There's something big coming in this city (Chris Matthews)

MSNBC ^ | oct. 19, 2005 | MSNBC

[blogblogginaway]

'Hardball' host Chris Matthews discussed the latest in the Plame leak case with MSNBC's Amy Robach on Wednesday morning. Here's an excerpt of what he had to say:

...............If there are indictments, they're going to be probably in the vice president's office, they're probably going to come next week and they are going to blow this White House apart.

It's going to be unbelievable.

I think the people watching right now who are voters better start paying attention to this issue. It's not just about whether somebody's name was leaked, it's about whether we went to war under false pretenses or not, whether people knew about that or not, and what they did when they were charged against that kind of offense against the United States.

It's serious business.

[Wallace T.]

Liberals are salivating at the possibility, real or not, that the Valerie Plame case will be the Watergate of the 21st Century. Patrick Fitzgerald, the prosecutor, will no doubt be lionized as a modern day Archibald Cox in the MSM. In fact, that process has already begun. Combined with Ronnie Earle's indictment of Tom Delay, the fractures in the GOP and conservative camps over the Harriet Miers nomination and issues such as immigration, the prolonged conflict in Iraq, and the renewal of inflationary pressures, the Democrats are hoping for at least a recapture of the White House and possibly both houses of Congress.

Not since Franklin Roosevelt has a president had a successful or even a relatively calm second term. Eisenhower's second term was marked by the fall of Cuba to Communism, the Soviet launch of its Sputnik satellite in 1957, and the Soviet downing of a U.S. reconnaissance plane in 1960. Eisenhower's "Karl Rove", Sherman Adams, resigned after it became evident he took gifts illegally from businessmen with legal troubles. Watergate and related events marked Nixon's second term, leading him to be the first and only President to resign in office. Ronald Reagan dealt with the Iran-Contra scandal during his second term. The Monica Lewinsky scandal, particularly Clinton's lies regarding his relationship with the intern, caused the first impeachment trial of a President since Andrew Johnson.

Perhaps a single term is all a President should want or have.

[kittymyrib]

You can just sense Chrissy is wetting his panties in anticipation. I refuse to watch that spitting creep.

[cubreporter]

oh crisssy...trying to make a story out of nothing. Go spit on something would ya? Like yourself.

[churchillbuff]

Is prosecutor Fitzgerald a Republican or Democrat?

[RegulatorCountry]

"I feel like Chrissy is just trying to influence the universe through "positive thought"!"

Chrissy's pinging the cosmos? LOL!

[rocklobster11]

Fitzgerald is not going to press an indictment the last week of a Grand Jury - it would have the appearance of desperation ala Ronnie Earle. If he was going to do something and wanted it to retain any credibility, he would have dropped it today as the last reasonable sitting of the GJ.

Well, he's got another GJ meeting Friday, so he could do it then. However, I disagree with your theory. Prosecutor's often wait until the last possible moment to bring indictments.

• First, the impending sense of doom hanging over the witnesses and subjects who are afraid of becoming targets often causes them to builds to a crescendo as the deadline approaches. That's the best time for the prosecutor to take advantage of them.
• Second, the prosecutor always wants to make sure he's gotten as much info as he can before bringing the indictment. Given that Judy Miller just testified a few weeks ago, any indictments would have to wait until he had all the testimony he needed.
• Third, it's human nature to wait until the last minute to get things done.

[brytlea]

Thank you, that's what I thought, but so, why is this a story? I think the real story is that she sent her husband (on taxpayer $$ no doubt) to do a nonjob.
susie

[finnman69]

Chris is really putting himself out there on this one ala Keith Olbermann and Ohio 2004.

[Timeout]

He is absolutely insane with hope that this administration is "going down".

A couple of nights ago he kept asserting that this is "worse than Watergate" or "this is Nixonian". He tried repeatedly to get his guests to pick up the theme...they wouldn't touch it.

Seriously, though. Given what Chrissy is describing, is there even a LAW he's implying was violated? Is there a "anti misleading the country into war" statute?

[Steve_Seattle]

One thing the DUers NEVER mention about the Niger trip: If Cheney didn't care about the facts, if he was willing to dismiss evidence and lie about yellow cake or any of the other pre-war claims, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE ASKED ANYONE TO CHECK IT OUT.

[kabar]

And it was quoting British intelligence reports, which they aver are true to this very day.

[bray]

Is Screwball still on TV??? When are they pulling the plug on that disaster?

Pray for W and Our Victorious Troops

[BadAndy]

"He's gone 100% moonbat."

Yup, it's clear that he has completely bought the liberal world view "Bush lied, Rove is an evil genius, Cheney is the real President, the white house is a den of thieves, Iraq is a failure, no blood for oil, etc. He doesn't even question it anymore. He's a total leftbot.

[Bahbah]

What time does this guy come on now?

Here in the Midwest, he's on at 6pm, right after Brit Hume. There couldn't be a greater contrast.

[jennyjenny]

DU troll?

[blinachka]

What planet is this guy living on? Has he been paying any real attention to this case or does he simply make it up as he goes along? I think he's the type that believes if you say it enough it'll come true...sort of like the "I BELIEEEEEVE" DUmmies...sheesh!!

[hispanarepublicana]

Are we sure this isn't like that the time in Dec., 2000, when a breathless Nora I've-Had-Too-Much-Coffee-And-Can't-Blink O'Donnell declared to viewers, "I have very good sources who told me exclusively tonight that if this case goes to the Supreme Court BUSH WILL LOSE!!!"

[rocklobster11]

Is prosecutor Fitzgerald a Republican or Democrat?

He's supposedly independent and apolitical. The problem with being apolitical is that he may not understand the damage he could do by bringing some questionable indictment on some after the fact charge like perjury or obstruction.