Mullings: An American Cyber-column By Rich Galen

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Now, THAT was a Week

Rich Galen

Monday October 31, 2005

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Have some Madeira, M'Dear? Well, it's ever so much nicer than beer. The evil gin does, would be hard to assess. And besides, it is inclined to affect the prowess. How some Mateira, M'Dear?

Done? Good. Thanks.

Here's how you know a week was really rotten: When only one Federal indictment being slammed into a high Administration official seems like good news.

On Friday there was not enough free oxygen available in Washington to light a match - so much of it had been sucked out of the air waiting for word from the special investigator, Patrick Fitzgerald.

When the announcement of the five count indictment against the Vice President's Chief of Staff, Scooter Libby, but none against Karl Rove, it was hard to get a cell phone connection, so many reporters were calling sources and so many sources were calling reporters and so many sources were calling sources to find out what they had been saying to/hearing from reporters.

An army might march on its stomach, but Washington marches on its cell phones.

Republicans were relieved about Rove, Democrats were left hanging on with their fingernails, to the small hope that Fitzgerald might yet ensnare Rove in this complicated business.

As evidence, I did a PBS interview with a reporter for The Nation magazine. The Nation is one of those rare publications which not only IS Liberal; but is proud of it. Anyway this guy said if "this thing stops here it will be nothing more than a footnote to history."

Which meant, of course, if the only thing Fitzgerald could come up with was the perjury/obstruction rap against Libby the air was out of this balloon.

I thought that the disappointment in his voice was so deep, it might be a good idea for the senior people over at The Nation to collect everyone's neckties, shoelaces, and belts so no one did themselves harm.

When I was a young radio reporter in Marietta, Ohio 45750 on WMOA (1490 on your AM dial) I used to cover municipal court - DWIs and like that.

In the early days, when I listened to the prosecutor making his case, I was convinced that the accused driver should not only lose his license but should be taken to the Ohio State pen and locked away forever.

Then, when I listened to the defense attorney put on his case, the defendant was portrayed in such a way that I thought the cops who arrested him should lose their badges and guns.

After a while I understood that it was a good idea to hear both sides of the case before coming to any conclusions.

We have heard and read the indictment against Scooter Libby. That is only the prosecutor's case. We have not - and may not ever - hear the case for the defense.

On the Rove front, Time Magazine (where they mostly wear loafers so only neckties and belts are required) wrote, "It was only after [Rove's] fourth appearance before the grand jury that aides sensed "a burden off his shoulders."

I point that out because you will remember that it was exactly that appearance - the fourth - which led the Cable Cabal to sadly pronounce that could only mean that Rove was toast.

Just as I first learned in the municipal courtroom in Marietta, it's better to wait until you've heard all the evidence before you decide where the truth lies.

Truth lies. Hey, another oxymoron!

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On the Secret Decoder Ring page today: A link to the Limeliters lyrics, a link to the text of the indictment against I. Lewis Libby, a pretty good Mullfoto of the Season, and a Catchy Caption of the Day

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