Monday, July 02, 2007

Why I'm Happy About Libby's Sentence Commutation


So it's official: King George on Monday exercised his powers of clemency to commute the 2 1/2 year prison sentence of Lewis "Scooter" Libby. Did anyone ever really think "Cheney's Cheney" would spend even a nanosecond in jail? But while most of the Democratic world is furious and calling for Bush's head I, on the other hand, am happy and celebrating this joyous moment.

"I respect the jury's verdict," said the King. "But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison....My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr Libby. The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged."

So why am I celebrating? Because this decision by Bush is the nail in his political coffin...and with it his legacy. He will forever be known as the president who not only committed the worst military/foreign policy blunder in our nation's history, but the one who defiled and made a constant mockery of our sacred Constitution. I am happy because it really doesn't matter anymore whether Libby served time, does it? He's a convicted felon who committed egregious crimes against freedom and free speech, and he's done his job quite well in tarnishing his vile bosses' reputations. But the greater benefit through all this is that it cements Bush's legacy as a de facto criminal himself. There's no doubt left as to Bush's true motivations and blatant disregard for everything we've held sacred in this country for 231 years. And our children's grandchildren, and their grandkids, will be reading about this buffoon and his corrupt administration as long as there are history books.

Hillary Clinton summed it up best: "Today's decision is yet another example that this Administration simply considers itself above the law. This case arose from the Administration's politicization of national security intelligence and its efforts to punish those who spoke out against its policies. Four years into the Iraq war, Americans are still living with the consequences of this White House's efforts to quell dissent. This commutation sends the clear signal that in this Administration, cronyism and ideology trump competence and justice."

Make no mistake: the person George Bush hurt most with this decision is, well, Bush himself.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Although I agree that Bush's action clearly shows he couldn't care less about justice and the law in the US, I'm not exactly happy about his commutation of Liibey's prison time. This action unmistakably sends the message to all that there are two tracks of justice in the US: the "normal" track, where you'll receive justice without regard to your status in society; and the "privileged" track, where you're exempt from any sort of justice because you have powerful friends and protectors.

I suppose I expected Bush to pardon Libbey as one of his last acts in office, but I never thought he'd be this brazen and flout the justice system so completely. But the signs were there: his "signing orders" which let him decide which laws he'd obey and which ones he wouldn't, his continued support of Alberto Gonzales--one of the worst Attorneys General in the history of the country, Bush's fiasco of Guantanamo and the "enemy combatants'" legal status, and his continued authorizations of wiretapping and spying. Bush obviously places himself above the Constiution he swore to protect, just like his VP.

Anonymous said...

In America, the GOP media machine will spin this as "Bush didn't pardon him, Bush didn't pardon anyone, it was Clinton who pardoned criminals."

It will give the Bush-supporters a little nugget to retort to any barrage of criticism.

The FOX news and WSJ opinion pages have been laying the emotional ground work ever since the conviction, that Scooter wasn't even on trial for "outing a CIA agent."

Case closed. The base hangs on, the iPhone generation sees two sides to the story and tax cuts for the rich are safe... for another cycle anyway.

jason said...

Are you people crazy???

Did Scooter break the law? Yes. Was his sentence fair? Hardly.

Your boy Clinton pardoned or commuted around 450 people...

Let it go people. W isn't running again (and as a conservative, I'm happy for that!)

Put your eggs in the basket of Obama, Hillary, or Edwards, and start talking issues, not Bush this Bush that, blah blah blah...

I voted for W twice - the first time on hope, and the 2nd because Kerry was essentially a Diet Al Gore.

I can't, nor would I, vote for him again. And you guys can't vote against him again. Let it go - we've all only got a little bit of time left.

Can your side PLEASE talk about the issues, instead of Bushbashing?!?!

jason said...

Additionally:

http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/clintonpardon_grants.htm

Anonymous said...

Both sides do it. Democrats and Republicans. If you are tired of corruption in politics, stop voting for Democrats and Republicans. Both parties are liars. Both Parties are Corrupt. Both parties get their friends out of jail.


Congressional panel probes Clinton's pardon of financier
Committee chairman wonders about motive for pardon

January 26, 2001
Web posted at: 3:11 a.m. EST (0811 GMT)
From CNN Justice Department Producer Terry Frieden

"...U.S. President Bill Clinton's controversial last-minute pardon of wealthy financier Marc Rich, who had been a fugitive on tax evasion and fraud charges for 17 years"

Clinton's pardon last weekend of Rich, who had been listed on the Department of Justice's Web site as an international fugitive. Rich's ex-wife Denise is an active Democratic Party fund-raiser and contributed to Hillary Rodham Clinton's Senate campaign.

Clinton had taken the unusual step of circumventing the normal procedures. Applications for presidential pardons generally go to Justice Department U.S. Pardon Attorney Roger Adams, who compiles information and forwards it to the White House for consideration. Not this one.

Clinton pardoned 140 people, including Rich, about two hours before he left office last Saturday.

The pardons, particularly Rich's, have drawn some criticism. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, called it "a disgrace," and even Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota said he was troubled by that pardon, describing it as "inappropriate."

Rich fled the United States in 1983 after being indicted on charges of wire fraud, racketeering and income tax evasion. He was also charged with violating trade restrictions with Iran at the time the government in Tehran was holding U.S. diplomats as hostages.

New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who as a federal prosecutor at the time brought the charges against Rich, said a congressional investigation was warranted into the "very unusual" pardon of a fugitive.

"The Marc Rich pardon cries out for an explanation," he said, describing the 1983 case as the "most extensive tax evasion case" in the country. "There is no explanation for it beyond the fact that the president had the raw power to do it."

Asked whether he believed there was a quid pro quo for the Rich pardon, Giuliani refused to rule it out.

"I don't think it would be fair to suggest that there was a payoff, but I also don't think it would be fair to dismiss the question without an investigation," he said.

Burton said he wants his House committee "to determine whether the president had an improper motive for the pardons, whether law enforcement authorities were consulted before the pardons were granted, and determine if any regulations governing the lobbying of the president may have been violated."

Clinton defended the pardons, telling reporters Sunday that they should not be viewed as an exoneration, only that the individuals have "paid in full." He said he spent "a lot of personal time" on the Rich case but declined to explain his reasoning for the pardon.

Others pardoned by Clinton include Whitewater figure Susan McDougal, former Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros, ex-CIA chief John Deutch and publishing heiress Patty Hearst.

Clinton also commuted the sentences of 36 other people, including four Hasidic men from New York who had been convicted of bilking the government of millions of dollars. Hillary Clinton, who had been lobbied on the issue during her Senate campaign in New York, received the vast majority of votes of the small Hasidic community.

Anonymous said...

I was really hopeful when I read the title of your blog that this deep feeling of depression and fear would be erased by your voice of reason. But, who cares about Bush's legacy? I don't; and he's so maniacally egotistical that I'm sure he thinks he'll be rated with Washington. I'm worried that our country is no longer a country of obeying laws; that we have a pale, but truly a dictator at the head of our government now. He lied and started a war; his vice president breaks the law at every turn; this administration spies on us; this administration tortures; this aministration pays people like Armstrong Williams to pretend to support him; this admistration lets the convicted among his co-horts go free; this administration allows corporations to cheat on taxes and otherwise, and hire people who have broken the law; this administrtion wants to allow the law-breakers to become legal citizens, and Bush was was not even legally elected president. When will it end? It doesn't look like it will end. We Americans buy our "i"-products, and whatever while our Consittution and our rights are being stripped. I am very very depressed and worried. All is lost.

There is not a person nor a group of people who can stop this madness. Already the spin has begun and the Republicans are rallying.

Anonymous said...

I agree with 10:31. I just heard that Nazi Lieberman saying we should have cameras everywhere to watch us. And, this administration will use the fear of terrorist attacks to become more dictatorial and suppress and take away the rights of Americans. If not yet, soon, "all is lost," Thank goodness for the few Americans with spirit and fight who are marching on the White House protesting the Libby disgrace.

And through all this mess we've totally not mentioned the corporations like Northwestern who claim bankruptcy and then cut employee salaries and take away their pensions. Then the CEOs get millions for "saving the company." Thousands in this country have had their pensions stolen by corporate/Bush cronies crooks.

jason said...

11:47 - BRILLIANT Kennedy line. LOVED IT!

I just can't wait until a Lib wins the White House, and then it's the Conservative's turn to berate, stall, delay, and basically obstruct... GW was President of our Country during the WORST event in our history. I think he's handled it as well as anyone could have.

Hey Leftys - NEWS FLASH. Most of the Conservative base is sick of GW too! The fact of the matter is HE DID NOT LIE. ("I did not have sex with that woman," THAT'S a lie.) GW made a decision to go to war over the intel he had at that time. Your guys supported it then - and by their unwillingness to cut funds - they support it now. (Bless them for that!)

As a veteran of Iraq I - it pains me to hear all these left wing cooks and crackpots spout their venom on our Country's policy. Deal with it.

America does NOT cut and run. We do NOT surrender. We do NOT "start wars."

We FINISH them.

AIRBORNE!

Anonymous said...

1:20 PM,
Thanks for risking your life to support our nation. Unlike Democrats, I respect you.

To listen to Democrats, GW lied and just invaded a kite-flying nation. It seems your war never happened, it's all GW's fault! Never mind that Saddam never followed through with his obligations when he surrendered to you and the other great Americans who fought in Operation Desert Shield.

Anonymous said...

Jason -- I know that few Republicans read all of the material available during the Clinton impeachment or any of the arguments that clarified his "I did not have sex with that woman." You didn't hear what I'm about to tell you on FOX. And, I know you did not read it at that time since I'm sure you confined your reading to the Republican argument.

Please try to understand:

Bush attended Gerogetown University. a Catholic university and studied there with Jesuit scholars. The Jesuits taught that oral sex is not considered sex. Only intercourse is considered as "having sex." You know, as kissing, hugging, etc. are not considered "having sex." So, when Clinton said "I did not have sex with that woman." that was the truth as far as he was concerned and as far as the Catholic Jesuits taught as part of his education at Georgetown. I'm sure you dont believe it so do your own research if you care enough to know the truth. I no longer have those sources. I thought it was no longer an issue with Americans. As to why Clinton didn't give that explanation I don't know.

jason said...

That's fine - that's one explanation (albeit a stretch.)

How about the fact that he said he was never alone in the Oval Office with her??

But 8:18 - you miss my point. The only time any self-respecting conservative brings up the "i did not have sex" comment is when the militant faction (sarcasm) of the Democratic base says, "Bush Lied."

He didn't lie. He relayed the information he was given by the intelligence community, as well as intel from Germany and Russia. (Who BOTH said SH had WMDs, but still were against attacking Iraq.) Well the last time I checked, the USA doesn't report to anyone in the UN. We made the decision to go to war - and just about everyone agreed with going down that path. It's convenient now to say, "Bush lied." That way, people like Hillary can "justify" her vote to authorize the war. It paints her in a better light for the militant (again - sarcasm) faction, which seems to make us the base of the Democratic Party. (George Soros, Hollywood, etc.)

Now - don't get me wrong - I'm not a blind Republican. I have said on numerous occasion that GW had the opportunity to be the next Reagan. He blew it. He irritated the left, and he did (is doing) a pretty good job of irritating the right - both far-right, and the more centrist right wingers (Is that like Jumbo Shrimp?!?!)

I'm even considering voting for a Dem this time around - just to mix it up a bit! Unless Hillary gets the nomination. In which case, I'll pull an Alec Baldwin, and move to Canada. ummm - ya.

We're in Iraq - again. Which no matter what the news or any political party says - is the right thing to do. Back in Iraq 1, we went in - played around for a bit - and left; before the job was done. That wasn't fair to my brothers and sisters in arms who volunteered, swore an oath, and trained to do a job. To put it bluntly - we pussed out.

For Harry Reid to declare failure - and Pelosi to spout off every third day, is about as demoralizing as it can be. Everyone overseas hears it. They read it. They know it. Our military exists so you don't have to fight. I could go all cliché on you, and say that freedom isn't free, but that's tired... True, but tired.

We're there now. We owe it to the people of Iraq, as well as the USA to finish what we started.

You may not agree with the war, you may not agree with the dems, or the GOP - but you have to agree that we live in the best damn country in the world.

If we break our promise to the Iraqis, the Middle East Region, and the rest of the world - we'll end up being France.

And I hate frog legs.

Anonymous said...

8:47 You apparently are blissfully unaware of the Downing Street memo by Richard Dearlove,Chief of British Intelligence which revealed among other things that:

"Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and the facts were being FIXED around the policy."

Where were you when this story broke? Watching FOX NEWS?


We do live in the best country in the world and it is the responsiblity of each of us to make sure we do not lose our democracy to lying factions who would destroy it by taking away the individual rights of "we the people." Our government can only be maintained if we know the the truth, especially when we are sent to war. Secrecy and misuse of power are warnings of danger to a democracy. Lying to the people to go to war is a misuse of power. Locking people up without charge is misuse of power. The destruction of habeus corpus is misuse of power. Spying on citizens is misuse of power. And the list goes on.

Wake up.

Anonymous said...

You are all overlooking Bush's lie about his participation and knowledge of the outing and thus breaking the law, of Valerie Plame. He lied.

And then after that he lied and said that anyone in his administration involved in that crime would go to jail.

Don't most of us wish his only lie was about an interlude with a woman.

Anonymous said...

clinton lied about getting a BJ.
Bush has lied about everything.

Anonymous said...

4:30 am,
You are lying to yourself and/or trying to mislead others.

If you really believe that "Bush has lied about everything", then please tell me what you think about Operation Desert Fox.

Anonymous said...

12:29 pm:
I'm not trying to mislead others.
If they can't make up their own minds, they are drinking the bush koolaid.
Why don't you prove that Bush hasn't lied?
Didn't he lie about WMD? Didn't he lie about the reasons to go into Iraq? Isn't it true the plans to invade Iraq were laid well before 9-11? He also lied about 9-11, link below.
Operation Desert Fox? Are you serious? What about his stating "Mission Accomplished"? Over 4 yrs later, what has been accomplished? Check out this link, it explains in more detail what has been "accomplished"

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=ARB20070501&articleId=5535


Check the min and maximum estimates of Iraqis killed in this war that was based on lies.

http://www.iraqbodycount.org/

As of this date, 3604 American soldiers have been killed. Have you gone to any of the funerals and talked with their families? Has bush gone to any of the funerals and talked with the widows or families of these soldiers? The answer is 'NO'. My cousin's husband was just returned in a shiny new coffin and was buried before the July 4 holiday. Ask my cousins widow what she thinks of bush and the Iraq war. She has 3 children to raise now, alone. Ask her kids what they think about their father never coming home again, and the fact they'll never see him alive again.
Didn't he lie about getting Osama "dead or alive?" He was laughing and joking about Osama being under the furniture and joked about looking for him there. Then he said he wasn't worried about Osama.
Did you know that bush appointed himself "dictator" in an emergency?
You stick up for this boob when everyone else is abandoning the sinking ship, and boy is bush sinking. Check out this link for proof that bush will be dictator:

http://www.roguegovernment.com/news.php?id=2169

Did you see what he has pointing skyward? That goes for you too now, not just the rest of us.
HE DOESN'T CARE.
His commuting of Libby's sentence was the last straw for a lot of bush supporters.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/06/AR2007070602003.html

What about bushs statement in 2004 re: wiretapping? He said you had to get a court order. He is conducting wiretaps now without court order. How do you know that he's not wiretapping you, and reading your emails?
Remember Hurricane Katrina?
He received a report 2 days before Katrina hit, predicting that Katrina would lead to severe flooding and levees breaking.
He said "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." President Bush (09/01/05)
If you want to read up on more bush lies, here's a link:

http://www.bushlies.net/
You say bush hasn't lied? That IS a lie, and a big one.
In your mind he tells the truth?
When? In his sleep?

Anonymous said...

I'm not the delusional one. I didn't vote for bush. You did.

frogfoot said...

Bravo 9:58.
The ones that are delusional still support Bush and his war.
11:21,who said you were a rational progressive? You sound more like a neocon hiding as a progressive.
Can't say the "L" word, can you?

Anonymous said...

9:58 I am so sorry for yours and your family's loss. And, I'm so sorry that there are so many others who have suffered the same loss because of all the reasons you mention in your comprehenisve blog about the state of affairs in this country. I'm sorry there are still a few Americans who either simply "do not get it" for some reasons of deficiency in their thinking or character; or, they are just simply unfeeling and unable to care for other human beings.

Anonymous said...

People should care like John Edwards cares. He just got his $1,200 haircut and now he's going on a poverty tour. John really cares....although, I *guess* he *could* have donated $1,180 and got a normal haircut.

Anonymous said...

12:06 You are so stupid it's pathetic. I shouldn't get angry at your obvious limitations. However, the blogger 9:58 was talking about the DEATHS of so many of our soldiers and the loss of his family member and 2:14 was extending sympathy. And, you have the gall to compare that with Edwards not donating some of his money -- to perhaps the Salvation Army - a charity loved by you Righters because it won't hire gays. How dare you make such an odious comparison? Perhaps you're not stupid but unbelievably insensitive and callous. No matter -- it's shameful.

And, Democrats and John Edwards do not hate rich people. We think "rich" is good. But we're kind enough and caring enough to work for all to have the opportunity to achieve wealth and be rich, too -- not just the rich kids of wealthy parents, like George Bush. Edwards wants to bring propserity to all. And, he, and we believe that since some were born in poverty they could use help in achieiving prosperity. You know, like fair workers' rights and fair work laws and living wages -- and -- do you get the picture?

Bush could donate his entire salary and inherited money, and it wouldn't be enough to help all those he has harmed with his reign as president.

Anonymous said...

2:14, Our family thanks you for your condolences. It's very much appreciated.

No Yards said...

Bush: "God told me to invade Iraq".

Lie or total insanity? Either answer is acceptable.

Hey Jason, how is it you figure liberals should "get over" Bush who is still in office and committing "executive" crimes for another year or so, when conservatives can't seem to get over Clinton who hasn't been in office for over 6 years?

jason said...

The only reason I ever bring up President Clinton, is to rebut the left-wing rhetoric of "Bush Lied," etc...

As a conservative - I'm tired of Bush. Really, truly, I am... (And truth be told - most conservatives are as well.)

We're not tired of him because he "lied," we're tired of him stepping in it - almost on a daily basis.

The policies of conservatism are good ones - when implemented correctly. President Bush just isn't getting it done - domestically, or internationally. Fine. Most conservatives - if they're honest with themselves - will agree with me.

But the ranting about the war has got to come to an end people. Right, wrong, or indifferent - we're there. We said we were gonna do a job - and we need to do it. For people to come out and say we're losing the war, or we're killing civilians, or whatever is just plain wrong.

We don't lose wars. As the world's remaining superpower - we can't afford to. If we leave before the job is done - every extremist in the world will know that the American people don't have the stomach to finish what we start. (And by 'start,' I mean going over there. America doesn't 'start' wars either - we finish them.)

Remember when President Bush went to the UN? The UN voted unanimously to sanction Saddam, and told him, comply - or face dire consequences. SH chose this war - not the US, not President Bush - hell - not even Vice-President Cheney. Saddam chose this path - and he's burning in hell for that - as well as other reasons.

I'm not drinking the GOP KoolAid - I swear, I'm not. But the reality of all of this is that at the time we went to Iraq - we, as a country, were still reeling from that punch in the face we all got on 9/11. Iraq's government gave stipends to families of suicide bombers - as well as "hosting" - for lack of a better term Al-Qaida training camps. That looks to back up SOME of the reasons to go over there.

I'm not saying that it was right or wrong to go into Iraq. At this point - it doesn't really matter. We're there - we've been there - and no matter what anyone says - the world is a better place WITHOUT Saddam Hussein in it.

J

PS - Condolences to the family / friends of the poster who lost someone in Iraq. One of my proudest moments as a civilian is when I rode my Harley in a funeral procession for a fallen brother from Illinois. His widow and parents came up to each of the 100 or so of us, shook our hands, and thanked us. I was wearing my kevlar helmet from Iraq I, and his widow hugged me, thanked me for my previous service, and begged me to keep doing what we were doing. (Patriot Guard Riders)

Nobody's loss will go unnoticed, or unappreciated.

We fight them there - so we don't have to fight them here.

AIRBORNE!!!