Howard FinemanHoward Fineman, senior political analyst for Newsweek and MSNBC, said in Dallas this past Friday that special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is still likely to indict Karl Rove, although readily acknowledging “I can’t prove it.” Speaking to the annual meeting of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association at the Intercontinental Hotel in Addison , Fineman stated that it was very unusual for a witness, like Rove, to appear four separate times before a federal grand jury. Also, if Fitzgerald was completely through with the investigation there is no need to impanel a second grand jury. Although admitting that all of these theories amounted to speculation, Fineman observed that based on his experience in Washington the Valerie Plame “leak” investigation is far from over. When it will end, no one can say for sure at this time.

On other subjects, Fineman told the lawyers that Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito would be in for a long hard nomination battle, but that such a battle would ultimately work to the administration’s benefit and likely harm the Democrats in the long run. He stated that Rove could well be laying a trap for the Democrats which would harm them in the upcoming mid-term congressional elections. However, Fineman said, that ultimately the 2006 elections would depend on how the war is going in Iraq . If the war is going poorly, then Democrats will pick up congressional seats. However, if it appears that progress is being made, then the Republicans will not be damaged all that much.

Fineman explained that right now, the Republicans’ primary political problem can be summarized in two words “George Bush.” This fact is reflected, for example, in the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race. Last week President Bush campaigned in Pennsylvania , but the Republican incumbent Senator Rick Santorum was nowhere to be found. Fineman pointed out that other Republicans in tight races around the country are trying to distance themselves from the President and his policies. Today, the President’s coattails appear to be almost non-existent.

Commenting on Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha’s call for troops to be brought home from Iraq , Fineman said that he believed that the administration is now working on a plan to begin a drawdown of American troops, substantially reducing the numbers. Thus despite the ferocious attacks on Murtha, Bush is definitely moving toward Murtha’s position, although in a most covert fashion.

Sen. Lindsay GrahamAnother speaker at the lawyer’s meeting was South Carolina ’s Republican U.S. Senator, Lindsey Graham, who told the attendees that although he was a proud Republican, he thought his party’s attack on the jury system was terribly misguided. Further, he stated that his party had lost its way by focusing on trial lawyers as a political enemy. Graham noted the unusual irony that a number of Republican office-holders in Washington today are discovering the benefits of the 7^th Amendment’s guarantee of a right to trial by jury. He stated that some, hounded by scandal and grand jury investigations, were falling all over themselves trying to hire the finest Democratic trial lawyers they could find. Seasoned political observers listened carefully to the Senator’s speech and noted that Graham may well be positioning himself to run as a Vice-Presidential candidate with Arizona Senator John McCain. Senator Graham certainly did nothing at this gathering to discourage such speculation.

This report was filed by Dallas Blogger John Collins a former Chairman of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and Democratic Party leader.

Comments (0)

Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment