I don't think Libby will ever go to trial

[xray s]

Forget about Cheney and Rove testifying.

Libby will take the fall, plead guilty and break his cherry at a ClubFed and then rejoin the Bush Crime Family in a nice comfortable private sector job.

Made men know how the game is played. It's a blood oath.

The only way we will ever beat these bastards is at the ballot box, folks.

[Junkdrawer]

1. Billion dollar question: Will Fitz accept a plea?

Scooter still maintains his innocence through his lawyer - but that's normal for a perp who is negotiating a plea.

[xray s]

2. If it come down to a trial, he will plead guilty

I don't think Fitz can prevent Libby from pleading guilty to avoid a trial to protect BushCo.

[Junkdrawer]

5. Then he has to go to jail while he waits for a Bush pardon...

and usually that comes at the end of the last term - December 2008.

[xray s]

6. there you go

he won't serve 10 years.

Lets say the trial is scheduled for next summer. Scooter says "hey, I made a stupid mistake, but I did it. Guilty, your honor"

He serves two years, and Bush sets him free in December '08, so the country can "move forward."

[kath]

16. yep, a trial wouldn't wrap up until 2-3 years from now, so after a few

months or so it will be the end of Chimpy's term --- so Pardon time.

[Junkdrawer]

17. Assuming there is a trial. I think the presumption is that BushCo...

desperately wants to avoid a trial. And to do that either:

1.) Libby fingers Cheney in return for a slap on the wrist.

2.) Libby pleads Guilty and does at least two years. (Not to mention spending the rest of his life as a felon with a ruined reputation).

3.) Fitz lets him off with a generous plea agreement.

Stay tuned...

[LSK]

9. Libby already said he would fight it

He released a statement today about wanting to clear his name. Right now it doesnt look like a guilty plea is coming.

[Beausoir]

8. That is indeed the big question.

Copping a plea is not as easy as most believe. Fitz will have to get something in return.

[Junkdrawer]

13. The terms of any plea agreement will tell me what this investigation...

was about. Is it an effort to appease the working CIA or is it a real search for the Truth.

[LSK]

3. the only way there will not be a trial is if he talks

And if he talks, a lot more damage can come of it. There will be a trial. Libby will not plead guilty. He already let out a statement that he wants to clear his name.

THERE WILL BE A TRIAL.

[wookie294]

24. He can also plead guilty to avoid a trial

and then he would be pardoned by Bush.

[helderheid]

4. the vapor ballot?

[Duer 157099]

7. Can someone please clarify once and for all?

If Scooter pleads guilty, is there a trial? If not, then what does Fitz have to do with accepting the plea? Is it only about reducing the sentence? And if Bush will pardon him anyway, why would he care about reducing the sentence?

[hiaasenrocks]

10. IF that happens there will be no trial.

Libby will most likely be required to allocute, which means he will have to admit to everything he did in relation to the crimes charged, with specificity and detail, and tell why he did it. It will be up to Fitz whether or not Libby's statement is acceptable.

[Duer 157099]

15. what if Libby's only defense is: I forgot

or something similar. Hard to prove otherwise. So, he pleads guilty to false testimony, but claims it was due to bad memory.

Then what does Fitz do?

In other words, does Fitz have the ability to FORCE a trial unless Libby offers up some juicy info that Fitz wants?

[kurth]

19. Bad memory is no defense

It's like telling a judge "But I forgot to look at the speedometer!"... And it's ludicrous because Libby lied on MULTIPLE occasions. If he pleads not guilty as expected, or if he doesn't enter into a plea bargain with Fitzgerald (subject to the judge's approval), there will be a trial.

[xray s]

12. When you plead "guilty as charged" there is no trial

What I am saying is Scooter will plead "guilty as charged" to protect BushCo.

[Zen Democrat]

11. If he pleads guilty, I think Fitz would after the full 30 years.

[xray s]

14. Doesn't matter

Bush sets him free in December '08.

[garybeck]

26. too bad the judge is a Bush appointee.

[obsqueesha]

18. I agree.

Isn't this just all for show?

[Junkdrawer]

20. See post #13. The plea terms, if any, will tell us all. n/t

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bklyncowgirl]

22. I agree.

He'll get a nice golden parachute job while waiting for the trial. The trial of course will take months, maybe years and then, toward the end of his turn Bush will grant ol' Scooter a presidential problem and he can go on to make big bucks as a lobbyist or consultant.

[wookie294]

23. I agree -- It's why I don't admire Fitzgerald

Fitz has the goods on Cheney's conspiracy, but he refuses to prosecute it. This is a sad day. I think Fitz is a Republican who felt prosecuting Cheney would be "harmful" to America's "best interests." So, he declined to go after Cheney -- even though it's obvious he was involved in criminal activity. And I disagree with DUers who say this isn't over. It's OVER.

[Tomee450]

25. I agree

I don't think Libby will spend a day in jail nor do I believe that Rove or any other person from this administration will be indicted. This case is winding down and I doubt if anything else of importance will be revealed. I always believed that people were being too optimistic about how this case would come out.