former Chief of Staff I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby has been convicted on four out of five counts in the CIA leak case. More details to follow.

Valerie Plame is suing VP Dick Cheney, former aide Scooter Libby, and tubby advisor Karl Rove. More details to come…

From Think Progress:

Bush’s term is winding down and he is now officially a lame duck. We know this because right-wingers are already talking about a pardon for Scooter Libby, the VP’s chief of staff who was indicted for lying under oath to a federal grand jury. A pardon could come sooner rather than later.

One attorney familiar with the Plame case said Bush might find that it is in his interest to pardon Libby sooner rather than later.

A pardon before the trial could could cut off the disclosures and spare Vice President Dick Cheney from testifying as Fitzgerald’s witness about Libby, his former chief of staff.

But the timing of a pardon, the attorney suggested, likely would depend on the outcome of the midterm elections.

If Republicans retain control of Congress, Bush could act swiftly. But if Democrats win control of the House or Senate, Bush might wait, and use Libby’s trial as an excuse not to cooperate with any congressional investigations into the leak.

The counterargument to a pardon this year or next, however, is that it would be a political bombshell and distract from Bush’s agenda.

DiGenova predicted that Bush, like other presidents, would issue controversial pardons on his last day in office.

Karl Rove will not be charged with any crimes in the investigation into the leak of CIA officer Valerie Plame’s identity. Don’t worry people, Karl Rove is still a very evil man who has, on many occasions thumbed his nose at the law and has spent his entire career mastering the politics of division. He has done much more harm to our country than good and history will remember him in that way.

has just been confirmed as the new head of the CIA by a vote of 78-15. DoubleSpeak discusses the Hayden nomination on Episode 5. Check it out.

The Baltimore Sun:

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence approved the nomination of Air Force Gen. Michael V. Hayden to be the next director of the CIA yesterday, clearing the way for him to win confirmation before the end of the week.

In a closed session, the committee voted 12-3, with all eight Republicans and four of seven Democrats supporting him, to send Hayden’s nomination to the full Senate for a final vote.

Who voted no???:

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)

High-five to you, Senators!

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DoubleSpeak Episode 5 tackles the issue of The NSA, The CIA and General Hayden’s nomination. Have a listen.

Glenn Greenwald: Any differences between Democrats in 2003 and today?

CNN: Hayden nomination moves to full Senate

thinks that Karl Rove is an evil man. It looks like Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald and the grand jury who is looking into the CIA leak case share our sentiments. The Washington Post reports that the investigation is coming to an end and MSNBC’s David Shuster said tonight on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, ‘I am convinced that Karl Rove will, in fact, be indicted.’

has resigned, President Bush just announced. Goss hadn’t even been in the job for two years — perhaps “Hookergate” and the Duke Cunningham scandals are getting a bit too close? Think Progress has a good summary of Goss’ links to the Cunningham scandal.