I'm getting dizzy,now WP is spinning that Woodward could help Libby & Rove

[sabra]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/16/AR2005111602147.html

Analysis

Woodward Could Be a Boon to Libby

By Carol D. Leonnig and Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, November 17, 2005; Page A15

<snip>

Legal experts said Woodward provided two pieces of new information that cast at least a shadow of doubt on the public case against Libby, Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff, who has been indicted on perjury and obstruction of justice charges.

...

"I think it's a considerable boost to the defendant's case," said John Moustakas, a former federal prosecutor who has no role in the case. "It casts doubt about whether Fitzgerald knew everything as he charged someone with very serious offenses." Other legal experts agreed.

...


Randall D. Eliason, former head of the public corruption unit for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District,said he doubts the Woodward account would have much effect on Libby's case, and dismissed such theories as "defense spin."


...

Rove's defense team also believes he could benefit tangentially from the Woodward disclosure because it shows other officials were discussing Plame in casual ways and that others have foggy recollections of the period as well, according to a Republican close to Rove.

[Halliburton]

1. here's a good quote

<snip>
"Libby was not charged with being the first to talk to a reporter, and that is not part of the indictment," he said. "Whether or not some other officials were talking to Woodward doesn't really tell us anything about the central issue in Libby's case: What was his state of mind and intent when he was talking to the FBI and testifying in the grand jury?" Eliason added: "What this does suggest, though, is that the investigation is still very active. Hard to see how that is good news for Rove or for anyone else in the prosecutor's cross hairs."
<snip>

The rest of the article is just spin. No wonder it's on A15.

[fearnobush]

2. They need to drum it up, make it seem plausible to sell tons of paper.

Woodward might realize that "junk yard dogs" don't give up. They will chase you down until your butt is firmly locked in their jaws.

[AndyTiedye]

7. This Isn't About Selling More Papers

If they were interested in selling more papers, they would say more (a lot more) about all the illegal and scandalous things that the regime has been doing. Scandal sells papers.
They do not do that. Why? It isn't about selling more papers, it is about keeping ** and his gang in power.

[carolinalady]

3. The name Ollie North is screaming through my head. n/t

[nevergiveup]

4. Woodward is an arrogant publicity seeking punk!

Just my opinion

[Frances]

5. Why doesn't Woodward's revelation

suggest that there may have been a conspiracy between his source and Libby? After all, Libby leaked to the New York Times through Judy and Woodward's source leaked to the Washington Post through Woodward. Is it just coincidence that 2 different White House sources leaked to the 2 most influential newspapers in the country? And is it a coincidence that in each case it was the White House leaking TO a reporter who was not on the trail of Plame prior to the leak?

[Kagemusha]

6. It suggests to ME that this is a pre-arranged alibi.

That there was a group inside the WH that decided to make sure reporters could be blamed if this blew up later.

The problem with such a scheme is what happens when it gets rolled up by a guy like Fitz.