In a trial that is fast turning into a celebrity-studded reality tv show for the C-Span set, Dick Cheney appears likely to take the stand in defense of Scooter Libby. From the NYT:
If he testifies, Mr. Cheney will bring to the jurors the awesome authority of his office and could attest to Mr. Libby’s character as policy adviser and family man, and to his crushing workload and dedication to keeping the country safe. That could give extra heft to Mr. Libby’s defense against the charge that he lied to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the grand jury: that he was so occupied with important matters of state, he did not accurately remember conversations from July 2003.
Interesting how Cheney's office is described as being imbued with "awesome authority." We've certainly come a long way from the days when FDR VP "Cactus Jack" Garner described the office as "not being worth a pitcher of warm spit." And with approval ratings of 16%, it's clear that Americans are less than comfortable with how powerful Vice President Cheney and his neocon friends still are.
Interestingly, the Scooter Libby Trial is revealing a new Dick Cheney; Dick Cheney the pro-war PR man:
But the first 10 days of testimony have already exposed some of the long-hidden workings of Mr. Cheney’s extraordinary vice presidency, revealing how deeply Mr. Cheney himself was engaged during 2003 in managing public relations as the administration’s case for war came under attack.
Under cross-examination by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, a veteran prosecutor who is likely to be deferential but dogged with questions, the vice president may be forced to describe in uncomfortable detail how he directed the counteroffensive on Joeseph P. Wilson IV, the former ambassador who accused the administration of twisting prewar intelligence.
And once Dick Cheney decides to testify, anything goes. It should be an entertaining and elucidating odd-hour:
If Mr. Cheney makes a statement that conflicts with the public record — and nearly every witness so far has done so at least once — it could prove embarrassing for him and for the administration.
“If Cheney said anything that’s contradicted in the record, though I think that’s unlikely, Pat will slam him,” said a former federal prosecutor who knows Mr. Fitzgerald. “He’ll do it respectfully, but I have no doubt he’ll do it,” said the lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity...
...Theodore B. Olsen, the former solicitor general for Mr. Bush, called Mr. Fitzgerald “a remarkably thorough, meticulous and careful guy with a tremendous memory of the facts” who was likely to mount a formidable cross-examination.
By taking the stand before a rapt national audience, Mr. Cheney would essentially be leaping without a net, because neither the defense nor the prosecution would be duty-bound to protect his interests, said Mr. Olson, who represented Ronald Reagan during the Iran-contra affair.
“You never know what’s going to happen on a witness stand with cross-examinations,” Mr. Olson said. “Surprises happen all the time.”
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