David Shuster, Fabulist

We cover David Gregory's deceit below, but David Shuster of MSNBC is having great fun covering the Libby trial, mainly because his editors let him make stuff up, as they have been doing for a while.  And why not - there is a guaranteed audience for Bush-bashing, no matter how slim the factual foundation.

His latest fantasy is that Libby destroyed evidence:

According to prosecutors, the evidence will show that Scooter Libby destroyed a note from Vice President Cheney about their conversations and about how Vice President Cheney wanted the Wilson matter handled.

Stephen Spruiell and James Joyner tackle this.  Mr. Spruiell takes us back to an earlier version of the same story, now edited out of existence but preserved at E&P:

Fitzgerald also alleged that Libby in September 2003 “wiped out” a Cheney note just before Libby's first FBI interview when he said he learned about Wilson and his wife, CIA operative Valerie Plame, from reporters, not the vice president.

It was not clear if Fitzgerald meant that an attempt was made to destroy the note or that Libby had forgotten about it. In any case, the note was recovered and is part of the evidence.

Here is James Joyner, quoting an earlier Shuster report and adding commentary: 

David Shuster of MSNBC, who is sitting in the room with me,  reports some big breaking news:

Fitzgerald alleged that Libby in September 2003 “wiped out” a Cheney note just before Libby’s first FBI interview when he said he learned about Wilson and his wife, CIA operative Valerie Plame, from reporters, not the vice president.

It was not clear if the reference to wiped out was literal or figurative.

I would note for the record that every other person in the media room, including bloggers for the liberal Firedoglake, are convinced it was the latter. Indeed, the idea that Fitzgerald would accuse Libby in his opening statements of destroying evidence, something with which he was never charged or seriously investigated, strains credulity.

The EmptyWheel, who yields to no one in her disdain for Evil BushCo, provided this liveblogging coverage of Fitzgerald's opening statement:

The defendant lied. He made up a story. He told the story that he wasn't relying on any of the information he heard from government officials. He relied on information he got from reporters

VP notes–Libby knew that note was in his file. But he wiped it out.

His story was essentially this. Learned it from Russert. I don't know this. Passed it on to other reporters.

Well - maybe Shuster went back and asked Patrick Fitzgerald to deliver the opener a second time.

Fans of Mr. Shuster will remember his well-established track record of stretching the truth in his Plame coverage in order to bash Bush. 

Here he dropped a key qualifier to make it appear that Cheney authorized a Plame leak, dropping the phrase "information about the NIE" and reporting this:

This is a document released by the court. It's a letter from Patrick Fitzgerald to Scooter Libby's legal team. And it says, "As we discussed during our telephone conversation, Mr. Libby testified that he was authorized to disclose information to the press by his superiors."

Bob Somerby thumped Shuster for misstating, or failing to read, the NIE.

Shuster is not a serious reporter, but he has a devoted following in the self-styled "reality-based" community.  One can almost hear them calling, "Tell me another reality, David".

But there may be a method to his madness - between this and (mainly) the State of the Union, the news that NBC reporter David Gregory sat on a leak from Ari Fleischer may be swept under the rug.

MORE:  We are linking to Mark Kleiman, but let's quote the relevant passage and observe his editorial process:

Now that (1) Scooter Libby's defense team plans to blame everything and Karl Rove, and (2) Patrick Fitzgerald has revealed that poor, confused Scooter Libby was so busy fighting the global battle to save civilization that he shredded notes from his conversations with Cheney (conversations in which Cheney told Libby precisely how to run the counteroffensive against Joseph Wilson) before the FBI could get to them...

"Shredded notes" currently links to the Shuster fantasy at Think Progress.

MORE:  John Dickerson, David Corn, and Mike Isikoff all missed the Shuster bombshell that Libby destroyed evidence.

Comments

[topsecretk9]

But there may be a method to his madness - between this and (mainly) the State of the Union, the news that NBC reporter David Gregory sat on a leak from Ari Fleischer may be swept under the rug.

Ugh. This is not good for NBC. It does make you wonder about what they have to hide/protect and the lengths the pillars o truth will go to bend it at will.

It's interesting how bloggers sitting next to him are able to call BS in real-time.

All in all, the trial has been stupendous for bloggers. Love it.

[richard mcenroe]

You don't wipe out notes. You stuff them down your pants and sneak away with them. Have we learned nothing from the Democrats?

[MayBee]

Heh.

FDL posters and commenters wanted to make sure Para told Shuster that he was the most reliable source on the Libby trial. My guess is that went to his head, and he decided fabulist works for him.

[Javani]

I think the "wiped out" storyline was effective--if a reporter was misled, wouldn't a juror? Might come back to haunt him, Geragos-style, if he doesn't show anything "wiped out"

""(conversations in which Cheney told Libby precisely how to run the counteroffensive against Joseph Wilson)""

Only in the blogosphere can so many hold that notion. 12 average jurors are not going to see Cheney's response to a leaking critic calling him a liar or a hider as inappropriate.

Predicted testimony. "Wells: Did you respond to critic Mr. X? No. How about Ms. Y? No. Why you respond against Wilson? He said I sent him to Niger and I was hiding information."

[kate]

Now let's not be too hard on little David Shuster. Remember that for many months, his contribution to the Plame reporting consisted of functioning as a stenographer for Joe Wilson's friends including Larry.

Now he has to do some, er, original reporting and he's having a little trouble.

[jerry]

I wonder who will be the star reporter for this trial, one or two months down the road?

I treat the bloggers (EW, TM, et al...) as equals to the people on cable and in the papers when I go to learn about this case.

I'm hoping to see people like EW and TM on some cable shows, providing expert commentary and debate (that would be a great event).

My money would be on EW, call it my lefty bias, I'm looking forward to some great insights/deconstructions of the defense.

But we need scoops also, who will get the big scoop? Who's got the connections on the ground in DC? Maybe TM and Clarice will come through here (tell me about Bush and Rove pleease)? Here's hoping.

[Rick Ballard]

There's an easy explanation. We say:

"He's a fabulist."

He hears: "He's fabulous." and keeps typing up last night's dreams.

[Javani]

"Maybe TM and Clarice will come through here (tell me about Bush and Rove pleease)?"

Rove had spoke to Novak about the wife, Libby had not. The Rove matter, my guess, explains the "memo" from Cheney. Did Rove try to deflect blame, or maybe more likely Libby feared so?

The only cable shows that will be worthwhile are those peppered with guest lawyers, real trial attorneys. All the media types will not report fairly the blemishes to their brethren in the profession. CourtTV might be good too.

Miller's statement about a "trick" will be played up no doubt as a standard journo trick. It will be a critical part of the trial, but little mentioned.

I say everyone should join hands and agree Bob Novak ruined the chummy world of sharing "background" secrets.

Necessary reading for any lurking attorneys is the "Sen Intel Report" parts about Wilson. Hyperlink on the right of this page.

[Patton]

To be fair to Shooster, his original report most likely explained 'wiped out' by menaing Libby had set off a small nuclear explosion in DC and its magnetic pulse had wiped out the note on all computers within 20 miles.

Shooster was probably reign in by Chris Mathews who said it was probably just a dirty bomb and not an actual nuke, while Olbermann kept harping 'the Jew did it, the Jew did it', and 'Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler' from the background.

[jerry]

Patton, you wild man, what are you saying about Herr Obermann?

I sort of agree with you Javani, it was a step too far. There's a level of trust and moderation in these subjects that is good and necessary for the government and journalism to function best.

[topsecretk9]

Wilson claims he knows the exact contents on Condi's personal file.

Hope Well's asks Grossman if he shared this info with Wilson or if he knows who did.

Because Wilson's claims are so true and all.

[jerry]

Umm, please excuse my momentary sillyness... Condi's personal file has contents? (hehe, I am a joker.) I thought contents were inconsistant with repetitively lying to Congress.

Where'd you get this info anyway topsecretk9?

"Hope Well's asks Grossman if he shared this info with Wilson or if he knows who did."

topsecretk9, you'd win my reporter award if there's a story here.

[cathyf]

...he shredded notes from his conversations with Cheney (conversations in which Cheney told Libby precisely how to run the counteroffensive against Joseph Wilson)

According to last spring's filings, Libby had a list of Niger/yellowcake talking points.

1) He turned it over to the FBI pretty much first thing, and it will be admitted as evidence at the trial.

2) It contained no reference whatsoever to Wilson's wife.

[MayBee]

Grossman said today:Wilson said that he thought the trip had been at the request of the OVP.

I would love to hear again about how Wilson didn't claim it was at the behest of the VP.

[cathyf]

While I usually can figure out if something is a typo, and figure out what it means, this one has me stumped, TSK9. Does Joe Wilson claim to have a copy of Dr. Rice's personnel file or her personal files?

[Chants]

Has anyone seen a misstatement of fact spread so quickly through the sinosphere?

[topsecretk9]

Grossman said today:Wilson said that he thought the trip had been at the request of the OVP.

I would love to hear again about how Wilson didn't claim it was at the behest of the VP.

Behest. Behest. Behest, He NEVER said Behest! HAH!

Yes Maybee...and I answred your question about Wilson and Condi's personal file here

Seeing as she was the National Security Advisor, the person whose job it is to keep track of the nuclear threats against the United States, for her not to know about these reports that were sitting in her very own office files says to me that she is either A) incompetent, B) disingenous, or C) and this is the most likely in my opinion....simply a bald faced liar.

Is Wilson claiming in 2006 ***HIS*** report was in Condi's file?

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2007/01/the_libby_trial.html#comment-28152592

[Tom Maguire]

My money would be on EW, call it my lefty bias

That is your lefty bias. She will be trying too hard to justify her theories to follow the actual story (that might be my downfall, too). I actually think our old Jeff, now at TAP, is least wedded to any particular viewpoint, which may make him best able to see what is actually happening in front of him.

Grossman said today:Wilson said that he thought the trip had been at the request of the OVP.

I would love to hear again about how Wilson didn't claim it was at the behest of the VP.

What a clown show, with Wilson claiming he never told anyone that and the old Kristof columns just sitting there in cold ink.

[Tim]

Shuster: Well, Karl Rove's legal team has told me that they expect that a decision will come sometime in the next two weeks. And I am convinced that Karl Rove will, in fact, be indicted. [my emphasis]

[windansea]

I actually think our old Jeff, now at TAP, is least wedded to any particular viewpoint

oh please...Jeff thinks Joe is a noble whistle blower who never lied

[boris]

Jeff just keeps his grand unified theory pretty close to the vest but the following points have emerged in his postings here ...

• Joe is a noble whistle blower who never lied;
• Joe never actually claimed he was behested by Cheney;
• Valerie had nothing to do with the mission;
• Valerie had nothing to do with reporters;
• Valerie is a saintly goddess;
• (Jeff has a serious crush on Valerie)
• Cheney and Libby conspired to destroy Valerie;
• Cheney and Libby deserve to rot in hell for what they did to Valerie;

[sbw]

What is TAP?

[Rick Ballard]

SBW,

I believe that's 'The American Prospect'. If you wear a red carnation boutinniere on May Day and longed to watch those big military parades in Red Square, you'll love it.

It's on Tom blog roll on the left (down a bit but not nearly far enough). He calls it TAPPED.

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

boris, you forgot that Jeff also thinks that when Kristoff called Wilson to verify that Pincus wasn't correct (in his June 12th, 2003 piece) that Cheney knew nothing about Wilson's trip, Wilson merely 'expressed skepticism'. Rather than lied outright.

[boris]

OT Clarice, early today the venison tenderloins were sliced into medallions, coated with savory seasoning then marinated in zinfandel and hickory bbq.

This evening just before grilling they were skewered alternating with red onion and baby bellas. Grilled over real charcoal and hickory chips then served with long grain & wild rice and brussel sprouts.

[clarice]

MMMMMMMMM I love venison--especially venison tederloins-- and that sounds great.

[Daddy]

Here in Alaska, Momma whipped up a big plate of meatloaf, and our little girls slathered it in enough Ketchup to take a bath in. Yum!

[battery]

Here in Alaska, Momma whipped up a big plate of meatloaf, and our little girls slathered it in enough Ketchup to take a bath in. Yum!

[kal online gold]

Yesterday is my birthday, so my friends bought me some kal online gold as gifts.

[LOTRO Gold]

When you have LOTRO Gold, you can get more!