Why lie?

Just a couple of thoughts on l'affair Scooter.

Cheney's now former chief of staff, Scooter Libby has, as all now know, been indicted for lying to both FBI investigators and a federal grand jury. The question then asks itself: why lie?

Answer 1: The dumb guy scenario. He didn't lie, he just misremembered. Seriously, this defense strategy has already been floated.

Answer 2: Everybody else except Libby is lying. And while the "everybody else" in this case amounts to a bunch of reporters, still.

Answer 3: He lied to protect himself. This "lone leaker" theory is very popular with those wingnuts still tied enough to reality to admit the ridiculousness of answers 1 and 2.

Answer 4: He lied to protect his boss, Darth Cheney. Let's break this down a bit.

A) Scooter learned of Valerie Plame Wilson's status as a CIA operative from Cheney.
B) After Messieur Plame's, er Wilson's damning NYT op-ed, Scooter discussed strategies on how to deal with the story with the Lord of all evil.
C) THE NEXT DAY Scooter then leaked Ms. Plame Wilson's status to Judy Miller and Matt Cooper. Which, if we're to believe the lone leaker theory, means that the ever loyal Scooter, after strategizing with his beloved boss, decides to go against orders and out Plame.

Yeah, right.

And yet I can somehow hear his words: "Nice little undercover operative wife that bastard Wilson has there. It'd be a shame if anything were to happen to her, wouldn't it Scooter?" Wink-wink, nudge-nudge.

Or words to that effect.

And be sure to add a version of the Tom Hagen/Frank Pentangelo conversation from The Godfather II here as well.

"You remember, Scooter, Roman history don't you? If a flunky took a fall for the Emperor he and his family were set for life, big chunks of Halliburton stock, er Italian villas were given. Plus of course George's, er the Emperor's full pardon as well. A good deal, right Scooter?"

Or words to that effect.