John Dean says it: Libby may be protecting the vice president.

[Zen Democrat]

On Countdown with KO.

Of course that's it. And Cheney must be having heart palpitations tonight. He's got a date on the witness stand under oath.

Dean says "Libby is the firewall for Dick Cheney. This is an effort by Fitz to put pressure on Libby to see how much heat that firewall can take."

He says this is like dealing with Al Capone with a tax case.

[complain jane]

1. Oh I think that firewall can stand plenty of heat, unfortunately.

Those damn aspens, they're all joined at the roots...

[SHRED]

2. Why?

Why would anyone take the fall for Cheney?
Hard to believe.

[maryallen]

15. 'Cause he KNOWS he'll be PARDONED!!!

[Skink]

3. Libby should be put in solitary for his own protection...

Then maybe some pretrial sleep deprivation, maybe a little waterboarding.

[Corgigal]

4. Of course he is

The reason why Libby didn't take the 5th was because he wanted to get his bosses boss re-elected. They couldn't withstand the damage at that point during the campaign.

edit:spelling

[Coexist]

5. Ah! you beat me - I just posted a dupe thread.

Sorry - I didn't see this one.

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. Wow, a direct comparison with a murderous, conscienceless crime lord!!!

And John Dean always chooses his words carefully!

[npincus]

7. maybe THAT's behind the counts w/possible 30-year prison sentence

could Fitz be trying to 'break' Libby and get the big, fucking fish? As in cutting a deal os sorts (a plea?)....

I don't know this legal-stuff, but the strategy makes sense.

[rucky]

8. Libby resigned, but won't work for free. follow the money. n/t

[Guaranteed]

9. 30 YEARS worth of heat, Scooter?

Do you think you can do that much time?

Think you'll make it out alive, even?

[mandyky]

10. I am beginnning to wonder if Cheney is really Cheney

What if he croaked around 9-11 and that has been the reason he was so much in undisclosed location. If Saddam can have look alikes, so could Cheney.

[drb]

12. That evil snarl would be hard to copy.... eom

nt

[mandyky]

13. Not really

If bush can learn not to smirk, cheney look alikes can learn to snarl.
It's not like we see Cheney everyday...

[drb]

11. And I believe that either.....

(a) Bush will pardon Libby, setting off a political firestorm Category 7

....or.....

(b) We'll see just exactly how excited Libby stays about protecting Cheney when he gets 30 years and changes from being the "Scoot-er" to being the "Scoot-ee" when Bubba scoots him across the concrete cell floor on his face for about the third time in a day...

[longship]

14. Or, he might just not be finished.

These pundits are not considering the most likely scenerio. He was up against a hard deadline. With lots of new information hitting in the last month, he might not have had enough time to finish the case with this grand jury. This grand jury's going home for good today regardless of what happens.

So Fitz takes what he can from this GJ, without jeopardizing his future case, and hands down the indictment today. He knows he still has more to come, but now he's unloaded some of the load for the new grand jury. He can pitch the rest of the case to them without burdening them with Libby's purjury, etc. They can presume that as fact and move on to the bigger picture of conspiracy, etc.

[springhill]

16. And just keep in mind.......

Cheney is the "REAL" president. He is the one who calls the shots, Bush just goes along for the ride.

[Nothing Without Hope]

17. ***Links to VIDEOS of both O'Donnell and John Dean on Countdown***

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5214707&mesg_id=5214707
thread title: ***OLBERMANN/COUNTDOWN VIDEOS: John Dean and Lawrence O'Donnell***

I'll also be posting a link to the show transcript in this thread when it becomes available, probably Monday afternoon/evening.