Liars and what happens to them

Well, sometimes nothing happens to them. I'd like to believe in some kind of Karma, some kind of what goes around comes around. I'd like to think that if Rove avoids indictment now, in some future life, he'll be a louse or a leech or some other appropriately parasitic being who will be squashed in some gruesome fashion. Possibly a cruel and inhumane fashion.

Perhaps Rove will get what's coming to him in this world, though. There's fresh news from WaPo that maybe Fitzmas isn't over yet, that maybe Fitzgerald is still pursuing Rove. Even if he is not charged with making false statements during the investigation, the world now know that Rove is a liar. He said denied repeatedly that he had a role in the discussions with journalists about Plame and Wilson, a fact that is now demonstrably false.

The White House says Rove's doing an "outstanding job", (Thumbs up, Brownie!), and in no danger of losing his. Interesting report from MSNBC about what Rove should be losing, if not his job. Apparently there is an Executive Order that should require Rove lose his access to classified information, given that he disclosed classified information.

So, one of Bush's most trusted advisors has violated an executive order and lied repeatedly to the press and the public, at the very least. Rove's advice must be pretty valuable to Bush for him to keep such a dishonorable man in his employ. That, or honor means little to him.

Maybe Bush hasn't noticed all of this yet. After all, now he's dealing with attacks on his administration regarding the black site prisons. The International Red Cross wants access to ascertain the conditions under which prisoners are being held. The EU wants to know where these prisons are, since there are news reports (less wussy than WaPo) that disclose probably locations in the EU. Looking likely that those black sites are in Poland and Romania.

The UN special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, Manfred Nowak, has said he will investigate the black sites. Don't look for him to make much progress, given the stonewalling he's received in his attempts to get into Gitmo. I was embarrassed by this response to the UN's latest request, to visit and actually speak to detainees: "The offer they have is the final offer. We are not prepared to open Guantanamo up to just anyone who wants to come in and talk to detainees."

Yep. I think the UN is usually considered to be "just anyone".

The black site furor has renewed public interest in the government's treatment of detainees, per yesterday's blog, a furor in which Cheney (and probably Rove) feature prominently. I guess Bush's lack of value on honorable behavior shouldn't surprise me, given the immorally dishonorable behavior to which we subject our detainees. The Bush administration is all about down and dirty, do it nasty, whatever it takes to get the job done. And Rove is just another cog (albeit a big one) in the machine crafted for the nasty.

I continue to be pleased at the Democratic response. Harry Reid is acting practically warrior-like. He spoke to reporters today, laying the lack of investigation by the Senate Intelligence Committee into WMD and Iraq directly at the feet of Dick Cheney. "Nothing happens regarding intelligence gathering ... unless it's signed off on by the Vice President"

The machine crafted for the nasty is looking a bit rusty these days. Not running like it used to. And that, alone, brings my bleeding liberal heart a bit of hope. Maybe Rove et al are about to get their just desserts.

Until tomorrow,
Liz