Lies pervade in scandals

Somebody is lying. That's not an accusation or a criticism, just a logical conclusion based on comparing statements by various administration officials.

There is no way all of the people involved in the Valerie Plame case can be telling the truth, because they contradict each other, and sometimes themselves. Whether a law was broken when her identity as a CIA agent was revealed in the press back in the early summer of 2004, the more important issues of why she was exposed and the subsequent cover-up tell us more about the integrity of the Bush administration than any legal action can.

When the special prosecutor first delivered subpoenas in August of 2004, White House spokesman Scott McLellan said unambiguously: "If anyone in this administration was involved in it, they would no longer be in this administration." Various officials, including President Bush, repeated these denials. Interestingly, the only person who doesn't have a record of public denials is the only one indicted so far, Lewis, "Scooter" Libby. Yet, the details of the investigation point to the possible involvement of both Karl Rove and Vice President Dick Cheney, and more indictments may be forthcoming.

Almost a year and a half later, none of the involved individuals have been removed from office. Libby resigned only after he was indicted.

But leave aside for the moment the legality of revealing Plame's identity, the hypocrisy of the denials and whether administration officials lied under oath to cover it up. No matter how trivial people think the rest is, it is now indisputable fact that several officials discussed Plame's identity with reporters in the context of criticizing her husband, Joseph Wilson, a former State Department official critical of the Iraq war. This is what we now know about how this administration does business and responds to criticism: nothing is out of bounds. If you can't beat your opponent, go after his wife.

Another troubling aspect of all this is the timing. Remember back during the summer of 2004? The election was still hotly contested, and Bush was even or slipping in the polls. The last thing he needed was a scandal reaching all the way to the vice president to fester in the papers. So what did the loyal employees do? They stalled. There was no discernible progress on the case until well after the election due to delays delivering documents, requests for postponements and other legal maneuvering.

Unfortunately, we may never get the whole story. E.J. Dionne, a columnist for the Washington Post, made the observation that if Libby wants to, he can stonewall some more, and then even if he is convicted, Bush can pardon him. If Bush pardons anyone else who is indicted, this will effectively terminate the investigation into who else in the administration was involved, condoned or authorized the retaliation, and possibly lied about it.

Does any of it matter? When credibility is so important regarding other issues like the war, the deficit and pressing domestic problems, a pattern of lying about anything is a lethal wound to the integrity of the administration. If they aren't telling the truth about this, what else are we missing?

Meanwhile, the talking heads whine about the "criminalization of politics," as if this was something new under the sun. This is a perfect example of reaping what you sow, and chickens coming home to roost.

The politics of personal destruction were perfected in the 1990s during the eight-year vendetta waged against Bill Clinton. Like Libby, he lied to a grand jury, and was punished. Unlike Libby, his lie was about cheating on his wife, and only came after years of investigation on other matters that yielded nothing. If the conservative apologists think the current investigation is unfair, they have only themselves to blame. What goes around truly does come around.

Compared to other problems we face, this may seem minor to some people. It would be nice if we didn't have to worry about it so the country could work on the ballooning budget deficit, Katrina reconstruction and the hemorrhaging wound of the Iraq war.

Putting it to rest would require Bush to fire some folks, or at least force some resignations. This isn't likely though. Loyalty is a fine attribute as long as it doesn't lead to self-destruction.

Robert Wack writes from Westminster, where he serves on the Common Council. E-mail him at:

It's another mouthpiece who forgives clinton as his lie was only about sex. Never mind that his lie was calculated to affect an ongoing court case. Never mind that all of clinton's accusers were vilified and then had their finances audited. Never mind that even now, democrats are still trying to supress a decade old investigation which will harm the clintons.

Just pay attention to what I tell you and forget about the facts.

I think Mr Wack could appropriately be called Mr. Wacked Off based on this incredibly biased and slanted "report". Starting with, what exactly are the inconsistencies in the statements he referred to in the heading? You can read the whole article and nothing is stated to substantiate that charge. And then, he states: 'But leave aside for the moment the legality of revealing Plame's identity...." Yeah, just leave that aside, since the whole phoney story is based on a bogus premise. The Dems will stop at nothing to back up their nonsensical criticisms of anything or anybody connected to Bush. God, this is getting lamer every day!

The perfect Liberal Column. Devoid of fact or argument, it relies solely on one Dims opinion and interpretation.

But the important thing is, he FEELS he is right, and thats all that matters.

And they wonder why thinking people are put off by that.

Cheers,

knews hound

Latest article"The Rope a Dope Gambit"

"There was no discernible progress on the case until well after the election due to delays delivering documents, requests for postponements and other legal maneuvering.
"

Now that is hilarious. The Klintons 'delayed' delivering documents (or had Sandy stuff them down his drawers) until Louis Freeh had to drop investigations. Of course, some of them were miraculously beamed into the White House residence by aliens (Hillary's Schutz Staffel in disguise) much to the amazement of all concerned. Not.

The DemonRats always refer to Plame as an undercover CIA agent, which is a total joke. At the time that her supposed cover was blown, she was living in Virginia and commuting to a desk job everyday. She was not in any kind of undercover status.

The Plame affair tells us nothing about the integrity of the Bush administration—unless one already believes that President Bush and his people are the ones who are lying.

I'm totally sick and tired of these people. They have been after George Bush since before he was elected. I'm just sick and tired of reading their crap, or listening to them whine. They have nothing substantive to discuss, nothing positive to suggest. They are just a non-stop stream of negativism.

Need a big "BARF ALERT" for this Mr. Whack-job! He doesn't know a thing except what he's been spoon-fed in DNC talking points..... IF this Whack-job knew anything about the matter, he'd know that Joe Freakface Wilson is a lying scumbag who betrayed his country in time of war and who should be in jail. Everything else is just colored bubbles.......

11 posted on 12/16/2005 5:32:09 PM PST by Enchante (Democrats: "We are ALL broken and worn out, our party & ideas, what else is new?")

This guy is a complete idiot. I mean, they expect us to waste so much time correcting their errors, omissions and outright lies that we won't have time for anything else.

Sorry, Bobby P. - I'll just know to stay away from your doctor's office. **shudder***

13 posted on 12/17/2005 7:42:48 PM PST by an amused spectator (If Social Security isn't broken, then cut me a check for the cash I have into it.)

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