Comments on: Libby Prosecution: Cathie Martin Testimony

By: Wickedpinto

Wickedpinto — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 01:49:23 +0000

Wells read virtually the entire Kristoff column back to her and asked some questions she had no way of answering, boring all concerned to tears. Certainly me. That alone makes you the BEST reporter of this testimony. On a personaly anecdotal note, concerning the handling of classified or more material. I had an active clearence, with an inactive top clearence while I was in the Marine Corps (I was a 2881) Daily I could (actually was) be exposed to "secret" materiel, also I was a platoon clerk and many other billets, requiring the discretion of someone working with "classified" information. At times I could release "classified" material, based on the information, and with the fact that my MOS required me to maintain not just manuals (manuals aren't nearly as important as) but also KEYS! to cryptographic systems, including the specific programing of . . . I think they were called "firewhire keys." I was basicaly just the guy who didn't say bark, until we wanted them to bark, but anyways. . . . . SEVERAL times in my secondary "classified" positions, I witheld information, cuz that was MY FRIGGEN JOB, but I had to Manipulate that information in a way that didn't make my commander look like they were ignoring the requests of their superiors. My job Basicaly, was to STALL! and deny information, until my commander could contact the "supposed" source of initial contact directly. Security information is a PAIN IN THE ASS!!!!! Even if you are a PFC in the Marine Corps, let alone the chief of staff of the VP. This case is a travesty.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:58:15 +0000

Thanks, Cecil.

And, yes, I'm sure that's right. My reading of the first one was that it was in July. After realizing that didn't make sense, I checked with a couple others and found it was June. I apparently didn't correct that one.

UPDATE: Yep, it was June. July 11th was a Saturday; June 11th a Wednesday. Correction made above.

By: Cecil Turner

Cecil Turner — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:40:02 +0000

Yes, thanks James. Great stuff.

In the above, is there any chance the July 11th e-mail is supposed to be "June"? Seems to fit better.

By: Libby trial begins and Rove and Cheney are in the spotlight! - Page 2 - Debate Politics Forums

Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:29:34 +0000

[...] Originally Posted by aps Oooh, so the plot thickens. Today, Cheney's former press secretary, Cathie Martin, testified that Libby and Cheney were obsessed with the Wilson article. Here is a link to her testimony, where does she say he was obsessed? Libby Prosecution: Cathie Martin Testimony � Outside The Beltway | OTB Aps, you got burned on this once because you used such shoddy news sources, here from the trial Defense Cross Examination commenced 2:29. Were you there for whole conversation with Cooper? No, she had gotten a phone call with Jennifer Miller Wise and missed part of it. You usually listen in on both sides of such conversations? Yes, when we�re at the White House. Mr. Libby made it clear he wasn�t happy at having to make phone calls because it was his son�s birthday? Yes. He only made the calls because you were nagging him? Yes. �We needed to decide affirmatively whether to be in the story or not.� Except for 10 or 20 seconds when you recollect you told Mr. Libby and VP Cheney about Wilson�s trip and his wife�s role, you had no other discussions with either of them about Mrs. Wilson? �Not that I recall.� At no time during the talking points discussion, did you mention Mrs. Wilson? No. You wanted to get the whole story out? Yes. But you didn�t think the wife was part of that whole story? �I didn�t think it was helpful to us.� Your understanding was that Vice President Cheney�s intention was to get all the truth out about Wilson�s trip? Yes. Is it correct that �at no time IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE� did the VP indicate to you that Mrs. Wilson or her status was part of getting that story out? Correct. �Do you have any knowledge of Libby EVER discussing with ANY reporter information about Mrs. Wilson and her employment status?� No. Did the conversations with Andrea Mitchell or deal with Mrs. Wilson? No. What she conveyed was they were concerned about the false information MR Wilson was spouting in public and wanted to get the truth out to the public. And if you read her testimony you see even she has some memory lapses as to who said exactly what to whom and who took notice. So what exactly is the underlying crime this is suppose to be material to? [...]

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:09:53 +0000

Patrick,

Will do. I'm doing it on all the testimony posts, actually. When it switches from the govt to the defense cross-x, I'll put an italicized note in.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:08:34 +0000

James, this is a wonderful service you are providing. One comment: it would be helpful if you stated at the beginning of the questioning (or intermittently throughout) who is asking the questions, whether it is Prosecutor or Defense.

Thank you.

By: Wizbang: Explosively Unique...

Wizbang: Explosively Unique... — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

a 1993 Harvard Law graduate who became a senior public affairs official in the Office of the Vice President from 2001 to 2004. She's now Deputy Communications Director in the White House. For a summary of her first day of coverage see James Joyner's summation at Outside The Beltway. Liveblogging of Cathie Martin's testimony continues below.

By: The Hindsight Factor | We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident

The Hindsight Factor | We Hold These Truths to be Self-Evident — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Crooks and Liars: Crooks and Liars- Libby trial: McClellan Talks Libby Leak on The Daily Show OTB-Libby Trial: Libby Trial: Cathie Martin’s Testimony Damaging OTB-Libby Trial: Libby Prosecution: Cathie Martin Testimony OTB-Libby Trial: Libby Prosecution: Craig Schmall Testimony (Pt. 2) OTB-Libby Trial: Libby Trial: Subtle Distinctions in Guilt or Innocence Dodgeblogium- Libby trial: Doughty Street with a bit of Scooter

By: The Open Piehole

The Open Piehole — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

testimony of Cathie Martin