Common Themes (talking points) of the pro-Libby Letters

[Solly Mack]

In this letter (pages 67-69 of 81), the 6 Pro-Libby talking points are:

1 - Libby is truthful, honest
2 - Libby is serious and discrete
3 - Libby is a scholar, smart, intelligent, well read and wise
4 - Libby is selfless
5 - Libby is a devoted family man
6 - Libby is a patriot







So I got curious...


Number of times word search turns up the various talking points in favor of Libby

(Your mileage may vary depending on the search terms and variations you include]

A-D

Truthful and honest, integrity ( some variation of) - 50
Serious and discrete (some variation of) - 10
Scholar, intelligent, well read (...) - 13
Selfless (...)- 6
Family man, devoted, children (...) - 41
Patriot, loves his country, public service (...) - 35


E-H


Truthful and honest, integrity ( some variation of) - 59
Serious and discrete (some variation of)- 16
Scholar, intelligent, well read (...) - 5
Selfless (...)- 7
Family man, devoted, his children (...) - 52
Patriot, loves his country, public service, govt. service (...) - 27


I-L

Truthful and honest, integrity ( some variation of) - 28
Serious and discrete (some variation of)- 0
Scholar, intelligent, well read (...) - 3
Selfless (...) - 2
Family man, devoted, his children (...) - 9
Patriot, loves his country, public service, govt. service (...) - 15



M-P

Truthful and honest, integrity ( some variation of) - 39
Serious and discrete (some variation of)- 2
Scholar, intelligent, well read (...) - 3
Selfless (...) - 5
Family man, devoted, his children (...) - 11
Patriot, loves his country, public service, govt. service (...) - 12


R-S

Truthful and honest, integrity ( some variation of) - 44
Serious and discrete (some variation of)- 4
Scholar, intelligent, well read (...) - 2
Selfless (...) - 9
Family man, devoted, his children (...) - 15
Patriot, loves his country, public service, govt. service (...) - 24

T-Z

Truthful and honest, integrity ( some variation of) - 30
Serious and discrete (some variation of)- 1
Scholar, intelligent, well read (...) - 3
Selfless (...) - 8
Family man, devoted, his children (...) - 18
Patriot, loves his country, public service, govt. service (...) - 16


I am not saying a talking points memo went around (though I wouldn't be surprised if a memo was circulated) - I was just curious about how close the pro-Libby letters would mirror each other.

[Dhalgren]

1. K&R! Interesting and well done. Thanks...

[Solly Mack]

4. Thanks, Dhalgren!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. Well done

Perhaps the judge also noticed the theme? These letters don't appear to have done Libby any good after all.

[Solly Mack]

3. Reading the pro-Libby letters has been very much like reading the

same letter over and over again - the judge had to notice that.

[sabra]

5. excellent analysis!

k & r

[Solly Mack]

6. Thanks, sabra!

[malaise]

7. Great work

but, but, but he lied and was found guilty. Rethugs are a shameless bunch.

Add.

[DemReadingDU]

8. Maybe it was a form-type letter

all people had to do was change the name of the sender

[Solly Mack]

14. I wondered about that - more likely - if a memo made the rounds - it was

a set of points the lawyer for Libby wanted highlighted instead of an actual form letter. A case of hit these points - in your own words.

But then again, given the nature of the conviction and the character failings that would be associated with such acts, the opposite qualities would readily present themselves.

Using the "family" as a means to reduce a sentence is tried and true.

So I dunno...but I am curious.

[malaise]

9. Another take on the letters

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2007/06/06/the_scooter_files_washington_xray.php

<snip>
Of course, it's fascinating to see Henry Kissinger's name invoked as any kind of reliable witness, character as otherwise. But that's been a Washington disease for decades. The evidence concerning Mr. Kissinger these last several years has become very, very clear: he made a very specific set of claims and evasions in his memoirs and elsewhere about various events in which he participated that time and again have been directly contradicted by contemporary documents that have since come to light (and which Kissinger has made his life's work to suppress). A more blatant example of a naked emperor cannot be imagined. (Kissinger, naked: brrrrrrrrrr . Sorry.)

And yet Kissinger somehow still keeps his spot in the establishment as an honest broker. Authors cite his memoirs as if they were a window onto "what happened." As the rhetorical evasions that are the soul of his public pronouncements have become more and more obvious, even in correspondence having nothing to do with matters of state. See what he writes about Libby: "He pursued his objectives with integrity and a sense of responsibility. I would never have associated the actions for which he was convicted with his character. Nor do I believe they will ever be repeated."

Have you ever read more tautological sentences? He has character. Therefore, if he did bad things, it is out of character and won't be repeated. How do I know? Because he has character.

[Solly Mack]

13. Thanks for the mental image :)

Kissinger is a pro of the circular reasoning

[L. Coyote]

10. Are you famliar with "discourse analysis" methodology in linguistics?

Sure seems so. All the pro letters should be given a serious linguistics analysis. This would make a great academic article.

Check out:

"I’m Not a Crook"
The Public Face and Private Political Reality of Richard M. Nixon
A Discourse and Conversation Analysis of Some Nixon Tapes
http://jqjacobs.net/anthro/discourse.html

[Solly Mack]

12. Thanks for the link!

and yes, just a little :)

[librechik]

11. a mojority of those folks are either lawyers or under indictment

they know what character traits the judge can "count" during sentencing review.

[Solly Mack]

15. and given the nature of the crime/conviction

the redeeming qualities would be self-evident.