Why Monica will Sing

[Jackpine Radical]

First, let us be clear. There are criminal matters at hand. It goes beyond political firings. That would be against DOJ rules, but probably not in itself illegal. Monica clearly signaled that she thinks there are criminal issues here when she took the 5th, which pertains to criminal matters only, not just civil things like agency rule breaking.

Second, once granted immunity, she runs a grave risk of perjury or obstruction charges if she gets caught in a lie. She must either tell the truth--because she doesn't know what Conyers knows--or she must do the SIA thing (i.e. subpoena-induced amnesia). If she tells the truth, good. Conyers is happy, she fingers people, and the investigation proceeds. If she goes SIA, she becomes, in Conyers' eyes, an uncooperative witness. Remember that Conyers no doubt has considerable knowledge of the background situation already. He is in a position to say to her, "If you testify fully about X, that will help us prosecute the big guys we really want to get, and we can cut you some slack. We may forget to apss along some of the things we have in our file on you. However, if you play SIA like Fredo did, we will give the prosecutors enough to hang you with. If you don't help us get the big guys, we will damn sure get you. What do you want to do?"

Testimony in exchange for leniency. Investigators do it all the time.

[wakeme2008]

1. Jesus will tell her not to talk is my guess

:shrug:

[MADem]

2. If she tries to take immunity AND lie, and one single person with knowledge AND love of the law

takes exception and calls her out for lying, she goes to jail for a VERY long time.

I don't think she's smart enough, frankly, to tiptoe through the tulips of perjury. I think she's gonna have to sing, sing, sing, sing!

[panader0]

3. Accepting immunity should equal good testimony

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Accepting? The judge made her an offer she can't refuse.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. She's warming her pipes as we speak

She'll sing

[Patsy Stone]

6. Sing out, Monica!

I can't see her having a way to dodge the question Why did you request immunity? What's she going to say, I don't recall?

[Jackpine Radical]

31. Nice point.

[Uben]

7. Immunity only applies....

.....to her testimony. Nothing she testifies to can be used against her. She has no blanket immunity, so I am sure the questioning will be precise and to the point. The goal is to get her to give up the big guys without disclosing any crimes she may have committed, therefore she still faces the peril of prosecution for those crimes and will be more willing to cooperate to cut a deal. We do not want another "Oliver North" situation. Ask her direct questions and avoid letting her extrapolate.

[Jackpine Radical]

32. Exactly.

Let Monica go is she delivers. She's young. Maybe she'll have a John Dean-style epiphany one of these days.

[katsy]

8. She can sing all she wants...

and forgive me tonight, my frustration is showing, but if she hasn't blowm someone, who will pay attention?

[Jackpine Radical]

30. A whole lot of pissed-off lawyers with top prosecutorial credentials

will pay attention. She's gonna be tried in the courts, not in the press.

[Wiley50]

9. God, I hope she has Perfect Pitch

We can't afford otherwise

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

10. when does she go on?

[Rev. Mother Ramallo]

11. Monica who--and about what?

[Sydnie]

13. Monica Goodling and the Rove/Gonzo connection

Should be a show worth watching!

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[Blackhatjack]

12. She is at the fork in the road for sure... and her choice is all or none

I think she will avoid prison, and tell the truth --unless she is an unfortunate viction of an accident before she testifies.

[FoxNewsSucks]

14. This assumes

that she doesn't fall victim to a "car accident". Or an "armed robbery". Or something like that. . .

[Jackpine Radical]

15. Well, yes, it does assume that.

[kohodog]

16. Unfortunately these people have lousy memories

I doubt she can remember what she had for breakfast today.

The transcript:

"I don't recall."
"I'm trying to remember, but it doesn't ring a bell."
"I think I may have seen that but I don't remember the context."
"I'm sorry, I have no memory of that."
"Honestly, I don't remember."


etc.

[etherealtruth]

18. .... I have no recollection of that meeting ...

:puke:

[Jackpine Radical]

24. That won't fly.

They no doubt have all sorts of evidence, such as the Rove emails Palast gave them, that they can hand over to investigators if they want to make her life hell, or that they can suppress if they like the lyrics of Monica's song.

[etherealtruth]

35. With all my heart I hope you are correct n/t

[Jackpine Radical]

36. I guess I'm projecting a little more confidence than I actually have.

Whistling past the graveyard and all.

[KharmaTrain]

17. Nothing Worse Than Pissing Off A Prosecutor

A great comment I heard the other day about how this scandal is far from nearing the end and that there's a dynamic under the radar here that will keep it going and growing...the fire prosecutors. Many are pissed...and so are their staff, families and career staffers. They saw their department turned into a subsidiary of the RNC and when it was exposed, they were fingered to take the fall. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid.

Besides the experience and integrity of these people...that makes the "performance" cause a total farce, these people know how to dig for the truth and also ways to expose it. Each day we get another drip via McClatchy or Talking Points Memo or the San Diego Union...and those scoops came from somewhere. This isn't like firing 10 patronage workers who were just lucky to be getting the check...these are very proud and highly capable prosecutors and investigators who know the truth and will make sure it comes out.

Goodling is stuck between two big forces here...one being the booooosh regime and its intimidation tactics and the other being the career prosecutors and the legal community who see their entire profession on the verge of being discredited and rendered nothing more than a political tool. She lies, she goes to jail...there's just too many out there who know what happened and her role...there's also tons of evidence still to be dug up that Ms. Goodling knows exists and the moment it becomes public, her role is completely exposed. Any lawyer worth his salt will take the best plea/immunity deal and tell his client "spill it all".

[maine_raptor]

19. Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life, At Last I've Found You.

She's going to sing like Madeline Kahn in Young Frankenstein.




(Even kinda looks like Monica, too. :) )

Why? Because Conyers (and let's not forget Pat Leahy in the Senate also ) has got Gonzo's other "former" assistants waiting in the wings. Then there is the little matter of all them "missing" and "oops-we-forgot-to-tell-you-about-them" emails from Uncle Karl. Somehow I got a feeling that those might just turn up over the next couple of weeks.

Yes, she's going to sing. But I got a feeling that her song is only the opening number.

:popcorn: <= this will be a very useful smilie over the next few months, folks.

[CK_John]

20. Why would anyone think she will even appear? Those eggs ain't

chickens yet. If dragged in she will take the fifth and accept a jail term until the end of congress. She is a true believer and * clone.

[Jackpine Radical]

25. She is legally prevented from taking the 5th.

That's the significance of immunity. You can't refuse to testify when the possibility of self-incrimination is removed.

[CK_John]

37. She cannot claim the 5th, but she can refuse and face contempt of congress. n/t

[devilgrrl]

21. No, she won't sing - she'll just lie for Jesus as she's been doing all along.

eom

[Jackpine Radical]

26. Fundies always have a way of finding that Jesus would want them to do

whatever turns out to be in their own self-interest.

[Blackhatjack]

22. Once immunity is approved, Goodlin has little wiggle-room that does not have severe consequences...

It is analogous to the truth that you cannot be 'just a little bit pregnant' -- either you are or are not.

Once she is called to testify under oath, she no longer can refuse to testify by invoking her 5th Amendment Privilege --and if she lies in any way, including not being fully truthful, it is off to jail with her for perjury AND for the original crimes for which she had been granted immunity.

It would be better for her to be imprisoned for refusing to testify at all after immunity was granted her than to testify partially or testify to any matter untruthfully.

I think she has an innate desire to avoid prison, and for that reason she will testify truthfully without invoking 'I do not recall'.

[Jackpine Radical]

29. I agree, and I would bet that they nave enough on her

to convict her without using her testimony if she refuses to give it. She has nothing to gain by Subpoena-Induced Amnesia or by lying.

[mile18blister]

23. She sounds scared.

I think she'll sing. I hope her immunity is contingent on her not suddenly developing amnesia.

[Error]

27. The Laws of Irony dictate that

a woman named Monica will be the downfall of this administration.

[kimmylavin]

33. Yup.

Its like all those Lincoln/Kennedy things. :)

[dogday]

28. La-La-La-La-La

Sing Out Clear, Sing Out Strong....

[H2O Man]

34. And your bird can sing

(Lennon/McCartney)

You tell me that you've got everything you want
And your bird can sing
But you don't get me, you don't get me

You say you've seen seven wonders and your bird is green
But you can't see me, you can't see me

When your prized possessions start to wear you down
Look in my direction, I'll be round, I'll be round

When your bird is broken will it bring you down
You may be awoken, I'll be round, I'll be round

You tell me that you've heard every sound there is
And your bird can swim
But you can't hear me, you can't hear me