Liveblog II - Valerie Plame Wilson

Part I here: Part I

See that diary for who is on the panel questioning and Ellicat's excellent liveblogging of Valerie's responses.

Colour:

Valerie Plame Wilson was declared covert early on in the statements.  Unequivacol.

She's never received an apology from anyone who disclosed.

•  IS he first, is he first...

  by cskendrick on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:51:41 AM PDT

  •  Yes!!!

    by cskendrick on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:51:46 AM PDT

  •  Kos is going to get you for that! n/t

    by shayera on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:00:26 AM PDT

    •  LOLOL :) nt

      by Clive all hat no horse Rodeo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:55:58 AM PDT

•  early recommended tag? ;) (n/t)

  by Politburo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:52:01 AM PDT

  •  So I copied the tags - shoot me n/t

    by kfred on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:52:44 AM PDT

    •  Bang! n/t

      by coloradocomet on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:53:51 AM PDT

    •  Ellicatt was designated to go next?

      Just wondering if I should recommend this, or follow what I read in the first diary.

      by SusanHu on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:54:30 AM PDT

      •  Maybe we need a lineup

        for parts 3, 4 etc.  

        by donnamarie on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:56:02 AM PDT

        •  Cool ...

          looks like everyone's on board with this one.

          (Boy, that Davis isn't the brightest bulb in the room, eh?)

          by SusanHu on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:00:13 AM PDT

    •  LOL! n/t

      by Terre on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:54:53 AM PDT

    •  subliminal diary tatic, huh? :) n/t

      by Omen on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:57:40 AM PDT

    •  Yeah, I saw it was copy/paste

      and corrected "goverment" to "government" in both :-)

      by DSPS owl on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 09:56:48 AM PDT

•  Davis is a total dick n/m

  by chelle in mo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:52:17 AM PDT

  •  Not to mention

    totally STUPID...blaming the CIA for The Leak!  

    by OWTH on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:04:38 AM PDT

  •  beyond being a total dick

    he was absolutely ineffectual.  And Valerie was splendid.  Pitch-perfect.

    by AlyoshaKaramazov on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:05:20 AM PDT

•  jeez what an ass (n/t)

  by Politburo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:52:52 AM PDT

•  Davis asking if anyone specifically told her

  she was covert.

  ASSHOLE, ASSHOLE, ASSHOLE.

  by chelle in mo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:52:53 AM PDT

•  Isn't Ellicatt supposed to do

  the next one?

  by SusanHu on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:53:08 AM PDT

  •  Does it really matter?

    I, for one, appreciate kfred getting this up relatively soon.

    by Terre on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:58:25 AM PDT

    •  True that

      Ellicatt should get Part III going so it can be put up when this one becomes unmanageable.

      by donnamarie on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:59:39 AM PDT

•  It sure would shut him up

  if the cia came forward with the info that they told the wh she was covert.

  by dmac on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:53:51 AM PDT

  •  Wonder If Anyone Who Did It Still Works There nt

    by Gooserock on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:54:51 AM PDT

  •  Well, we do know that

    both the WH and Novak were strongly urged by the CIA not to reveal her name.

    by Boston Boomer on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:14:07 AM PDT

•  Davis: Did Anyone @ CIA Say Your Career Path Was

  damaged?

  --Yes.

  by Gooserock on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:54:10 AM PDT

•  lol

  Davis trying to say "no harm, no foul".

  by Politburo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:54:12 AM PDT

•  covert

  Questioner asks if the CIA shouldn't have told people she was covert, so they would have known not to disclose her identity.

  Valerie does not say this, but the reason they don't do that is that can't disclose her covert position! When Novak was talking to CIA they tried to discourage him from printing her name, but they could not come out and say don't do it and tell him why - because then the CIA would have outed her!

  by OLinda on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:54:40 AM PDT

•  Jane Hamsher thinks

  that the supposed Code Pink person is a Republican plant.

  by Sprinkles on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:54:46 AM PDT

  •  Either way...

    I really hate it when they disrupt important hearings like these...

    by Sanuk on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:56:03 AM PDT

•  Did her HUSBAND reveal her identity?

  What is this guy on?

  by javelina on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:54:48 AM PDT

•  Who wrote Davis' questions?

  I smell Rove/Cheney !

  by catchawave on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:55:01 AM PDT

  •  Someone In Greater Thinktankia nt

    by Gooserock on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:55:51 AM PDT

    •  one of Conservapedia's editors n/t

      by PanzerMensch on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:57:46 AM PDT

  •  Why Didn't the CIA Tattoo "Spy" On Your Forehead?

    So everyone would know not to say you're a spy.

    That's davis in a nutshell.

    by bernardpliers on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:03:19 AM PDT

    •  competence, thats his motto!

      sheesh, what a maroon

      by benmcc on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:05:09 AM PDT

    •  excellent idea

      asdf

      by AndrewOG on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:26:56 AM PDT

    •  I haven't laughed out loud in a while. Thanks n/t

      by Malachite on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 11:19:31 AM PDT

•  I hope the CIA smears

  comes out and smears this asshole

  by chelle in mo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:55:03 AM PDT

•  Davis (con't)

  D:  did anyone tell you that your career path was (destroyed by the disclosure)?

  VP:  yes; upward career path (no longer available).  I was trained and wanted to (move up).  When children grew up, husband and I discussed moving overseas (to continue her career path).

  D;  When you intro'd yourself and husband (at a meeting in 2002?), did you tell anyone (of your undercover status)?

  VP:  no,...I believe they would assume as such.

  by Ellicatt on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:55:22 AM PDT

  •  hmmmmmm

    VP = Valerie Plame

    VP = Vice President

    There couldn't be a more stark difference in character, integrity, or morality.

    by AlyoshaKaramazov on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:20:15 AM PDT

    •  comment of the day! n/t

      by shayera on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:30:04 AM PDT

•  What's he doing

  Running down the clock?

  by javelina on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:55:39 AM PDT

•  someone's unprepared (n/t)

  by Politburo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:55:49 AM PDT

•  The "Dumb Blonde" Attack Won't Work Here

  Bet your bottom dollar that's what the wingnuts wanted to use before Plame started speaking. But so far, she's made no wild claims and has repeatedly asserted that she's no lawyer and won't make crazy assertions.

  The lady is sharp, and she's starting to cut deep...

  by Omen on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:56:03 AM PDT

  •  She is a covert

    She met plenty of smart people trying to kill her, nevermind some GOP tools.

    She probably knows how to finish him in 25 different ways before lunch, had it been legal.

    by fugue on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:25:02 AM PDT

•  Davis (cont'd)

  seems to me he is doing his best to blame the CIA, keep the WH out of this, and even put some blame on her.)

  D:  just to be clear (Kristof article)...where you at the breakfast?

  VP:  briefly

  D:  (were you one of the ones referenced to...was your husband one of the ones?)

  VP:  (no on herself; possibly on her husband.)

  by Ellicatt on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:57:53 AM PDT

•  Plame: Toesing is a liar

  Ooops.

  by Volvo Liberal on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:58:51 AM PDT

•  Toensing..

  Plame destroys her. Toesnsing has no fucking clue.

  by Politburo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:58:59 AM PDT

•  Cummings made a funny

  Asking if Toensing has secret documents that Plame didn't.

  lol

  by bumblebums on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:59:05 AM PDT

•  Still covert in Washington n/t

  by PanzerMensch on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:59:15 AM PDT

•  Go Elijah...

  Make us merrylanders proud.

  Brings up Toensing. Says she and others said Plame was not covert. Is this correct?

  Wilson: I am here under oath, I was a covert officer at CIA. Just like a general is a general whether he is in field in Iraq or at a desk in Pentagon. Covert officers rotate back to DC but are still covert.

  by Crazed Opossum on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:59:15 AM PDT

•  Cummings is burying Toensing!!!!

  Can't wait for Toensing later !!!!!

  Oh my this is turning out to  be a great day!!!!

  by Sanuk on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 07:59:15 AM PDT

  •  Agreed. Solid job by Cummings.

    by Newsie8200 on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:06:21 AM PDT

•  Gen. Hayden

  Clearly and directly: WILSON WAS COVERT

  by Politburo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:00:00 AM PDT

•  Heh

  Cummings: Is it possible that Ms. Toensing had more information about your position than you did? (Laughter)

  Valerie's response about how a general is still a general whether he was in the field or not was great.

  by lirtydies on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:00:07 AM PDT

  •  I'm loving Cummings!

    by SusanHu on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:02:05 AM PDT

•  oh snap!

  "could Victoria Toensing have information about your job that you don't have?"

  by pitbullEmily on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:00:13 AM PDT

  •  You never know

    Who knows what info Toensing was given to help her write her op-ed.

    I hope there are LOTS of questions about how it came to be that she wrote the op-ed and the names of everyone who gave her any info.  

    She'd be a nice one to catch in perjury.

    by gsbadj on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:38:05 AM PDT

•  Gen. Hayden: Plame was covert

  Period.

  End.

  Of.

  Story.

  Any questions, wingnuts?

  by Volvo Liberal on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:00:14 AM PDT

•  Yes, she was covert at time of leak!

  How many times do we have to fucking go over this?!?

  by PanzerMensch on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:00:41 AM PDT

•  Cummings effectively swept away all ambiguity

  re her covert status.

  What can that harpy Toensing say now?

  by bumblebums on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:01:16 AM PDT

•  Scooter is watching this...

  ...and shitting his pants!!!!

  That pardon is going to be harder to get...

  Fucking traitor

  by Sanuk on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:01:17 AM PDT

  •  maybe he'll come to his senses and 'turn'

    you know, start talking...

    by benmcc on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:07:55 AM PDT

    •  I believe

      ... the technical term is "flip"

      by mataliandy on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:18:48 AM PDT

    •  after the latest email leak

      Bush pardon just reinforce public perception GOP is bunch of criminals.

      so pardon comes with heavy cost if public is still watching.

      by fugue on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:27:28 AM PDT

•  from today!

  That means in 2002 she went overseas.

  by Politburo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:01:18 AM PDT

•  Ohoooo

  Waxman sent his opening statement to be cleared by CIA. They cleared all statements.

  Elijah: Some people still trying to insist on something that seems absolutely clear. We must make sure there is NO ambiguity on this point. Covert status not a question.

  We don't want classified info, but during the past 5 years,did you conduct secret missions overseas?

  Yes, I did.

  To be clear: You were a covert CIA employee on secret missions outside the U.S. Is that correct?

  Yes.

  We have cleared this up, I yield back.

  YOWZAH!

  by Crazed Opossum on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:01:22 AM PDT

•  Did you go on secret missions outside the USA

  during the last five years?

  Yes, I did.

  by chelle in mo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:01:23 AM PDT

•  Treason charges forthcoming?

  Cummings just nailed that the statute about revealing covert ops applies.

  by Lisa Lockwood on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:01:23 AM PDT

•  Covert is forever.

  Or at least until traitorously exposed by a bunch of tools.

  by shayera on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:01:28 AM PDT

  •  I loved Mrs. Wilson's analogy

    A General is a GEneral whether he's in the field or back at home in the Pentagon.

    Covert is Covert is Covert. those assholes sitting in the whitehouse are traitors.

    by michele2 on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:03:16 AM PDT

•  cummings! woohoo

  buried that idiot Davis. what a tool indeed.

  by michele2 on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:01:52 AM PDT

•  Oh fabulous!

  Lynn Westmoreland - one the stupidest people in Congress.

  by bumblebums on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:01:53 AM PDT

  •  What a moron!

    "I'm nervous. I've never questioned a spy before."

    by countrycat on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:03:06 AM PDT

  •  He is truly painful to listen to n/t

    by deha on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:06:36 AM PDT

  •  And he doesn't know his commandments, either

    n/t

    by admiralh on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:31:53 AM PDT

    •  Wanted them all over publica areas

      Maybe so he could remember them.

      by DisNoir36 on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 10:25:33 AM PDT

•  Cummings (D-MD)

  Is the Toensing statement correct?

  VP: Just like a general is a general...when he comes back to the Pentagon, he is still a general.  (when we come back from the field), we are still covert.

  C:  (referencing a conversation where he was told explicitly that she was covert).  I emphasize this because there are still people (who are trying to discredit her status).  Did you hold (covert status at the time of the leak?)

  VP:  yes, I did.

  C:  during the past 5 years, from today, did you conduct secret missions overeas?

  VP: yes, I did.

  C: You were a covert CIA employee, secret missions outside of the US (in the past five years; She answers yes.) ... I hope we have cleared up the (issue of her status).

  by Ellicatt on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:01:56 AM PDT

•  In the past 5 years before the leak

  did you go overseas on covert missions?

  YES.

  I tuned in just before Davis ended.  Never heard of him before.  He seems like a mentally challenged person.  

  I love the question: "Is it possible that Victoria Toensig knows more about the work you did than you did?"

  SNAP!!!!

  by litigatormom on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:02:04 AM PDT

  •  Why insult the mentally challenged?

    Davis is a willfully obtuse dickhead. He's a liar and he's carrying water for the white house.

    by homogenius on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:13:51 AM PDT

    •  Since I had never heard of him before

      I was giving him the benefit of the doubt.  "Mentally challenged" was a charitable explanation for his questioning.

      by litigatormom on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:39:06 AM PDT

  •  Are they lining up an IIPA indictment here?

    If so, that indictment isn't going to Scooter.  It's going to his bosses.  Likely, it won't be a Grand Jury that returns that indictment - that job belongs to Congress.

    IMPEACHMENT COUNT 1:  did willfully and knowingly violate a felony criminal statute, the Intelligence Identitites Protection Act of 1982, by leading and participating in a criminal conspiracy to expose the identity of Valerie Plame, a covert CIA Officer.

    by leveymg on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:53:18 AM PDT

•  covert and outside the US in the past 5 years!

  by jjhalpin on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:02:05 AM PDT

  •  WOW! That is dynamite.

    Oh, Cummings, you are one sharp guy.

    by SusanHu on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:03:54 AM PDT

•  Westmoreland's got the hots for her

  He's flirting.

  Can't say as I blame him.

  by Buckeye Hamburger on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:02:19 AM PDT

  •  She is looking good, so

    How can such an attractive woman be undercover? This is not possible. Victoria Toensing will set the record STRAIGHT! This hearing is an abomination. Joe Wilson is a liar. There. It all fits now.

    by jetdog on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:08:38 AM PDT

    •  I dunno, Jennifer Garner's a babe, too

      There are no ugly spies, male or female; everyone who's been to the movies knows that.

      by Buckeye Hamburger on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:20:10 AM PDT

•  Dear VA Democrats,

  Expose Tom Davis for the rat that he is and find someone to challenge him.

  XOXO,
  Every person who cares about facts and our nation's security.

  by Newsie8200 on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:02:22 AM PDT

•  Covert. Undercover. Classified.

  Covert and undercover interchangeable.

  by PanzerMensch on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:02:27 AM PDT

•  This hugely increases grave

  consequences for Libby.

  by Lisa Lockwood on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:02:31 AM PDT

•  BUT, BUT, RUSH SAID SHE WASN' T COVERT....

  Will the fucktards shut the fuck up now? Is Freeperville melting down? I hope every wingnut in the country is eating shit right now.

  by jetdog on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:02:35 AM PDT

  •  They think the hearing is all rigged.

    Some of those people even think there may be space aliens involved in what they think is a massive conspiracy to get their Dear Leader and his Fat Bastard VP.

    by inclusiveheart on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:05:37 AM PDT

    •  Fat Bastard VP!

      Best Cheney descriptor yet.

      by deafmetal on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:10:46 AM PDT

  •  heh

    Secret overseas assignments != being covert

    Just just contradicted herself.. now she says she was covert in the past five years, before she said no one told her she was..

    Yeah a GS-14 who are a dime a dozen in the USG

    Have they already caught her in perjury?!

    Real covert officers under real cover don't go near Langley when they get back from a covert assignment.

    Oh, I guess you're the CIA expert...

    The operative word is "WAS". Yes she WAS a covert agent. She WAS a teenager too. She isn't now.

    I'm surprised she is under oath as she's made some obvious false statements, and she's been pretty sketchy in many of her responses. The tale of her husband throwing the paper down on the bed and saying to her: "Well, he did it," was obviously made up and phoney. I find the lack of emotion in her statement, or her responses to be very telling.

    Lots of talking still about the Code Pink protestor.

    by Politburo on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:05:54 AM PDT

    •  Yeah.

      She "WAS" single before she got married.

      Just like she "WAS" covert before the WH outed her.

      Why is that so hard to understand?

      by countrycat on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:09:24 AM PDT

      •  Too dim there to parse English.

        It's how CA got its last anti-gay referendum item... which the wingers pranced about, and preened about how short and simple it is, how easy to understand.

        Parsed for meaning, it disallows any contract between a man and a woman other than a marital contract.

        The winger response (LTE replying to mine, pointing that out... from a Christian school's English teacher...) was essentially, ok, yeah, it says that.  But the courts will interpret it to mean what it was supposed to mean.

        by ogre on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:23:55 AM PDT

    •  If they have to admit

      her covert status, it will destroy their very reason to exist, Hahahahaha. Can't wait.

      by Overseas on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 09:43:09 AM PDT

  •  there is nothing up on RedState about this.

    How can that be?

    by Glic on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:09:16 AM PDT

    •  Irrelevant...

      It takes them time to process their paradoxical beliefs in National Security with the fact that they acted as enablers to the treasonous actions of this "administration".

      Watch for streiff, trianus, bluey etc. to come out with multi-syllabic mists of dense particulates and planar elements of reflective foil and clear ceramics (e.g. smoke & mirrors) to help their intellectuals along.

      by decitect on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:59:37 AM PDT

      •  exactly

        I was being facetious; obviously, it will take a little time to figure out how this is actually good for Republicans and bad for Democrats.

        by Glic on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 09:26:46 AM PDT

        •  Dittoheads can't have opinions...

          ...until The Fat Dickhead and Fox Pundicks tell them what to think and say.

          Wingnuts gobble that shit up like truth candy.

          by Dem In VA on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 12:48:27 PM PDT

•  "This committee has cleared up...

  that Ms. Wilson WAS covert." Quoted Hayden... and disputing Toensing. Thank you!

  by Wide Awake in NJ on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:02:40 AM PDT

•  Westmorland

  Trying his hardest to obfuscate.

  by Kimberley on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:02:44 AM PDT

  •  and being completely inept at the task! [n/t]

    by countrycat on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:05:56 AM PDT

  •  He is dumb as a box of rocks

    With apologies to rocks everywhere.

    by deha on Fri Mar 16, 2007 at 08:07:45 AM PDT