Bush Commutes Libby’s Sentence
To say that the President’s commutation of Lewis Libby’s prison sentence is an affront to not only the American people, but the legal system itself, would be a gross understatement. If President Bush feels that he can commute Libby’s prison sentence, claiming it too harsh, then one wonders why he won’t do the same for countless others in the US that have been found guilty of obstruction of justice?
Of course, the President did not excuse Libby from the financial penalty that he has to pay ($250,000 dollars), nor did he excuse him from the probation period that he must adhere to. But, ultimately, to a man such as Libby, who has friends like former Ambassador Richard Carlson, who raised millions of dollars for Libby’s defense fund, what do either of those things matter? He will, no doubt, find more than comfortable accommodations in the private sector and see his financial worth skyrocket because of it.
In my opinion, Bush’s commuting of Libby betrays how little his administration cares about the fate of the Republican Party, and I believe we’ll see more than a few Republican members of the House condemn the President’s decision. But more importantly, this case ultimately had to do with the exposure of a US intelligence operative and the vindictiveness of the Vice President’s office with regards to Joe Wilson’s exposure of the administration’s uranium claims. That aspect of this entire escapade should not be overlooked.
This administration knows that it has the next year and a half locked. The President is not afraid to use his veto, he cares little for detractors and public opinion about the war, and obviously doesn’t seem to mind that the Vice President might just be the most corrupted and dangerous in US history. He has little regard for oversight or holding those within his administration accountable for improprieties, displaying his arrogance and hypocrisy with regards to the transparency of democracy itself, especially considering that he takes great pleasure in promoting its virtues elsewhere, be it at the end of a rifle or not.
There are those that might think such an assertion ‘going to far’, but I believe that Mr. Bush’s eight years in office marks the birth of the American Imperial Presidency.
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July 2nd, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Liberals are pissed that he commuted the sentence, conservatives are pissed that it wasn’t a complete pardon. W blows it again.
All these Presidential pardon/commutation decisions are pure politics. It’s who you know in high places. Unless you’re the Pope. John Paul asked then Governor George Bush to commute the death sentence of a woman in Texas and he didn’t.
George W. Bush. The President who believes firmly in the rule of law. (as long as it makes his supporters happy)
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I can’t believe he had the balls. I thought he might have on his last day, or at least after the election. But now, with his approval ratings where they are - thats ridiculous!
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:52 pm
There is just to much power in the executive branch south of the border.
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:56 pm
About 3% of americans will raise an eyebrow over this move. Now what time does that re-run of Larry King interviewing Paris Hilton come on?
July 2nd, 2007 at 4:59 pm
I can say that 100% of that man is in fact failure.
July 2nd, 2007 at 6:03 pm
I find it odd people find it odd that a man so close to the president had his sentence commuted.
July 2nd, 2007 at 6:46 pm
hey guys 49% of america voted against him, i know because i was making phone calls, handing out voter registration sheets, and personally driving anyone who needed a ride to the polls on campus that day
yeah bush is the worst president we’ve ever had…but deep down i think most of america is just as pissed off about it as you are….theres just enough christian right wing conservative rednecks to screw it up for the rest of us…and by us i mean the world
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:45 pm
…………………….
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:06 pm
[quote comment="18046"]About 3% of americans will raise an eyebrow over this move. Now what time does that re-run of Larry King interviewing Paris Hilton come on?[/quote]
I’m sure it’s a little more than that. Maybe not much. The question is, will anyone be held accountable tomorrow, the next, next election? I doubt not. A grand blunder of a war in the Middle East, a war of lies, and the Democrats didn’t get too much of a majority in the House and Senate.
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:50 pm
The President has no power; he simply follows orders.
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I have a theory. That theory is sex.
Example 1: Bill Clinton has a blowjob and lies about it. Damn near gets kicked out of office and 3/4ths of the country want his head on a platter. Why? Because sex is amoral and a work of the devil.
Example 2: Paris Hilton, who has tapes of her having sex in the public domain and is generally known for being a Sex Object, has a DUI and gets out of jail early. Since this is a huge affront to our justice system, they throw her ass back in jail. Why? Because sex is amoral and we shouldn’t give special favours to famous Sex Objects. (And it’s a work of the devil.)
Example 3: Liddy is not sexy. He is not (as far as I know) in any way connected to some sort of sex scandal. He gives out state secrets, ruins people’s lives, and lies about it. He is rewarded with a Get Out of Jail Free card because he probably only has sex with his wife and only in the missionary position.
Brought to you by the same people who want “Abstinence Only” taught in the schools.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Every day I hope I awake to CNN announcing Bush’s impeachment…
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Are the Democrats paying any fucking attention anymore? How the hell is this guy still holding office when he’s not only corrupt but predictably corrupt?
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Am I the only person who finds it hard to imagine the day that Bush-Cheney willingly relinquish their places atop the American power structure? I just can’t see either of them doing that short of being pulled, kicking and screaming, from their offices. They scheme to control everything they can get their hands on, and I can’t help but think they’ve had more than a meeting or two on whether or not it’s possible to retain the White House indefinitely, regardless of the law.
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:21 pm
Let’s not forget the host of pardons issued by Mr. Bill Clinton on his way out of office. This isn’t the beginning of the american imperial presidency, it is just a different flavor.
July 3rd, 2007 at 3:38 am
[quote comment="18071"]I have a theory. That theory is sex.
Example 1: Bill Clinton has a blowjob and lies about it. Damn near gets kicked out of office and 3/4ths of the country want his head on a platter. Why? Because sex is amoral and a work of the devil.
Example 2: Paris Hilton, who has tapes of her having sex in the public domain and is generally known for being a Sex Object, has a DUI and gets out of jail early. Since this is a huge affront to our justice system, they throw her ass back in jail. Why? Because sex is amoral and we shouldn’t give special favours to famous Sex Objects. (And it’s a work of the devil.)
Example 3: Liddy is not sexy. He is not (as far as I know) in any way connected to some sort of sex scandal. He gives out state secrets, ruins people’s lives, and lies about it. He is rewarded with a Get Out of Jail Free card because he probably only has sex with his wife and only in the missionary position.
Brought to you by the same people who want “Abstinence Only” taught in the schools.[/quote]
Please do not assume all Americans feel this way. We (including myself and my family) are just as disgusted with what our country has become as you seem to be. That includes our government, and the media - which we no longer bother to watch.
I think this post sums up exactly how I feel - I couldn’t have said it any better.
July 3rd, 2007 at 6:37 am
where are our representatives? the republicans are all well in line with rove, cheney, and bush and the democrats lost their spines yet again while the constitution, bill of rights, and the judicial system are all subverted. the whole system is corrupted and failing. so sickening… makes you long for the days of nixon and reagan….and that’s saying something…
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:55 am
The pardon may have a political effect and may garner many headlines, but in the scheme of things it is really no more then confirmation of an out of control administration and a diversion. As long as the Libby pardon is the focus of debate, the spin masters who actually outed Plame are out of the limelight. If Scooter is the issue, then it means less ink spent on the Gitmo outrage and the disasters that are Iraq and Afghanistan.
In this way, Scooter has served his masters yet again. Now, let’s all get back to discussing how justice abused Paris….
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:26 am
The best article I’ve read today…
http://kfmonkey.blogspot.com/2007/07/l33t-justice.html
…addresses the “Where are our representatives” question quite astutely.
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:33 am
[quote comment="18086"]
Please do not assume all Americans feel this way. We (including myself and my family) are just as disgusted with what our country has become as you seem to be. That includes our government, and the media - which we no longer bother to watch.
I think this post sums up exactly how I feel - I couldn’t have said it any better.[/quote]
Sorry if that came out extra negative, Lisa. I’m Californian, so it’s aimed at myself as much as the rest of our country. I only spell “favour” with a “u” because I lived in Glasgow for awhile. :)
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:34 am
Un-FUCKING-believable
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:35 am
“Only a president clinically incapable of understanding that mistakes have consequences could take the action he did today. President Bush has just sent exactly the wrong signal to the country and the world. In George Bush’s America, it is apparently okay to misuse intelligence for political gain, mislead prosecutors and lie to the FBI. George Bush and his cronies think they are above the law and the rest of us live with the consequences. The cause of equal justice in America took a serious blow today.”
-John Edwards
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:37 am
What are yall complaining about? He had the balls to pull this off with 18 months to go, wait and see what kind of shit he pulls the morning of Jan 20, 2009.
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:02 pm
This was not a pardon. This was commuting Scooters sentance. If I were the president of the US I wouldn’t let my friends go to jail either.
July 4th, 2007 at 10:56 am
yet another black eye on America thanks to a sucker punch by good ole George W.
The W stands for -Worst preident ever!!!!!!!!!!