I was actually thinking that his "agenda" might be job security. How could Obama replace him at this point without serious backlash? Of course, I think he has earned retention on merit, but it doesn't hurt that he has this high profile investigation underway that would make it politically difficult to request his resignation...

I have a dear friend who watches only Fox News. She really is a good friend but politically, she lives in her own reality. I say this becuase just today she asked me if it wasn't hypocritical for Democrats to be criticizing Fitzgerald for going after Blago when they praised him for nailing Libby.

I didn't have to ask her where she heard that from.

"Second, there are some people who've "turned on a dime" to go after Fitzgerald, but they're all prominent conservatives, not liberals."

Again, we're witnessing the common Republican propaganda tactic of projection. You simply project the negative aspects of your (Republican) side onto the Democrats, claiming that the attribute is intrinisicly a Democratic trait. Next, they'll start complaining about "liberal dirty tricks."

This is "Dems are turning on Fitzgerald" silliness is yet another example of the tactic also employed by Republicans and conservatives with regard to the Fairness Doctrine, Chinese drilling off the coast of Florida, and union auto workers making $75 per hour.

The tactic? Lie like hell.

CT beat me to it. Classic GOP politics of projection...

WELFARE QUEENS! That's it. That's all I have to say. If you don't know what I'm referring to, you're making me feel old!

Victor David Hanson made exactly the same argument as Malkin yesterday in National Review on line. At its simplest, this is psychological projection - assuming others will act as you do. But I think it's also deeper than that: The contemporary version of the extreme Right has at its core an assumption that only conservatives are virtuous, and that Democrats, liberals, and the "left" are dishonest, corrupt, evil, rotten, and unAmerican. This is a deeply entrenched world view, and like every form of demonization exists to reinforce group solidarity and reduce the need to do the difficult work of thinking clearly.

Another point, looks missed here, is the conservative habit of pre-preemptively criticizing and blaming people for what the conservatives predict they'll do, not for what they really did (or were likely to do, or turned out to do later.)

I haven't heard jack squat about defending Blago as he is a man all alone at this point. Those folks (lefties/Dems) from Chicago I know are all happy about it.

I wouldn't even want to live in Malkin et al's world. Seems like it would be a lot like the Cartoon World from "Who Framed Roger Rabitt?" meets Alice in Wonderland except more way way way more psychotic.

What CT and MBinNC said: projection.

Sheldon wrote: "At its simplest, this is psychological projection - assuming others will act as you do."

Deliberate, malicious lying is not "psychological projection".

These paid propagandists of the right-wing extremist media are not "projecting" when they deliberately, knowingly make false accusations that Democrats are doing hypocritical things that in fact the Democrats have not done, but Republicans have done. They are not suffering from some psychological affliction. They are deliberately lying to and deceiving their audience, which is of course what they are very, very well paid to do.

Several people mentioned projection before I had a chance to. The question I have is: "do they know they are doing it." It is a real question, since they are pretty much defined by delusional thinking.

Fitzgerald had Blagojevich arrested on Tuesday morning, and I haven't heard any prominent Democrats or progressive voices accuse Fitzgerald of anything.

What? Am I not a prominent enough Democrat? I'm important; just ask me!

I guess technically I'm not turning on a dime since I've thought for quite a while that Fitz dropped the ball on investigating the outing of Valerie Plame, and quite frankly, I think he was more interested in getting back to Illinois and nailing Blago.

I don't think he's anything special, and catching a crook like Blagojevich isn't an impressive feat.

Now, not catching a crook like Karl Rove, that takes a special level of ineptitude.

I, for one, am constantly surprised by the accolades Fitzgerald receives. He does his job, sometimes well, sometimes not.

Another point, looks missed here, is the conservative habit of pre-preemptively criticizing and blaming people for what the conservatives predict they'll do, not for what they really did (or were likely to do, or turned out to do later.)

You mean like blaming Saddam Hussein for 9/11 and wanting to send pilotless drones with nuclear warheads and chemical agents over to America?

See here for Democrats who have turned on Fitzgerald:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4623899

What CT and MBinNC said: projection.

Its not projection, its propaganda. By saying that they Democrats are certain to do it, they are creating the association in people's minds without making a rebuttable claim that Democrats are doing it. It is a very careful, deliberate way of crafting and disseminating a false idea.

So none of you left-wing loonies (redundant) remember the hatred against Clinton's prosecuters?
Obama (blessed be his name) is a clone of Blago - a "community organizer" is nothing more than an extortion artist. The really good thing that will come of this whole affair is that Jesse Jr will not be appointed a senator.

fred t,

If you're not going to stay on topic, at least try to sound smart. Troll failed.

Bush embraced preemptive war "to keep us safe." It sounds a lot like his surviving senatorial Republican colleagues are embracing "preemtive argument" - lay out a one-sided idea of what the issues are even if that idea is not tied to any discernable observation or reason so any future argument about policy already has a standing army of resisters who have been preemptively made stupid by all the advanced propaganda the likes of Malkin and Kilmeade so readily spew.

These FOX-like people should really get out a little more and discover what it is to truly be a sentient creature on the face of our beautiful planet. Instead, I see the likes of Malkin and Kilmeade as unhappy people who have been given a platform by a hen-pecked unhappy person named Murdoch, and who are now forcing the rest of us to deal with their unhappiness. -Kevo

In Illinois the left and everyone else turned on Blago a long time ago. The guy is goofy.

That said if wingnuts want to criticize Fitzy they ought to hammer him for arresting Rod before he even had an indictment ready. As it is he has a half baked case based on a "crime spree" in progress that Blago never had a chance to culminate. I'm surprised we haven't seen a Republican fever dream about how Fitzy colluded with Dems to save the party from ourselves by arresting Blago before he made us all accomplices.

In fact I find it hard to believe that one or more of the candidates for Obama's senate seat didn't tell Fitzgerald to bug the guy and nab him though I can understand not wanting to admit it. Nobody could take that nomination and expect to keep the seat in 2010 if Fitzy nailed Blago after the fact. It'd be like finding out an unknown long lost relative left you a fabulous art collection and then discovering he was Herman Goering.

These are the same yahoos that claimed Fitzgerald had a far-left agenda when he prosecuted Scooter Libbey. Now he's now the darling of the far-right. How convenient

"Again, we're witnessing the common Republican propaganda tactic of projection. You simply project the negative aspects of your (Republican) side onto the Democrats, claiming that the attribute is intrinisicly a Democratic trait."

Thank you CT. That's been the right-wing echo chamber strategy for years.

And I think these days, they know what they say is false (most of these individuals cannot say such things with a straight face).

I think it's largely for attracting viewership rather actually saying anything meaningful. And it doesn't matter if it's positive or negative. Because as long as there is an audience to receive it (be it left-wing like or right), they will continue.

I think people who tune into cable news shows, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, or read blogs from people like Malkin, are being led in by a disturbing form of social conditioning.

The only way to stop this is to stop tuning into them. I have this theory that much of their viewership is comprised of liberals and progressives who listen just to get pissed off.

The only "agenda" I'm seeing here is the stage-props for the Rethuglican Shakespeare Comedy Hour (Brian Kilmeade and Michelle Malkin come across as a Godzilla-v-Yorick brand of overkill) trying to push people into believing that fitz has to be cut loose.

The agenda in this? The Bush administration and it's bizarro-land allies are in their death-throes. Eventually, Fitz will finish up with Blago the Hutt, and turn his attention elsewhere---and GOPers cannot afford to have him focus on THEM.

The GOP as a permanent minority? I prefer to compare that to Germany's outlawing of the NSDAP....

In the minds (used that phrase earlier?) of Malkin and friends FitzGerald has already indicted Barrack Obama and they are lumping any liberal rejection of that meme as an attack on FitzG.

And yes, I think also that FitzG did a rotten job on the Plame blame investigation.

fred t wrote: "Obama (blessed be his name) is a clone of Blago ..."

You are a clone of a weak-minded, ignorant, dumbass dittohead mental slave of right-wing extremist "talking points for dummies" who is incapable of doing anything but regurgitating Rush Limbaugh's vomit.

... when he's going after the Chicago governor and ...

The where governor??

The only criticism I've heard of Fitz from anyone on the left-leaning side of the aisle was from Bill Press as I was driving into work this morning. And his concern was that Fitzpatrick might have jumped the gun too early and wouldn't have enough evidence to actually indict Blago for trying to sell the Senate seat. I haven't heard anyone leaping to the defense of Blago. Hell, it looks to me like the Democratic establishment in Illinois is anxious to hand the guy an anvil at this point.

I'd really actually like some names of liberals that are defending Blago, because I'd like to point and laugh.

Fred t, the anger at Clinton prosecutors was mostly because they didn't have real substance, or it was private things run into the ground.

Bill Smugs, of course there are some "Democrats" complaining of something somewhere all the time, etc., but in context it means public figures, intellectuals, etc.

Steve B or whomever, pls fix the damn "Remember personal info?" buttons?!

Patrick Fitzgerald’s conviction of Scooter Libby set the judicial stage. With a monumental curiosity glossed over by a lot of experts. Remember the core issue to convict Libby was perjury, which had nothing to do with a cover up outing Valerie Plame. Worse, from my view, we find out at this later time Patrick Fitzgerald knew all along who did out Valerie Plame.

Never challenged, Fitzgerald with held evidence, yet being proclaimed is a prosecuting hero. Way back when a similar type case with Duke University and the same ideals. A prosecutor with held evidence to convict several young men accused of rape. That prosecutor when challenged was himself prosecuted, humiliated, and disbarred. Doesn’t it seem curious that in the world of politics and federal agencies, like the FBI, there is obviously complicity and corruption galore. Yet, media CNN, FOX, and MSNBC will sale away and rant obnoxiously, Fitzgerald is the greatest. And I do mean sale, they are bought and paid for even though with finest political analysis.

Rush Limbaugh actually had something on that I agree with. Now you have to know that was hard for me to say because most of the time I consider Rush a smuck. Limbaugh was searching around his audio clips to find good laughing tapes to play in the background as he aired David Gergen giving his analysis on CNN. But I have to agree, better yet add some laughing tape background tape to Pat Buchannan, and Andrea Mitchell every time she talks about key situations in trillion dollar deals. Then there is Steve Forbes calling for rule changes in the stock market short selling. That’s funny; change the rules immediately if you’re loosing money! Sheesh.

Just like all these Illinois congressional guys sounding off about Blagojevich, off with his head. Limbaugh carried on about how crazy everyone is. You all heard the commercial about mad max, he maybe mad but he is not crazy!! That poor Rod got screwed by the party. Well heck, if you had been taped and investigated for five years by the FBI you might flip out or act irrational too. My God it’s like if you are in politics immediately the opposing political parasites attach themselves to your telephone and watch you expecting you to act normal. We are a nation of paranoids.

Just a reminder. There is no sense of irony on among the repugs. They are so self-absorbed, always so right and unselcritical that they are cloaked from irony.

It's some achievement.

Republicans have been railing against some pretend, cartoon parodies Democrats since November 5th. The Fairness doctrine was the first one, and there have been others.

I guess they have invested so much into this strawman caricature they just can't seem to let it go. At the same time, as sb has indicated, these things do work - the wingnuts don't need to hear any names or evidence, just hearing that some "Democrats" are doing this or that is proof it is being done, because, they, they know how "Democrats really are".

Jaysus, Benen... I've been reading your blog for nearly 3 yrs now and never had you pegged for a mean, misogynistic, SOB of a gotcha journalist... First, you're trying to confuse poor Malikn with facts. Then, you expect her to appreciate irony, when you know perfectly well she has no sense of humour at all, not even of the kindergarten level, while irony is the equivalent of the PhD level. Shame on you!

At its simplest, this is psychological projection - assuming others will act as you do. But I think it's also deeper than that: The contemporary version of the extreme Right has at its core an assumption that only conservatives are virtuous, and that Democrats, liberals, and the "left" are dishonest, corrupt, evil, rotten, and unAmerican. This is a deeply entrenched world view

...and, once again, is psychological projection.

I, for one, am constantly surprised by the accolades Fitzgerald receives. He does his job, sometimes well, sometimes not.

After the past 8 years, someone who does a competent job most of the time (not necessarily stellar, but competent) ends up looking like a star.

"Republicans have been railing against some pretend, cartoon parodies Democrats since November 5th. The Fairness doctrine was the first one, and there have been others."

Did you just start paying attention to politics in November, Joshua? Republicans have been railing against some pretend, cartoon parodies [of] Democrats since at least 1968, some of them since a lot earlier. That's how they built up their claque of know-nothings in the first place.

Malkin is an idiot...a complete stupid fool. Of all the intelligent people that could be on Fox they always look for the most pathetic ignornat one cell brained entities they can find to air. I feel ashamed for the person who only watches Fox news because they lack the ability for critical thinking. There's right and wrong... and then there is "willfully" blind and ignorant. "Insight" to such people means whatever fits "in"to their already formed opinions. It doesn't get anymore willfully despicable than Malkin which is short for "Malcontent" .

A true representative of POP (People's Obstructionist Party...formerly referred to as the republican party). Thanks again POP.

It's the GOP version of audacity of hope. They hope Democrats will be as petty, juvenile, kneejerk and provincial as they are. Somebody needs to set up a Make-A-Wish foundation for these sad little waifs.

[You and your race-baiting are done here. One more racist comment and you will be banned. --Mod]

Good grief, what is this woman talking about? That's meandering into completely made-up political discussions. That's like, saying John Kerry would be a good voiceover man.

It must be so comforting for professional know-nothings like Michelle Malkin, Brian Kilreade, et al., that right-wing sugar daddies such as Rupert Murdoch are still willing to sponsor their moronic musings, given the walking political fiasco that's become today's GOP.

Luther: "Nothing wrong with believing sovereignty is more important than browning up America illegally to make us a nation Michelle Obama and dimwitted, self-hating PC libs can be proud of."

Wow. That's incredibly racist, bitter and stupid. You've hit the trifecta.

Nothing wrong with believing sovereignty is more important than browning up America illegally to make us a nation Michelle Obama and dimwitted, self-hating PC libs can be proud of.

And who understands the danger of anchor babies better than anchor baby Malkin? Maybe she should do the honorable thing and remove herself back to the Philippines since, by her own stated views, her parents cheated in order to be allowed to stay here.

"they turn around and say he has an agenda when he's going after the Chicago governor"

I am convinced that projection is what drives the rightwing. They don't understand that normal people value such things as integrity and competence. Since they don't, they can't conceive of anyone else doing it either. They make these statements because in their universe that is what they would be doing so it never occurs to them that people who live in the real world might be doing something different. And they don't check to see what real people are doing. Is it any wonder that after eight years of this kind of government that the US is in the worst situation it has been since the Republicans last had such solid control, and maybe even worse than that?

Also, I didn't realize that Chicago had a governor nor that Blagoyevich was that person. I was under the impression that Chicago had a mayor and his name was Daley.

I read stuff like this and I find myself wondering if I'm the one that lives in the alternative universe, or if it's people like Malkin, et al. Whoever it is, I'll just say that I'm happy to be in whatever universe I reside in. The WingNut Universe is just too scary a place.

I'm also beginning to wonder if they're just finding it hard to criticize the Obama team and are just having to make stuff up in order to have something to talk about?