Paul Soglin: Waxing America

Handicapping the Libby Verdict

If you have lost track of the Scooter Libby trial, this week should see final arguments and a verdict on the perjury charges against Dick Cheney's Dick Cheney.  The defense rested last week after failing to call either Libby or Cheney to the stand in Libby's defense, as they once had threatened.  After Libby's grand jury testimony was played for the jury, and any shred of credibility Libby had left was gone, there was no point in having Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald gut Libby like a fish. 

Now we know it was a whole confederacy of dunces in the administration that leaked Valerie Plame's CIA identity to whomever in the press they could manage to phone. And that they all tried to cover it up, and that Joe Wilson was right all along.

Firedoglake has been on top of the trial, with analysis and liveblogging. Jeralyn Merritt speculates as to how Libby's defense hopes the jury might find some reasonable doubt.

- Barry Orton

Libby Trial: FCC Chairman's Spouse A Key Witness

Why isn't the press connecting the dots?  Cathie Martin, formerly Dick Cheney's key flack, has been giving testimony that the leak to the press of Valerie Plame's identity as a CIA agent was an integral part of the administration's pushback to Joe Wilson's exposure of the Big Lie that got us into Iraq, and that Cheney and Scooter Libby were central to that process. Martin's notes and testimony contradict Libby's story that he found out about Plame via the press.

While much is being made in the media of Martin's notes of who to leak to and how to spin the story (Meet The Press was a favored venue), the fact that Martin's spouse, Kevin Martin, is Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, with direct authority over the public airwaves that the television networks and radio talkers depend upon for their business' lifeblood, is getting buried. Often this key fact is not mentioned at all, Cathie Martin often being identified as "Cheney's former public relations assistant" or by her current position, " deputy director of communications for policy and planning" at the White House, or that she was a loyal Republican recruited by Cheney factotum Mary Matalin.  The New York Times story today had the FCC connection in the 19th paragraph, one from the bottom.  In Dana Milbank's Washington Post column it was the 11th paragraph, but just as a mention.

Cathie Martin has been a key player in the administration's giant media fog machine, helping to feed misinformation to the public in support of crimes against the our electoral system, the Constitution, and the Geneva Convention.  Her husband is chief of the "independent" regulatory agency that tells broadcasters what they must do to keep their licenses to print money.

These people are not little functionaries caught up in their bosses' schemes.  They are major players in the criminal enterprise that is the Bush administration.

- Barry Orton

Libbygate; Cheneygate; Bushgate, Watergate October 28, 2005 Repost

Libbygate; Cheneygate; Bushgate, Watergate October 28, 2005 Waxingamerica

I know,  Scooter Libby has not been tried and found guilty, but humor me for a moment.

Since the reign  of Richard Nixon, the pundits have attached a 'gate' to every scandal that came along.  None of theses transgressions, perhaps with the exception of Iran Contragate, deserved to be placed in the same class with Watergate.

Finally we have treachery and crime, of Nixonian proportions. Reaching up into the White House where confidants of the President and the Vice President committed treasonous acts and shredding, trampling , and desecrating the Constitution we have the Bush ignobility to measure against Nixon.

Once again a President is marching down a dangerous path pursuing an unpopular war, fertilized by lies and deception.  The American people no longer buy the nonsense that things are going well.

The Administration, watching support rapidly deteriorating in the center is targeting enemies who question the War.  Is it Vietnam or Iraq?  No that is no the question.  The questions for the President and Vice President are What did they know and When did they know it?

The question for the American people is, "How much more of this is going on?"

Libbygate; Cheneygate; Bushgate, Watergate October 28, 2005 Waxingamerica

I know,  Scooter Libby has not been tried and found guilty, but humor me for a moment.

Since the reign  of Richard Nixon, the pundits have attached a 'gate' to every scandal that came along.  None of theses transgressions, perhaps with the exception of Iran Contragate, deserved to be placed in the same class with Watergate.

Finally we have treachery and crime, of Nixonian proportions. Reaching up into the White House where confidants of the President and the Vice President committed treasonous acts and shredding, trampling , and desecrating the Constitution we have the Bush ignobility to measure against Nixon.

Once again a President is marching down a dangerous path pursuing an unpopular war, fertilized by lies and deception.  The American people no longer buy the nonsense that things are going well.

The Administration, watching support rapidly deteriorating in the center is targeting enemies who question the War.  Is it Vietnam or Iraq?  No that is no the question.  The questions for the President and Vice President are What did they know and When did they know it?

The question for the American people is, "How much more of this is going on?"

Walker out of Gov Race: Rowen, Xoff Receive Plaudits

Jim Rowen wrote, not once but twice that Scott Walker should drop out of the Gubernatorial race, first on June 13, 2005 and again on January 9, 2006.  This is nicely documented by Xoff in Getting it right: Getting it right: Walker withdrawal foretold (from the original Rowen article:)

A better plan is the strategic, early end to his campaign. There'd be no shame in it, and only smart politics.

Bill didn't do such a bad job either, with Just wondering which was posted just hours before the announcement:

...If so, it disqualifies him from being governor and he should just drop out now. Truly embarrassing.

Nice going.

Is Jessica McBride for Real?

Occasionally I read Jessica McBride. My friends tell me not to bother.  There are more important things to worry about than her blog. Usually I am bright enough to take their advice.

I looked at her post, Scott Jensen verdict: What has society gained? and could not help but marvel at her comments. Sorry, but I could not avoid making a few myself:

• Punishment/retribution? I doubt the public is clamoring for retribution because a guy is convicted of directing state workers to campaign on state time. She can only be out of touch. The outrage and demand for reform came from the nonpolitical people.  They were more offended than the political hacks in both parties here in Wisconsin. And why punish him and not the parade of others?  And I suppose next time a gang leader or mob boss can be convicted, we should drop the matter since we do not prosecute the entire outfit.
• To send a message? What message? What message is sent when so many other people skated? When one sits on the Board of Regents, another on the state Supreme Court, and another is running the governor's campaign? Not to mention the literally hundreds of others over the past decades who did or were involved in doing the same exact thing. So what message is sent? Most of the others sinned not by participating but by turning a blind eye.  Anyway, the message worked. For at least a while they will be squeaky clean from Milwaukee to the State Capitol and Monona to Lake Superior.
• To repay the taxpayers what was taken from them? Well, as mentioned, then the bill is incomplete. But, on top of that, I'd be willing to bet that the prosecution cost the taxpayers more money than the supposedly illegal campaigning did. That would be a great question for the media to ask the Dane County DA: Mr. Blanchard, what was the bill?  The real bonus to the taxpayers is that billions of their hard earned money paid in tax dollars will not be spent based on pay-to-play politics.
• To protect society? Not applicable, obviously. Anyway, the caucuses were disbanded. That was the proper action, not this. Not applicable? Not applicable?  That was a bit dismissive. I suppose the advantage gained by keeping one politician in office who benefits from caucus largess so they can stay in office and vote to plunder the public treasury is not applicable.
• To uphold our rule of law? 1, How is it upheld when so many others admitted to investigators doing the same thing (that means they were caught) and were not also held accountable for it? 2, Even a majority of the state Supreme Court could not reach agreement that there even was a clear law violated in the first place. I need help; anyone else want to jump in and enlighten Jessica on this one?

A Last Scott Jensen Take-Hopefully

From Wisconsin's own The American Mind:

(My comments are in bold.)

State Rep. Scott Jensen will go to jail for campaigning using taxpayers' funds. Granted, he broke the law, but doing so was par for the course. (Let me act like your mother: "So if everyone else went out and punched a cop, that makes it all right?) Former Assembly Democratic Party Leader Shirley Krug or current Gov. Doyle campaign staffer Rich Judge were never dragged before a court. (Your point being?) Jensen wasn't even allowed to mention to jurors Democratic activities were the same as his. ( I suggest you take this up with the authors of the Magna Carta, the foundation for the English common law, upon which this ordinary ruling is based. This was Scott's trial, not the Dems. Just the way Scott wanted it.) Is that fair? (Damn certain it is.) Shouldn't jurors be allowed important information to understand the environment of the state capitol at that time? (Don't you just love this defense? 'All my neighbors are rapists, so what's wrong if I get a little, once in a while?')

There's no way Jensen's case should have ever gone to court. (Yup.  No argument there. Scooter should have copped a plea like the others and saved some jail time, some anguish for his family, and embarrassment for the Republican Party.)

But the real point is this:  Any Democrats or so-called Progressives who start showing this kind of fuzzy thinking, it's time to throw them out of the Democratic Party, or find another political party.

And the Winners in the Jensen Conviction Are......The Envelope Please....

Scott Jensen and Chuck Chvala were two minor losers in the past year, with ruined careers and the sadness of their families. But the real losers were the people of Wisconsin, indigent families, elderly, workers in need of health insurance, and school children who needed a quality eduction.

Wisconsinites Were Pawns

The biggest losers were the constituents of every member of the legislature, for we were pawns used to coerce and manipulate votes in the Assembly and Senate chambers.  There is more than one legislator still in office who cut out funding or dropped a project in someone else's district as punishment for the latter's independence.

For twenty years, while not always crossing the line into illegality, state legislators ran a pay to play establishment in a house owned by the people of Wisconsin, the State Capitol.

Reason Had No Place In Their World

When I served as mayor from 1989-1997, it was a frustrating experience.  I brought anger towards the city of Madison and enmity upon myself for criticizing the legislators.  They deserved it.

I naively believed that reason and righteousness combined with a will to leave a better legacy for the next generation was sufficient to convince the legislature to do the right thing, not just for Madison but all of Wisconsin. We were continuously rebuffed. Meetings with them failed, and led to press conferences, which led to speeches, and the public speeches led to banners around the Square.

Nothing worked.  Now we know why.

Now We Can Take Back Our State

With the principal players out of the way, and their management disgraced, the people have a chance.

It is now more important than ever that Wisconsin citizens of both parties send a strong message that we intend to take back our government and it is going to stay that way. On June 8, 2002, The Capital Times published my op-ed piece, Sen. Chvala Should Retire. As I said four years ago about Chvala, and it can apply to many of them, which includes those not indicted:

Somewhere along the way Chuck forgot his purpose in the Legislature and the role he should be playing in furthering social and economic justice. There is no question that he plays an important and vital role in ensuring a woman's right to choose and that he works for funding of public education. But those are now minor footnotes to the story of his abuse of power.

The price that will be paid for allowing Chvala to remain in office is too expensive.

Our values as progressives need a champion who can do better than the "you've-got-to-pay-to-play" dealing that has corrupted the Capitol.

Our goals need a defender, not a censor.

Our state needs a leader, not a vindictive potentate.

There was a time when Democrats and in fact most legislators in both houses and both parties welcomed debate and actually measured the value of legislation by the good it did for Wisconsin, not by the good it would do for their efforts to accumulate power -- and campaign contributions.

Debate in the legislature used to focus on values and principles, not on campaign funding or retaliation.

It is hard to believe that the parties of Bob La Follette, Gaylord Nelson and Warren Knowles would sink to such bitter, evil deeds as we have seen exposed over the past year...

...It should be understood that there is nothing new in doling out this kind of punishment (author's note: Senator Erpenbach had the guts to stand up to Chvala and Jensen). This practice has evolved over the last 15 years, during which powerful legislative leaders have used their ability to collect special interest money to force individual members of their caucuses into line, and it has become more and more important in determining the course of public policy.

Legislative leaders like Jensen and Chvala need a system of punishment and rewards to tighten their grip on the legislative process. Without such an iron fist, it is possible that their colleagues might follow the desires of their constituents, other leaders within their respective political parties, or -- horrors -- their conscience...

...Yes, Chuck Chvala may still be the champion of the right to choose for women. But he has no compunctions about reducing traffic safety for the thousands of women who travel roads in Jon Erpenbach's district. Chvala does not hesitate to endanger the health and lives of women -- and men -- in order to punish Erpenbach for having the temerity to speak his mind.

The Chuck Chvala way is not the Wisconsin way. It is not good government. It does not offer good lessons for our children. It is small, petty and petulant.

Chvala's "punishment" of Erpenbach's constituents speaks volumes about the danger Chvala poses to our state.

What I wrote about then, still goes on today. It is not illegal but it is part of the culture of state government. Pay to play is more than the use of public resources for political gain.  The "leaders" need to maintain control and coerce votes. That too must end.

Jensen Guilty - Now Who Is Shocked?

Scott Jensen was found guilty on all three felony counts and the misdemeanor as well.

Charges against Rep. Scott Jensen:

Jurors found Rep. Scott Jensen guilty on three felony counts and a misdemeanor count, and former GOP aide Sherry Schultz guilty on one felony count. Prosecutors had filed the following charges against Jensen and Schultz.

When I read it, my only response was shock. 

I was hoping for a guilty verdict on at least one of the felonies. The reporting on Thursday, Jensen Verdict convinced me that the confusion created by his 'know nothing' defense would obfuscate, 'beyond a reasonable doubt' his true complicity.

Let's hear it for the jury system and congratulations to District Attorney Blanchard, though I have some other thoughts for Blanchard about the Kutler matter.

Last week at the pinnacle of his defense, Jensen , as reported in the Capital Times:

said he was shocked to learn that a woman working out of the Republican Party of Wisconsin headquarters on his campaign was actually being paid by taxpayers through the Assembly Republican Caucus.

That claim of shock was laughable. Now he can join all of us in being shocked, for real.

Jensen Verdict

Waiting. Waiting.

Waiting. Waiting.

I was thinking about how I will feel while we wait for the jury to provide a verdict in the Jensen case.

If he is found not guilty I will have that same bad feeling as when a great candidate loses an election.

If he is found guilty on any of the counts, I'm still going to feel bad, because while this will cut back on flagrant abuses, it will not prevent the same kind of politics as usual at the Capitol.  And there will probably be a lengthly appeal, during which Scooter will remain a policy "player."

No matter what happens, I'm going to be left with a bad aftertaste, sort of like when Bud Selig decided the All-Star game should end in a tie.

Jensen Knows Nothing: Probable Republican Gubernatorial Candidate

OK, on behalf of Wisconsin voters, I'm buying it- The Capital Times reports that Scott Jensen didn't know.

...But he also insisted he did not know of any improprieties when he was serving as speaker, conceding only that he was aware graphic artists in the Assembly Republican Caucus were working on partisan political campaign material but said he had been informed by others there was not a problem...

...But he denied having any knowledge of state workers doing political work on state time, unless they had arranged in advance to take time off. Many, he said, used the compensatory time they accumulated by working long hours in the Legislature. He conceded there was no written policy on use of compensatory time and that legislative and caucus staff did not fill out time slips...

...Under questioning by attorney Stephen Meyer, who represents Jensen, the former speaker said he was shocked* to learn that a woman working out of the Republican Party of Wisconsin headquarters on his campaign was actually being paid by taxpayers through the Assembly Republican Caucus.

"No, no, I did not know" that Leigh Himebauch Searl was on the state payroll, he insisted, adding he assumed she was a staff volunteer. Searl previously testified that she was put on the caucus payroll when she was moved from Jensen's office and assigned space at party headquarters, where she worked on Jensen's campaign...

..A variety of former and current state workers have testified previously that while Jensen was in control of the assembly they did campaign work and he was aware of it. Some said they reduced their state hours so they would be paid a percentage of their state pay to reflect they were working part time on campaigns, but then worked full time on the campaigns.

Jensen said if that happened, he didn't know about it.

He described days when the Legislature was in session as "just a blur."

OK, I buy it, he didn't know.

The guy sounds like he is qualified as a Republican candidate for Governor.

(By the way, emphasis, color, and biting color commentary added. *Next thing he will tell us is that he was 'dismayed.')