Valerie. They love a Valerie.

There’s a “spy” we know who makes nutroots feel great.
And they think her word is gospel, as they spread Bush hate.
They call her Valerie.
They love that Valerie.

It’s just not (vanity) fair.

Former CIA operative Valerie Plame lost a lawsuit Thursday that demanded money from Bush administration officials whom she blamed for leaking her agency identity.

Plame, the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had accused Vice President Dick Cheney and others of conspiring to disclose her identity in 2003. Plame said that violated her privacy rights and was illegal retribution for her husband’s criticism of the administration.

Serial liar and 00 pimp had his say as well.

“This case is not just about what top government officials did to Valerie and me.” Wilson said in a statement. “We brought this suit because we strongly believe that politicizing intelligence ultimately serves only to undermine the security of our nation.”

Uh, Joe? Just what do you think you’ve been doing for the past few years if not “politicizing intelligence”?

Would the two of you please get off of the national stage now. Thanks.

Making coffee has become the great compromise of the decade. It’s the only thing “real” men do that doesn’t seem to threaten their masculinity. ~ Erma Bombeck

Happy 2nd Blogiversary to:
Diary of the Mad Pigeon and
A Lady’s Ruminations
Happy 3rd Blogiversary to:
Random thoughts- Do they have meaning?

Right Wing News (John Hawkins) Let me point out two very interesting posts at RWN this morning: A Special Blogger Poll On The Senate Immigration Bill and An Interview With Matt Margolis and Mark Noonan, Authors of “Caucus of Corruption”

A Lady’s Ruminations (Lady Jane) Excuse Me?

To the contrary, President Bush and his Open Borders friends want to do what is wrong for America. They don’t want to enforce our laws. They don’t really care about our National Sovereignty and National Identity. They don’t care if the USA vanishes from the earth, as long as people who have illegally entered our country are taken care of with our hard-earned money. They don’t care that many, many, many people want to come here and are trying to do it the legal way, but are being slapped in the face by those who invade our borders and are being rewarded.

Macsmind (Macranger) Plame Game – “Just One Minute”

Fact is that Plame still is the key to the real story about her and her rogue buds were trying to pull off prior to the war. This story is simply another bow-shot to keep others off the trail, especially after her false testimony earlier this month.

(h/t: Heading Right)

The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce. ~ Oliver Wendall Holmes, Sr.

In The Bullpen (Chad Evans) CAIR Plans on Suing Airline Passengers

For the sake of argument, let us assume all passenger complaints were right in line with what CAIR alleges. They were religiously motivated. It’s not illegal to be a bigot, nor is it a civil action to say some bad about another on that basis. Tom Cruise is an idiot who believes space aliens invade the human mind. See? I just did it.

Gina Cobb The Global Warming Storybook

Pirate’s Cove (William Teach) Plameout To Testify In Political Play Of Comedy

Fitzpatrick spent almost 4 years on his investigation, and, since no one was actually charged with violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, including the person who actually released her name, Dick Armitage, I’d have to say that her status has been pretty well cleared up. This whole comedy of errors is just another way that the Democrats can take shots at the Bush Administration, circumventing the law, and grandstanding.

Ah! How sweet the coffee’s taste is,
Sweeter than a thousand kisses,
Milder than sweet muscatel.
Coffee, coffee, I must have it,
And if someone wants to treat me,
Ah, my cup with coffee fill! ~ Johann Sebastian Bach (Koffee Kantate)

Happy (day-late) 1st Blogiversary to
CrzyLand

Blue Crab Boulevard (Gaius) A Blow To Iran

The apparent defection and subsequent interrogation by Western intelligence agencies of a former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards is causing a bad case of nerves in Iran. They are almost frantic, diplomatically-speaking, to get the man back. But US officials says that Ali Rez Asgari is cooperating willingly with Western agencies. That the man was instrumental in the design and building of the Hezbollah organization is part of the reason Tehran is going frantic. Asgari is not believed to have any knowledge of the Iranian nuclear program, unfortunately. But he knows an awful lot about the terror web Iran has constructed.

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) Learning The Right Lessons

Perhaps it is too early to grant General David Petraeus rock-star status, but he has garnered some good press of late. USA Today reports on Petraeus’ philosophy of war and its application in Baghdad, as well as early indications of success:

Finally, go read Dr. Sanity’s Sure Signs of the Surge’s Success ? and Scott Ott’s ‘Long National Nightmare’ Over, Bush Pardons Wilson

The trial of Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff, Scooter Libby, is getting underway. James Joyner of Outside The Beltway is liveblogging the procedings.

The first major news occured during the jury instructions when the judge informed the jurrors that (Quoting Joyner), “Valerie Plame’s actual status with the CIA or the degree to which any revelations made by Scooter Libby put her in danger are totally irrelevant to the facts of this case.”

UPDATE: James has started a new post for the government’s opening argument.

And another post for the defense opening.

The first cup is for the guest, the second for enjoyment, the third for the sword. ~ An old Arabic saying

This will most likely be a short post. Like most Floridians, I am spending much of this morning looking at the Weather Channel and online sources to find the latest news on Ernesto rather than going around looking for some good posts. Jim

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) Peacekeeper Muddle Exposes The Sham Of A European Union — “Der Spiegel analyzes the fallout from the French hokey-pokey and European distancing from the formation of the expanded UNIFIL force in Lebanon. Now that Jacques Chirac got shamed into committing his troops to the peacekeeping force and Italy has also ponied up some of its own, the Europeans have commenced an orgy of self-congratulation. DS throws a dash of ice-cold water on the victory dance:”

Mein BlogoVault (Good Lieutenant) Plamegate Wrap-up: Short ‘n Sweet — [I can't pick out an excerpt, just go and read the whole thing. Go. Now. Jim]

Ernesto Blogging:
The Florida Masochist
Florida Cracker
Stuck on the Palmetto
Critical Miami
Eye of the Storm
Babalu Blog

I can’t believe it. I agree with Joe Wilson. That is, I agree with what he said. I’m pretty sure, however, that we don’t mean the same thing.

Said Wilson: “We are under no illusions about how tough this fight will be. But we believe the time has come to hold those who use their official positions to exact personal revenge accountable and responsible for their actions.” His wife said they decided to pursue the lawsuit with “heavy hearts.”

I think he’s right. The judge should throw the book at both of them for bringing this frivolous law suit, brought to exact personal revenge.

Never, ever, never underestimate the power of idiocy.

The
CIA officer whose identity was leaked to reporters sued Vice President Dick Cheney, his former top aide and presidential adviser Karl Rove on Thursday, accusing them and other White House officials of conspiring to destroy her career.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Valerie Plame and her husband, Joseph Wilson, a former U.S. ambassador, accused Cheney, Rove and I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby of revealing Plame’s CIA identity in seeking revenge against Wilson for criticizing the Bush administration’s motives in
Iraq.

Words fail. But, my humourous look at the Fitzmas that wasn’t is here.

UPDATE: Words didn’t fail others –

Outside The Beltway (Greg Tinti) — “It’s hard to imagine that Plame has a case considering that special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald couldn’t even bring charges against any of the individuals named in her suit. But then again, O.J. is walking the streets right now, so who knows.”

The Strata-Sphere (AJ Strata) — “Too much fun. Bring it on Joe and Val, because you will be opening yourselves up to such questions and information held back that your reputations will not survive the encounter.”

Sister Toldjah — “I guess this story had about run its course in the DC cocktail party circuit? As they say, it ain’t over til it’s over, and Joe ‘restoring honesty’ Wilson doesn’t want it to be over. ”

Leaning Straight Up — “In my opinion, she is nothing more then a nepotistic opportunist married to a lying opportunist. A pox on them both.”

Hot Air (AllahPundit) — “As Glenn Close said to Michael Douglas, “I’m not just going to be ignored, Dan.” ”

Still Others:
Wizbang (Kim Priestap)
Stop The ACLU (Jay)

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No coffee can be good in the mouth that does not first send a sweet offering of odour to the nostrils. ~ Henry Ward Beecher

In The Bullpen (Chad Evans) Flight 93 Memorial Still Shaped Like Islamic Crescent — “The particular patch of land needs to be remembered for the heroism of the passengers on board who took their own lives to save the lives of others. Even more disgusting than the design and the exact position is that the there are to be glass blocks commemorating everyone on board including the four hijackers. Yes, the design will commemorate the hijackers. What kind of asinine crap is that?”

Wizbang (Lorie Byrd) If A Reporter Wanted To Tell A Really Interesting Story… — “The Novak story will get some television coverage, and even more print, but I will be really surprised if there is any attempt, especially in network television coverage, to expose the lies that Joe Wilson told and, more importantly, to explain how those at the networks bought his story hook, line and sinker. Remember that the entire time so many at the networks and elsewhere were telling a story of an innocent falling victim to vicious political retribution, Bob Novak was arguing (obviously without specifics) that it just didn’t go down that way.”

Confederate Yankee Joe Wilson Outed Plame’s Name — “I don’t care too much about the whole Plamegate/Fitzmas bit, though I have read along with it, and this anti-climax is simply hilarious in its non-scandal.”

Captain’s Quarters (Ed Morrissey) Hezbollah Finds Out Israelis Can Fight On Two Fronts — “The terror group Hezbollah tried taking advantage of Israel’s focus on Gaza and the fate of its kidnapped soldier, Gilad Shalit, by staging its own cross-border raid and abducting two more IDF soldiers. Israel made it clear that the Gaza operation would not prevent it from responding in the north, as Ehud Olmert warned Lebanon that it had committed an act of war against Israel:”

The first cup is for the guest, the second for enjoyment, the third for the sword. ~ An old Arabic saying

Right Wing News (John Hawkins) 9 Pieces Of Free Advice For 2008 Candidates On How To Play The Blogosphere — “So, is this how candidates should try to woo bloggers? No way! What a waste of money. Here’s a free suggestion for candidates who want to try to work the blogosphere: Buy ads instead of having a party.” [You can purchase an ad at bRight & Early here. Jim ]

The news about Karl Rove has sent this morning’s First Cup in a different direction. Here is a roundup of blogs talking about this story:

Pirate’s Cove (William Teach) Fitzmas Cancelled (plus linkfest) — “There will be no joy in Liberalville today. No fitzmas pudding, no cute wrapping paper, no bright bows, no pithy Fitzmas cards. The tofu turkey has been overcooked, the cranberries are almost liquid, and the gravy is curdled.”

Confederate Yankee Truthout.org: Fresh Out Of Truth — “I’m not too emotionally invested in the Plamegate story and so I’m probably not enjoying this as much as others, but anytime the Democratic Underground-types have their conspiracy theories crushed and their frog-marching cancelled, I must admit that I find it highly amusing.”

Sister Toldjah Rove won’t be indicted — “They’ll be some cryin’ liberals today – call the wahmbulance! I’m especially eager to hear/read Joe Wilson’s response

*grabs a bag of popcorn, wait’s for the show to start*”

Iowa Voice (Brian) Liberals React To Rove Story — “And it’s begun already. As I just wrote a little while ago, Karl Rove will not be indicted. The liberals over at the Democratic Underground are starting to go nuts over the news:”

The Jawa Report (Good Lieutenant) NYT: No Rove Frogmarch; Democrats, Press Devastated — “Watch for exploding heads and ripped tinfoil hats. Sombody make sure Jason Leopold is on suicide watch. Drudge is noting that the nutroots and internet “indictment pushers” who have for months been huffing and puffing (including disgraceful “anchor” Keith Olberman’s pathetic assurances on 26 different programs), are dragging their collective behinds reporting the actual truth today.”

The Volokh Conspiracy (Jim Lindgren) Rove Won’t be Charged With Leaking CIA Information — “It would be interesting to compare the false statements made by Rove and Libby to the investigators with the false statements made by Joe Wilson to the press and the public.”

Thank you for your coffee, seignor. I shall miss that when we leave Casablanca. ~ Ingrid Bergman

Blogs for Bush (Mark Noonan) A Perspective on the Illegal Immigration Demonstrations — “There is no intrinsic reason for Mexico to be poorer than the United States – indeed, with their smaller population and vast oil reserves, a case can probably be made that a rational Mexican economy would produce a per capita GDP even higher than the United States’.”

Power Line (John Hinderaker) Just Wondering — “I’m not clever enough to add to the hilarity already surrounding Rep. Patrick Kennedy’s traffic mishap last night. (“I’m a Congressman! I’m late to a vote!” Yeah, like 14 hours.) Perversely, perhaps, I want to make a serious comment. Which begins with a quote from a dentist who lived in my home town in South Dakota: “Voting for Democrats is like picking your nose. You like to do it, but you’re not proud of it.”"

The Strata-Sphere (AJ Strata) Fitzgerald Accused Libby Of Not Leaking — “Libby knew about Valerie Plame’s CIA job before talking to the press. So when he testified he told the press he did not know (i.e., he refused to leak his inside knowledge about a CIA agent) he lied and that is why he was indicted. For lying to the press and not leaking the classified information.”

It’s only Friday. Why are you all sleeping in and not giving me some good First Cup stuff? (More later)

Here’s a Friday Funny from Scott Ott (ScrappleFace) High Court May Replace Miranda with Kennedy Rights — “The 1966 Supreme Court Miranda ruling could face its toughest challenge to date during the fall court session when Justices will consider revising the famous “you have the right to remain silent” litany with a new set of statements known as the “Kennedy Warnings.” “