Limbaugh: Did Wilson commit treason?
In an October 31 discussion of the indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, nationally syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh stated, "The more the left talks about Libby's alleged perjury, the more you have to ask did Joseph Wilson commit treason." Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, was indicted on October 28 for perjury, obstruction of justice, and false statements. Limbaugh later continued, "Did Wilson lie about Niger? Did Wilson commit treason?" Limbaugh also stated, "You still can't convince me ... that this whole thing is not a CIA-hatched plot to destroy Bush, undermine the war effort."
As Media Matters for America has previously noted, conservative critics have repeatedly tried to shift the focus from the leak investigation to questions of Wilson's credibility, baselessly claiming that he lied about his trip to Niger.
From the October 31 broadcast of The Rush Limbaugh Show:
LIMBAUGH: He [special counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald, who is prosecuting Libby] discounted any connection to the war, but the left is out there saying that this whole thing is the cause of the war. The mainstream media might have the template on this, but they do not have the facts about any of this that went on. The more the left talks about Libby's alleged perjury, the more you have to ask did Joseph Wilson commit treason.
Joseph Wilson is out there -- who has been documented by the Senate Intelligence Committee, bipartisan, to be a liar; people have poured over his New York Times and L.A. Times op-eds; found him to be a liar. If, as the left charges, we went to war because of yellowcake [uranium] in Niger, then they have to live with that charge or die with it.
Now, I know it's not our argument, and it's not the president's argument, the argument in Congress and the U.N. [United Nations], but that's the Bush-bash of today; that we went to war because of yellowcake in Niger, and it was all a lie. That's what the left wants to believe themselves, and they try to make everybody else believe it, and so Wilson came back and found no evidence, they say; when that's not even true either. His initial verbal report confirmed what the CIA knew at the time. You still can't convince me, by the way, that this whole thing is not a CIA-hatched plot to destroy Bush, undermine the war effort, and all that.
Mentioned this for the past couple of weeks, but the real question is this: Did Bush lie about yellowcake? Did the Brits lie about uranium in Niger or did Wilson? Did Wilson lie about Niger? Did Wilson commit treason? Did Wilson make up something that he's gonna sip tea and not even investigate, come back and just say what he wanted to say what the plan was?
I mean, I, it didn't even strike me that this was all important until the left started making it the reason for opposing the war and trying to get rid of Bush; that he lied about weapons of mass destruction, nuclear weapons of mass destruction, to get us into war. And Wilson is the agent for that story being moved forward, when Wilson is, himself, a questionable source. So Dingy Harry [Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)] wants Rove to resign? Why? Wants Bush to pledge no pardon ever? Why? Can't wait until Dingy Harry says this goes all the way back to Barbara Bush. Well, how far back are they gonna try to take all of this?
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Exactly how would this plot play out? Hey we will send Wilson to Niger, when he finds there is no way for Niger TO sell yellowcake to anyone, then the administration will ignore the report, distort the evidence and pretend it happened anyway, when Wilson objects Rove and company will expose his wife as a CIA agent and then be destroyed. WOW, Rube Goldberg would be proud.
Wilson did NOT lie about the Niger nondeal. The mines where uranium is obtained is not under their control. There is no way to make this deal. Limbaugh is desperate and trying the most ludicrous of defenses. Of course he cannot be convinced he is beyond any reasonable hope of being swayed by mere facts and evidence, who needs facts, he has an ideology.
I dont think anyone lied, its clear though that Wilson was right and British Intelligence is wrong unless they can cough up some serious evidence we havent so much as heard rumor of. The real question is does Limbaugh commit treason every day by spreading his disinformation throughout the land.
-- I dont think anyone lied --
we know that both Libby and Rove lied about not being involved in leaking the name of a CIA agent during war to Novak, who then informed out enemies.
The only treason -- as Limbaugh knows -- was committed by the White House when Bush and Cheney staffers gave aid and comfort to our enemies by identifying a CIA agent and her cover company Brewster, Jennings & Ass.
Nuke - Thursday November 3, 2005 06:00:39 PM EST
I meant that in the context of this statement. Its my fault for not making that statement clearer.
Did Bush lie about yellowcake? Did the Brits lie about uranium in Niger or did Wilson? Did Wilson lie about Niger?
>"but that's the Bush-bash of today; that we went to war because of yellowcake in Niger, and it was all a lie."
No, Rush, YOU'RE lying. The famous 16 words are only one lie among many. That's the point. The Republicans, not the Democrats, have put all the emphasis on the 16 words, as if that's the only questionable "fact" put forward by the Bushies.
Does Rush's audience still swallow this nonsense? Hard to believe.
I guess Rush forgot the aluminum tube story that the W. House leaked to the NYT, then used the NYT story as evidence of Saddams "active" Nuclear program.
No Rush, it wasn't "just" because of the Niger claim, the sales pictch for war was based on several fallacious and exagerated claims. And the more they are found to have been bogus, the more we need to press for the truth on what this Administration did and did not know.
This joker is broadcasting over Armed Forces Radio that the CIA is trying to bring down President Bush? Rush appears to have confused Scootergate with IranContra - when the military tried to take over our civilian government. Somebody needs to rethink this thing...
And the Pentagon was afraid of Big Eddy Schultz? Why - because he might tell the truth?
Even the truth (sad as it is) would be better than telling the men and women fighting for our country that the CIA (active in both Afganistan and Iraq, I daresay) is trying to overthrow our government.
Rush keeps talking like this he is going to get some good people killed. I wonder what the poor family of Mike Span thinks about this?
The gentleman's name was Johnny Michael "Mike" Spann - my apologies to his good family for not having spelled this hero's name correctly.
He's an egregious, vindictive and bitter man. Too bad he won't just melt away.
Limbaugh makes remarks like this, yet he gets celebrity status with the PGA. Here are a couple of the tournaments he was a celebrity with this year:
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Feb 2005
American Century Golf Championship, July 2005
[link to www.golfweb.com]
You still can't convince me ... that this whole thing is not a CIA-hatched plot to destroy Bush, undermine the war effort.
Oh my word! This is hilarious! He has previously said that war opponents are "anti-American" - so now Rush Limbaugh is claiming that the CIA is anti-American!
Just wonderful....
Since Rush and the GOP hierarchy are usually on the same page, this leads me to believe that they are expecting the CIA to eventually admit that the Bush junta cooked the intelligence leading to the war. They may be laying the groundwork now for accusing the CIA of trying to topple the government. Ths looks like another Rovism.
"Did Bush lie about yellowcake? Did the Brits lie about uranium in Niger or did Wilson? Did Wilson lie about Niger?"
Hey Rush, These are all great questions. Why don't we have a non-partisan investigation of the whole matter and find out who was telling the truth, and whether the documents were forged and if so by whom? You seem to be interested in the truth here, so I assume you're up for it.
So that's where Harry Reid got the idea to force that closed door session in the Senate.
Wow, Rush. Thanks!
I also believe it was a CIA plot and I would welcome an investigation only if no members of congress could be on the committee and none of them could say one word about any of this ever.
I would like to know the truth but without the jackasses in Congress being involved.
I think Ambassador Wilson may have cause for action against Limbaugh for slander.
Hey Rush, These are all great questions. Why don't we have a non-partisan investigation of the whole matter and find out who was telling the truth, and whether the documents were forged and if so by whom?
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My thoughts EXACTLY.
And it's really funny that it's a big deal if WILSON lied (Limbaugh speak for committing "treason"). But not such a big deal that LIBBY lied.
The world would be VERY boring without Limbaugh's idiocy.
The world would be VERY boring without Limbaugh's idiocy. - from starwheel
Maybe, maybe not. I'd sure like to try it without to see.
Limbaugh.... Wilson lying to the american people and the press is not treason. It's not right but definitely not treason.
"Limbaugh.... Wilson lying to the american people and the press is not treason. It's not right but definitely not treason."
It's not Treason; It's not right; and it's not true as far as I've seen. Wilson did not lie. I keep hearing from cons that he did, but they've never been able to back it up. The reposnse is always "Go research it for yourself, it's common knowledge", but of course it's only "common knowledge" on con blogs with no supporting facts and those are the only places I can find that mention it.
[link to www.factcheck.org] Please read. When I have time I will post other examples.
"Please read. When I have time I will post other examples"
I unfortunately don't have time right now to go through every detail on the article you provided, but a fairly in depth look regarding Wilson within the article doesn't turn anything up to me that shows Wilson lied. It shows some people disagreed with him. Please show me what you specifically feel shows Wilson lied within this article.
[link to intelligence.senate.gov] see page 39 to start. That is just one of the many lies(since liberals have a very loose definition of lies)uncovered. You could also refer to Wilson's admission of his own lies.
Give it up, Libby. There's no there there.
Thank you for pointing out page 39 - Please see under Section "B" (for some reason the remaining paragraph numbers are blanked out - doubtless for reasons of National Security):
"The former ambassador had traveled previously to Niger on the CIA's behalf..."
When idiots like Shear Insanity say Ambassador Wilson was unqualified - when others try to make the case that Mr. Wilson's wife nominated him for the task - here is serious evidence that Mr. Wilson had previously traveled to Niger to assist the CIA.
Who is surprised that when The Agency needed an expert to investigate a matter in Niger they thought of sending someone who had previously traveled there to help them?
I guess the NeoConMen have trouble believing the obvious because it just makes too much sense!
Factcheck may have to update their article.
Joshua Micha Marshall has been working on the story of the forgeries. He posts his results so far on talkingpointsmemo.com The Italian Connection Part I and Part II. A snippet:
As far as Wilson confirming that Iraq tried to purchase uranium from Niger, here's the actual text from Senate report:
Wow. For that we go to war.
Note to Rush: If you move your feet fast enough, it's possible that people won't notice that you can't dance.