Stick to being a make believe DA

Fred Thompson's contemplating throwing his hat in the ring. I knew people were attempting to draft him to run, but he himself is clearly surveying the field (and early carnage) and trying to decide if and when to enter. Speaking with Chris Wallace today, he showed a serious lack of understanding of the law (pretty bad for a lawyer), but at least he's consistent with the party line. In response to a question about whether or when he would pardon Scooter Libby, Freddy-boy said he'd "do it now".

These people knew in the very beginning — the Justice Department, this Justice Department and the special counsel knew in the very beginning that the thing that was creating the controversy, who leaked Valerie Plame's name, did not constitute a violation of the law.

Sigh. How hard is it to understand simple laws? For example, USC 50 Section 421

Whoever, having or having had authorized access to classified information that identifies a covert agent, intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent's intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

She was a covert operative (specifically, one with nonofficial cover, a NOC), not an analyst. Pretty simple. Sure, it appears Richard Armitage should have taken the fall and not poor Scooter, but that doesn't mean it "did not constitute a violation of the law".

Just what we need as president: a lawyer who can't understand the law.