Think Progress

Novak sticks up for Scooter.

By Faiz Shakir on Jul 23rd, 2007 at 12:51 pm

Novak sticks up for Scooter.

This weekend on the Tim Russert Show, conservative pundit Robert Novak said Scooter Libby simply got “mixed up” when he told false stories about how he learned of Plame’s identity. He said of Libby: “He’s not dumb, he’s a lawyer, very smart fellow,” but then added, “I hardly know him myself.” Watch it:

[flv http://video.thinkprogress.org/2007/07/novacula.320.240.flv]

In the interview, Novak said Bush should have pardoned Libby, “but right now it is very difficult, I believe, for him to pardon him…since he has said that he—commended the jury, commended the prosecutor, and indicated that the trial–that the verdict was correct.”



53 Responses to “Novak sticks up for Scooter.”

  1. Mucho Gusto says:

    What was Libby’s crime again?


  2. Derek Phillips says:

    Um, perjury and obstrcution of justice????


  3. Thrasymachos says:

    Libby deserves a full pardon… come on Bush, do the right thing.


  4. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) says:

    What was Libby’s crime again?

    Comment by Mucho Gusto
    __________________________

    As if it matters to you.


  5. Menehune says:

    Can’t somebody put a stake through this vampire already?


  6. Badmoodman says:

    Why did Libby lie in the first place? To keep the prosecutor from getting to Cheney. That one is simple.

    Why did Libby risk his career by committing perjury, which is not a common-or-garden variety of lie? This is a more complicated issue, because one would presume that Libby would know better than to risk a perjury rap. Here, my view is that Libby was entirely confident that he would not get caught, because he assumed that the journalists with whom he had spoken would never testify. He probably lied all the time, and never got caught, so why should this time be different? He could not have predicted that Fitz would squeeze testimony out of the reporters.


  7. Kryptik says:

    Aww….he just got a little mixed up, what’s wrong with that?

    Except…you know, that whole mixing up was kind of deliberate. In other words, he obfusticated. Or in more direct, blunt terms that Novak seems loath to recognize: HE LIED.

    And lying in court proceedings like that is considered a crime.

    THen again, this is the jackass that insists that Reid has taken the Senate to a new low.


  8. Kiki says:

    If the Bush Administration wasn’t criminal, Libby would be sitting in prison right now, where he belongs. Then again, Cheney would already be there himself if this country still adhered to the rule of law.


  9. hug the moon says:

    A michael Savage lstening family member of mine brought up Sandy Berger as an excuse to pardon Libby’s crimes. Why is it that when a dem does it, it is impeachable though when the repubs do it then they use the excuse “we are only as bad as you guys.” The repubs now hold the dems as an acceptable measuring stick for corruption tolerance.

    Left or Right. It should not matter. Libby pardon supporters – stop playing games with yourselves. Live your lives on even moral ground.

    If this is untrue, then why does Vitter still have a job?

    Love to y’all


  10. Sharon says:

    Crap…More thread’s on Kristol and Novack….How about a thread on all our bridges and highway’s being sold out to big business, next should be how our park’s and BlM land is being looted…All our wild life killed off along with the citizenery getting poisoned by china import’s, open border’s. arm’s sales and war promotion by the bush administration to all countries…GEEEES…Supose the next thread will be more coulter or O’lilie…How about an update on all our enabeler’s and what the hell we are going to do to change this miserable mess around, hay TP, anyone, are you listening or just like our miserable dictatorship…I’m otta here for the day..Let the name jacking by black hearted little troll’s continue unabated..Blessing to every one else…Trees to plant and a big Bear to hug…


  11. Jane E. Schneider says:

    I guess that to some people, there’s impeachable perjury, then there’s “perjury lite.”


  12. Jane E. Schneider says:

    Sharon, hug Bear and a tree for me and Wayne! :D


  13. pgl says:

    Novak doesn’t believe that Libby willingfully lied? Huh? Oh yea – Bill Clinton forced him to commit perjury and obstruct justice. Now I get it.

    You know – these little chats that Russert has with folks are just worthless. He doesn’t even try to ask tough questions. Which, of course, is why Novak agreed to be on this farce.


  14. Hrr? says:

    Why did Libby risk his career by committing perjury, which is not a common-or-garden variety of lie?

    He probably got word that he would be pardoned sooner or later so why not?


  15. menehune says:

    Libby did it too!

    Bush did it first!

    I’m starting to practice for 2009.


  16. The Eck says:

    Bill Clinton pardoned Henry Cisneros.


  17. Chimp says:

    James K. Polk pardoned Josiah Fropworth.


  18. Fan_of_Man says:

    Call Congress Today for Impeachment

    We’ve reached the impeachment moment for Vice President Dick Cheney. We’ve pushed the cosponsor list for H. Res. 333 up to 14. Chairman John Conyers says that if we get 3 more he’ll begin the impeachment proceedings.

    And many Congress Members must be recognizing that there is no other path available. Cheney and Bush have repeatedly refused to comply with subpoenas, ordered former staffers not to comply, and announced that the Justice Department will not enforce contempt citations from Congress. When a special prosecutor attempted to hold this administration accountable, Cheney’s chief of staff obstructed justice, and Cheney persuaded Bush to commute his sentence. There is no course left for Congress but Impeachment.

    On Monday, July 23rd, the fifth anniversary of the meeting that produced the Downing Street Minutes, Cindy Sheehan, Ray McGovern, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Ann Wright, Debra Sweet, Dave Lindorff, David Swanson, Jodie Evans, Medea Benjamin, Kevin Zeese, and Tina Richards will lead a march to Chairman Conyers office and not leave until he agrees to begin impeachment proceedings.

    If you cannot be there, you can take two minutes on Monday and do two things: phone Chairman Conyers at 202-225-5126 and ask him to start the impeachment of Dick Cheney; and phone your own Congress Member at 202-224-3121 and ask them to immediately call Conyers’ office to express their support for impeachment. Your Congress Member might be one of the three needed, not just to keep impeachment activists out of jail but to keep this nation from devolving into dictatorship.

    Also email your Representatives:
    http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/73

    #####

    Forward this message to everyone you know!


  19. Kiki says:

    I thought Cheney was the Prince of Darkness…I guess he’s been bumped up to Satan’s Butt Buddy or something?


  20. VerbalKint says:

    Novak is a traitor and should be tried for treason.


  21. Chimp says:

    Bill Clinton pardoned Henry Cisneros.

    Comment by The Eck — July 23, 2007 @ 1:07 pm

    Did you approve?


  22. Thrasymachos says:

    “Call Congress Today for Impeachment”

    Why?


  23. the fly-man/ W is 4 WEAK says:

    Again i have to wonder why TP even cares about what Tim Russert has to say. He was actually a stand by at BNMC for a colonoscopy device for the President last weekend.


  24. kelso says:

    Novak said Bush should have pardoned Libby, “but right now it is very difficult, I believe, for him to pardon him…since he has said that he—commended the jury, commended the prosecutor, and indicated that the trial–that the verdict was correct.”
    —————————-
    Like any of the things that Bush says in the past have even the slightest affect on what he may do in the future.

    A devotion to contradiction and hypocrisy is rule no. 1 in this adminstration.


  25. mr. bush goes to hell says:

    “Call Congress Today for Impeachment”
    Why?
    Comment by Thrasymachos


    NOT azzhole-lickers of WAR CRIMINAL Bush like YOU.

    REAL Americans who care about geting rid of the MURDEROUS WAR CRIMINALS.

    PATRIOTS.

    NOT you…


  26. spit take says:

    What exactly does a “pundit” have to do in order to have his membership in the club revoked?

    William the Bloody Kristol hasn’t been right about anything since picking Baltimore to win the Super Bowl in 2001, Tom Delay is under indtcment and Novakula outed a covert CIA operative. An d these people still find work as commentators.

    On what is their credibility based?


  27. Chimp says:

    Bloody Kristol predicted my commutation, sir!


  28. bilbobaggins says:

    Why is Novak not in jail? He is a traitor to this country. He not only outed an under cover CIA agent, he also outed her cover company. For all we know, people were killed because of what he did. And he can’t say that he didn’t know that Valerie Plame was under cover because he outed her cover company too!

    This man is a disgrace and he should be in prison. If we can’t get him there, we at least need to get him to STFU!


  29. mikey r says:

    Henry Cisneros was charged with bank fraud and obstruction of justice in connection with hiding cash payments made to a former mistress (again, a private scandal, not connected with his duties in government). He pled guilty, was fined and given no jail time.

    Thus Clinton’s pardon, two years later, did not short-circuit the imposed court punishment and was not self-serving in that Cisneros’s crime had no legal implications for Clinton.

    Got anything else, “The Eck” or is that the best you got?


  30. bilbobaggins says:

    “He probably got word that he would be pardoned sooner or later so why not?”

    I’m sure that there was more in it than a pardon for Scooter. I expect that there was a rather large monetary reward for him also. Since his career is pretty much in ruins, I’m sure that they guaranteed him some kind of a very lucrative cushy job for his silence.


  31. Jane E. Schneider says:

    “What exactly does a “pundit” have to do in order to have his membership in the club revoked?…On what is their credibility based?”
    Comment by spit take — July 23, 2007 @ 1:17 pm

    Nothing…and nothing…especially on Fux Noose.


  32. spit take says:

    Since his career is pretty much in ruins, I’m sure that they guaranteed him some kind of a very lucrative cushy job for his silence.

    Comment by bilbobaggins — July 23, 2007 @ 1:24 pm

    Are you kidding? With his connections and his proven willingness to do anything — even betray his country — in service of the right-wing cause, Scooter is bound to be the subject of a bidding war between the Heritage Foundation and AEI.

    Those “think tanks” swoon over traitors like this. Ollie North ran for the Senate. Hell, G. Gordon Liddy went to jail and went on to his own radio show and many TV appearances.

    Right-wingers LOVE-LOVE-LOVE criminals, as long as their criminality was for The Right Reasons.


  33. nanlichi says:

    Funny story. I guess Bush was up late one night, blowing snow and Snow when some kid hiding behind the drapes took a picture of them. Bush choked him to death (I know it’s hard to believe, what with those soft little hands) and swore Tony to secrecy. “Don’t tell anyone what happened here, and if you get busted for some minor offense like perjury or obstruction of justice, I promise you won’t spend any time in jail. Deal? Good, now where were we? Where’s my protein shake you promised me?”

    And so it was. Tony clammed up, perjured himself, obstructed justice and everyone was happy. The sycophantic whores who dream of the day it’s their turn in the Oval Office pissed and moaned that there was no crime committed. Anybody get convicted of any underlying crime? No, well then it’s all a partisan witch hunt.

    Outing a CIA agent is a serious crime, treasonous actually. And obstructing justice to hide treason should be met with a noose around Scooter’s neck too.


  34. Perry Logan says:

    In the history books of the future, this era is known as “The Neocon Nightmare.”


  35. The republic of Stupidity says:

    A Michael Savage listening family member of mine brought up Sandy Berger as an excuse to pardon Libby’s crimes.

    Comment by hug the moon — July 23, 2007 @ 1:05 pm

    Next time this family member brings this up, just tell them the truth.

    Sandy Berger was charged w/ a MISDEMEANOR, unauthorized removal and retention of classified material from the National Archives,
    to which he pled guilty.

    (First, make sure this family member understands the difference between misdemeanor and felony…)

    Scooter, on the other hand, was convicted on four of the five counts in his indictment: one count of obstruction of justice; two counts of perjury; and one count of making false statements to federal investigators.

    The judge, who had been appointed to the bench by Bush, stated that he could not overlook the overwhelming evidence of Libby’s guilt when sentencing him.

    Big, clear-cut difference.

    Pretty easy, huh?


  36. veritas says:

    Robet Novak, Prince of Darkness, needs to be investigated for his part in this heinous and reprehensible outing of a covert agent, aka “treason against the United States”. Soon, Robbie, soon!


  37. veritas says:

    They’re all involved in high crimes against this country – treason. That cannot be compared with the removal of documents so they can talk about Berger till they’re blue in the face – what he did looks like child’s play next to the intentional outing of a covert CIA operative which is now and always has been called “treason”.


  38. No-Chit says:

    What’s with the NBC title “The Prince of Darkness” for Novak?

    That’s Darth Cheney’s Title!!!


  39. toasterhead says:

    What’s with the NBC title “The Prince of Darkness” for Novak?

    That’s Darth Cheney’s Title!!!

    Comment by No-Chit — July 23, 2007 @ 1:50 pm

    Best. Chyron. Ever.


  40. spit take says:

    What’s with the NBC title “The Prince of Darkness” for Novak?

    That’s Darth Cheney’s Title!!!

    Comment by No-Chit — July 23, 2007 @ 1:50 pm

    Yeah. Cheney is gonna be pissed.


  41. RUCerious says:

    Is he like channeling Judas?


  42. Ronald Reagan and his Master Satan says:

    And Bush Sr. pardoned INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST Orlando Bosch

    and the Iran/Contra CRIMINALS to save HIS and Reagan’s azz.

    Conyers says “Impeachment Proceedings if 3 more House members sign on”:

    http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132×3392226


  43. God Help Us says:

    Bush will just pardon Libby when he leaves office. But hey, he won’t pardon his wife’s brother clients, FALN terrorists or Marc Rich so he’s got that going for him.

    This Libby thing is nonsense. The left is hellbent on chasing a scandal that doesn’t exist. Bush is President. He has pardon power and their is nothing you can do about it. Apparently, Harry Reid agrees with me.

    The Democrats are spineless wimps. At least the GOP had the balls to impeach Clinton. AND we won in 2000. I see a pattern here.


  44. Zed Lefflin says:

    Bob, Dick, Scooter and I got togeather and made this little jewel for you all……..here….this is for you……….

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ypa75axdK6o

    HAHAHAHAHHAHA………..


  45. missmolly says:

    He has pardon power and their is nothing you can do about it. Apparently, Harry Reid agrees with me.

    The Democrats are spineless wimps. At least the GOP had the balls to impeach Clinton. AND we won in 2000. I see a pattern here.

    Comment by God Help Us — July 23, 2007 @ 2:19 pm

    Yes, Bush has the power to pardon and commute. Nobody is disputing that. The issue here is if the commutation is part of a quid pro quo (illegal), or to buy Libby’s silence if he is aware of any illegal activity (also illegal).

    Personally, I think it would be great if Libby DID get pardoned by Bush. Then he could be subpoenaed to testify before congress and he wouldn’t be able to take the fifth.

    Libby is guilty of the crimes he was convicted for. But he also took a bullet for the team to protect a much bigger fish.

    And about impeachment? Only the right would make impeachment a testosterone contest. Impeachment should be reserved for the gravest of cases where true misuse and abuse of power has occurred — not used for witchhunts merely to show one’s “balls”.

    And as far as the election in 2000 goes — yes, we admit you won that one. 5 to 4. However, Gore got more votes from the American people.


  46. Roket says:

    It is obviously now a requirement that every question asked Bob Novak must lead off with one of the following: Bob Novak®©, Robert Novak®© or Robert D. Novak®©. Must be in his contract. I suppose he thinks that the more we hear his name, the more likely we are to believe that what he says is actually true. Snarkle.


  47. spit take says:

    #44 Roket — I guess Novakula thinks that’s better than “Robert Novak, Douchebag of Liberty ©”


  48. Zoom in says:

    Fan of the Man has done his part by copying and pasting his copy points IN BOLD on every topic on the board today. Have you done your part and followed his directions?


  49. LibertyLover says:

    Libby consistently and continuously lied. A jury of his peers convicted him of that…He is a criminal. And Novak is a traitor. Heck, just another aspen connected at the roots…


  50. C. Tim Quinn says:

    With all this talk about Libby being pardoned and having his sentence commuted Karla Fay Tucker must be turning over in her grave.


  51. john says:

    what doesn’t everyone get? novak as well as his co-conspirators, have commited treason in time off war(although we are only occupying). what about the infrastructure off the false front that took years to set up safeguarding our country?


  52. jhickey says:

    This is sick. Russert and Novack are joined at the hip.Both liars.Both have sons coming up the hard way.Novacks son a proud Swiftboater and Timeth’s son doing some sports whatever.Remember what Cheney’s aide said .Something about Cheney going on Russerts MTP to get his lies across.


  53. Tony Dunn says:

    He (Scooter) is a politician for pete’s sake! And how do you know when they are telling lies? When they open thier mouths! There are no exceptions, and big Dick is the master.



Jump to Top

About Think Progress | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy (off-site) | RSS | Donate
© 2005-2009 Center for American Progress Action Fund
View Most Popular

Advertisement

What We're About

Featured

image
Subscribe to the Progress Report



imageTopic Cloud


Visit Our Affiliated Sites

image image
Reports


Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.

Name:
Email:
Tip:
(required)


imageArchives


imageBlog Roll