OK, this is one gut wrenching assignment I have taken on – listening to Joe Wilson moan to Keith Olbermann about their fantasy conspiracy theories. But I wanted to listen in and see if wild Joe would trip up again (he has become well coached after years of dumb slips of the tongue). I will attempt to avoid the ludicrous statements, but since the entire charade is pretty much ludicrous that may be the only content in this BDS-fest.

You can tell a lot about a ‘news story’ by the kind of media interest it attracts. Seems only a ratings desperate far lefty like Olbermann was interested in getting used by the Wilsons. I think much of the Wilsons problems with the media is no one trusts them anymore given all their lies and games they played on the media the first time around. Recall that Wilson was pushing the idea he had caught the administration used forrged intelligence to lie to American about the Iraqi risk, and that he had proof the intelligence was forged because he himself debunked it. All that turned out to be false (and likely lies) and the media learned the hard way not to trust what the Wilsons say – in general. So here we have two ratings desperate people on TV and we reap the results.

Discussion framed by Novak statement. The marginal difference of “Mrs Wilson” (the wife of Joe Wilson) vs “Ms Plame” as some big deal is really scraping for an issue. Mrs. Wilson was outed by the secret source (aka Armitage) so I am not impressed to say the least.

Wilson’s response is jumbled and silly. He claims he is not watching Novak’s comments – right. He claims Novak said in a phone call at the time he had a CIA source, then in the story mentioned two administration sources (which is all consistent). And when he asked Novak which it was he said he mispoke (confusing ‘source’ with ‘confirmation source’). These marginal linguistic games only confuse those easily diverted by irrelevant facts. The question always plays on the definition of ‘source’ and whether it includes the confirmation sources.

Wilson then goes on to claim Harlow used well known code words to explain Novak was going to expose Valerie in a dangerous way. I find that too funny. If Valerie was so classified Harlow would not have been able to initially confirm her analyst position with Novak and would have known to say nothing at all on the first call. That is also standard CIA procedure: neither confirm or deny truly covert information.

Wilson: Getting the “truth out” is a goal of all this – pun intended I would guess.

Olbermann: Would the truth without any clear damages a victor? (Good question). Wilson dodged.

OK, I am impressed with Olbermann asking hard questions. He notes part of suit implies physical risks from being exposed but then asks whether being splashed in Vanity Fair and being at the Media Correspondence Dinner, etc. How is this squared? Slimy Joe Wilson answers that with what could be seen as a not-so-veiled threat. Wilson claims Bob Novak’s wife is in no danger until such time as someone exposes her as a CIA operative. The guy really is a crude power tripper, the kind that inhabit the swamps of DC. Wilson says Valerie worked in a ‘highly sensitive” position at the CIA. Not ‘classified’ and not ‘covert’. Sensitive. Seems Wilson is not ready to go on the record claiming Valerie was covert or classified. He just uses those words in examples or theoretical concepts. All he claims is here sensitive position brings about ‘some level’ of security threat to us. It could be microscopic, but I guess just knowing she is CIA implies some threat!

Wilsons claims security threats have come through the Intelligence Community (which of course cannot be confirmed or denied). This is opposed to the threat of Hannity and Limbaugh listeners!

Apparently Wilson is a mind reader. He claims when Cheney wrote about his wife sending him on a junkett it was a talking point to his staff (as opposed to a memo to his staff saying they should pursue this angle). I would guess it was a note to himself since the paper came from his files, not from staff files! Wilson is going to have a tough time proving Cheney’s motives with just that. Clearly Wilson thinks he is much more important in his own mind than in just about everyone elses.

Another classic blunder by Wilson. He claims the reason Cheney went after him is Cheney ‘felt his manhood was threatened”. Boy, that is going to go over well on the witness stand. Wilson sounds like a B movie tough guy being played by a whimp.

Wilson: Cheney thought the three articles claimed Cheney sent Wilson. Wilson cleverly only refers to one of the two Kristof articles, an Ackerman article in New Republic and his own Op-Ed. He doesn’t address the other Kristof article or the Pincus article which came out with his NY Times OpEd. Actually, most of the articles at the time clearly implied Cheney sent Wilson and Cheney recieved a report on Wilson’s findings. You know, the findings where he mystically debunked forgeries that would surface 6 months after he returned. Wilson has now lied again, and these lies will come back to haunt him in cross examine. For example, this is from his MTP appearance the weekend of his Op Ed

The question was asked of the CIA by the office of the vice president. The office of the vice president, I am absolutely convinced, received a very specific response to the question it asked and that response was based upon my trip out there.

The implication was inherent in Wilson’s claim of the administration knowingly using forged intelligence. The administration had to know because it was their quetions he answered in his trip! Now he claims otherwise? So what’s the big deal?

Olbermann asks another good question: what was the route of the orders to attack Valerie? Was it through Rove to Cheney to Libby? Wilson responds with his own theory: Cheney annotated the article, which was meant to be some signal to Libby and Rove! LOL! What a joke.

Wilson keeps confusing ‘Niger’ with ‘Africa’ and calls all the information on the broader African issue ‘crap’. They guy is clearly a silver tongued little devil.

Last question: Report regarding the Armitage source theories. Does Armitage destroy the idea of a conspiracy (since he and Woodward are the first sources of Plame’s role from the same source). Wilson claims it means nothing, Novak and Armitage may not have been part of the conspiracy! Which is interesting since Rove and Libby never once called a reporter to drop the news, they only responded to the topic when it was brought to their attention for comment! Wilsons case is worse than Fitzgerald’s! Too bad this will not see a court room. It is only a badly run PR stunt.