Who in the bush administration will be indicted?

Bill Kristol said on Fox News Sunday that he hates "the criminalization of politics." One would assume, then, that Kristol and his neocon friends were screaming to high heaven throughout the eight years that Bill Clinton was hounded by the entire Republican Party, right? Sure, they were screaming, all right -- to have the whole weight of the government thrown against a political opponent.

So, what has brought Kristol and his gang to their latest frothing at the mouth, now that Republicans control all three branches of government -- executive, legislative and judicial (as well as the fourth and fifth branches of government, lobbyists and the press)? Answer: fear that some of their "political chums" are about to become Special Counsel Fitzgerald's "criminal chumps."

Here's what should happen: four or more people are likely to face charges for conspiracy, obstruction of justice and/or perjury.

Heading the list, Bush and Rove have a long history of dirty tricks. They, along with their partners in crime Cheney, Libby, Rice and Bolton always play to win, however high the gamble or illegal the means. By lying about the reasons to take the country to war, for instance, they thumbed their noses, big time, at the rule of law. Domestic politics (Bush as war leader), oil (Iraq had it), and the neocons' global strategy (PNAC advocacy), hitched and drove the White House decision makers to engage the US in the war against Iraq. Ambassador Wilson's report destroyed part of their rationale for rushing to war, so as usual when challenged, they called upon their most trusted allies in the press to discredit the challenger.

Bob Novak, always the toady to a good Republican smear, outed Plame, and other reporters gave cover to traitors within the administration who were illegally peddling classified information. Judith "CIA" Miller, from her perch at the NY Times, had already, in an effort to advance the administration's case for war, relied on unsubstantiated claims of stockpiled WMD's. Her "reliable sources"? Chalabi and others working for the Bush administration. No wonder her intelligence remained secret. Miller was willing to spend time in prison to protect herself and her sources from wide-ranging testimony before a grand jury. Whose interest was she putting first -- the country's or the criminals'?

Jeff Gannon, not a real journalist but a male prostitute playing reporter online (and in the White House) claimed, then changed his story, that he had seen classified CIA documents identifying Valerie Plame. Ari Fleischer, Bush's press secretary at the time and a Bush insider, announced his retirement in May 2003 but denied having seen the secret documents. Harriet Miers was another FOG throughout that time period. What did she see and when did she see it? The reward for her loyalty? Uhh... don't ask.

In the end, all the reporters sang: call it the Plame Cantata. Several members of the band -- Rove, Cheney, Libby, Bolton, and possibly others -- may, and I believe will, be indicted by month's end. Time will tell whether they are able to protect the president himself. Either way, "Bring'em on" Bush will be the biggest loser since Nixon. And rightfully so. The cure for "criminalization of politics" is to take the criminals out of politics -- in leg irons if necessary.

Other characters: Wikipedia - Plame affair