Special [needs] Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is going to be regretting the day he decided to try and build a famous career out of the nothingness of the Plame Game. Here is Fred Thompson, a very respected moderate Republican lawyer (and actor), voicing the obvious about Fitz-Magoo’s personal opportunism:

Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., criticized Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald’s handling of the CIA leak investigation yesterday, saying the prosecutor had to have known from the start that it was not a crime to disclose Valerie Plame’s identity as a CIA officer.

A fundraiser for the defense of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Thompson depicted Fitzgerald as out of control, telling ABC News there was “no brake and no check and no balance” on the prosecutor.

The Prosecutor DID KNOW. And yet he went on a lame fishing expedition that included submitting false and misleading arguments to the Court of Appeals and US Supreme Court claiming he needed to jail journalists in order to uncover who leaked Plame’s details to the media, and their motives.

Fitz knew who leaked to Novak when he started, and he gave him protection against prosecution. Fitz learned of other leaks to the media from Ari Fleischer, and gave him protection from prosecution. Fitz ignored many of the other incidents of leaks to the media (Armitage to Andrea Mitchell, the Wilsons to Kristof and Landry, Grossman to whoever). Fitz submitted claims his purpose was to uncover the full truth and now he has admitted in front of a judge he actually never intended to turn over every rock. He wanted OVP and WH heads on the wall to pad his resume. Plain and simple.

And he should be investigated – and hopefully will be. If the legal minds in this country don’t clean their spoiled house after this latest abuse of prosecutorial power, then we the people will have to start putting limitations on the legal system to avoid these blatant abuses.