Why all the celebration?

Much too big a deal is being made about the conviction of Cheney's ex-chief of staff Irve Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Yes, it's a good thing, certainly it serves as yet another of the thousand cuts that have injured the credibility of the Bush/Cheney administration, but the main factor that contributed to the decline of the public's belief in the administration was, obviously, Iraq. If the public hadn't turned against the war (which they have), and if we hadn't prevailed in the 2006 election (which we did), I would see a reason for taking what comfort we can from the Libby verdict, but in the light of the fact that some people were predicting that the Plame affair would destroy the administration, with dozens of people, including Karl Rove and perhaps even Cheney, indicted, I'd say that the conviction of one man on perjury-related charges is pretty small beer.

After all, what has been the overall effect of the Plamegate scandal on Bush and Cheney? As far as I can see, it's pretty negligible. They ejected Libby, who fell on his sword, and... and that was pretty much it. They haven't changed their way of doing business one iota, they haven't restrained themselves, nor are they likely to. They're getting more general criticism, among the people and the press, for their shenanigans, but it hasn't stopped them and it won't -- they'll go on doing what they intend to do right up until the last moment. (Which will possibly include a pardon of Libby at the last possible second.) So why all the dancing in the street?

I think part of the problem is that the progressive blogosphere is really just too immersed in politics to see the relative value of events like this. If you read firedoglake or The Next Hurrah during the trial, you would get the impression that it was a spectacle to rival the O.J. Simpson trial, that millions of people were hanging on every word and every nuance of the proceedings, due to their vital interest in the outcome -- and that's just not the case. The people, in general, really didn't give a damn about the trial, which couldn't even hold its own against the death of Anna Nicole Smith for their attention. It just wasn't that big an attraction, and as a result its effect on the Bush administration is likely to be minimal.

Again, I'm happy that Libby was convicted, it's certainly better than his being acquitted. I'm glad that another cut has been afflicted on Bush and Cheney, which is better than nothing happening to them, but I demur from celebration, because I just don't think it's warranted: the election of 2006, that was something to celebrate -- this is just nice.