Some conservatives are already saying that the charges are much ado about nothing. What Libby said to reporters and what he said about what he said, they contend (plenty more where that link came from), don't amount to much of an offense--especially as the end-result of a two-year investigation.
Liberal b lo capone.jpg ggers (again, lots to choose from already) assume not only that Libby is guilty but also that he's either covering up for or will soon turn on other White House officials. The indictable crimes may not be more than venial, but they stand as proxies for greater sins of the Bush White House--sort of like Al Capone being put away for tax evasion.
Partisans played the exact opposite roles during the impeachment of President Clinton and the various indictments of his cabinet officers. What's missing, of course, is a shared, nonpartisan sense of what constitutes a crime.
