Handy primer

Marcy Wheeler of The Next Hurrah blog has just published a book, "Anatomy of Deceit," that is said to make all clear what's what in the Treasongate case culminating now in VP Dick Cheney top aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's trial.

Libby's defense lawyers are claiming he's being made a scapegoat for Karl Rove, President Bush's aide. Cheney's September 2003 handwritten notes, produced in testimony Jan. 30, about who told whom to out Valerie Plame's undercover CIA identity said, "not going to protect one staffer and sacrifice the guy this prez asked to stick his head in the meat grinder because of incompetence of others."

The publisher, Vaster Books, is a new company formed by DailyKos and Fire Dog Lake blogs. Fire Dog, along with Hurrah, have been leading the way in Treasongate coverage.