While people may be cheering the indictment of Scooter Libby and the continuing investigation into Karl Rove, I am not one of them. I have seen firsthand the results of what happens when federal prosecutors are able to do whatever they want when they want it. The trail of broken lives, destroyed business enterprises, not to mention death and destruction of families is what these monsters have left behind.

For all of you who think that Fitzgerald is a hero, keep in mind that he spent two years (and counting) “investigating” what clearly was not a crime. All of the indictments of Libby deal with what he told federal investigators and the grand jury.

Harvey Silverglate, who is one of the premier civil libertarians in this country, told me today that once again, what we have seen is the abuse of power by federal prosecutors. Yes, what Libby and the others have done regarding the Iraq war is wrong, and we need to deal with this issue. However, by empowering a federal prosecutor to create crimes out of thin air through an investigation into an act that was not illegal, we have managed to cheer on the very people who are destroying our freedoms.

Keep in mind that Fitzgerald had news reporters testifying before a grand jury as to who told them what. Do we really want prosecutors to have that kind of power? Does anyone realize the Pandora’s Box that has been opened here?

People on this page were incensed at the Martha Stewart conviction, and well they should have been. Yet, Fitzgerald was just as abusive of his power as James Comey was of his. For all of the “bread and circuses” entertainment value of this latest Washington escapade, I simply say that either we are principled and stand up against this kind of abuse of power — no matter who is the target — or we simply cheer on the prosecutorial state.

Those of you who have read my articles on Martha Stewart know where I stand with federal prosecutors. Yes, I want Bush and Cheney and Libby and Rove and all of the other architects of this blasted war to pay a price. But I am NOT willing to empower federal prosecutors to do so. This is not a situation in which we have to be on the side either of Bush or Fitzgerald. It is a situation in which we have to be on the side of rule of law. If that makes me a sellout, then so be it.