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(Photo credit NYT Photo/Doug Mills via Common Dreams)
Update: Some have asked about the juror clothing. They're in jeans again, sorry.
One thing we've talked a lot about is the way in which Libby and his wife pose for the pictures. Every time they enter or leave the courthouse, there's a phalanx of photographers waiting to take almost the same picture they did of him the day before. I joked with one of the reporters yesterday that--for days like yesterday when there was no news--it ensures you have something to put below the headline reading, "Still Waiting."
Mind you, I'm not faulting Libby or his wife for posing for these photographers. The case against the Administration and the case for a pardon are being made in the public sphere, and it is just as important for Libby to wear his game face for those photos as it is to mount a credible defense in the court room.
In almost all of those pictures, Libby has had a huge grin on his face, almost a howdy doody smile. Even when we're waiting in line at the Starbucks cart in the morning (I seem to be on the same caffeine schedule as the defense team), it's that same big smile, a smile that makes me think of both senses of the word, "plastered."
But it seems like the stress of deliberation is taking its toll on Libby's ability to maintain that mask. Yesterday, for example, as the teams left the court room after the jury's head fake ("Sorry, we don't want your stinking instructions after all! Psyche!"), Libby had to come back for a portfolio he had left behind. He was distracted. The mask was down. He had a haunted (or, perhaps more generously, just exhausted) look. At other times, the mask looks exaggerated, which when you're starting with a howdy doody smile, is really saying something.
Again. I'm not blaming Libby. Consider the stress Judy Miller was very visibly under when she was on the stand. She didn't maintain her game face, either. Heck, liar extraordinaire Ari Fleischer couldn't even do it, not when Jeffress asked him if he had been indicted for perjury about the Pincus conversation. Take the stress they experienced on the stand, multiply that by the days we've been waiting and the real possibility of jail time, and I'm sure my game face would be cracking too.
But I get the feeling that that mask is really close to cracking.
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Fitz!
FITZ!!!
Doh!
Give truth back.
I keep forgetting - does the jury work on Fridays during deliberations?
“liar extraordinaire Ari Fleischer couldn’t even do it,”
In his TV interviews after the testimony, Ari looked like the grey ghost, his faced matched the color of the bare concrete around him.
Funny, I was thinking this very same thing last night. As much stress as I feel, waiting for the verdict, it is nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to how Libby must feel. His life, his career, hang in the balance, and every day and night must be torture.
Not that this is a bad thing. If only Cheney could be waiting with him.
*taps foot impatiently, waits for verdict, thinks FDL is the greatest site on the net, taps foot impatiently…*
FUN
Stupidest man in the world Doug Feith set up his own website to “explain” (read justify) himself. http://www.dougfeith.com/ Oh, and note that the “Media Myths and Facts” section is blank. Guess he couldn’t find any myths.
Here’s the parody site - much better! http://webpages.charter.net/micah/feith/feith.htm
Thanks to TPM for this tidbit http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
Marcy, did we get a jury clothing update?
*xyz @ 5
Yes. Thank goodness! I hope this is settled today or tomorrow. I’m at a retreat from work Monday and Tuesday and will be totally out of pocket.
Who is that man beside the curtain?
Did we ever get an update on the Fitz “lunch date”? I’d love to know how it went. Thanks
It has to be very stressful to have ruined your life for the likes of Dick Cheney. But all indicators seem to say that Scooter is a true believer. He’ll keep his mouth shut, do some brief time, and post-pardon he’ll join some wingnut think tank or get his own radio show.
The jury needs to send Scooter to prison soon, so as to save his strength.
Talk about posing - this picture of Scooter makes him look like he’s on the board of directors of Halliburton, or something…
Newbie @ 12
My “lunch date” was with some bloggie people and some Hill people. It was all about making Democrats on the Hill more successful.
LoudounLib @ 15
VP’s chief of staff, Halliburton director…in this administration, really, what’s the difference?
I wonder how much influence his wife will be if it comes down to making deals during sentencing - who wins the loyalty - wifey or Cheney?
Maybe he should try some Botox for that fresh-as-a-spring-day Nicole Kidman look.
Diane @ 18
It comes down to who has Scooter’s balls in a small, ratty leather sack, doesn’t it? So, Cheney.
There are probably some very heavy duty medications in Scooter’s brain trying to keep-up that happy face….
EvilDrPuma @ 17
Heh - ‘zackly!
Agreeing completely with the post and merciless @ 7. This has to be incredibly stressful for Libby. He and his wife are doing their best to put on their Tom DeLay-like grins to appear confident. But, any moment now, he could be labeled as a convicted felon for life. He may face prison. This can’t be anything but agonizing for him.
Granted, I think he’s a liar and he deserves what he gets… but I can’t fault him for trying to smile and look confident.
Also, I’ll summarize something mentioned at the end of last thread: Tonser made a great point that we shouldn’t criticise the jury for taking their time and asking for a lot of office supplies. They must feel the stress of this awesome responsibility as well. Every member of that jury doesn’t have 1/4 of the information we have, they probably had little knowledge of the case going into the trial and haven’t been privy to the the legal wrestling behind the scenes nor the legal expertise we have. I hope they take their time and get it right… even if the waiting is sometimes grating.
Libby’s strikes me as a “gamey” face.
Teresa @ 9
Jeans again.
Marcy, can you comment on whether Scooter would even be able to cut a deal with prosecutors? If he’s convicted on any counts, he would no longer be a credible witness who could testify against someone else, correct?
As a photographer I can tell you that we “shooters” live for that one photo that allows you to see “into the soul” of a person. The photogs burning through gigs of bytes (or for those of us who are still traditionalists, miles of film) are hoping for that one iconic shot of Libby with his guard down-that he’s really scared shitless, or the one that reveals his wife maybe isn’t that supportive after all.
We don’t seriously believe he’s going to do time, do we? Libby knows where all the bodies are buried, and who put them there. Would YOU cross Shooter and expect to live to tell about it?
Well he can’t be THAT much of a Great Man — where’s the US flag behind him?? That’s such a photgraphic trope, it’s significant by its absence.
And in re Libby trying to put on a happy Howdy Doody face — exactly — he’s got the facial lines for it…!
thanks Marcy. Any feelings from lawyers about whether their clothing really matters?
Marcy, Did you ever post your conversation with Fitz? Something about rugby? Did Jane give him your book? :)
Marcy!
oh goodie. thanks for this post. ashamed to admit i get some pleasure out of hearing about scooter’s discomfort. well-earned agony.
if only for that, i can have endless patience, sorta.
NOW! dear dear gal, please, did you remember your powercord?????
I simply MUST know. *sniffle*
And I’m wondering whether the prosecutors’ shoulders are sagging a bittoday. Can’t imagine the invincible Fitz gives away anything, but how ’bout the others?
EvilDrPuma @ 17
George Soros might have something to say about that.
Scooter Glibby.
-GSD
The stock video footage used on MSNBC always has Scooter holding the door to the courthouse (for Wells or someone else). The thing is that it’s different footage and he always does it.
As if we care whether or not he’s courteous.
I sat on a double defendant, double homicide trial in Boston some twenty years ago and it was a complex case, but the charges, like these were straightforward. So what could possibly be taking a week?
I remember reading that Libby’s wife is a Democrat (or used to be). It would be interesting to know what she thinks about the company her husband keeps.
I think a study should be done on the women who marry men of this type. Certainly late in the midnight hours, it must hurt to know what you don’t have. Even if you can’t admit it publicly.
I haven’t read that the jury has requested read-backs of testimony–have they not requested? Are they just going on their own notes and memories? Is this usual for juries in trials like this (whatever “like this” might be)?
You know, I almost feel sorry for Libby. He’s simply a stooge taking the fall for Darth. He seems to have a lovely wife and family. But then, maybe he’ll flip in a deal with Fitz. Who knows? This may well be the tip of the iceberg, as they say.
conniptionfit @ 28
he’ll stay free pending appeals, and end up doing a couple months at Allenwood. It’s all part of the pardon deal.
dunno if this was already posted: AP has a new story about how the jury hasn’t given out many clues as to what’s going on, and there’s no indication they are deadlocked.
via MSNBC
No new info for the FDL addicted, but it’s interesting to see how they’re reporting the story and their timeline. It gives us an glimpse of what the regular Joes might be learning about the trial.
Is it automatic that Libby will be disbarred or lose his legal license if (when) convicted?
LandOfTheFree @ 23
I’m not too sure about that. I think he expects the Elliot Abrams treatment: get pardoned, get appointed to serve in the next Republican administration.
needmoreblue @ 42
He will be promptly given a medal by George W. Bush is all I know.
-GSD
I was watching Olbermann last night. The footage he had of Team Libby did not show them with their game face(but who knows when that was shot - I always hate it when footage that is old is not labeled FILE FOOTAGE). If that was footage from yesterday either the can’t mantain it any longer or they have been reading all the post about how phony it looks.
Still waiting?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tqBzt1cUVyo
conniptionfit @ 28
I put it at 50/50. The problem for Bush will be to cross Scooter or cross the CIA. They surely won’t want Scooter to get pardoned.
And you wouldn’t want to piss off the CIA any more than you would Shooter.
I’m [involuntarily] thinking about losing. If Libby is acquitted, Rush Limbaugh is going to praise the American Criminal Justice system; Cheney’s going to gloat several octaves below middle C; Bush is going to swagger down his red carpet and say something corny.
What will we say? What will Joe and Valerie say? What will Jane, Christie, emptywheel, and Swopa say? What will all of us feel? Will we blame Patrick Fizgerald, or the Jury, or for that matter, blame anyone?
I do kind of doubt that any one of us will say, “Well, I guess we just got caught up in a silly conspiracy theory and mistakenly demonized Cheney and Libby. Sorry.”
For me, I know what I’m going to feel. I got a preview in November 2004. But I have no idea what I’m going to say. I envy Chewbacca. He had a particular characteristic this-isn’t-good groan that would about sum it up…
I get the sense that this jury kind of enjoys what they’re doing and doesn’t want to go back to their regular jobs on Friday.
My guess — a decision tomorrow morning, guilty on 4 counts. That way, they get their 15 minutes of fame with the newsies in the late morning / early afternoon — and wrap up in time for beer:30.
I detest what Libby, Cheney, Rove, Bush and company have done. I think Bush, Cheney and Gonzalez should be impeached for soiling our constitution– and yet I can feel a sympathy for Libby’s plight– not by any means as great as the sympathy I feel for Wilson and Plame. I don’t begrudge Libby his non-posed worried look. I sometimes wonder, why can’t Libby just admit that what he did was very, very wrong, offer a public apology, and receive some non-felony level punishment that won’t destroy him completely. Perhaps it’s just old style liberalism sloshing about in my head.
Crap,
I deliberatly stayed away for 2 hours this morning, hoping a verdict would be in by the time I logged in. Another day shot to hell, I can’t escape this site once I get here.
he’s already a folk hero over at Just One Minute. he’s got a ready made audience for the next chapter in his life.
Libby’s not a mere stooge. He was one of the most powerful neocons in the administration.
Adviser to Bush and Cheney.
A powerful man.
After he was indicted, some work was done to make it appear that he was just a lower-tier company man.
Don’t buy what they’re selling.
Biodun– I have zero pity for Libby, he was a knowing ’stooge ‘and lied and obstructed justice– he’s PNAC and part of the cabal.
just sayin’ :)
Sparkles the Iguana @
26
Any info he give would probably have to be corroborated for a jury to accept it. OTOH, if he’s Shooter’s only back-up won’t that be fine?
I read this last night, in Tony Hillerman’s Skinwalkers:
I thought of poor Scooter; he had no such luxury from the get-go. He was locked in to his story when he first testified to the FBI.
If/When Wells loses this case, what’s in store for him from the Mob?
For your information.
Arthur Schlesinger, historian and Kennedy confidant, has passed away at 89.
If Libby is convicted and pardoned, will he still be eligible to receive the Medal of Freedom?
JGabriel - I think you’re probably right… but it still has to be stressful. He knows how these people operate, and he could get stabbed in the back. The Judge could order him held while the appeals continue (though I’d guess he wouldn’t, with these being relatively minor crimes, him being a 1st time offender, and probably not a flight risk). Who knows when a pardon would come down. It would still sting badly to know that you’re taking the fall for everyone, you’re a convicted felon and seen as a liar, you screwed up badly enough to embarass the VP and shed more doubt on him and his boss. The hope of a pardon eases that a bit by clearing his record, but there still has to be shame for a man who believes he is so righteous as it appears Irving does.
I still want to know - if the answer is known - was Libby offered a plea bargain?
Because Martha was offered a deal, rejected it, went to trial, was convicted (for lying) and went to jail. I think the cases are similar.
The feds just HATE it when they’re lied to!
diplo65
At some point, does the judge go in to see what’s taking them so long?
When the proceedings were going on, did the jury look at Libby? What kind of facial expressions/body language did they make toward members of the defense team and the prosecutors? (sorry—I’ve been watching too many Law & Orders!)
Whenever I read how addicted people have become to this trial, I always think of the song “Basketball Jones”.
Libby trial Jones, I got a Libby trial Jones
Got a Libby trial Jones, oh baby, oo-oo-ooo
Yes, I am the victim of a Basketball Jones
Ever since Fitz turned on Libby, I always be dribblin’ In fac’, I was de baddest dribbler in the whole blog.Then one day, Jane bought us Plame House. And I loved that house
I took that house with me everywhere I went
That house was like a basketball to me
I even put that house underneath my pillow
Maybe that’s why I can’t sleep at night
I need help, ladies and gentlemens
I need someone to stand beside me
I need, I need someone to set a pick for me at the free-throw line of life
Someone I can pass to
Someone to hit the open man on the give-and-go
And not end up in the popcorn machine
So cheerleaders, help me out
{cheerleaders sing repeatedly…}
are we there yet?
Balrog:
Are you still here? Are you in downtown Mpls?
t greenberg @ 50
why didn’t he just answer the questions he was asked honestly?
scooter’s game face beginning to fade from facade-fatigue?
Reminds me of our kid describing what it’s like for an orchestra to play Ravel’s “Bolero” (think of movie “10″ - yeah, that one!), with a conductor who, brimming with an overabundance of enthusiasm, starts the crescendo way too early.
By the end of the performance, all the wind players are either grotesquely purple-faced or passed-out on the floor. Keep watching irving’s happyface as the days drag on, heh.
Does the crumbling facade suggest that he actually has a conscience?
Wil @ 51
Wil, yeah, me too. And I *have* to get some work done! Let’s hold hands and jump back the the Real World, one-two-thre, JUMP!
Marcy, is there any co-ordinated effort for the Hill to see or get a digest of Blogville daily?
As a Leftwards-turned former Attila I am especially anxious to hear that every single Republican member of Congress gets a list every morning of what has been said about them yesterday and overnight.
The Centre-Left, properly called the Commonsense View, must be beginning to scare them. You are all so clear and one-tracked.
The hell with winning in ‘08, I want them to Turn on Edgar and Dubya NOW.
JEP @ 59
Bush will give him TWO!
lisongare @ 70
no
How did 67 get posted?
Although I’m still laughing, it’s not fair, I got chewed out just for referencing Cheney’s convenient ties to the petroleum jelly industry…
[Mod Note; refresh your screen and things may look a little different.]
GSD @ 44
LOL
Chady @
37
Ann Landers once said that women who marry for money earn every penny of it.
G’morning, all.
Mickey @ 48
This is a battle, it’s not the war. We used to say FIDO, Fuck It and Drive On!
Since Fitz got “on-the-record” testimony about the ADMIN’s outing of PLame, can the Democratic Congress hold hearings and whom can they “INVITE’??
umm, just wild speculation - if convicted -is there a chance he will develop a very aggressive form of “cancer”? It’s happened before Just sayin’
Wil @51 I feel your pain. This is endlessly frustrating. Am trying to meet a drop dead-line on a report and this is killing me. BUT I CAN’T STOP LURKING ONCE I START. AGHHHH
Mickey - I hear ya. The amount of noise we’d hear from the rightwing screaming machine will be deafening. I just keep hoping that justice will prevail, that the jury will find him guilty on most or all of the counts. I hope this will lead to more investigations. As Jane said on Rachel Maddow’s show last night, if Libby’s acquitted, it’s likely that all other investigations will cease. So, let’s keep the faith that the prosecution was able to present their case without reasonable doubt in the eyes of the jury.
urban pirate @ 65
Five more miles. Now be quiet and stop poking your sister.
Emptywheel @ 16:
” . . . all about making Democrats on the Hill more successful.”
Crikey! It’s about time someone turned their attention to that matter. Why not the bloggers? The rarefied atmosphere in Congress seems to do something to even the most well-intentioned Dems. They get — what? — diluted. Their strong intentions get watered down and become weak soup. Throw in some garlic and cayenne and raw beef and get those people back on track!!
*xyz @ 53 and angie @ 54:
Thanks for the reality check.
Marcy,
Great post. I have never been a defendant, but have been in the witness box a few times. I guarantee the stress I felt under cross is nothing like the stress the other side felt.
But I still think the sucker is guilty as sin!!
HotFlash -
i can’t, I can’t, I can’t. must hit F5
http://www.dougfeith.com/
Didn’t Doug Feith co-star with Bill Murray in “Stripes” and “Ghostbusters”?
*xyz @ 53
THIS BEARS REPEATING. Please read, all who feel any pangs of sympathy for irving.
Thanks xyz.
24/7 Anna Nicole coverage is finally ending on the cable shows, maybe the Libby verdict will actually get some attention.
Adie @ 68
ROFLMAO.
Wil @ 51
You must be living in my skin. Slept in today, thinking maybe there’d be some movement by the time I got here. No joy.
Yup, another day down the drain. Thank god the company’s good.
Former Fed @ 85
yea, well I have, can you say “pucker factor”?
Sachem515 @
36
The “Look How Polite I Am By Holding The Door So Please Think I’m A Great Guy” has always struck me as . . . fake / weird / lame.
I asked you legals the other day, but right at the end of a thread so did not see an answer…… From my wish list, if the famous Sealed Knot indicts Cheney and names Dub as an Unindicted Co-Conspirator, can Dubya pardon Libby?
Adie @ 88
I can’t stand it how CNN and Headline News refer to him as Vice President Cheney’s “aide”. Please, Cheif of Staff does not just an aide make.
Peterr @ 83
but she looked out my window!
kim @ 90
You mean the jurors have been watching the ANS coverage? “Now that that’s done, where were we? Oh yes — lying to the FBI. Guilty? One, two, three, four, five . . .”
*g*
Peterr @ 83
But Daaaaaaaaaaaaaad. (she poked me first)
You know, at this point I’m kind of glad Walton sided with Wells on not allowing an alternate on. Given the glacial pace of this jury, if they had to start over from the beginning, we’d be here a month from now.
In any case, I don’t know what’s taking them so long. For crying out loud, the Enron jury decided their case in 6 days! That was a WAY more complicated trial.
Elliott @ 97
OK, we’ll sing 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall instead.
I’m semi-delurking in response to the invitation a few threads ago. I have made a few minor comments, but am here to keep up with the trial. Even made a contribution in thanks for the fine work here.
I found about fdl on DU, many thanks to DU!
Someone is going to have to take up a collection for me if a verdict is not announced soon!
BTW, I am in Little Rock, AR, and I Miss Bill!
lisongare @
69
my. that’s a stretch! feelin’ sorry for hissownself, i could buy. conscience? nah! no evidence a’ that so far that i know of….
I would imagine he’s suffering from shrinkage.
LandOfTheFree @ 82
To me, the important thing is that either way, the jury is able to provide serious reasoning for the verdict. The length of time they are taking does seem to indicate a great deal of care. I personally thought FITZ had a weakly presented case (just my opinion folks!)but if the jury can provide solid reasons why they thought the case was proved, I can live with that. I don’t want to see the verdict, either way, be based on political bias.
LandOfTheFree @
81
Thanks. I’ve got the faith, and as Raven @ 77 says, the “FIDO.” too. But right before the “Faith and FIDO” listen for a loud groan from the North Georgia Mountains.
pwrlght @ 93
yeah but he also buys lotsa hamburgers, doesn’t he?! i mean, WHAT A GUY!?!
How’s the jury dressed today? I heard speculation that they’ll return to being a bit “dressed up” to return a verdict. Thanks very, very much!
Mickey @ 105
What’s cooking with the weather, I’m from Athens but I’m in Virginia?
HotFlash @ 100
when I was 5 my family took one of the trips from hell - 4 weeks from DC to San Francisco to move overseas. This thread is giving me serious flashbacks.
Does anyone remember the song “Convoy”? I think we heard it 30,000 times.
Ned Lamont has an open letter up at HuffPo to Joe L4L.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....42370.html
Wil @ 109
OH yes!
zig alert!
Meanwhile, has McCain and/or some of his aides been reading FDL?
From AP:
My bold. Huh?
Wil @ 110
breaker, breaker
Peterr @ 82
She’s looking at me! I have to go to the bathroom!
-S
went on one too many car trips with my father as a child
Patti, emptywheel said jeans.
twolf1 @ 112
hi twolf - that isn’t for me, is it? I removed all blockquotes except the most recent.
Even Richard Nixon is an improvement over this lot.
Glad your here, NancyDrew.
During the wait, I wish Fitzy had passed out the 200 e-mails that were confiscated at the
OVP’s office…
Jack