Another Thunderbolt from Wilkerson

Here's Washington Post national political editor John Harris 's take, from his Live Online discussion yesterday: "To be honest, I'd be pretty surprised if this case goes to trial. My colleagues covering the case expect a plea deal."

The Judge

Eric Lichtblau in the New York Times profiles the judge in the case: Reggie B. Walton.

"Some critics of the administration say they want to see the case against Mr. Libby turned into a trial of the White House's use of intelligence before the Iraqi war, but those who know Judge Walton say they doubt that he will let that happen."

Lichtblau's story reminded me of the article Carol D. Leonnig wrote in The Washington Post in August about Walton's heroic conduct stopping an assault -- and wrestling another man's attacker to the ground -- in the middle of a D.C. traffic circle.

Walton, incidentally, worked in the White House from 1989 to 1991, serving as the first President Bush's associate director for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. His immediate boss was William J. Bennett. Walton was also a senior White House adviser on crime.

Edelman Watch

Douglas Jehl writes in the New York Times that Eric S. Edelman, an under secretary of defense and former deputy national security adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, denied any involvement in any governmental investigation in a written statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"But Mr. Edelman is identified by his former job title in the indictment of I. Lewis Libby Jr., who resigned last Friday as Vice President Cheney's chief of staff and national security adviser. The office of Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the special counsel in the case, has confirmed that Mr. Edelman was the 'then principal deputy' to Mr. Libby in the indictment. . . .

"President Bush installed Mr. Edelman in the post this summer, using a recess appointment to bypass the Senate confirmation process."

Cheney Asked to Testify

The Associated Press reports: "Three Democratic congressmen Thursday asked Vice President Dick Cheney to testify on Capitol Hill about the disclosure of a covert CIA officer's identity, saying 'there are many wide-ranging questions about your involvement.'

"The congressmen asked why Cheney's office was gathering information about Valerie Plame, the wife of Bush administration critic Joseph Wilson in 2003; whether the vice president directed his top aide, the now-indicted I. Lewis Libby, to speak to the news media about Plame; and whether Cheney was aware Libby was doing so."

Medals of Freedom

Here's the White House announcement of this year's Medal of Freedom winners. They include Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, boxing legend Muhammad Ali, former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Richard Myers, actors Carol Burnett and Andy Grifith, and Paul Rusesabagina, who sheltered people at the hotel he managed during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

New Blood

President Bush announced yesterday the hiring of seven new White House staffers. These are all second and third-tier staffers -- "assistant to the president" is the top tier.

Stephen S. McMillin will be deputy assistant to the president and advisor to the chief of staff; Douglas B. Baker will be special assistant to the president and director of border and transportation security; Rudy Fernandez will be special assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs; Daniel W. Fisk will be special assistant to the president and senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs; Meghan L. O'Sullivan will be special assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan; Matthew Scott Robinson will be special assistant to the president for speechwriting; and Stephen B. Slick will be special assistant to the president and senior director for intelligence programs and reform.

Wage Law Reversal

As expected, President Bush yesterday signed a proclamation which revoked this proclamation from September 8, which had suspended these wage law provisions in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Rove Cleared -- in Texas

The Associated Press reports: "A Texas county official said Thursday he would not prosecute presidential adviser Karl Rove after investigating whether he voted illegally in the state."

South America Hijinks

Michael A. Fletcher writes in The Washington Post: "President Bush arrived in this seaside resort Thursday night for a summit with other leaders from the Western Hemisphere, during which he hopes to promote lower trade barriers as a tonic for poverty and joblessness throughout the region."

Elisabeth Bumiller and Larry Rohter write in the New York Times that he arrived there "after one of the worst weeks of his presidency, only to be greeted by strong anti-American sentiment and taunts from Venezuela's populist president, Hugo Chvez."

The Associated Press reports: "Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, emboldened by thousands of anti-American protesters, is getting a rare chance to stand up to his adversary, George Bush, with promises to keep the president from reviving talks on a free trade area stretching from Alaska to Argentina. . . .

"With tensions rising between the two nations, Chavez and Bush will likely see each other Friday at the summit's inauguration -- after Chavez addresses a rally of mostly anti-Bush protesters. The two leaders are not scheduled to meet one-on-one, but they will both be taking part in the same summit sessions.

"Chavez has joked about whether Bush is afraid of him, saying he might sneak up and scare Bush at the summit."