Neither Cheney Nor Libby Will Take The Stand ........

[global1]

just on CNN.

Bait and switch or just chickens?

[SharonRB]

1. Looks like you beat me by nanoseconds

I posted the link to the FDL liveblog thread.

[Straight Shooter]

5. I knew Cheney "doesn't have the stomach" to take the stand.

He wouldn't know how to tell the truth if he were given printed instructions, anyway.

A real man would have insisted on getting on the stand and telling the truth. A real man.

[SharonRB]

10. He can't handle the truth

Actually, he wouldn't know the truth if it shot him in the face.

[Straight Shooter]

28. Bwahahahaha!

I was originally going to say, if it hit him in the head with a 2-by-4, but yours is much better. :D

[SharonRB]

34. Glad you enjoyed it!

[central scrutinizer]

22. he has other priorities

whenever his ass may be in danger

[Zhade]

33. A liar, murderer and coward. Yep, that's Cheney.

NT!

[SharonRB]

2. No Shooter and no Scooter to testify in Libby trial

You read it here first on the FDL liveblog thread:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/02/13/libby-live-tedious-legal-arguments/

[LonelyLRLiberal]

8. Hasn't fdl's coverage been fun?

I've spent a bunch of time reading the blow-by-blow coverage. I was really wanting Shooter and Scooter to testify, but they would have to be crazy to get on the stand and let Fitz cross-examine them.

[SharonRB]

11. It's been great

Since it looks like they're going to wrap up tomorrow, maybe I can get back to getting some work done now. It's actually a relief. I was starting to have trouble keeping up.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

12. me, too!!! eom

[Ghost Dog]

35. Also this source:

(but, seems, FDL & DU were quicker): Neither Cheney Nor Libby Will Testify In Plame Leak Trial
http://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=10561
2007-02-13 17:09:04
Posted By: Intellpuke

Neither Vice President Cheney nor I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby will testify in Libby's perjury trial, defense attorneys announced in court Tuesday afternoon.

Defense lawyer Theodore V. Wells, Jr., said he recommended to Libby over lunch that he not take the stand to defend himself against charges that he lied to investigators in a CIA leak probe. Wells said the defense will rests its case tomorrow.

Presiding U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton asked Libby, Cheney's former chief of staff, if he knew he had a right to testify in his defense and if had declined of his free will.

"Yes, sir," Libby said in a barely audible voice.

The decision puts added pressure on defense attorneys' closing arguments. The defense presented its witnesses in less than two days, relying on six reporters who said Libby didn't tell them about undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame, and a deputy to Libby who said Libby's job was overwhelming. The defense did little to support its contention in opening statements by Wells that Libby was made a scapegoat by the White House and that other officials sharing information about Plame, such as senior White House adviser Karl Rove, received more protection.

/story continues...

[Vadem]

42. I love your subject line! LOL........n/t

[sabra]

3. banner on CNN

http://www.cnn.com/

Vice President Dick Cheney and his former chief of staff, Lewis 'Scooter' Libby,
will not testify at Libby's perjury trial, the court is told.

[iconoclastic cat]

4. That sounds like a sure way to get indicted, doesn't it?

Is this bad for Cheney? Could Libby be cutting a deal? The suspense!

[LSparkle]

6. I wonder ... it's either that or lose the case

I've heard that if he doesn't take the stand, there's NO WAY his "faulty memory" defense will hold up.

I'm sorry for sounding like a little kid, but "WHAT A GYP!"

[iconoclastic cat]

9. Did you know that "gyp" is short for "gypsy," and indicates an ethnic

predisposition toward cheating others out of money?

[LSparkle]

25. Only after typing it did it come to mind --

My bad and I apologize. (Unfortunately, that's the first expression that popped into my head -- reverting to 3rd grade behavior, of which I'm not proud.)

[iconoclastic cat]

27. I'm not flaming you or anything. A lot of people don't know about that one. nt

[Barrett808]

43. How about "call a spade a spade"?

I'd always liked that expression, but then it occurred to me that it might not be referring to shovels.

[iconoclastic cat]

47. Yeah, I have no idea about the origin of that one. nt

[jollyreaper2112]

29. he misspoke

He meant to say they were "GOPt" as in "They ripped me off! Man, what a GOPt!"

[badgerpup]

46. I've also seen it used as a term to denote a female dog...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyp

Was reading the Rita Mae Brown "Sister Jane" series...about people who live to go foxhunting and saw it there and it stuck in memory.

It's a female dog below 1 year of age...a girl puppy.


They call me Tangent of Darkness...

[JuniperLea]

21. How about...

"What a rip off!"


:)

[MissWaverly]

13. I thought Judge Walton said no memory defense if Libby

did not testify, I thought that WAS Libby's defense.

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. "With extreme prejudice"

That's the ony time I like the sound of that word.

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Anybody who thought that cheney was going to dignify a court of law

is out their mind. LIbby doesn't give a shit about this trial, he'll be well taken care of by the heritage foundation later on.

[kirby]

15. Even further...

I'm willing to bet that the end of office pardons that will be doled out will include Scooter.

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. cluck, cluck, cluck.

[maddezmom]

16. AP: Lawyer: Cheney won't testify in CIA case

WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney will not testify at the perjury and obstruction trial of his former aide, I. Lewis "Scooter Libby, nor will Libby take the stand in his own defense, Libby's lawyer said Tuesday.

Defense attorney Theodore Wells said he advised Cheney's lawyer over lunch that his testimony would not be needed. Wells also said he planned to rest his case without calling Libby.

In December, Wells announced that he would call Cheney as a defense witness. Historians said that it would have been the first time that a sitting vice president would have sat as a witness in a criminal case.

Libby is accused of lying and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity. Plame is married to prominent war critic Joseph Wilson.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070213/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_trial;_ylt=AqBQKTZdIdiMbRIjVP7hPpyyFz4D

[Kelvin Mace]

18. At some point, Cheney would have toi take the Fifth

or be indicted for perjury.

[Old and In the Way]

19. Man, these Republicans are courageous.

Bill Clinton signed an independent prosecutor law to investigate his government. Cheney? He won't go under oath or in public on 9/11, he won't let the people see what was in the Secret Energy meetings, and now he won't stand up for his COS. A real man of courage, this Dick is. Lets see 5 deferments and 3 avoids...yeah, a real profile in courage.

[shanti]

24. he's as yellow as they come

:eyes:

[coalition_unwilling]

26. Nah, he just has "other priorities" n/t

[shanti]

31. same difference

:hi:

[Fridays Child]

20. Who, here at DU, did NOT know that Cheney is a consummate coward?

I mean, really. :eyes:

[napi21]

23. This tells me MORE about Shooter & Libby than all of the testimony has.

It's obvious to me that the defense lawyers don't feel comfortable letting either of these speak under oath! They're wither afraid of what WOULD be uncovered, ORpotential purgery charges!

The whole thing tells me that NEITHER can be depended on to state the facts!

[aquart]

30. Yah. We knew that. How pissed is Walton?

[napi21]

32. I don't know, but if he really IS pi**ed off, that a very bad thing for Libby!

Anyone who has ever been around a court knows the worst thing you can do istick off the judge!!!!

[feminazi]

38. exactly!

Fitz would rip them to shreds and they know it.

[rodeodance]

36. my gut told me a long time Cheney would not be up on a stand. DAMN

[hang a left]

37. Well it is too late to plead out.

I doubt that Fitz would agree to do that now without Libby giving up Cheney.

There is no doubt he will be convicted if it is turned over to the jury.

They are probably going to appeal on some kind of technicality and request that Libby remain free while that process goes on. Then by that time, he will receive his pardon, which will also mean he will never be called if Cheney is indicted.

Hopefully, Walton locks him up and the criminals in the WH will be forced to pardon him very soon.

In any case, I think we are screwed. Not feeling very positive after this news.

[Marie26]

39. Darnit

I was really hoping to see a Cheney melt-down on the stand. But if Libby wasn't going to tesify, why even bother having a trial? Libby's entire defense hinged on his alleged memory problems - if he doesn't testify about that on the stand, he's totally lost the ability to use that excuse. There's really no defense left. I wonder why he didn't just plead guilty instead.

[Matilda]

40. Can somebody please tell me

why Fitzgerald doesn't have the power to subpoena them in an investigation like this?

[mcscajun]

44. Haven't you heard? Cheney's declared himself a "fourth branch"

of government. :sarcasm:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=3107976

[MODemocrat]

41. It seems as if Cheney and Libby are afraid of screwing up

How can they "not" take the stand? What are they hiding? What are they running from if they're not guilty as sin? I didn't think that the Mafia could even get away with that!
:evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown:

[PurityOfEssence]

45. Libby doesn't have to testify, but if called, Cheney does. Please explain.

If Cheney's subpoenaed, he has to testify. Is this executive privilege? That didn't work for Clinton.

Fuck this man. Hound him to perdition.