Why did Libby do what he did?

E. J. Dionne thinks he knows; to keep the shit form hitting the fan until after Bush was safely reelected, that's why.

Has anyone noticed that the coverup worked?

In his impressive presentation of the indictment of Lewis "Scooter" Libby last week, Patrick Fitzgerald expressed the wish that witnesses had testified when subpoenas were issued in August 2004, and "we would have been here in October 2004 instead of October 2005."

Note the significance of the two dates: October 2004, before President Bush was reelected, and October 2005, after the president was reelected. Those dates make clear why Libby threw sand in the eyes of prosecutors, in the special counsel's apt metaphor, and helped drag out the investigation.

As long as Bush still faced the voters, the White House wanted Americans to think that officials such as Libby, Karl Rove and Vice President Cheney had nothing to do with the leak campaign to discredit its arch-critic on Iraq, former ambassador Joseph Wilson.

He goes on to point out that the White House is worried that it's not over because Bush did what he always does when his back is against the wall. Instead of doing the job of governing he he played politics and nominated a man to the supreme court who will divide the country. The partisan fight over the SCOTUS nomination will result in a partisan fight that will direct the news away from Plamegate.

As the Libby indictment had come in 2004 instead of 2005 John Kerry would be occupying the White House. Scooter Libby was indeed the good soldier who did his job well. One would have to assume that Libby realized this action would result in prison so it makes it unlikely that Fitzgerald will be able to coerce anymore out of him. And Libby is not through making sacrifices. Shortly before the trial in due to begin he will plead guilty so that potentially embarrassing trial can be avoided. He then will wait in prison until after the 2008 elections for Bush to pardon him. If I were him I would be fearful that the drunk from Crawford might forget. Drunks do that.