Valerie 'Flame' Wilson Files 'Double Exposure' Suit

 

Whenever I hear the name Valerie 'Flame' Wilson, otherwise known as Mrs. Joe Wilson, I head on over to my friend Tom Maguire's pad, who is the undisputed expert in the Blogosphere's on the subject, as recognized by us all.

The news as you may have heard already is that the former U.S. Ambassador and Mrs. Joseph Wilson IV have filed a lawsuit against Cheney, Rove and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby accusing them of revealing Plame's CIA identity in seeking revenge against Wilson for criticizing the Bush administration's motives in Iraq.

My very first thought was simply "pathetically weak", when I read the first paragraph of the Complaint [pdf file]. Greg Tinti points to a quote from Wilson's lawyer: “this lawsuit concerns the intentional and malicious exposure by senior officials of the federal government of [Plame].” And, despite the lower burden of proof in a civil case, there still hasn’t been one shred of evidence that indicates an “intentional and malicious” effort by anyone to specifically “out” Plame.

Despite hearing rumors about this some time ago, I really never thought the Wilsons would be crazy enough to go through with it, and amid other more obvious obstacles, subject themselves to the rigors of discovery as well as doing a 'Nicole Smith' on the stand. Classified documents will be another problem. Upon quick reflection however, it struck me as not a bad move if they are simply aiming for some sort of a shot at a pre-trial out of court settlement. Looking at their filed papers however, they are less than adequate to achieve this objective with any ease, or any chance of success for that matter, and the Administration is going to have considerable fun dismantling the Plaintiffs. Fun which most probably they would not wish to miss having on the day. Hence my debunked thought was quashed as quickly as it appeared.

I stand by my position that the plaintiffs will have huge problems gathering (presumably classified) evidence and recreating secret grand jury testimony, not to mention establishing damages and demonstrating that the defendants were not simply acting in their capacity as public officials.  And a number of commenters focused on the problems the Wilson's might face as they dealt with defense discovery requests (Mark Levin can't wait).

Promoting her upcoming book would be the more likely scenario, and of course making sure that the three year statute of limitations on some of their causes of action does not expire. (h/t Tom Maguire)

Back to you Tom (a must read!) and the 'Flaming' Wilson Press conference which is on @ 10am. Oh and by the way, can you spare a dime for the Wilsons' legal costs? (h/t Lorie Byrd). Don't miss Fausta's song!

UPDATE: Press conference video (courtesy Ian Schwartz)

 

Comments

[oneppurp]

My question is this. Is Valerie Plame hot? I'm a conservative Republican but, fundamentally, hot broad trumps political belief everytime.

[jess1dering]

Out of all of the images on this beautiful blog, this picture is by far the most unsettling to my psyche. Take out judith and it still gives me the creeps. Why, I wonder, why??

[antimedia]

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Ghost continues to lie. So what's new? Ghost, I challenge you to actually quote President Bush's words regarding the Plame affair as opposed to the press interpretation of his words, which you quote. You will find that the President was completely consistent in his characterization.

Furthermore, the fact that rogue elements of the CIA, including Valerie Plame, set up a sting operation to embarrass the administration is important information for Americans to know. "Outing" Plame (who was not a covert agent at all) was important to provide the context from which sprang Joe Wilson's multifaceted prevarications. As Novak has now revealed, the information he received was not from Karl Rove nor from Dick Cheney nor from Scooter Libby, but from another source which he described as "not a political gunslinger".

So the entire construct of an angry whitehouse "outing" a covert operative to "get back" at Joe Wilson is created from the whole cloth of the Wilson's alternative universe, to which you an many other fools subscribe uncritically, having forfeiting any thinking skills long ago.

[Ghost Dansing]

Kenny,

He changed his terminology to the "law" based thing after his spokespeople had denied anybody in the Republican administration was involved, and legal actions grew in proximity.

June 2004: When he was asked whether he stood by his promise to fire whoever was found to have leaked Plame's name. "Yes," Bush said at the time.

The current civil suit alleges that in May 2003 -- after Wilson began expressing doubts to reporters about administration claims that Iraq tried to buy uranium in Africa -- Cheney, Libby, Rove and other unnamed White House officials "embarked on an anonymous whispering campaign designed to discredit and injure the (Wilsons) and to deter other critics from publicly speaking out."

The conspiracy "was motivated by an invidiously discriminatory animus towards those who had publicly criticized the administration's stated justifications for going to war with Iraq," and culminated with the disclosure that Plame worked at the CIA, which destroyed her career with the agency, the lawsuit charges.

Both Libby and Rove have conceded, through their lawyers, that they were sources for journalists doing reporting on stories about Wilson and Plame. But both men deny deliberately disclosing her status at the CIA, which at the time was classified.

In a recent column, Novak revealed Rove was the second source who confirmed what he had learned about Plame from the other senior administration official.

The special prosecutor in the CIA leak investigation, Patrick Fitzgerald, has informed Rove that he has been cleared in the case and will not face any charges.

So now there is the civil suit.

[Ymarsakar]

That is one of the most seamless photoshops I've seen. Usually the proportions and lines are obvious, but not here.

[Kenny Pierce]

Ghost,

Actually, Dubya said he'd fire anybody who broke the law. You're sort of in an alternate reality on this one, I think.

[Liquid]

Ha Ha David!

[David]

I'd like to have Barry White serenade Val "PLame Game" Wilson in gratitude for the assinine entertainment she's afforded me.

"My Darling, I … I can't get enough of your love, Babe"

No. Wait. That'd be Val singing to herself in the mirror with Joe Boy on backup...

Need 'em each in separate Bugs Bunny cartoons (both at once would be too much ego for one screen) reaping the patent Bugs Bunny, "What a maroon!"

[jainphx]

Too bad we don't have loser pays,they would need a cash transfusion just to eat breakfast.

[Ghost Dansing]

You don't think that Dick, Karl and Scooter conspired to out a covered agent of the CIA in retaliation for Wilson's report?

I do.

The impeachment of President Bill Clinton arose from a series of events following the filing of a lawsuit on May 6, 1994, by Paula Corbin Jones in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In her complaint initiating the suit, Ms. Jones alleged violations of her federal civil rights in 1991 by President Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas and she was an Arkansas state employee. According to the allegations, Governor Clinton invited Ms. Jones to his hotel room where he made a crude sexual advance that she rejected.

Civil cases can lead to many other things...and so much has been "outed" about Dick, Karl, and Scooter's involvement, that it might be a difficult rap for them to beat.

Not to mention that Dubya said he'd fire anybody who did that, and he didn't.

[Liquid]

Is it just me or does Joe always look like he is frowning? BTW...does anyone know the actual amount of money that their "We feel betrayed" lawsuit is seeking?

[Liquid]

I think the photo is PERFECT! It could be the artwork of 'the movie poster' HaHa

The Book...The Book Signings...
The Screenplay...The Movie....
Yeah...that's the ticket...

I can't wait to see the highlights...you know the part...

That part where she slaps her husband for "outting her" and then they have 'rough make up sex' where we are not sure because of the audio technique what name he is actually calling her! But then the lighting goes dim and the camera comes in for the close up part -- as they pose around the bedroom in all their nakedness while plotting to get revenge because revenge-$$$ So they continue to "recreate" their story of victimhood with hopes that America will buy it!

*needs a cigarrette*

[Jaibones]

Alexandra,

Positively delicious. I had to flee from protein wisdom in fear for my very decency, as someone claiming to be "Steve" keeps posting that he thinks Deb Frisch is "cute."

Here, my personal taste is validated and informed by images of my own heartthrob, Valerie. I think she looks so hot in those silk jammies, hair all tousled. Rrrrooowwwrrrr....

[diva]

I suppose I should read the comments first before posting :)
Having said that - I am left a bit confused by the following comment:

Ma'm:

You have way too much time on your hands --- you are clearly an intelligent and talented person, why do you waste your time on such mindless, useless, frankly silly drivel?

Posted by: SaneGOP | Friday, July 14, 2006 at 09:20 AM

I'm confused as to what he considers "mindless, useless, frankly silly drivel". I am assuming he means L'Affaire Plame (including the silly lawsuit) and not Alexandra's brilliant artistic (photoshopped) intepretation of said affair. Please correct me if I am wrong in my interpretation of SaneGOP's comment.

[diva]

Alexandra,

Stunning. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. The symbolism of the magazine's title, the nudity implying stripping away of the Plame/Wilson lies and the sheer egocentric pose of the models (even with the photoshopped faces) speaks volumes about the attention seeking Wilsons. You have an eye for beauty and an incredible talent for conveying your message via art.

[Alexandra]

Slowtrain,

You may not have seen the original Vanity Fair cover, with Tom Ford the ex-Gucci designer, and the two actresses Scarlett Johansson and Keira Nightley. It's about ultimate Hollywood glamor, Vanity, and how the famous like to see themselves. I changed nothing other than the faces. It is how I see the Wilsons, and having read the Vanity Fair interview and the photo for which they posed, it is how they see themselves...No more no less.

The nakedness from the original cover was appropriate because believe me, the glamor of Hollywood will quickly disappear once she becomes naked on the stand. Depositions have a nasty way of bearing all, despite the promise of fame. Whilst he may more than likely only bear his chest, she will have to bear all...

[slowtrain]

Alexandra,

I don't know what to make of this picture. It would seem to remove from the issue and the salient point that could be made. But then, what do I know about such matters.

Regards

[DW]

Thanks for a great site. This is slightly off-topic, but I hope someone can answer this question. Wasn't there a congressman from Pennsylvania (not Murtha) who criticized the Clinton administration during the 90's, and who was almost immediately accused of having wrongfully embellished his military record during the war in Viet Nam? As I recall, the attack-dogs were forced to pull back a day or two later, when their claims were easily debunked.
Also, weren't the employees of the White House travel office forced to spend thousands in legal fees during the 1990's because the First (hardly a) Lady, in wishing to deflect any possible criticism concerning the hiring of her personal friends to staff the position, called for a bogus investigation into the prior office's business activities and billing?

Of course, it's almost fruitless to pull up information from these incidents by internet search, because the watch-dog press apparently opted to sleep through these apparent ACTUAL abuses of power.

[Kenny Pierce]

You know, Alexandra, my attitude toward Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame is closely related to my opinion about flag-burning laws. I don't want it to become illegal to burn the American flag for a very simple reason: if somebody hates America enough to burn our flag, I want to know about that hatred, and every time somebody burns an American flag he outs himself as (a) a hater of America and (b) a person of exceptionally limited imagination and intelligence. While neither of these is a characteristic of which the flag-burner ought to be proud, it's highly useful to the rest of us to know what we're dealing with. So why put any barriers in the way of such useful (to us, if not to the morons who do it) public self-incrimination? "Look at me! I'm a brainless, unpatriotic fool!" Why would we not want every brainless and non-patriotic fool in the country to reveal himself as such as soon as possible?

Now Wilson and Plame are, in a very similar respect, the gift that just keeps on giving. I am very hard-pressed indeed to remember a public figure in recent political history who was both such an enthusiastic liar, and also so hilariously bad at it. However much you hate and fear Chimpy McHitler Bu$h, still, if you have even a particle of good sense anywhere to be found in your cranium, you have to know that Wilson is the last person in the world you want to have on your side, given the world's tendency to attribute folly and dishonesty by association. There are allies who are much worse than enemies, and Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame are so clearly such allies that one can hardly even talk about them seriously -- it's like they're acting out a Monty Python sketch only they have no idea that it's not meant to be serious. You could just hear the triumph in Wilson's voice when he was initially the darling of an all-too-gullible Left, as he sprang out at the Evil Genius Rove and (metaphorically speaking) laughed diabolically…"Ha! Ha!" -- only, just when you're thinking the "DIABOLICAL ACTING" subtitle is due to pop up, you remember that it isn't an act; he's one hundred percent serious.

And yet you can still find ample numbers of people who in complete seriousness and solemnity think Wilson is a whistleblowing American hero -- indeed, bloggers who in the face of the Times's wrecking of the SWIFT program, dismissed the Times revelations as harmless and insignificant and then snarled, "You should be worrying about leaks that really damaged the country, like the Valerie Plame leak." (I would link, having seen such posts with my own eyes, but I confess it's too much trouble to go back and find them.)

My point? They might as well burn the flag. "I hereby give notice to all rational people that I am deranged and incapable of rational thought on any subject to which George Dubya Bush is even remotely related." What a tremendous convenience to the rest of us it is to be informed in advance that a particular individual has left the Rationality Reservation -- and to be so informed, with desperate eagerness, by the wretched lunatic his own self.

Thus the longer and more desperately that Wilson and Plame attempt to extend their fifteen minutes of notoriety (which they mistake for fame), the longer this highly useful temptation to self-revelation on the part of Democratic Underground wannabes remains effective and useful to those of us who prefer to know whether we're about to engage in an adult conversation or whether we are about to...well, I know that when I at least wander into the Democratic Underground, it's for pretty much the same reason that I occasionally take my children to the zoo. The Democratic Underground has its purpose in life; but providing rationality and sound argument is not that purpose. Its purpose is, so far as I can tell, the sort of entertainment one gets from videos like this one. And when I run up against somebody who's still convinced that Wilson-Plame is evidence of Rovite nefariousness rather than Wilsonian lunacy and Democratic gullibility, then I know that the resulting bookmark goes alongside DU in the "Entertainment" folder of the Favorites sidebar rather than in the "Politics" folder.

[RunningRoach]

Alexandra,
This is going to be a third rate circus. I'll tune in from time to time just for laughs.

The "face lift" was worth the wait...and you are looking great!

Regards, Joe

[Matt]

Looks like Joe needs to mow his chest. Fabio he ain't.

[Jim K.]

Yes, "SaneGOP," it IS useless drivel, but it is important for the likes of this blog and Micelle Malkin et al to continually and repeatedly expose the truth of the left's useless drivel. The MSM and Dems will not, as we know. The Wilsons are nothing but grandstanding, publicity-seeking, Me, Me, Me liberals who care not a whit about truth, but about THEMSELVES and their effort to smear and discredit the Bush administration's good, noble efforts. But, in a way, it's good for the GOP that the Cindy Sheehans and Wilsons of the world are out there, making fools of themselves, for, in so many ways, THEY represent the Democrat base...and that's a good thing!!

[SaneGOP]

Ma'm:

You have way too much time on your hands --- you are clearly an intelligent and talented person, why do you waste your time on such mindless, useless, frankly silly drivel?

[The game]

Looking for new faces at my blog...stop by and leave a comment...nice job on your blog by the way...

[karen]

Does this cost the taxpayer any $$$$? Or, does our VP, etc. pay ~out-of-pocket~?

I'm amazed at the aggression of these people that feel so wrongly ~outed~. So, Valarie was Mrs.Wilson- no known job forwarded?

What a huge waste of time.

I think, Alexandra- that you nailed the burgandy perfectly. Your site is ever beautiful :^).

[Jeremayakovka]

Another jaw-dropper with your Photoshopped lead image! Ha-ha-ha!