Joe Wilson
Blogging here from the plush accommodations of
the Super 8 Motel at Cook's Corner in Brunswick, Maine, just a stone's throw
from my Alma Mater. A word of advice, don't go to Maine on a Saturday morning in
the summer if you can avoid it. The state of New Hampshire will take it's toll,
both financially and emotionally. It took us about an hour and a half to
traverse the approximately 20 miles starting just south of where 495 meets 95
and the New Hampshire border.
But I come not to talk about Maine, at least not yet. Let's talk about Joe Wilson.
First, let me say that as a human being, he is top grade. He must have spent a tiring day, having been to a Diane Farrell Fundraiser earlier in the day, dealt with a news conference just before our event, and then the event itself. During the wine and cheese part he talked with anyone who was interested in talking to him, without making anyone feel that they were wasting his time. After the formal end of the event, he spent far more than an hour talking to several of us who stayed around to ask more questions. He was eminently patient, which just goes to show that his diplomatic skills work just as well in Mystic as they did in Baghdad. I had been introduced to him by Joe Courtney at around 5:30. When I left at around 9:30 he thanked me for coming, by name. One of the many political skills I lack is the ability to recall people's names. Since I am so lacking in this area I'm double impressed with a guy like Wilson who makes it look effortless.
I didn't get a chance to hear the press conference, but I did catch that among other things he had some choice words to say about Simmons campaign manager Chris Healey, who made some idiotic remarks about him. Looks like the Simmons campaign is chomping at the bit to get into full bore smear mode.
As to the substance:
Will he sue? Stay tuned. He will have to decide by July 16th, which is the first date that the statute of limitations could possibly expire. It makes no sense to file after that, even though there are sound arguments that the statute was tolled for a period beyond that. There's no point in handing them an issue. He fully expects that Libby will be pardoned, so the only hopes for any real investigation, particularly into Cheney's role, would be through a civil action, or through Congressional investigations, should the Democrats astound us all and come through in November. He will face some formidable obstacles if he files. The defendants will claim that they are entitled to governmental immunity, and, if Cheney is a defendant, he will argue that he is entitled to the same absolute immunity as the courts have granted the president. In my own opinion, the courts will ultimately rule against Wilson, not because the law is against him, but because the DC Circuit has been stacked with partisan Republicans, and the Supreme Court is similarly stacked. Possibly, if the Supreme Court lineup doesn't change, Kennedy will be so sickened of Bush and his own right wing colleagues that he'll rule against the Bushies, but I doubt it. Anyway, it's worth a shot, in my own humble opinion. I told Wilson that I didn't think Congressional investigations would go anywhere, even if the Democrats take over. It's not that I don't think they'll investigate (though they might not), but that I think the courts will sustain Bush's arguments that he doesn't have to co-operate. It occurred to me later that one tack the Congress could take would be to initiate impeachment proceedings against Cheney. This would strengthen their legal position, and make it harder for the courts to block them from investigating. For a number of reasons I think it would be easier to initiate impeachment proceedings against Cheney, not the least of them being that, while Bush is a truly unpopular president, Cheney makes Bush look like Apple Pie and Mom all rolled into one.
Wilson knows most of the Democratic presidential possibilities personally. He said that of the approximately 11 senators mentioned as possible candidates (by themselves or others) at least 8 are delusional, and the initial trick is to decide which 3 are left. He didn't indicate a preference, but spoke highly of Hillary (while noting the difficulty she would have getting male votes), Wesley Clark , and Mark Warner, although he said that Warner might not be ready for prime time.
On Iraq, he said that he felt it was a mistake to push for a a timetable, but (of course) felt that the Republican "stay the course" plan was no plan at all. He said a big problem in Iraq is that you have Americans doing things that Iraqis should be doing. He pointed out that the two American soldiers who were so horribly killed recently were guarding a bridge that Iraqis should have been guarding. He felt that Iraqi policy should be centered on defining tasks that Iraqis should be doing, and getting them to do them. To be honest, I didn't quite understand how such a plan would work without setting time periods during which you expect the Iraqis to take on those tasks. I'm sure he had an answer, but so far as I known, no one asked the question. He did make the point that rather than responding to simplistic arguments about "cut and run", the Democrats would be well advised to keep demanding to know why Americans are doing things in Iraq that Iraqis should be doing (guarding bridges, dismantling IEDs, etc.)
Beyond that he obliquely mentioned what appears to be some current beltway gossip, which he managed to convey in a way in which he preserved total deniability. I won't even try to pass it on, but my wife and I have certainly been having fun fantasizing about what would happen if it were true.
In sum, a very bright and very personable guy, who also has a lot of guts, given what he and his wife have had to endure. One thing I regret-I wanted to ask if he had enjoyed watching Colbert skewer Bush, but I didn't get the chance.
Some pictures:
Joe Courney with Joe Wilson
Yours truly with Joe Wilson. No need to explain why I prefer to stay behind the camera.
Blurry, I know, but the lighting conditions weren't good. That's Joe leaning forward in the white shirt, talking late into the night with we hangers on. For anyone interested, I have posted a full page of pictures here .
UPDATE: My wife points out that I forgot to mention that Wilson spoke very highly of Al Gore, but he felt Gore would not want to get involved in the primary process again. Unfortunately, there are no such things as brokered conventions anymore, and a draft movement seems like a long shot.
But I come not to talk about Maine, at least not yet. Let's talk about Joe Wilson.
First, let me say that as a human being, he is top grade. He must have spent a tiring day, having been to a Diane Farrell Fundraiser earlier in the day, dealt with a news conference just before our event, and then the event itself. During the wine and cheese part he talked with anyone who was interested in talking to him, without making anyone feel that they were wasting his time. After the formal end of the event, he spent far more than an hour talking to several of us who stayed around to ask more questions. He was eminently patient, which just goes to show that his diplomatic skills work just as well in Mystic as they did in Baghdad. I had been introduced to him by Joe Courtney at around 5:30. When I left at around 9:30 he thanked me for coming, by name. One of the many political skills I lack is the ability to recall people's names. Since I am so lacking in this area I'm double impressed with a guy like Wilson who makes it look effortless.
I didn't get a chance to hear the press conference, but I did catch that among other things he had some choice words to say about Simmons campaign manager Chris Healey, who made some idiotic remarks about him. Looks like the Simmons campaign is chomping at the bit to get into full bore smear mode.
As to the substance:
Will he sue? Stay tuned. He will have to decide by July 16th, which is the first date that the statute of limitations could possibly expire. It makes no sense to file after that, even though there are sound arguments that the statute was tolled for a period beyond that. There's no point in handing them an issue. He fully expects that Libby will be pardoned, so the only hopes for any real investigation, particularly into Cheney's role, would be through a civil action, or through Congressional investigations, should the Democrats astound us all and come through in November. He will face some formidable obstacles if he files. The defendants will claim that they are entitled to governmental immunity, and, if Cheney is a defendant, he will argue that he is entitled to the same absolute immunity as the courts have granted the president. In my own opinion, the courts will ultimately rule against Wilson, not because the law is against him, but because the DC Circuit has been stacked with partisan Republicans, and the Supreme Court is similarly stacked. Possibly, if the Supreme Court lineup doesn't change, Kennedy will be so sickened of Bush and his own right wing colleagues that he'll rule against the Bushies, but I doubt it. Anyway, it's worth a shot, in my own humble opinion. I told Wilson that I didn't think Congressional investigations would go anywhere, even if the Democrats take over. It's not that I don't think they'll investigate (though they might not), but that I think the courts will sustain Bush's arguments that he doesn't have to co-operate. It occurred to me later that one tack the Congress could take would be to initiate impeachment proceedings against Cheney. This would strengthen their legal position, and make it harder for the courts to block them from investigating. For a number of reasons I think it would be easier to initiate impeachment proceedings against Cheney, not the least of them being that, while Bush is a truly unpopular president, Cheney makes Bush look like Apple Pie and Mom all rolled into one.
Wilson knows most of the Democratic presidential possibilities personally. He said that of the approximately 11 senators mentioned as possible candidates (by themselves or others) at least 8 are delusional, and the initial trick is to decide which 3 are left. He didn't indicate a preference, but spoke highly of Hillary (while noting the difficulty she would have getting male votes), Wesley Clark , and Mark Warner, although he said that Warner might not be ready for prime time.
On Iraq, he said that he felt it was a mistake to push for a a timetable, but (of course) felt that the Republican "stay the course" plan was no plan at all. He said a big problem in Iraq is that you have Americans doing things that Iraqis should be doing. He pointed out that the two American soldiers who were so horribly killed recently were guarding a bridge that Iraqis should have been guarding. He felt that Iraqi policy should be centered on defining tasks that Iraqis should be doing, and getting them to do them. To be honest, I didn't quite understand how such a plan would work without setting time periods during which you expect the Iraqis to take on those tasks. I'm sure he had an answer, but so far as I known, no one asked the question. He did make the point that rather than responding to simplistic arguments about "cut and run", the Democrats would be well advised to keep demanding to know why Americans are doing things in Iraq that Iraqis should be doing (guarding bridges, dismantling IEDs, etc.)
Beyond that he obliquely mentioned what appears to be some current beltway gossip, which he managed to convey in a way in which he preserved total deniability. I won't even try to pass it on, but my wife and I have certainly been having fun fantasizing about what would happen if it were true.
In sum, a very bright and very personable guy, who also has a lot of guts, given what he and his wife have had to endure. One thing I regret-I wanted to ask if he had enjoyed watching Colbert skewer Bush, but I didn't get the chance.
Some pictures:
Joe Courney with Joe Wilson
Yours truly with Joe Wilson. No need to explain why I prefer to stay behind the camera.
Blurry, I know, but the lighting conditions weren't good. That's Joe leaning forward in the white shirt, talking late into the night with we hangers on. For anyone interested, I have posted a full page of pictures here .
UPDATE: My wife points out that I forgot to mention that Wilson spoke very highly of Al Gore, but he felt Gore would not want to get involved in the primary process again. Unfortunately, there are no such things as brokered conventions anymore, and a draft movement seems like a long shot.
Posted: Saturday - July 01, 2006 at 11:37 PM
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