Hi Steve - Get well soon and keep up the good work. I'm an old European Institute staffer who enjoyed several of your New America events. I'm up in Boston now so it's good to have you as an ITB news source.

"...there is incedible confusion and anxiety proliferating about Patrick Fitzgerald's next move..."

I think that about sums up the way we are all feeling!

Man, we need McCain in there, if only cos he accepts global warming is happening. Take the job John.

Did you hear anything about Rice in terms of VP? I saw both posted on web but didn't believe either...but I trust a source from you more than web rumours...

If Fitzgerald is going for another grand jury maybe he is posponing some indictments to see what is added...
hence Libby's crowd upset vs Rove's.....

Just speculation.
But I know as much as I want to know, those guys both do & do not want to know way more....still sleeping so well georgie?

Destabliazation of the world, runiation of our reputation around the world, killing our economy...none of these caused you unrest. But the rest of haven't slept well for about 6 years now.....

Do you think, since Bush has been called on the carpet by Scowcroft and others regarding this 3-ring circus he's operating, and since everything is imploding, perhaps Georgie will select someone a little more thoughtful and a little more moderate than Brown or Owen?

Former Sen. Danforth this morning said fundamental Christians are controlling our government these days and this is bad for America. He was described as an Episcopal priest now. I hope others speak up.

Steve,

Do you happen to know when McCain was approached for Veep-hood?

Was this recently?

Jack Danforth has been an Episcopal priest for over 40 years. He went through the Yale Law School and Divinity School at the same time in the 1960's.

I don't blame John McCain for refusing to be veep, what with that South Carolina slime Bush and Rove gave him. He might carry water for the party, but I think with Bush, the well of favors runs dry.

danforth was the guy that pushed clarence thomas on us - he may be better than some ... but is part of the problem (republican right) as well.

well wishes to you steve - are we sure the guy that "hit" you is legit? i'm sure there are plenty that would like to see people like you and josh go away.

Hi Steve:

Sorry to hear about the accident. My civic and I were flattened by a SUV in a hurry 2 years ago. I had some serious bruises on my chest (seat belt) and knees (dash), as well as some heavy whiplash. Fortunately, my GP routed me to physical therapy, which helped tremendously. It was hard as hell to do, but after the first day of doing it, I felt much better (less pain, tiredness, general funky feeling thanks to my tissues going in one direction and my spine another).

Get well.
CA Lugg

Read this at http://badattitudes.com/MT

Fitzgerald: Civil Rights Charges?
Patrick Doherty
October 26, 2005

"Larry Johnson just alerted me to this incredible scoop. For anyone out there who has ever read Ender's Game, this is a perfect example of Ender's classic decision to focus on the goal, and not on playing the game. For those who haven't had the pleasure of reading Ender's Game, here's the deal: Instead of Fitzgerald focusing on the crime of leaking an undercover operative's name—a task difficult to prove—Fitzgerald may instead be focusing on the goal of that crime: damaging Joe Wilson's career. Since the attack was so over the top, Fitzgerald may be trying to show that the coordinated White House effort was intending to violate a private individual's civil rights.

That's strategic innovation. Everyone in Washington has just been assuming that attacking your enemies—Karl Rove's specialty since he ran around the country teaching Republicans "dirty tricks"—was fair play.

If this intel is accurate, Fitzgerald just drew a new line in the sand here in Washington."

I'm not beyond believing that Rice will get indicted, via WHIG, so no VP offer.

Take care of yourself. Day three and four suck- the first week is the bumpiest. Take your anti-imflammatories and pain meds on schedule don't wait until you are in agony ( I'm a nurse - nagging allowed)....We have faith in Fitz he will do what he has to do...and we will wait it out...and we know you are trying your best to get us info..Alot of info has slipped out the past few weeks...ie.The Notebook, the Libby notes,,,,and I would bet there is more....About VP- I would bet W is trying to get Rudy.....

Steve, I'm so sorry about what happened. And so pleased you have so many supporters to give you "get wells". Your work on TWN has earned you tremendous respect and affection. Rest and Get well.

I'm sure that your original source's information was correct at the time Steve, but it looks like Rove is bargaining furiously to avoid being indicted, and Fitzgerald can't ignore the gold mine of information that Rove has....so there is a delay.

My guess --- Fitzpatrick will get his five indictments, and keep them under seal while getting an extension of the grand jury's term in order for it to hear Karl's new testimony...

And he's doing this with the blessing of Bush himself, who is perfectly willing to scapegoat anyone and everyone for the mess that he is responsible for. Rove has doubtless convinced His Incompetence that this is all Cheney's fault, and that Rove and Bush are just "innocent bystanders", and that for justice to be served, Cheney must go down.

But lets face it --- We know Bush is involved because all he really had to do to find out how Plame got outed was pick up the phone and call Bob Novak personally. Instead, he signals to everyone in his administration to keep the lid on what happened by saying he doesn't know if the source of the leak will be discovered because reporters are so good at protecting their sources.

Why would Bush be talking about reporters keeping secrets if his administration was concerned about the leak, and doing everything in its power to determine its source?

I was told yesterday by a friend who's aunt's husband's friend (I know!) went duck hunting with Cheney in Arkansas recently that Cheney wouldn't be finishing out his term for "health reasons" and that Frist would be his replacement. Not sure how likely that is, since I got the info eleventeenth hand, but I thought it was interesting.

Steve, Thanks so much for your work on TWN. You've obviously developed a grateful following of readers here. Best wishes, and take care of yourself!

Steve, for every person who posts wishes that you recover soon and with no complications, another hundred have you in their prayers.

Get well soon. There can't be more than a few dozen real journalists left in the United States, and we need every one of them.

Steve,
I join the chorus of well wishers. I'm very glad it wasn't too serious. Take good care.
Best wishes,
Palo

Speaking of Miers and the White House... boy, Bush just threw away his last tiny bits of positive image. It turned out that he was only a "decisive" leader when his decisions were made by the right wing pupeteers, and that loyalty is for him only a one-way street. What a phony character.

makes sense, McCain would be Bush's Ford. seen as being beyond reproach, from outside the tainted inner circle, and above all else WILL PARDON EVERYONE after he's sitting in the big chair.

of course after what they did to his family, he would also prove himself to be a completely emasculated tool of the GOP, not the independent straight shooter the media fantasizes him to be.

Take care on sleeping with pain-killers. I took vicodin (or codeine?) pills (for two separate tonsillectomies, years apart) during the day without problems. But if I took them right before going to sleep, I'd often wake up with a seriously, painfully stiff neck (very different from the tonsillectomies, which felt like strep throat). I think it's because the sleeping body shifts positions as it becomes uncomfortable, but only if it feels the discomfort.

Well, sure it hurts more as all the immediate shock chemicals wear off. So take it easy, for chrissakes. And get yourself some Rescue Remedy to deal with the subtle stuff while the painkillers bash the obvious. The idea is to heal completely, right?

So much for Miers. Let the kabuki continue.
I wonder what quieting affect may be achieved by announcing the next nominee at or about the same time as any indictments may be announced?

The delay looks to me like a negotiation tactic - using time and tension to flip someone. I would speculate that Fitzgerald has all the facts he needs, and he's using one or more of those five indictments to push hard on somebody. The reported sealing could be part of the same thing - it buys him some time to bear down on one of the parties.

While it could just be wishful thinking on my part, my guess would be that this is a fight about a second round. He can go with what he's got, but he found something else and he's using this pressure to get what he needs for the sequel.

The right destroyed Miers, but she should have been rejected on the merits. Miers failed the Three Strikes Test:

- Clearly unqualified
- Extreme views
- Proven partisan loyalist

Well, if I were McCain I'd sure as hell reject the first offer, regardless of my eventual intentions. McCain won't assent to VP unless he's at least as powerful as Cheney was; ie, he gets to staff the government, choose a new SecDef, or just have everyone told in no uncertain terms that McCain's the new puppetmaster. Absent that, who the hell would want a used bucket of warm spit?

Although, the source says he took himself out completely definitively, which could easily be true and is a little disappointing. I need a new fantasy to replace my old one: McCain taking over for three years, regulating, and then going away.

A three year presidency is better than what he's likely to get... a loss to George Allen.

"That's strategic innovation. Everyone in Washington has just been assuming that attacking your enemies—Karl Rove's specialty since he ran around the country teaching Republicans "dirty tricks"—was fair play."

This of course was mastered by Bill and Hill so Karl had 8 years to learn.

You guys are still killing me, the VP is going to retire due to medical reasons and McCain will take over...My Great Aunts Sister's friend on my fathers side said they heard that while they were accidently listening to someone who knew someone related to thier father's sister's cousin's neighbor....

I mean literally there is no way this can be written, I think you guys actually believe this stuff. Stop please my side is hurting from laughing so hard.