward, sure.  A few people at the WaPo, maybe Viveca Novak at TIME.  But everybody?

Now, I think it may be a bit of a mess even for Andrea.  But it's the Holiday season, so let's cheer up - depending on my time management, we may be able to provide Andrea with a bit of company as the weekend unfolds.

Comments

[anonymous]

Okay, another job? Someone should have bought a dog?

Plame and Congressional 'stalling.':

The stall may have alot to do with Congress ordering DOJ and Pentagon to report to CIA globally, including domestically(CIA always has a domestic mandate), as a result of Plame's possible indictment by DOJ. The problem is that it is a conflict of interest to investigate the CIA, which they are both required to report to domestically.

Plame's objective was to use the Niger trip and Wilson to blow covert WMD policy, Bush/Rice and her WMD degree, and CIA covert WMD schooling; which became mandatory for all CIA operations officers. She also sent alot of memos before the Uranium operation was used by her(it was a foreign intelligence penetration operation aimed at Bush and Rice). She was attempting to get others involved in what was, in fact a rogue operation. There were alot of memo leaks after she got peeved.

In addition to using a foreign intelligence operation aimed at US government leaders to get rid of WMD, she used her and Wilson'connections in Iraq to commit acts that called for an organized crime DOJ prosecuter like Fitzgerald to investigate after her 'Vanity Fair' article and admission to being a CIA operations officer. DOJ oraganized crime department handles bad CIA agents like Aimes, Howard, etc. Fitz passed and went after his true passions, politicians. He failed at his job and DOJ and Pentagon now report globally, incuding domestically, to CIA. This was done by Congress because Fitz failed at his job and to protect Plame from indictment. The answer afer Plame was protected was to leak the CIA prison story and ask DOJ to investigate. Its a conflict of interest.

[Dwilkers]

I'm starting to feel a bit sorry for Andrea.

Well, OK not really. How about just tell us the truth Andrea?

You know...as in reporting?

[kim]

I don't think she thinks that is her job.
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[pedant]

TM,
The word you are looking for is 'founder', not 'flounder'm which is a fish.

[pedant]

And that would be 'flounder' without the 'm'.

-part time pedant

[kim]

Good question. I go for the fish as in flop hopelessly around. Not 'founder' as in stop hopelessly aground.
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[kim]

Hey, pedant, leave those fish alone.
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[Neo]

I remember saying at the beginning of this "adventure" that everybody should be careful what they wish for when it seemed just fine to call for a special prosecutor.

Now that the prosecutor is about half way through his charge, the press is unhappy that they have been dragged into this "adventure.' Amazing, Bob Novak has come out of the other side almost completely unscaved. But for a town that is used to operating on "leaks" of classified and unclassified information, it is now a mess.

Where it used to be a badge of courage to say that you knew X, Y or Z, now the reporters (and politicians) run for cover as they only see endless lawyer bills (the old special prosecutor law paid the expenses of those not charged, but that bill has lapsed) if they mention knows something.

So Andrea et al go into their impersonation of Sergeant Schultz claiming .. I know nothing.

[maryrose]

I agree with anonymous and feel not enough attention has been paid to activities by wilson and plame. By playing the victim card the they are able to skate away free of charges.

[SteveMG]

This is the way special prosecutions end, not with a bang but with a big friggin' whimper.

I thought we (left and right) had agreed after the Starr mess that these types of investigations were unwise, that the statutes were poorly drawn and that inevitably the prosecutor would wind up chasing his tail in order to justify the investigation.

At least, I had thought we had come to that agreement but there goes Bush dividing us again.

SMG

[danking]

I think Andrea needs to be booked daily on the Imus show since he's the only one asking questions.

Plus, we learn so much from her ramblings...

"Everyone knew she worked at the CIA..."

"It's just a mess for everyone involved..."

[kim]

One of these days Fitz is going to wake up feeling like a cockroach.
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[maryrose]

I disagree Steve this originally was a referral from the CIA because of Plame. Bush is not dividing people, I lay that at the dems door .
'door

[Jim E.]

"this originally was a referral from the CIA because of Plame."

And then after months of investigation, the Ashcroft justice department recommended that a SP be appointed. Why did Ashcroft think this warrented further investigation? Damn lib.

[TP]

My guess is that the WSJ is going to own this story once the 8 pages are unsealed. Most of the rest of the news organizations are going to have too many reporters on the disabled list to cover it.

[SteveMG]

MaryRose:
Bush is not dividing people, I lay that at the dems door

Sorry, I was in a snark mood (is there treatment for that condition other than posting at a blog?).

It was a sarcastic remark.

SMG

[maryrose]

SP was appointed because dems started screaming bloody murder that Ascroft wasn't impartial enough. They will be hoisted on their own petard.

[maryrosea]

I agree TP and isn't that a sad coomentary on our current media.

[SteveMG]

Why did Ashcroft think this warrented further investigation? Damn lib.

But the screaming and yelling for a SP by, among other voices, the NY Times had nothing to do with his decision?

Anyway, as usual in their desire to get Bush, the left is blinded by the substance of the problem. Viz., the need to place limits on SP's ability to roam the landscape searching for a justification for their investigation.

We've seen this time-after-time-after-time where these measures go off the track. After the Starr absurdity (yes I was against impeachment; a Senate censure would have sufficed), the left had agreed, I thought, that these actions were poor responses to alleged wrongdoing.

My guess is once we get Hillary in office, that understanding will be embraced once again.

SMG

[richard mcenroe]

"(CIA always has a domestic mandate)"

Since when? I thought they were explicitly restrictred FROM domestic ops?

And sending out the punting term on third down? Are you a secret soccer player or something?

[JM Hanes]

Steve
Fitzgerald is a Special Prosecutor who ultimately answers to the Justice Department. That's why Ashcroft's recusal was relevant. Starr was an Indpendent Counsel, which, until Congress let the relevant statute lapse, was a horse of a (slightly) different color.

[JM Hanes]

richard

"Are you a secret soccer player or something?"

Try double super secret space cadet.

[Terrie]

Tom, misery loves company. Who, pray tell, will be joining Andrea?

Richard?

Matt?

Fitzie?

If you find the time, we'll make the time.

[noah]

Courts ALWAYS piss me off. Fitz does not oppose release of at least part of the redacted material...so where the fuck is it?

[Gary Maxwell]

Why did Ashcroft think this warrented further investigation? Damn lib.

Jim E. this is perhaps the most ridiculous thing posted this week. That is going some too.

Your side stood on their desks and screamed at the top of their lungs for the investigation. Actually they also stamped their feet and alternating screaming ahd holding their breathe until blue.

Ashcroft felt politically he had no choice.

Now look where we are. But never fear there will be another Dem admin one of these days and the payback will be seen.

[richard mcenroe]

Is it possible all these journalists were so utterly convinced of Rove and/or Cheney's guilt that they never imagined the investigation would ever get this far?

[BurkettHead]

Jim E. said: "Why did Ashcroft think this warrented further investigation? Damn lib."

If Ashcroft had reported there was nothing there & no need for further investigation, would you have believed him?

[Gary Maxwell]

If Ashcroft had reported there was nothing there & no need for further investigation, would you have believed him?

Well chuckled at this one. They still bleieve the memos that Lucy Ramirez produced are real so its not likely.

In fact they think the Republicans blew up the levies so reality is far beynd much of them.

wont be a response to you thou, as you can see the whole lot of them have aboandoned us to head en mass to the pharmacy for a Prozac refill.

[noah]

What do you hear when you go to a law office or a whorehouse?

"You got the money (honey), I got the time"

[Jim E.]

"If Ashcroft had reported there was nothing there & no need for further investigation, would you have believed him?"

Well, given what we now know, would you?

For the moment, I'll choose to stand with William F. Buckley and acknowledge that the CIA leak case seems to be sort of important.

[noah]

In the intro to the Army Navy game I just heard McCain and Schwartzkof (sp?) reading a speech in alternating phrases referring to the pledge to fight "against all enemies, foreign and domestic". I guess they didn't get the memo from the dems...there is no act that would define you as a domestic enemy.

[kim]

Kopf, as in doff your cap----Kopf.
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[kim]

How jingoistic to perceive enemies.
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[boris]

Well, given what we now know, would you?

Had there been no investigation poor Fitz would not have sand in his eyes, appartently the only "crime" comitted so far. WTF are YOU referring to sport?

[richard mcenroe]

"Everybody"?

I think that's the same "everybody" Pauline Kael was referring to when she lamented that "nobody" she knew voted for Reagan...

It ain't like we proles count to anybody west of the Hudson...

[BurkettHead]

I think the CIA leak cases are important - but I doubt that's what Fitz is actually investigating.

[noah]

Kim:

Have an acquaintance named Kim who happens to be be a guy.

Just curious in light of your baffling mixture of cynicism, playful banter, trenchant observation, fractured poetry, and wicked non sequiturs...what is your gender?

[SteveMG]

JM Haines:
Starr was an Indpendent Counsel, which, until Congress let the relevant statute lapse, was a horse of a (slightly) different color.

Thanks for clearing up my muddled thinking (or trying to).

As you note, there's a difference between the Independent Prosecutor, whose job is statutorily created and who responds to a special court, and the SP, who is appointed by the AG and who responds to Justice.

The dilemma still applies, it seems to me. Viz., how to keep these extraordinary investigations from consuming itself.

I'm wondering if these SPs/IPs are afraid to say, after years of investigating matters, "Folks, I got nothing."

SMG

[clarice]

Me, too. http://americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=5044

[Davis]

We only need Special Prosecutors to investigate Democrats and the misguided CIA and State Department staffers who support them.

[Les Nessman]

Question: "If Ashcroft had reported there was nothing there & no need for further investigation, would you have believed him?"

Gary's Prediction: "wont be a response to you thou"

Non-answer: "Well, given what we now know, would you?"

Gary nailed it.

[maryrose]

Let's stop all these inane investigations and start concentrating on the important issues of the day. Homelessness,hunger health insurance et all.

[MeTooThen]

Kim,

The cockroach thing was funny.

Really.

I think though, it was a giant cockroach.

I have read an alternative translation describing the transformation as into a "giant vermin."

I like that one, too.

Just sayin'.

[MeTooThen]

richard mcenroe,

Yup.

"Everyone", indeed.

Fitzmas may turn into a nightmare if its original proponents aren't careful.

Or maybe it already is, and we just don't know about it yet?

[j.foster]

Mtt you may be correct .

[Toby Petzold]

Richard McEnroe, you meant Nixon, not Reagan.

[richard mcenroe]

Toby — could be, I've heard it with both. And while I'm at it, that should have been "east" of the Hudson...

[kim]

MTT: A gigantic varmint. What hole is he going to pop out of next. This coyote's confused. I'd be riskin' snakebite to get too nosy. And curiosity kills cats. I got a pack to follow.
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[kim]

Noah. Thanks for the lilies; I'll use them to paint the cage I'm breaking out of. Why don't I observe God in the trenches. One of my chief amusements is to attempt gender nuetral, or at least sillily ghillied, speech. This is difficult on close examination, transparently easy on the internet. I also dangle(display?) participles seductively, just waiting for someone to give tongue.
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[kim]

Internets. Your's ain't the same as mine.

Or, better: The one I invented ain't the same as the one you invented.
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