Tim Terrific

After reading this:

Fitz says "there's no TV exception to the hearsay rule," but Wells insists that his reasons and manner of asking will be justified, so please don't rule against him before he can present related evidence. Walton seems a bit bemused and is willing to wait and see.

We waited, but we didn't see much. Perhaps it will come tomorrow, but today only saw a few minor perturbations in the force. Kind of a letdown, really.

Still, as JOM concludes, even if Tim Terrific were to suddenly re-remember a blurb about Agent 99 it wouldn't explain away Ari Fleischer's testimony. Team Libby is banking it all on temporary senility of everyone who didn't take notes along with an overworked, scatterbrained Scooter. It's a common legal practice. Last time I was last deposed the lawyers coached me to say "I do not recall" to just about anything. "What is your name, sir? I do not recall". It may not work for Libby, though. Bush guys don't get the benefit.

Wonder if Russert's testimony so far will trigger an appearance by Libby? After all, if the case is basically lost why not have him take the stand and attempt to tell his side? Cry, or claim he grew up a poor black child or something. Perhaps he could even run the case towards the utter frustration in dealing with an incredibly deranged MSM, featuring commentators who border on the unhinged.

Meanwhile, Byron York's column today caused quite a stir, suggesting both State and Defense were pinging WINPAC on Niger BEFORE the OVP. What does that say about Richard Armitage or Don Rumsfeld? What does it say about the forged docs? Heck, I started this blog in 2005 with a post about Plamegate, and it's surprising how little we've learned since then.

Finally, it's too bad Fox News isn't covering this. We know Olbermann would devote 61 minutes of his hour if he could and it's only worth five, but c'mon, no mention at all is rather obvious. This is a senior administration official in a criminal trial and if the roles were reversed, well, you know. What say you, Bill?

MORE 2/8/07

This case certainly represents mental calisthenics. Here are a few observations in light of Russert's testimony.

He looked a lot worse (on paper) today than yesterday. I found it bizarre and perhaps disingenuous that he would hide his interview with the FBI amongst all his commentary on the case through the years. The Buffalo case was also mildly impressive, going towards his memory. He didn't crack, and Fitzgerald's redirect was concise and crisp. But overall, I wasn't impressed.

Andrea Mitchell will be interesting, but Libby's still got the Fleischer problem. However, if he can get the jury to believe Russert, Mitchell, and Miller were told by people outside the OVP it may evoke some jury sympathy for Scooter when it's time to decide whether to believe him, Ari or Tim Terrific. Calling Richard Armitage.

SPECIAL PLANS 2/8/07

Gotta wonder if this is somehow related to the above shenanigans. Recall Libby's mindset in conversation with his well-respected friend Judy:

Libby's "frustration and anger" spilled over into their conversations, Miller wrote, with the Cheney aide describing leaking by the CIA as part of a "perverted war" over the war in Iraq.

Sometimes doing an end run works, sometimes it doesn't.