Cheney seeks immunity in Plame lawsuit.
By on May 17th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Cheney seeks immunity in Plame lawsuit.
Attorneys for Vice President Cheney, Karl Rove, Scooter Libby said “told a federal judge today they cannot be held liable for anything they disclosed to reporters about covert CIA officer Valerie Plame or her husband, former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV.” Cheney’s attorney argued that the vice president is “legally akin to the president because of his unique government role, and has absolute immunity from any lawsuit.”
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BUSHIT!
SADDAMIZE that corksucker!
May 17th, 2007 at 7:40 pmThe crown prince does not care what the serfs want.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:42 pmAnd that would be like the immunity this Rethuglican criminals granted was due Pres. Clinton during his term, right? Righhhhhhhhhhht. ALL the Bush/Cheney criminal cabal should be arrested, tried, and thrown in prison for the rest of their lives, for multiple crimes against the Constitution, the law, the American people, and the world.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:43 pmhey Pattycakes, fakeyjake, et al, exchange cheney for clinton in the post.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:44 pmBig Papa took the words right out of my mouth. The chimp is immune because he’s the “president”. Deadeye is not. That smug bastard. They must have really worked closely to hose Valarie or Deadeye wouldn’t act like this. My advice is to not go bird hunting with Deadeye for the next several months.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:46 pmFor all the latest PlameGate news, key documents, hearing transcripts and other essential materials, see:
May 17th, 2007 at 7:47 pm“The PlameGate CIA Leak Documents.”
No immunity from impeachment, though… and obviously they are AFRAID of just that!
May 17th, 2007 at 7:47 pmNo. He is not.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:47 pmWell, if cheney believes he’s immune from all liability, why didn’t he make all his pronouncements in front of the press? Perhaps he thought there might be legal consequences for his actions so he set up Scooter to do his dirty work.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:47 pmDoes anyone want to wager when the trolls will start claiming that Bill Clinton did this also?
May 17th, 2007 at 7:47 pm“Cheney’s attorney went farther, arguing that Cheney is legally akin to the president because of his unique government role, and has absolute immunity from any lawsuit.”
In other words, above the law.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:49 pmThe difference is CHeney outed an undercover CIA agent. Clinton got a blow job. BIGGGGG difference.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:50 pmJoin the “Ignore Valianttheknuckledraggingpig Club” today.
Let’s give it a try shall we !!
May 17th, 2007 at 7:53 pmTime to give Scooter Libby a pardon, Mr. President. No need to wait until January.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:54 pmCheney’s attorney argued that the vice president is “legally akin to the president because of his unique government role, and has absolute immunity from any lawsuit.â€
Well, perhaps he would like to share how much he’s “legally akin to the president?” Perhaps making lots of “presidential” decisions and allowing chimp to announce them?
May 17th, 2007 at 7:55 pmCheney never was one to take responsibility. He’s a coward. Always has been, and always will be.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:59 pmJesus, when Clinton tried the immunity thing he got slapped back… hypocrites…
May 17th, 2007 at 8:01 pm“Absolute immunity from any lawsuit.â€
That’s a sign of things to come. We’ll be hearing this phrase a lot more very soon.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:03 pmIt seems unbelievable that a sitting Vice-President would purposely cause harm to his own government, and yet that’s what Cheney did. So, Cheney, it’s now time for you to suffer the consequences of your treasonous acts. After the lawsuit comes impeachment, traitor.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:03 pmThis kind of crap is why impeachment of this entire corrupt and criminal administration is absolutely necessary for the continued survival of this nation (at least in anything resembling the “land of the free” that the Founding Fathers sacrificed so much to create so long ago).
May 17th, 2007 at 8:06 pmThis kind of crap is why impeachment of this entire corrupt and criminal administration is absolutely necessary for the continued survival of this nation (at least in anything resembling the “land of the free†that the Founding Fathers sacrificed so much to create so long ago).
Yes. If we don’t make examples of these clowns, there’s nothing to stop the next set of clowns from raping the nation. Deterrence. Now.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:12 pmCheney added, “Mommy!”
May 17th, 2007 at 8:13 pmThe Constitution does not give Sovereign Immunity to anyone. And high treason can be punishable by death. It’s time to remind Cheney what country he lives in.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:13 pmDon’t worry everybody; the judge told Cheney’s attorney point blank that “only the President has unique immunitry”, not the VP. Sounds like he’s not goibg to dismiss this one…
:D
May 17th, 2007 at 8:15 pmoops… immunity…
May 17th, 2007 at 8:16 pm#24 – Thank you, whitey. I’m smiling again. :)
May 17th, 2007 at 8:17 pmgorn by any other name sez:
If we don’t put a stop to this, by the time the ‘next set of clowns’ arrive, there won’t be a nation to save. Even now, I fear that the damage done is irreversible.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:18 pmEven if Darth is given immunity, Bush will have to fire him if it is revealed that he played a part in the leak:
… or else that would make the DeciderCommanderGuy a liar.
… And we know that’s not the case.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:19 pmDon’t worry everybody; the judge told Cheney’s attorney point blank that “only the President has unique immunitryâ€
You mean Cheney is not the president?
Doh!
May 17th, 2007 at 8:20 pm#28
The President cannot fire the Vice President. Cheney is an elected official, not appointed.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:25 pmRight, the President and Vice President are above the law. Right… But I thoroughly expect the Judge in the case who was appointed by Bush to agree with Chaney. That’s why Bush has put those activist judges in place. I love it when the Republics whine about “activist judges”. What they think is an activist judge is one who disagrees with them.
If you follow this line of thinking, I guess that Chaney could murder someone in front of 5 witnesses and couldn’t be prosecuted. I thought we were a country of laws. I guess not.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:26 pm#24 – Thank you, whitey. I’m smiling again. :)
Comment by Zooey
Me too! Thanks whitey.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:26 pmNot that I think that the following is possible, but it seems like it would be appropriate if the U.S. government could sue Dick Cheney for the monetary damages done to the CIA. One would think that it would be millions of dollars worth of blown covers and projects. There would also be the intangible value of information that would have been collected had Cheney not blown these covers. If this were indeed possible, it might take away a few of the millions of dollars of blood money that Cheney has collected from Halliburton.
It also seems to me that the harm that Cheney’s treasonous acts have done to the U.S. government is most likely greater than the harm caused to this country by 99% of the Gitmo detainees. Nice company you’ve placed your in, Cheney.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:29 pm“Even if Darth is given immunity, Bush will have to fire him if it is revealed that he played a part in the leak:”
Why would he fire Darth. He didn’t fire Rove and Rove admitted he outed Valerie Plame. There is no way Bush is ever going to do the right thing. I don’t believe he knows right from wrong any longer.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:31 pmty for that quote gorn… it’s best for us all to keep actual quotes and mistakes in memory, because, after all, more than half of the usa never wanted these guys on the helm to begin with… immunity does not apply to the will of the people, not forever anyway
May 17th, 2007 at 8:31 pmProfessor Chemerinsky is one of the foremost scholars on Constitutional Law. If anyone can get around the “sovereign immunity” and “state secrets” arguments, he can.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:36 pmm12,
Don’t worry my good minion, I’ll pardon him and Cheney!! It’s the way things work after Gerald Ford let Nixon out of the noose!!
Kate Henry,
I can’t fire Darth, he was elected, not appointed, although I think we should change that so I can hire and fire everyone on the planet
May 17th, 2007 at 8:37 pmCorrect me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Republicans insist Clinton could be sued by a private citizen in the Paula Jones case, that Clinton did not have absolute immunity, and didn’t the Republicans take it all the way to the Supreme Court?
I believe that at the time the Democrats were shaking their heads saying the GOP would regret this one day. That the Dems said the immunity only applied while the President was sitting and that Paula Jones could proceed with her lawsuit after his presidency, but the GOP wasn’t having any of that. Is that regretful day here at last?
May 17th, 2007 at 8:38 pm33 – not to mention the deaths of our covert operatives and their contacts around the world. It is not reasonable to assume that the front cover company Brewster Jennings could be outed without several people disappearing.
The other thing that’s sick in this whole affair is the complicity of a few journalists in outing a CIA agent and front company.
But, in doing so, Cheney had silenced every operative who knew the Administrations claims on WMDs were false. Their cover was blown. Many are either dead or held in a black site and being tortured even now.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:40 pmEven if Darth is given immunity, Bush will have to fire him if it is revealed that he played a part in the leak:â€
As m12 said, Bush cannot simply ‘fire’ shooter. Bush wouldn’t fire him anyway due to the protection shooter provides Bush. I think Cheney loves getting into into fights. He is out there yelling at everybody and throwing all this dirt in the air as a distraction from the daily issues we have with Bush. Hopefully the attorney scandal – and the fact Cheney seems like he is going to go to court afterall – will finally generate some attention among more citizens and MSM.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:41 pmCorrect me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Republicans insist Clinton could be sued by a private citizen in the Paula Jones case, that Clinton did not have absolute immunity, and didn’t the Republicans take it all the way to the Supreme Court?
Comment by david
I believe they lose immunity when they leave office or commit an act which is outside the Presidents ‘normal’ official duties (like getting a hoho in the WH).
May 17th, 2007 at 8:44 pmProfessor Chemerinsky is one of the foremost scholars on Constitutional Law. If anyone can get around the “sovereign immunity†and “state secrets†arguments, he can.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
Thank goodness.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:47 pmTom sez:
Does shooting a man in the face count?
May 17th, 2007 at 8:49 pmCorrect me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the Republicans insist Clinton could be sued by a private citizen in the Paula Jones case, that Clinton did not have absolute immunity, and didn’t the Republicans take it all the way to the Supreme Court?
The actions that Paula Jones sued over took place before Clinton became President. Not the case here.
Cheney was not the leaker anyway.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:52 pmDream on, psychopath.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:55 pmThere is no way Bush is ever going to do the right thing. I don’t believe he knows right from wrong any longer.
Comment by Kate Henry #34
…Bushiva must be DESTROYED…
…by the people…
…PERIOD…
May 17th, 2007 at 8:56 pmCheney was not the leaker anyway.
Comment by m12
Two questions:
1. Why is Cheney seeking immunity, if he is not the leaker?
May 17th, 2007 at 8:56 pm2. Who do you think is the leaker?
Cheney was not the leaker anyway.
Comment by m12 — May 17, 2007 @ 8:52 pm
That’s not what Patrick Fitzgerald said in his closing statement.
It was probably a pretty rough day for you when Scooter’s verdict came down, m12. Buck up, pal, troubled waters lie ahead.
May 17th, 2007 at 8:57 pm#47
1. Defending a lawsuit isn’t cheap.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:01 pm2. Armitage has already said he was.
Tom sez:
I believe they lose immunity when they leave office or commit an act which is outside the Presidents ‘normal’ official duties (like getting a hoho in the WH).
I’m pretty certain getting a “hoho” isn’t illegal …
May 17th, 2007 at 9:04 pm1. Defending a lawsuit isn’t cheap.
Are you shitting me? I’d spend every dime I have defending myself in court, before I’d seek immunity for something I hadn’t done.
2. Armitage has already said he was.
Comment by m12
Patrick Fitzgerald found no evidence that Armitage knew about Plame’s covert status. I’ll believe him before I believe you.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:08 pmHey, I’d be all for granting immunity, but I wouldn’t want to appear soft on crime.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:08 pmOpen wide, Dickles…
May 17th, 2007 at 9:09 pmOk. I want an “up or down” vote of no confidence for Mr. Crazy…I mean Mr Cheney! I need to hear how you vote!
May 17th, 2007 at 9:10 pm[edit] Resignation
May 17th, 2007 at 9:21 pmOn October 10, 1973, Spiro Agnew became the second Vice President to resign the office. Unlike John C. Calhoun, who resigned to take a seat in the Senate, Agnew resigned and then pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) to criminal charges of tax evasion and money laundering, part of a negotiated resolution to a scheme wherein he accepted $29,500 in bribes during his tenure as governor of Maryland.
My bet is still on a resignation for health reasons.
Patrick Fitzgerald found no evidence that Armitage knew about Plame’s covert status. I’ll believe him before I believe you.
Believe what you want to believe. Novak and Woodward both fingered Armitage as the source. Both sides have admitted to it.
Really doesn’t matter in the end as nobody was charged with leaking anything.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:21 pmReally doesn’t matter in the end as nobody was charged with leaking anything.
Comment by m12 — May 17, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
Nice dodge, liar. No one was charged because Libby and Rove lied, and Fitzgerald couldn’t reach Cheney, whom he clearly regards as guilty.
Armitage is irrelevant and you know it. Two different people can do the same thing and it can be perfectly legal in one case and flatly illegal in another. That is precisely the case here. Armitage’s actions in no way exonerate Cheney’s gang.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:29 pmm12, you are incorrect. The Paula Jones lawsuit had nothing to do with when it occured. Indeed, the Clinton lawyers only wanted to stay proceedings until after his term in office ended. But Republicans insisted he be tried while in office and they won.
There is no such thing as presidential immunity. The president or veep is NOT above the Law. And leaking Plame’s name was against Federal law. A law that existed long before Bush’s famous signing statements. Cheney is not immune. And you can’t say he wasn’t the leaker because that’s something not proven yet in a court of law. Indeed, there is good reason to believe he was the leaker.
And so this case should proceed.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:30 pmm12, why did Scooter Libby lie to investigators, commit perjury, and obstruct justice? According to your theory (which I know even you don’t believe), Libby would have no motive to do any of these things. Who was he covering up for if no crime was committed? Why would he do that? It makes no sense.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:31 pmYou’ll find the burden of proof in a civil suit lighter than in a criminal case. Please consult the OJ Simpson trials for examples. Cheney’s “fingerprints” are all over this crime. And he’s going down.
May 17th, 2007 at 9:34 pmThe President cannot fire the Vice President. Cheney is an elected official, not appointed. – M12
It would be quite easy, M12. When Darth’s guilt is revealed, Bush can belly up to the podium and declare:
“In keeping with my previous promise, in support of my unquestioned integrity, in light of my honorable sworn duty to protect and defend the Consititution of these United States, I have today requested the Congress to petition for articles of impeachment against Vice President Cheney related to alleged high crimes or misdemeanors in association with the Valerie Plame case, and request that if so impeached, and if subsequent proceedings result in the Vice President’s conviction by the Congress, I will support his removal from office in accordance with law and ethical imperative. I have today urged all of my Congressional colleagues, of all political parties, to support my position on this matter and to vigorously pursue conclusion.”
I’m thinking Cheney would be gone in two weeks.
Of course, this is what the Chimp will actually say:
“Heh…. Uh. I heard these… these… shcurrilush allegashuns against Dick. Dick’s an honorable man. Being Vice Presdint is a hard job. It’s hard. It’s hard work. And ah… I’ve looked in his soul. I could feel his heart. And he, I shed, ‘Dick, yer doin a heckuva job’. Now, heh, y’all can go on with yer… heh… yer accusashuns… yer… ya know yer… innyuWendoes, but whut I’m sayin’ is we have hard work, tough work to do to… protect Amerka. Ya know, all this… this accusin’, I’m sure ya know it’s… puttin’ a smile on the face of Al Qaeda. Empowering them. Emboldening them. Makin them hard…. hard work… it’s hard.. So, I sincerely thank you for your concern… you… ordinary people… but I’m the decider… somebody has to be an’ itsh mah job so ah… 911. God blesh ya an’ God blesh Amerka.”
May 17th, 2007 at 9:38 pmlet m12 live in his foKKKs “news” and limburger- fueled fantasy world- ‘Happy-Land”(tm)- like th eother ignorant sheeple who rely on talking points for their news-
May 17th, 2007 at 10:08 pm“the ignorant are often surprised” (Mark Twain?)
I’m going to laugh my a** off when a judge sees through Cheney’s bullsh*t and finds him liable anyway. Of course I won’t hold my breath, but if he is held liable, I’ll buy the first round of drinks!
May 17th, 2007 at 10:11 pmImpeach Cheney, then he has NO immunity in being sued by Plame.
May 17th, 2007 at 10:30 pmstating they derserve immunity only proves they are guilty…
May 17th, 2007 at 11:40 pmm12, you are incorrect. The Paula Jones lawsuit had nothing to do with when it occured. Indeed, the Clinton lawyers only wanted to stay proceedings until after his term in office ended. But Republicans insisted he be tried while in office and they won.
The standard set was that elected officials do not have immunity for unofficial acts not related to the duties of said office. Given that the PJ harassment took place before Clinton came into office, it’s clearly an unofficial act.
There is no such thing as presidential immunity. The president or veep is NOT above the Law. And leaking Plame’s name was against Federal law. A law that existed long before Bush’s famous signing statements. Cheney is not immune. And you can’t say he wasn’t the leaker because that’s something not proven yet in a court of law. Indeed, there is good reason to believe he was the leaker.
Cheney has not been charged with any crime. He doesn’t have to prove anything.
Justice Breyer also set a higher standard, namely, that the lawsuit cannot impede the President’s duties to carry out his office.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:49 pmNice dodge, liar. No one was charged because Libby and Rove lied, and Fitzgerald couldn’t reach Cheney, whom he clearly regards as guilty.
Nobody has proven Rove lied. Fitzgerald can think whatever he wants. He hasn’t filed charges.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:51 pmBullets have no concept of immunity……so I hear.
May 18th, 2007 at 12:05 amA nation of laws (Light AntiTank Weapons Systems)
May 18th, 2007 at 12:43 amOk, m12, you keep believing Rove is one upstanding citizen.
May 18th, 2007 at 12:53 am> Justice Breyer also set a higher standard, namely,
> that the lawsuit cannot
> impede the President’s duties to carry out his office.
A) Good thing for PLame that the presidents duties have nothing to do with this case.. their not suing the president, genius.
B) Its also a good thing for plame that even if you can somehow twist that argument to include the vice president, the only official duties delgated to the vice president is casting the tie-breaking vote in the senate. I dont think a lawsuit would impede the ability to say “nay” or “yay”.
http://www.answers.com/topic/vice-president-u-s
“The Vice President has no constitutional responsibilities other than serving as president of the Senate, presiding over that body, and voting only to break ties. ”
Keep making up all the flimsy excuses all you want BM12, your not a legal scholar and its obvious you dont want the truth abotu cheney’s retaliation coming out. And thats what it was, retaliation. And I’m constantly amused by your “theres no proof theres no proof nya nya nya”… yet somehow once Mr. “we know where saddams WMD are” decides your a terrorist, no proof is needed to imprison you… so please, enlighten me as to who, in your mind, are the people we need to have evidence against before we pass judgement on them? brown people and other foreigners, right?
Are you enjoying life these days as one of Dick’s Dead Enders, its obvious nothing can can sway you from your distorted….nay….completely hallucinatory view of these people as some sort of inerrant messiah rescuing you from the hordes of brown people screaming for your baby’s blood.
May 18th, 2007 at 12:54 am> Nobody has proven Rove lied.
Please explain why someone who wasnt planning on lying would tell congress “I’ll testify in front of you, but not under oath”
May 18th, 2007 at 12:56 amNobody has proven Rove lied.
Comment by m12 — May 17, 2007 @ 11:51 pm
To the contrary, it is quite clear that he made false statements to the grand jury. He was granted an 11th hour reprieve by agreeing to appear before the grand jury and change his testimony.
I’ll bet Karl says that a lot, doesn’t he? “Just tell them NO ONE, not NO ONE, can prove that KARL ROVE lied!” I’ll bet he roars when he says it.
May 18th, 2007 at 1:00 amWho on earth would defend Karl Rove except for a Rove employee or acolyte?
May 18th, 2007 at 1:02 amSeriously. Otherwise I don’t get it. But I don’t get why anyone would sell their soul to belong to the Bush administration, either. And that is the going price.
May 18th, 2007 at 1:05 amRove beetles are known from every type of habitat that beetles occur in, and their diets include just about everything except the living tissues of higher plants. Most rove beetles are predators of insects and other kinds of invertebrates, living in forest leaf litter and similar kinds of decaying plant matter. They are also commonly found under stones, and around freshwater margins. Several types are known to live on ocean shores that are submerged at high tide, several species have adapted to live as inquilines in ant and termite colonies, and some are “parasites” of mammals that actually benefit their hosts by eating fleas and other parasites. Few species, notably those of the genus Aleochara, are parasitoids of other insects, particularly of certain fly pupae.
Although rove beetles’ appetites for other insects would seem to make them obvious candidates for biological control of pests, and empirically they are believed to be important controls in the wild, experiments with using them have not been notably successful. Greater success is seen with those species (genus Aleochara) that are parasitoids.
May 18th, 2007 at 1:29 amimmunity from any lawsuit? Not to sound like a rap song but “nigga please”! (NOT meant in a racist way WHATSOEVER, more as in incredulity). Who does he think he is? We still have laws in this country and he can definitely be found guilty, or that he has to pay money in a civil case. He thinks he’s doing what’s good for the country, that’s the scariest thing!
May 18th, 2007 at 3:01 am“[A]bsolute immunity from any lawsuit”?!?!?
He oughtta go look up Clinton v. Jones….
Not to mention, at least on paper, he’s not the Preznit.
Cheers,
May 18th, 2007 at 3:20 amTime to IMPEACH the whole friggin’ lot.
F*ck you, Dick.
May 18th, 2007 at 8:09 amTreason
May 18th, 2007 at 9:02 amdoes he have secret x-ray vision too?
May 18th, 2007 at 9:06 amI M P E A C H …
May 18th, 2007 at 9:25 amwhy would cheney request immunity if nothing illegal was done?
May 18th, 2007 at 9:33 ammethinks he wants to hide something or someone.
#83 You took the words right out of my mouth.
Wouldn’t my first defense be “I didn’t do anything wrong.” rather than “I claim immunity.”
May 18th, 2007 at 10:25 amThese smug bastards need to see that they ARE subject to our laws! The entire govfernment is being run by buddies and political right wingers of the Bushwacker. Apparently no experience other than voting republican is required now.
May 18th, 2007 at 7:10 pmIf I blabbed secrets, I would expect to be accountable.So should these bigmouths.