Libby: Leftly Leaning - Tuesday, February 6th

Over at FDL, TRex compares the trial to an Antarctic “ice core sample [1] of the Bush Administration's incestuous, manipulative, and deeply disingenuous relationship to the media” while Jane Hamsher finds the search for a coherent defense strategy [2] as elusive as Iraqi WMDs.

On a continuing mission [3] to glean what bloggers can add [4] to the reporting process, Aldon Hynes at Orient Lodge steps outside the big picture to focus on character development [5].

Noting that this trial is “first and foremost a trial of the media, by the media and for the media,” Rory O’Connor has the unfortunate epiphany that modern journalists are nothing more than partisan hacks [6] who may be hurting America.

Jeff Lomonaco adds himself to the “list [7] of observers [8]” who are skeptical [9] that Tricky Dick v. 2.0 will be called to the stand.

Given recent trial revelations, Larry C. Johnson, posting at No Quarter, argues that it was Walter Pincus and not Nicholas Kristof [10] who is responsible for starting the “five alarm fire” in 2003 and suggests that timelines need to be updated.

Likewise, Jeralyn is equally stumped about Wally’s role and wonders why Pincus isn’t being called [11] as a witness? And speaking of key witnesses not testifying [12]…

Finally, Digby sees the Libby trial as providing an excellent peak into Kurtz’s thesis that Cheney has concocted a constitutional rationale to turn the OVP into a fourth branch [13] of government.