A federal judge Thursday dismissed on jurisdictional grounds the lawsuit filed by former CIA agent Valerie Plame (in photo) against the Bush administration, which she claims ruined her career by blowing her covert status in retaliation for her husband’s criticisms of the Iraq war. It’s worth noting, though, that the ruling didn’t absolve the White House of ethical wrongdoing. The judge called the alleged smear tactics "highly unsavory" and stressed that the couple’s allegations "pose important questions relating to the propriety of actions undertaken by our highest government officials."
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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GOD, IT TURNS OUT, IS REPUBLICAN
I’ve been officially proselytized, or in the Southern vernacular, “witnessed to.” I’ve been called to repentance, and by a rental-car-business driver, no less.
While dropping off my car recently for some repairs, Mr. Hell, Fire, and Brimstone came to pick me up in the rental and immediately spotted my license plate holder that declares me to be a “Proud Democrat.” On the drive back to the shop, I was a captive audience — unless I was going to jump from a moving vehicle, which I did briefly consider — and he used it advantageously to preach to me about the grievous error, the sin—according to him, of my politics.
Mr. Driver had been to a weekly prayer meeting at his church earlier that morning, he told me. True patriots, he and his “prayer partner” buddies were “on their knees” imploring for “our nation to turn from her sinful ways,” including praying for “our God-ordained President, George W. Bush.” No, I didn’t snicker at that description, not out loud.
The “real problem” with America, though, according to my Monday-morning preacher, is “the gays, feminists, and Democrats,” he said with an evil eye in my direction, pegging me. Now where, exactly, is that rental car place, I asked myself, a little wary. “Those people are going to hell,” he continued pontificating, quoting some Bible verse I didn’t recognize, one that didn’t sound anything like “love your neighbor,” or “judge not lest you be judged.”
Then I wondered, silently, intellectually curious. Do you have to be all three, or will just one or two put you on the path to eternal damnation? If it’s all three, I’m good to go, still got the proverbial chance. Otherwise, it’s going to be a little tricky for me, I have to confess.
The real problem of my driver’s theory — although it’s more like a political ideology — is it makes God, if there is one, unidimensional and made in man’s image. It makes him or her a Republican, clothed in an American flag. That type of belief also makes faith unidimensional. It makes any conception of morality and personal values dependent on and synonymous with the national Republican Party platform — anti-choice, pro-death penalty, pro-war. That philosophy doesn’t allow any space for deviation, or even humanity.
You’re with us or God is against you, it presumes. People who claim exclusivity to speak for a higher being frighten me.
Mr. Driver is not alone in his dogma, though, that religion and the government, the preacher and the politician should be cozy bedfellows, at least not in politically conservative East Texas. Vision America, a Christian ministry/political organization based in Nacogdoches, Texas, recently launched a campaign, “70 Weeks to Save America,” with a series of individual events, each named, “One Day Crusade to Save America—A Call to Christian Citizenship,” to mobilize social and religious conservatives in time to affect the 2008 elections, especially at the state and local levels.
But “save” America from what? The gays, feminists, and Democrats, presumably. That type of salvation comes with too high a price, as our country discovered in 2004, when Bush capitalized — that is, manipulated gullible Christians — on anti-gay marriage, anti-reproductive rights sentiment to ensure himself a second term. In exchange, we got a never-ending war in Iraq, more dead American soldiers, higher gas prices, and a housing market slump. It wasn’t an equitable negotiation.
Curious thing now, though, is even Bush’s own are turning on him. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” Even Rick Scarborough, head of and founder of Vision America, said recently, “He [Bush] had the sense enough to know it [a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman only] would help him win the election in ‘04, and we haven’t seen much support since.”
What’s it like, I wonder, to sacrifice your faith on the altar of political ambition only to discover you’ve been used?
We need to get past the equation for 2008 that Christian faith plus hatred of others equals good government.
Sour Grapes are tasty if eaten with the right Whine.
A Federal Judge appointed by Bush in 2002, who worked under Ken Starr in the Clinton Prosecution.
Go figure.
Hi Tracy,
What does your post have to do with the topic?
Informative post about your daily events, but a bit off topic don’t you think?
Tracy- I recommend turning Chickenman loose on your loon-driver!! You know it won’t be pretty, but well deserved.
G
I think I would have asked him to get out of my rental car and call a Taxi. And I probably would have told him that he’s a fruitcake and proselytizing on the job to the customer is extremely inappropriate.
Then I probably would have make little horns on my head (like a Seinfeld episode).
On Plame. Hardball had some guy on there yesterday and he was such a doofus trying to divert away from the topic at hand.
There will be an appeal. We’ll see where it goes from there.
Plame deserves to win this civil suit.
A Federal Judge appointed by Bush in 2002, who worked under Ken Starr in the Clinton Prosecution.
Go figure.
Odd how the ‘liberal media’ don’t mention those little factoids!
I,too saw that doofus on Hardball! Guys like these can’t even look themselves in the mirror while telling lies like the ones he spouted! Plame will get her well-deserved justice! Bush is so in denial about Iraq! He’s so caught up in winning a non-winnable war that he keeps asking for more and more time! He’ll find there is no more when September rolls around!
“A Federal Judge appointed by Bush in 2002, who worked under Ken Starr in the Clinton Prosecution.
Go figure.”
What’s there to figure? Other than what you have posted! I don’t see the relevance! What does mentioning the Federal Judge working under Ken Starr have to do with the Plame lawsuit? It seems you’re trying to make something out of nothing!!!
OMR,I wouldn’t bank on September if I were you; if Vietnam taught us anything, it’s that wars are a hell of a lot easier to get into than out of!
Tracy,I’ve run into quite a few of those jokers. What I do is turn to them with all sincerity and tell them “The worst Hell I can imagine would be to spend an eternity cooped up with people like you! So if you really fear for my soul, don’t attempt to take me wherever you’re going.”That doesn’t always work, but it’s the most successful silencer I’ve found so far.
Randy
You forgot about the rest of the judges quote- “But there can be no serious dispute that the act of rebutting public criticism, such as that levied by Mr. Wilson against the Bush administration’s handling of prewar foreign intelligence, by speaking with members of the press is within the scope of defendants’ duties as high-level Executive Branch officials,” Bates said.
Heckler,
But the WH didn’t have any credible facts to tell the “members of the press” to refute Wilson’s “public criticism”.
So they tried to discredit Wilson with innuendo, and outed a covert agent, his wife.
The dismissal was on jurisdictional grounds. This may be appealed. If so, the Court of Appeals will have the opportunity to determine whether the trial judge was correct.
Tracy, Shame I wasn’t there. That would have been fun…
First off, TRACY I AM SHOCKED… I HAD NO IDEA YOU WERE A DEMOCRAT!
Second, it all depends if you have faith in this country, it government and court system. To make one thing or another out of the judicial history of the Judge.
Third, if either statement said to have been made be the Judge is accurate. That it would also fall into the same reasoning I had heard he said he could not hear the case. It is not his jurisdiction so therefore he refused the requested hearing.
OMG Tracy is a Democrat!
You know, that Valerie Plame is kind of savory.
Tracy,
Nice story. Of course it takes something and draws completely false concolusions based on completely false premises too.
Who wrote it?
I BELIEVE
We believe in one God the Father all powerful, maker of all things both seen and unseen. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten begotten from the Father, that is from the substance of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made.CONSUBSTANTIAL with the Father, through whom all things came to be, both those in heaven and those in earth; for us humans and for our salvation he came down and became incarnate, became human, suffered and rose up on the third day, went up into the heavens, is coming to judge the living and the dead.
If you wanna know who wrote it,copy it and google it.I forgot his name.
http://www.minutemanmedia.org/TM%20071807.htm
Here’s the source, Nathan.
And thanks for sharing that, Tracy.
Funny stuff . . . “although I briefly considered leaping from the moving car . . . ”
The God squad guy was right about one thing though–Bush was “ordained by God” because he sure was elected by a majority of the American people in November of 2000.
ARGH! “he sure WASN’T elected by a majority” . . .
dang typos . . .
Sort of looks like that creed that monks used to say.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness . . . “
the troll thingy trying to bait the ol tracester?p-shah….
sorry
no time for a snack right now
That’s an interesting version of the Apostle’s Creed there . . . has elements of the Nicean Creed mixed in with it.
That’s what I was thinking of Capn, couldn’t think of the name – Nicene Creed.
I’ll Google my comments from several years ago if someone needs some cites, but I know full and well that I’ve contributed to this and/or other forums this observation:
There will be a bloody resolution to Shrub’s magnificent Iraqi adventure.
When (not “if,” but *when*) Americans leave Iraq there *will* be a lot of people dying. But until Americans get out of the region, too many Americans will be included in the death count.
“Iraq” is an artificial construct, bequeathed to us by the Brits at the end of wiping out the Ottoman Empire after World War I. The Shi’ite sectors are more likely to be Irani allies. The Sunis are more attuned to Saudi governance (as 19th Century as that really is). And the Kurds are naturally a part of half (or, actually, less-than-half) of Turkey. That’s Turkey’s problem; if the Kurds are accepted as part of Turkey, they’ll rule.
The Neo-Cons had their theory and under the presidency of George WMD Bush they’ve had a chance to test it.
They’ve been wrong. It’s been proven to be wrong.
That artifical segment of the planet presently called “Iraq” is gonna have to work it out for themselves.
A lot of people will be killed in the process. The question is: why should American sons and daughters be placed in the crossfire?
For 3 Billion Dollars a week, for 12 Billion Dollars a month, for a Trillion Dollars a year… might the United States of America be able to come up with an alternative to Middle East oil?
It might hurt Halliburton’s P&Ls, but a lot fewer Americans would be at risk.
If Valerie Plame was a covert agent, how come the person who outed her (Richard Armitage) wasn’t charged with a crime? It’s funny how after the entire investigation, the only “crime” committed was one person saying (intentionally or not?) incorrect dates while under oath. The whole Scooter Libby trial was a case of a prosecuter who held a grudge because he could never bring charges against Marc Rich while Libby was defending him.
JM, you should do some research, and learn the facts.
Plame is joke.
“Spys” can’t live political activist lives.
Plame and Wilson are political hacks.
They outed themselves.
“If Valerie Plame was a covert agent, how come the person who outed her (Richard Armitage) wasn’t charged with a crime?…”Posted by: JM | July 20, 2007 at 06:46 PM
(sigh)
This has been explained in this forum, and many other sites, time and time again. Still people such as “JM” don’t get the message.
Scooter Libby was indicted, tried by and found guilty by a jury of his peers of three felonies: two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. Libby lied about who outed Valerie Plame (telling at least two versions of answers to the Grand Jury).
If Fitzgerald were to bring charges against Richard Armitage defense attorneys would simply bring Libby to testify and ask about both sworn versions he told the Grand Jury. Then they’d ask, “Which time were you lying? Were you lying then or are you lying now?” and firmly establish grounds for letting Armitage off due. That, “JM,” is the basis for “obstruction of justice.”
Instead of parroting the “… ow come Richard Armitage wasn’t charged?” Bushie talking point, you should look at the facts of the matter yourself and realize how ridiculous you look, asking meaningless questions that have been settled long ago.
Well PM,
Interesting story you’ve made up. One of the so-called-lies Libby was convicted of wasn’t about “. . about who outed Valerie Plame . .”
On several occasions I’ve asked if any one that had their panties in a wad over Libby’s conviction actually knew the exact lies Libby was convicted of.
I see that you don’t have any idea.
Hank
You do realize Hanky, we’re discussing the CIVIL suit, not the actual conviction of Libby, right?
Try to keep up.
JM–
How’s Mississippi, Sasquatch?
Good Luck Plame! You have no merit for the lawsuit.
Just sit and relax in New Mexico, the Democrats will feed your lifestyle, so enjoy it while you can, because once you become irrelevant and cannot make any news anymore, the money will stop, the fame will stop, the attention will stop and the Democrats will stop calling you.
Ride that 5 minutes though.
Tracy,
You can be sure of one thing. At some point you will have the opportunity to ask the Lord himself.
Valarie Plame is a traitor. She should have at least been fired, if not prosecuted for treason. She sent her democrat hack husband, a private citizen, on a mission to undermine the administration position and repeatedly lied about it. Typical of those with Bush derangement syndrome, he bungled his objective so much, his oral report, he produced no written report, supported the claim that the Hussein regime did indeed send a delegation to Niger to secure Yellowcake Uranium. The statement of Bush’s that he supposedly refuted was “The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa.” Since when is Joe Wilson the British government? Bush’s statement was later validated by the British governments Butler Commission.
The leak, which was not illegal, answered the question that all of the main stream media should have been asking, but only Bob Novak did. Why would the Vice-President’s office send a former Clinton appointed ambassador and big Kerry supporter, a private citizen, on such a sensitive mission? It wouldn’t and it didn’t. But that didn’t stop Joe Wilson from making such claims, revealing his real mission, which was to undermine our national security for political gain.
The real leak, if you want to call it that, came from Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State, who informed his superior, Secretary of State Colin Powell, of his actions. If this information would have been passed to the White House, the Fitzgerald investigation would have never happened. Why did Powell sit on this information? Why didn’t the mainstream media scream “cover up”? Why is the mainstream media pointing at the White House and not the State Department? Because Powell, Armitage, and most of the State department (which had wanted to leave the Baath party in power in Iraq after deposing Hussein) were opponents of the administrations Iraq policy and all to willing to undermine it with the help of a seditious media.
Dear P -mom,
You do realize that I was writing a direct response to PM don’t you? In fact, the part I was responding to was in quotes in my response.
Really makes little difference rather you libs whine about the criminal or civil, you know so little of the facts of either.
Hank
P*ss on Plame, p*ss on the bigot Tracy and many of her cracker pals around here.
TracyNot sure why you brought it up, but here is a good link for you:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11049a.htm