In the end Fitzgerald couldn't get Rove and had to settle for Libby (who never was frog-marched nor handcuffed) which was an excitement deflator around here akin to a Major League pitcher carrying a perfect game, tied at zero-zero, into the bottom of the ninth inning only to have the batter hit a home run causing the pitcher to lose the perfect game, the no-hitter, the shut-out, and the game all on one pitch.
In filing this suit, it provided yet another round of hand-clapping glee thinking about whether Vice President Cheney would finally be forced to testify under oath in open court on what his role was in all this.
In dismissing this suit, Judge Bates wrote that the Administration attacks on Wilson in the press,
"may have been highly unsavory, but there can be no serious dispute that the act of rebutting public criticism, such as that levied by Mr. Wilson against the Bush administration's handling of prewar foreign intelligence, by speaking with members of the press is within the scope of defendants' duties as high-level Executive Branch officials."
Sounds like Judge Bates, when he is not writing legal briefs, writes for Yoda, if you ask me.
So, the Plame-iacs go home empty handed: The Veep doesn't testify. Scooter doesn't go to jail. Rove doesn't get indicted.
Not a perfect ending, but close enough.