Is the Scooter Libby Legal Defense Trust trying to bamboozle visitors to its website into thinking that Dick Cheney is making a personal plea for contributions to Scooter's defense fund?

At the top of the Trust's petition webpage, you see the following quote:

Scooter Libby is one of the most capable and and talented individuals I have ever known -- Vice President Dick Cheney

(Not the kind of guy who would make a mistake under oath, is that what you're saying, Dick?)

Beneath the quote is a bar with various site links ("Home," "About the Trust," etc.). Immediately beneath that, the text continues:

For five years, Scooter Libby served in the White House as one of the finest public servants. Recent press revelations regarding the CIA leak investigation have once again reminded us of the grave injustice done to my friend, Scooter. We now know who disclosed the identity of Valerie Plame. We now know that Scooter had nothing to do with it. And we now know that the special prosecutor has known this all along, but asked the true leaker to keep quiet.

Please sign the petition below and show your support of Scooter Libby.

The latter paragraphs aren't attributed to anyone, although they're written in personal, first person terms ("my friend," "we know"). Of course, when you sign the "petition," you're transferred to a page requesting contributions.

I'd bet a great many people reading that page would think the entire text is a personal solicitation from Dead-Soul Dick. Hell, it could be for all I know. So is Dick actually panhandling for the sleazy smear merchant, or is the Trust simply trying to swindle the chumps with a misleading text?

p.s. -- What ever you do, don't sign the petition as Mike Hunt or Judy Miller or Joe Lieberman. Show some creativity!

p.p.s. -- Even death hasn't diminished Jeane Kirkpatrick's support for Scooter.

p.p.p.s. -- If you feel like you need a shower after viewing the Trust's Advisory Board, this might be your best disinfectant.