Ohio State Rep. To Bush: If You Want To ‘Coddle Criminals,’ Then Pardon Traficant
Ohio State Rep. To Bush: If You Want To ‘Coddle Criminals,’ Then Pardon Traficant
As soon as President Bush commuted the prison sentence of his former aide, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, attorneys across the country immediately began arguing that their clients deserve “the Libby treatment.”
Yesterday, Ohio State Rep. Bob Hagan (D-Youngstown) sent a letter to President Bush, claiming that his standards for Libby should be applied to another criminally-challenged political figure: former U.S. Congressman James Traficant, who was convicted in 2002 on bribery and racketeering charges. Hagan says that Traficant deserves the same leniency that Libby received:
“If the President is going to coddle criminals in his Administration because he believes they have suffered enough, the least he can do is apply equal justice and release all of those whose crimes had far less impact on the public good than Libby’s,” Rep. Hagan said.[...]
“Libby lied to the FBI and a grand jury about the Valerie Plame cover-up, which undermined the nation’s intelligence operations,” Hagan argued. “Add to that his role as Vice President Cheney’s Chief of Staff in promoting false reasons for going to war in Iraq – and it all outweighs anything Mr. Traficant has done. [...]
“Libby is the first sitting White House official to be indicted in 130 years, and yet he walks away without paying his deserved debt to society.”
Hagan, who previously waged a primary challenge against Traficant, doesn’t actually want President Bush to commute Traficant’s sentence. “They both deserve to be in jail,” Hagan told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
He has a history of making satirical statments to prove his points. In 2006, when conservatives introduced a bill to ban gay couples from adopting children, Hagan “asked fellow senators to co-sponsor a bill to ban households with one or more Republican voters from adopting children.” Similarly, this past year, when new regulations for strip clubs were debated, “Hagan drafted an amendment to ban lobbyists from touching lawmakers.”
President Bush has yet to respond to Hagan’s request for clemency for Traficant.
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As soon as President Bush commuted the prison sentence of his former aide, I. Lewis “Scooter†Libby, attorneys across the country have begun arguing that their clients deserve “the Libby treatment.â€
Keep it up, and we’ll make sure you all get “the Cheney Treatment” instead.
Quote by “A Gonzalez”
July 7th, 2007 at 3:30 pmVery nice.
“Libby” like “Watergate” will be synonymous with corruption and the Republican party.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:32 pmClinton… he did it too.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:36 pmLibby is the first sitting White House official to be indicted in 130 years, and yet he walks away without paying his deserved debt to society.
Whose society? The Beltway crowd’s or the American people’s? Hell, as far as “official” Washington is concerned, ol’ Scooter has suffered enough.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:37 pmClinton… he did it too.
Comment by Mr. President
Helped out an active CIA agent? In a time of war? W/ an enemy like NO OTHER we’ve ever faced? And helped block an investigation? And insisted on a ridiculous nickname to boot? When… when… ???
July 7th, 2007 at 3:40 pmBush pardoned the snitch that could nail all their asses for an eternity, Mr. Prez. You’re smart enought to know that. Clinton did no such thing.
This whole “Clinton did it too” is gonna play hilariously in the history books you dolt.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:41 pmThis whole “Clinton did it too†is gonna play hilariously in the history books you dolt.
Comment by LandSurveyor
Be careful, LandSurveyor, you don’t want to p*ss Mr P off. He uses lots and lots of exclamation points in his posts, and bold print too. He’s a pretty scary customer…
July 7th, 2007 at 3:44 pmtoo bad satire, and irony, is mostly lost on the cons…
July 7th, 2007 at 3:44 pmLandSurveyor,
It already is hilarious, how you Lefties forget that
BUSH DIDN’T PARDON LIBBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 7th, 2007 at 3:45 pmTRoS,
Oh yeah…
LandSurveyor,
It already is hilarious, how you Lefties forget that
BUSH DIDN’T PARDON LIBBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 7th, 2007 at 3:45 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — July 7, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
All,
Ignore Mr. Peed-on Troll…s/he/it’s a complete moron and Mr Pea(brain)’s comments have already reached maximum intelligence with the very first post…Stupid to the core!!!
July 7th, 2007 at 3:46 pmIt already is hilarious, how you Lefties forget that
BUSH DIDN’T PARDON LIBBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Mr. President
Excuse us. Extract the word “pardon” and insert (you know where) the word “commute”. BF difference, BTW, considering the outcome.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:46 pmClinton… he did it too.
Comment by Mr. President — July 7, 2007 @ 3:36 pm
Seen as Scooter is “… the first sitting White House official to be indicted in 130 years†I think your statement might be just a wee bit false.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:47 pmTRoS,
Oh yeah…
LandSurveyor,
It already is hilarious, how you Lefties forget that
BUSH DIDN’T PARDON LIBBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Mr. President
Yet another strawman, Mr P. I never mentioned the word “pardon” anywhere.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:48 pmWhere’s Zooey???
She still hasn’t explained the straw man technique.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:48 pmShe still hasn’t explained the straw man technique.
Comment by Mr. President
She said she was going to the movies, moron.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:49 pmBut, but….Clinton!
This is like National Troll Day or something. I’ve never seen it this crazy.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:50 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — July 7, 2007 @ 3:48 pm
You fool!
I acknowledged you because you reminded me to use bold!
Then I restated my original post to LandSurveyor!!!
Please, learn to read more carefully.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:50 pmShe said she was going to the movies, moron.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — July 7, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
Actually, she responded to me on the “Al Gore III doobies” thread (aka Live Earth) below.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:52 pmThis commutation does not represent justice.
A full pardon and apology from the Justice Dept. for this Stalinist show trial over no crime whatsoever would represent justice.
However, if the President wishes to wait for the completion of the Appeals Process, in hopes that the justice system itself will remedy the evils committed against Libby, then I can live with that.
But, if the appellate process does not result in true justice, then I want a full pardon, and I want the Government to make good any and all legal fees and other expenses Libby incurred in defending himself from these fraudulent charges.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:53 pmWell he’s started off the new month on the right foot… lets see if it continues.
I agree with Evan though leaving the fines seems cheap but it’s a start. My expectations have been so low lately I really didn’t expect him to pardon him. But at least the legal defense funds will not goto waste.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:54 pm“But, if the appellate process does not result in true justice, then I want a full pardon, and I want the Government to make good any and all legal fees and other expenses Libby incurred in defending himself from these fraudulent charges.â€
—–
With interest.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:55 pmEaan, I bet he does give Libby a full pardon after the election, if the conviction hasn’t been reversed. He’s trying to keep this from being an election issue, although with Bubba’s fire sale of pardons, I doubt the Clintons would really want to bring it up.
I hope some rich conservative comes forward and donates the amount of the fine. That would annoy the Clinton appointee judge and Fitz to no end.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:56 pmMr. Pee obviously doesn’t rtecognize that a commutation serves Bush’s purposes far better than a full pardon.
If Libby received a pardon, then he could be compelled to testify without the benefit of Fifth Amendment protection. That could get pretty hairy for BushCo.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:56 pmI’m assuming his legal defense fund will pick up a portion of Libby’s legal fees. The remainder he should be reimbursed for, along with all other incidental expenses. The fine and law license issues should be handled either on appeal, or through a full pardon if the appeals, through judicial prejudice, fail.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:58 pmwell, ill pick up a 500 dollar piece of Libbys tab, if he wants it.
Good on Bush. the first thing Bush has done that ive admired in a good long time.
If he decides to enforce the border laws, ill be good and impressed. might even consider respecting him.
nahh. not gonna happen.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:59 pmJust as they don’t understand “hipocracy”, the bushies also don’t understand irony or sarcasm.
July 7th, 2007 at 3:59 pmI think he could ask that the law license issue be postponed until after the appeal is heard. If the conviction is reversed, there would be no reason to suspend the license. I doubt Fitz is going to re-try this.
If it’s reversed, it could be to let Libby call the memory expert or Andrea Mitchell to contradict Russert. Fitz fought hard not to do either. They’ll sink his case.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:00 pmIs there a way to send Scooter cash (or money order) anonymously? If Hitlery wins in 2008, I don’t want to spend my golden years cooking my food over caribou patties in one of her Alaskan reeducation camps.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:00 pmabout all those pardons that Clinton gave out, starting with his coke-head brother, Roger, and felon friend Susan McDougal….
Not to mention the one he sold to Marc Rich for a donation to the Clinton Library.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:01 pmI hope some rich conservative comes forward and donates the amount of the fine. That would annoy the Clinton appointee judge and Fitz to no end.
Comment by Wethal — July 7, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Wow. The depth of misinformation that permeates these wingnuts talking points is astounding.
Judge Walton, who presided over the trial and sentenced Scooter when he was convicted, was appointed by Bush. Fitzgerald is a lifelong Republican who was appointed to the Special Prosecutor’s post by the Bush Justice Department.
Throwing out meaningless adjectives like “Stalinist” and “show trial” just demonstrates an unwillingness to take seriously the legal process in this country, as well as a REALLY limited intellect.
But I guess it makes you guys feel better about yourselves and your corrupt ideology, right?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:02 pmAnytime he does something that makes the Libs angry…he is on the right path
July 7th, 2007 at 4:02 pmEvan, that argument about “no underlying crime” has no strength whatsoever. If there was no underlying crime, then why did Libby lie? Remember, it’s about lying, and when there’s lying, you can assume there’s lying for a reason.
As everyone knows now, Bush denied a reduced sentence for Victor Rita, a Marine Corps veteran of exemplary military service. Rita got 33 months for exactly the same crimes Libby committed. What’s the difference? Why a different justice for the same crimes, perjury and obstruction of justice?
Bush cited Libby’s exemplary service. Here’s Rita:
And I can just about guarantee Rita doesn’t have powerful friends in Washington setting of defense funds for him, or paying his fines for him. This is just wrong.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:03 pmDisbarment and fines and other sanctions should adhere to Patrick Fitzgerald for prosecutorial misconduct. He “nifonged†an innocent man.
That would be true justice in this sham of a prosecution.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:04 pmYour Honorable Judge, I’d like to ask the court apply the Scouter sentence. Serving no jail time for crimes because it would be a hardship to my client.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:04 pmIs there a way to send Scooter cash (or money order) anonymously? If Hitlery wins in 2008, I don’t want to spend my golden years cooking my food over caribou patties in one of her Alaskan reeducation camps.
Comment by Cafe Noir — July 7, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Sounds like someone won’t be so comfortable with the “necessary” provisions of the Patriot Act when a Democrat is in the White House in ‘09.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:05 pmBased upon what I’ve read of the investigation, trial and verdict, I believe ALL of the following to be true:
1) The prosecution was debliberately malicious, inasmuch as Fitzgerald’s brief was to find out who leaked Plame’s identity to the media, and whether or not any laws were broken in that leak. He learned within one week that Richard Armitage was the leaker, and that NO LAWS were broken by that leak. At that point he was bound by law, not to mention honor, to announce that finding and shut down his investigation. When he continued, he was comitting a withchunt, not law.
2) The trial judge committed several material errors in denying Libby certain witnesses, and in permitting the prosecutor to deny them on the basis that the case would not involve questions of Plame’s covert status, and then using that very argument in his closing to improperly inflame the jury into a conviction not based solely on the charges and evidence.
3) The jury was clearly biased against Libby, due to venue, and the selection of at least 1 partisan Democrat (if not more) for the jury.
4) The judge, in prejudicially failing to acknowledge his own mistakes, and refusing to allow Libby to remain free pending appeal, all but forced the President to act to restore justice. The President did not go as far as I think he should have, but I am willing to wait a little longer for final justice to be delivered in this case,
Given all of the above, I REFUSE to acknowledge that Libby was lawfuly convicted of ANYTHING, and I reject the connection of this commutation to the recently deceased immagration bill.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:05 pmBut, if the appellate process does not result in true justice, then I want a full pardon, and I want the Government to make good any and all legal fees and other expenses Libby incurred in defending himself from these fraudulent charges.
Comment by Evan3457 — July 7, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Wow, are you chugging down the koolaid while you type?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:05 pmLet’s see how good your recollection is of conversations you had two years. Top that off with the idiocy of being convicted of “perjury†for not recalling said conversations involving a non-crime to begin with.
Anyone with half a brain knows this was a politcal hitjob, nothing more, nothing less and had nothing to do with “crime”.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:06 pmhe said he testified to the best of his recollection. So did the other witnesses.
I’ve been a member of the PA bar for 30 years. When people’s memories conflict, they can both be telling the truth, as they recall it. The human memory is tricky thing. There have been studies done on eyewitnesses who give wildly varying versions of events.
Libby wanted to call an expert witness to explain this. The judge refused to let him although it would be an integral part of the defense.
This is a likely grounds for reversal.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:07 pmI hope some rich conservative comes forward and donates the amount of the fine. That would annoy the Clinton appointee judge and Fitz to no end.
Comment by Wethal — July 7, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
How fu*king stupid are you people. Libby has a $10 million defense fund. The $250,000 is a drop in the bucket. Go mentally masturebate with each other somewhere else.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:07 pmComment by mikey r — July 7, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Why don’t you go back and read the comment I was responding to before you make an ignorant statement?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:08 pmThat would be true justice in this sham of a prosecution.
Comment by mullet over
Seeing as the presiding judge, who was even appointed by Herr Brusch, found Scooter’s conduct to be outrageous, there would appear to be no credence to your claim whatsoever.
Please have some semblance of a real point to make when you come to TP and shoot off your mouth.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:08 pmI can’t decide if this is an influx of fresh troll meat, or if a single troll decided he could take advantage of TP’s liberal comment policy and have a multi-way conversation agreeing with himself. Either way, it’s just too bad that the troll intellectual level is still stuck in a quagmire.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:08 pmMr. Bush do the right thing… when the time comes…
Full Pardon!!!
July 7th, 2007 at 4:09 pmI think both Bush and Libby want the appeals process to vindicate Libby. The issue was did Libby get to stay free on bail while on appeal.
Also the judges’s sentence was wildly out of sync with what the US Prisons Service probation office recommended.
If you read the judge’s statement, he didn’t like rich white guys. He was miffed that a lot of law professors wrote a brief on Fitz’ authority. He made snide remarks about how they never helped out poor people (which they really do.)
July 7th, 2007 at 4:09 pm#34 Disbarment and fines and other sanctions should adhere to Patrick Fitzgerald for prosecutorial misconduct. He “nifonged†an innocent man.
That would be true justice in this sham of a prosecution.
Comment by mullet over
If you are so upset with this small fish prosecution, you will go BATSH!T when the big boyz start to topple.
And, just a thought….. mullets are sooooo 90’s, unless you watch Roid-rage Wrestling and listen to Achy breaky Heart in your pickup..
July 7th, 2007 at 4:09 pmAnyone with half a brain knows this was a politcal hitjob, nothing more, nothing less and had nothing to do with “crimeâ€.
Comment by Marvin the Maritan
Riiiight, Marv, and those of us with whole brains understand th truth.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:09 pmWell… I always thought Nixon showed lousy loyalty by failing to pardon Haldeman & Erlichman. I guess this is a marginal improvement.
If you won’t protect the folks who came in harm’s way trying to serve you, you’re pretty worthless.
Now.. take care of the Border Patrol guys, Mr. President! That would be JUSTICE.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:10 pmAnytime he does something that makes the Libs angry…he is on the right path
Comment by GOP Steve — July 7, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
You mean the people that the entire country, sans 26%, agree with.
Uh yeah, that IS a great thing. (
July 7th, 2007 at 4:11 pmAnyone with half a brain knows this was a politcal hitjob, nothing more, nothing less and had nothing to do with “crimeâ€.
Comment by Marvin the Maritan — July 7, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
I agree with you there, Marvin.
The problem comes when you factor in the people with a WHOLE brain, who recognize that Libby’s lying obstructed justice and allowed traitors in the administration to walk free. People with a whole brain know that Bush commuted Libby’s sentence to keep him from talking about what he knows.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:12 pmI hope some rich conservative comes forward and donates the amount of the fine. That would annoy the Clinton appointee judge and Fitz to no end.
Comment by Wethal — July 7, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
you’re kidding, right? this is some lame satire here…
not to mention the obvious LIE…
skooty has quite the defense fund built up – no worry there…
and that judge is a dumby appointee, one of his first…
July 7th, 2007 at 4:12 pm…
perjury requires intent to deceive a la Slick. Perjury conviction for conflicting testimony alone does not constitute perjury, regardless of a jurys finding.
If Scooter HAD knowingly defrauded the court, the he gets what he gets. there is no way prison was warranted for conflicting testimony, as the briefs clearly demonstrated.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:12 pm“Also the judges’s sentence was wildly out of sync with what the US Prisons Service probation office recommended.”
No it wasn’t. He got a middle of the road sentence, not even the maximum. Go get some facts.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:13 pmwhat i dont get is why scooter didnt simply testify he had no recall, due to the stress of the times, as hillary did.
He tried to answer this dishonest prosecutor, who knew as he asked his questions, that no crime was committed, and ended up in front of a dkos jury and sentenced by a judge who KNEW that the verdict was HORSE CRAP.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:13 pmWhy don’t you go back and read the comment I was responding to before you make an ignorant statement?
Comment by Mr. President — July 7, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
Go Cheney yourself, Mr. Pee.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:14 pmI hope some rich conservative comes forward and donates the amount of the fine. That would annoy the Clinton appointee judge and Fitz to no end.
Comment by Wethal — July 7, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
He was/is a BUSH appointed judge.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:14 pmLibby was not allowed to call two key witnesses: his memory expert and Andrea Mitchell.
Mitchell would have contradicted Russert, thus casting doubt on his memory or credibility. When you can’t defend yourself, that’s railroading.
And there is a lot of law about allowing criminal defendants leeway in defending themselves when their liberty is at stake.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:14 pmHe tried to answer this dishonest prosecutor, who knew as he asked his questions, that no crime was committed, and ended up in front of a dkos jury and sentenced by a judge who KNEW that the verdict was HORSE CRAP.
Comment by rightwingyahoo — July 7, 2007 @ 4:13 pm
You guys do realize that he lied to the FBI before he even got to talk to Fitzy? Right?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:14 pmIt would appear the Rabid Lemming Rapid Response Teamâ„¢ is on the job!
July 7th, 2007 at 4:15 pmhow much time did Sandy Burglar do and was his crime more egregious than libby’s forgetfulness of irrelevant events?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:15 pm“perjury requires intent to deceive a la Slick. Perjury conviction for conflicting testimony alone does not constitute perjury, regardless of a jurys finding.”
He admitted that he lied to the FBI. That is intent to deceive.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:15 pmI hope some rich conservative comes forward and donates the amount of the fine. That would annoy the Clinton appointee judge and Fitz to no end.
Comment by Wethal — July 7, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
He was/is a BUSH appointed judge.
Comment by Spudge_Boy
His buddies have already raised millions for poor, poor Scooter. Get in touch w/ reality, pal.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:16 pmlibby was pursued b/c that was all Fitz could come up with after going over his notes. He knew who the leaker was all along, and knew that no crime had occurred.
Another element of perjury is that is has to be relevant to the crime under investigation. I would say that constitutes a stretch, since no crime occured. plus the defendant must know that his testimony was false.
Both of those conditions were met by Slick. neither by libby.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:16 pmhow much time did Sandy Burglar do and was his crime more egregious than libby’s forgetfulness of irrelevant events?
Comment by Apple — July 7, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
Sandy Berger did not cover up for a VIce Presidnet who was fixing the facts around the policy.
What is wrong with you people?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:16 pm“He knew who the leaker was all along, and knew that no crime had occurred.”
Who leaked the name is irrelevent. Strawman alert.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:17 pmWhy can such a great website as ThinkProgress have such lousy trolls? Maybe they’re trolls-in-training or something.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:18 pmlibby’s forgetfulness of irrelevant events?
Comment by Apple — July 7, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
“Forgetfulness” of “irrelevant events”?
He told the FBI that he learned Valerie Plame’s identity from reporters.
It was proven that he learned it from The Dick Cheney and that he actually TOLD the reporters.
Hardly “forgetfulness” and hardly “irrleevant”.
But you don’t care about facts. If the facts don’t fit the spin, you’ll go with the spin, every time.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:18 pmHis buddies have already raised millions for poor, poor Scooter. Get in touch w/ reality, pal.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — July 7, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
I am sure that isn’t for me. See #41.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:18 pmwould any of you remember in what order you told 40 different people a sequence of events? shoule you go to prison for it. the phrase, to the best of your recollection should allow enough wiggle room to get out of a perjury rap, since you are contradicting yourself regarding an issue of absolutely no importance to anyone, even the prosecutor who is standing in front of you, who already knows who the leaker was and that the leak was not a crime.
Fitz was only trying to trip Scooter up.
Slick went in knowing what he did, and lied repeatedly about it to prejudice the proceedings, then solicvited false testimony and hid evidence.
one walked. one went to prison, or would have. one was a Dem. one was an R.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:18 pmhow much time did Sandy Burglar do and was his crime more egregious than libby’s forgetfulness of irrelevant events?
Comment by Apple
Ridiculous statement on your part. Berger pled guilt to a MISDEMEANOR. Libby was on trial for a FELONY. Git yer facts straight before making a total fool of yerself, punk.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:18 pmFitzgerald wanted to convict libby on leaking Plame’s identity and continued pursuing libby after it was determined Armitage was the source of the leak. As Marvin said, this was a transparent and criminal political hit job.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:19 pmWhy can such a great website as ThinkProgress have such lousy trolls? Maybe they’re trolls-in-training or something.
Comment by Perry Logan — July 7, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
It’s a weekend. Fourth of July week. The regular trolls are all on vacation.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:19 pmwow…
i’ve been away for a few days…
so, what TP story brought all these new
(and definitely not “improved”) troolls to this site?
still deluded into thinking more lies and misinformation
July 7th, 2007 at 4:20 pmwill somehow provoke truth tellers and seekers into
becoming braindead CONbots… annoying gnats…
…
Traficant is so far down the food chain he can’t implicate anyone.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:20 pmLibby has the whole wide administration by the balls.
I’ve practiced law, including appellate law. Judges screw up all the time, and get reversed.
The jury didn’t hear all the evidence. That’s the appeal.
And in a criminal case, it is a common ground for reversal.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:21 pmbut why should Libby have go through all this BS? Bush should’ve pardoned him and it is case closed and he get on with his life and no more legal fees…
Bush punted again when he had an open man in the end zone…screwed up
July 7th, 2007 at 4:22 pmFitzgerald wanted to convict libby on leaking Plame’s identity and continued pursuing libby after it was determined Armitage was the source of the leak. As Marvin said, this was a transparent and criminal political hit job.
Comment by Apple — July 7, 2007 @ 4:19 pm
Fitzgerald wanted to get to truth. When Libby lied and obstructed the truth, Fitzgerald naturally wanted to see him punished for impeding the investigation.
That’s what prosecutors with integrity do. But I can understand if you’re not familiar with the concept of “integrity”.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:22 pmA reversal says the conviction was wrong. A pardon erases the convicton, and leaves the wrongness ever open to debate. A reversal is painful to wait for, but more satisying in the long run.
Imagine the fun when the DC Court of Appeals publicly tells the judge and Fitz they screwed up.
Being reversed on appeal is a public scolding of the judge from the higher ups. And they sometimes get in a few shots at the losing lawyer.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:23 pmwhat was the underlying crime in libby’s case?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:24 pmWhy can such a great website as ThinkProgress have such lousy trolls? Maybe they’re trolls-in-training or something.
Comment by Perry Logan — July 7, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Of course, I’m overlooking the possibility that the regular trolls are all so battered and bloody from taking it on the chin day after day that they’ve given up and gone back to working at the Frosty Freeze for the summer.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:25 pmwhat was the underlying crime in libby’s case?
Comment by Apple — July 7, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Umm… lying to the FBI and to a federal prosecutor during the course of an investigation.
Not enough fo a crime for you?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:26 pmThe argument that he was blocking for cheney, pretty much goes out the window when you realize libby said cheney told him.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:27 pmThe President’s decision at least has the effect of keeping Libby out of jail while the appeals process works its way through the legal system, which is all his lawyers were asking for. Unfortunately, Judge Walton and the Appeals Court chose not to extend that courtesy to Libby, even though people convicted of far worse offenses have been allowed to remain free pending appeal. Bush can still issue a full pardon should the convictions not be overturned on appeal, which I hope he will. And by all means pardon Ramos and Compean. Every day they spend in jail is an injustice of unimaginable magnitude.
Ken
July 7th, 2007 at 4:28 pmSo much for “Fitzmas,†the kos kids wetdream, huh?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:28 pmLiberals lamenting over the rule of law. What’s next, Libby calls the Clintons as character witnesses?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:29 pmNothing rings my bell like a right wing girl. 14 years ago when i was dating my wife she mentioned she voted for Bush in 1992. I voted for Perot. I knew she was a keeper right there. She never fell for Clintons BS.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:30 pmwell be married 12 years in September.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:30 pmI’ve been married 19 years to a Jehovah’s Witness who’s never voted. Which is good, because if she did, she’d vote liberal.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:31 pmHe’s right. This just shoes Bush for the horrendous hypocrite that he is. Also exposes how corrupt this Administration is.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:32 pmThey all have to go.
The topic is Libby’s commutation of the jail sentence. Jail was excessive punishment given what Clinton got for the same crime and what Berger didn’t get at all.
If I were Libby I would want commutation so I could continue my appeal and try to get the conviction completely overturned.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:32 pmWhy can such a great website as ThinkProgress have such lousy trolls? Maybe they’re trolls-in-training or something.
Comment by Perry Logan
At the rate these are coming in today, this is like the report on rightwing media swarm from a couple of weeks ago. This could go on for hrs.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:33 pmIt is painfully obvious to me that the special counsel, prosecutors, and judge acted on politcal belief and in concert to put a man in prison who committed no crime whatsoever, and it is possible the jury was deleiberately selected and steered in that direction. As such, and in view of the judge’s HIGHLY IRREGULAR decision not to let Libby remain a free man while appeals continued, is not only mean, not only a miscarriage of justice, but borderline criminal in and of itself.
attempts to uphold the special counsel’s, prosecutors’, and judge’s actions is nothing more than the excuse war criminals used when committing unconscionable acts.
But don’t worry, you can just use their excuse to justify your position: “I vas only folliwink the law/orders.â€
July 7th, 2007 at 4:34 pmAnyway, the President did half the right thing by commuting the sentence. Better than none, I suppose.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:35 pmthe crime of leaking Plames name was committed by another,,,if you can’t remember a conversation you had two years earlier that is not a crime…..but you do the time…
July 7th, 2007 at 4:36 pmsorry, I can’t remember what I had for dinner yesterday…if all the evidence wasn’t presented then it wasn’t a fair trial…I have been sued in Federal court. Federal judges decided that the jury couldn’t hear that the plaintiff eas convicted in state court. Federal judges decided that the jury couldn’t hear that an officer’s gun was ripped from his holster and we were fighting to get control of it…Federal judges decided that the plaintiff could first say that I beat the plaintiff with my flashlight, then later change the story (after medical doctors said the injuries came from a screen door) that I must have picked the plaintiff up and rammed his head into the screen door……..
Justice….I don’t think so…
July 7th, 2007 at 4:38 pmthe following FACTS are ALL known to be TRUE…
1) Fitzgerald finds out within 1 week that the original leaker was Armitage.
2) He TELLS Armitage to keep quiet about it. (Why?)
3) He declined to prosecute ANYONE for “revealing a covert agent”, the orignal “crime†he was appointed to investigate.
The answer is: Even if this were genuine perjury, this is ENTRAPMENT, pure and simple. As such, I give the convition no weight whatsoever, as it was obtained through faudulent means. Yes, Libby could appeal, but the judge said he’d have to serve his time while he appealed, an UNUSUAL decision, and his sentence was longer than recommended and far longer than average.
So you have a man forced into prison for a fraudulent conviction. There is nothing anyone can say that can convince me the President’s actions today were wrong or unjust, even though, in my opinion, they were a little short of the mark.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:39 pmAs to the Libby Pardon, I have two words regarding all the hot air bullshit indignation coming from the dhimmicrats and the tinfoil had wearing moonbats …
Susan McDougal
(Okay for you totally in denial leftist lunatics – McDougal spent months and months in prison rather than answer one simple little question … Did Bill Clinton lie to the grand jury in his testimony regarding the Clinton actions in the Whitewater fraud?
Let’s see the choices are
A) Yes, they did testify truthfully,
B) No, the did not testify truthfully, or
C) I’ll go sit in prison for 18 months including 2 months in solitary confinement….
Now what was Libby convicted of doing – oh yes, mis-remembering which member of the MSM he was talking to about Joe Wilson. Was it Russert? Or that other guy, hell even I can’t remember the other guys name.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:41 pmBush reportedly responded “why would I want to pardon a traffic camera?”
July 7th, 2007 at 4:41 pmThe prosecutor, the judge, the grand jury and the petit jury all had a giant political agenda. They should all be placed on trial and then given a good public whipping.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:41 pmIt is painfully obvious to me that the special counsel, prosecutors, and judge acted on politcal belief and in concert to put a man in prison who committed no crime whatsoever
Comment by Evan3457 — July 7, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
Everyone involved in the investigation and prosecution, including the judge, was Republican. just what “political belief” do you think they were acting on?
And apparently, you don’t consider lying to the FBI and obstructing justice to be crimes. But then, you are a right-winger, so that makes sense.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:48 pmThe topic is Libby’s commutation of the jail sentence. Jail was excessive punishment given what Clinton got for the same crime and what Berger didn’t get at all.
Comment by X — July 7, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
Try comparing apples to apples next time, instead of comparing apples to golf balls. Neither Clinton nor Berger were tried in a criminal court for perjury or obstruction of justice.
Clinton was tried on those charges by the Senate and was acquitted.
Berger was investigated by the Bush Justice Department and found to have committed minor infractions (which HE had brought to their attention, by the way) and he was disciplined.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:51 pmThe Rovian temp agency is paying a shitload of overtime today.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:54 pmI can’t remember…..
What did Sandy “Stuffed Pants†Burger get for stealing documents out of the National Archive?
July 7th, 2007 at 4:54 pmif you can’t remember a conversation you had two years earlier that is not a crime…..
Comment by CO Knightowl — July 7, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
If you can’t remember a conversation you had two years ago, then you say “I can’t recall” like Abu Gonzalez did in front of the Senate. If you can’t remember a conversation you had two years ago, but you tell the FBI how it happened anyway, then you have lied. If that lie obstructs justice and it can be proven in a court of law that you lied, THEN you do the time.
Unless you’re a friend of the President.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:55 pmOkay:
The Pro-crime conservative movement is out in force spreading disinformation and how much they loath the fact that even a lifelong Republican presecutor, and a Bush appointed judge, couldn’t save Libby from a guilty verdict.
They lament and fear for the fate of a country where even with the deck stacked in favour of the clearly guilty guys on their side, they lose these court cases. There isn’t really much difference between their feelings here, where a Republican to them should be above the law, and their feelings of Delay.
Thus it is clear that the pro-crime conservative movement should be entirely ignored, and called stupid repeatedly. It is time for liberals to start invading Republican TV and calling them on their crap.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:55 pmThese neocon reichwingers think that a political smear campaign that blows the cover of a covert CIA operator is a great thing for the national security. You are traitors.
July 7th, 2007 at 4:59 pmtroollspeak:
“The prosecutor, the judge, the grand jury and the petit jury all had a giant political agenda.”
so, what kind of agenda would LYING and OBSTRUCTING an investigation into a treasonous act be?
July 7th, 2007 at 5:00 pmin the real world those actions point to an agenda of covering up the
facts of that treason, regardless of political party…
…
katy, that’s simple, the traitor agenda.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:00 pmMy personal opnion is that Mr. Libby better watch his six o’clock. He’s still got the scoop on what happened, and that is a clear and present danger to the administration of murderers and theives.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:02 pmkaty
You Democrats need to start highlighting the troll talking points under the banner of “Pro-Crime conservatism.” Get all of the candidates to set aside a bit for it, they are breaking records in getting funding together anyway.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:02 pmIf I were Libby I would want commutation so I could continue my appeal and try to get the conviction completely overturned.
Comment by X — July 7, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
So would every convicted felon in the same position. Besides, Bush did not have to commute the prison sentence. He could have ordered it stayed until all of Libby’s appeals were exhausted. It would have accomplished the same thing, IF that is what they wanted. But to do that, they would have had to be certain that all appeals would be finished before Bush left office, otherwise Libby would be hanging out in the wind (to borrow a phrase from the man who made him do it).
July 7th, 2007 at 5:04 pmRU – yep… an agenda of treason…
and, i’ve have the same thoughts about libby’s “six o’clock” –
i’d thought he might actually be safer in “prison”…
… (if “six o’clock” means back, that is…)
bruce – “Pro-Crime conservatism†– good one…
July 7th, 2007 at 5:16 pmhard to argue with the evidence provided, most every day…
The answer to:
What did Sandy “Stuffed Pants†Burger get for stealing documents out of the National Archive?
Some poorly placed paper cuts. A slap on the wrist and no jail time. He also helped his buddies the Clintons by not letting what ever was on the documents come in to the light. I’m sure he will be rewarding with some ridiculous government salary if Mr. Clinton gets back in office. Way to go Sandy.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:18 pmkaty, I don’t know about safer in prison, as the environment there would make it relatively easy to shiv him.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:20 pmAnd, yes, your six o’clock is directly behind you…
He also helped his buddies the Clintons by not letting what ever was on the documents come in to the light.
Who told you that? I understood that he took copies, not originals.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:23 pmHmmm. Posts seem to be disappearing from the previous thread.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:23 pmTP?
Actually, I’d like to see that ban on Republicans adopting children… LOL Those satirical bills are classic… Much like the bill to de-finance Cheney’s office has him accepting that he’s a part of the Executive Branch now…
July 7th, 2007 at 5:23 pmKevin
If what was on those papers was so deadly serious, the originals would have been released.
Sandy Berger took copies. Not the originals.
And much as though you pro-crime conservatives seem to have no idea that people might actually check up on your shitspeak occassionally, we do. This is because ultimately you can never take a conservative on their word, they will always lie.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:23 pmYeah, Wayne, and he was convicted of a misdemeanor. Had nothing to do with outing a covert CIA operative who was keeping tabs on WMD proliferation.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:24 pmMussollini did it too.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:25 pmKevin, don’t let the facts get in the way of your specious argument.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:26 pmClinton? Please! He was an amateur…
Wanna talk about really unethical pardons? Okay… Let’s discuss how not a single person did time for the Iran-Contra scandal EXCEPT an American citizen who held a street sign hostage in return for all the tax payers’ money lost to teh Contras. HE did time. Talk about lacking ethics… Let off the criminals who helped terrorists that have attacked us, but punish a guy for making a point with an inanimate object. Clinton has nothing on that!
July 7th, 2007 at 5:27 pmHe also helped his buddies the Clintons by not letting what ever was on the documents come in to the light. I’m sure he will be rewarding with some ridiculous government salary if Mr. Clinton gets back in office. Way to go Sandy.
Comment by Kevin — July 7, 2007 @ 5:18 pm
I’m curious about how Berger’s actions kept “what ever was on the documents” from coming “into the light” since, according to the Washington Post:
Archives officials have said previously that Berger had copies only, and that no original documents were lost.
Can you explain, Kevin? Thanks.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:28 pm#118 un ~ I remember seeing a spoof story about Cheney gnawing his foot off at the ankle to avoid admitting a mistake (shoe on wrong foot or some other minor stupidity). Laughed my ass off at the time…
July 7th, 2007 at 5:29 pmWho told you that? I understood that he took copies, not originals.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — July 7, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
Uh-oh, next the cons will declare war on Kinko’s for selling copies…
July 7th, 2007 at 5:29 pmThe “copies” had hand written notes on them. And don’t act like it wasn’t important. If the notes meant nothing why destroy them? If anyone needs to be in jail it’s Sandy. At the very least he would never get a security clearance for anything more than night watchman at the Wal-Mart.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:29 pmI guess Kevin is too busy playing “War of the DumbFu(ks” on his Wii to answer.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:30 pmShit Kevin, nobody wants YOUR job.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:30 pmLet’s see… The copies had hand written notes on them…
July 7th, 2007 at 5:31 pmSo the originals didn’t have hand written notes on them?
But if it’s a copy, then…
Geez.
At the very least he would never get a security clearance for anything more than night watchman at the Wal-Mart.
Comment by Kevin
Ah, Kevin, you seem to know an awful lot about being a night watchman at a Wal-Mart. Is that your, ah, **cough… cough…**, “professional calling”?
July 7th, 2007 at 5:32 pmI remember seeing a spoof story about Cheney gnawing his foot off at the ankle to avoid admitting a mistake (shoe on wrong foot or some other minor stupidity). Laughed my ass off at the time…
Comment by RUCerious — July 7, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
That is funny… LOL
I detest very few people, because I don’t think most people are worth hating… But I despise Dicktator. He represents all the ills of mankind in one gelatinous blob of an evil mass… Ugh…
July 7th, 2007 at 5:33 pmUh-oh, next the cons will declare war on Kinko’s for selling copies…
Comment by unbelievable
Are the copiers Islamic copiers, Christian, or agnostic?
July 7th, 2007 at 5:33 pmBut I despise Dicktator. He represents all the ills of mankind in one gelatinous blob of an evil mass… Ugh…
Comment by unbelievable
Oh, don’t hold back, unbelievable. Tell us how you REALLY feel…
July 7th, 2007 at 5:34 pmHere’s the story the Right doesn’t want you to know about the Rich pardon,wonder why?
July 7th, 2007 at 5:34 pmcannonfire.blogspot.com/2007/07/07/getting=rich.html
I guess a gelatinous blob wouldn’t have much trouble gnawing an amoebic tentacle off, would it.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:35 pmkevin: the “copies†had hand written notes on them.
Berger’s own notes, dumbass. So you knew Berger’s copies were zeroxes, but purposely omitted that from your previous screed? Why is that? Because you can’t handle the truth. Typical con sap, living in a fantasyland.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:36 pmLet me get this straight, Kevin, because you make an important point here and I don’t want it to be lost…
you’re saying that taking from the National Archives copies of documents with hand-written notes deserves jail time, but lying to the FBI in an investigation about the outing of a covert CIA operative does not?
Okay then.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:36 pmAre the copiers Islamic copiers, Christian, or agnostic?
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — July 7, 2007 @ 5:33 pm
They are certainly Islamic… Or maybe Mexican. Actually, anything brown-skinned would suffice for the Racists, I mean Republics…
July 7th, 2007 at 5:37 pmOh, don’t hold back, unbelievable. Tell us how you REALLY feel…
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — July 7, 2007 @ 5:34 pm
You can’t use the ‘p’ word that is the anatomically correct term for the male member or the spam filter eats them… :D
July 7th, 2007 at 5:39 pmTry using only : cannonfire.blogspot.com
July 7th, 2007 at 5:39 pmPoor Kevin. The Troll “Surge” seems to have subsided, and they left Kevin to fight a rear-guard action alone, it looks like.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:40 pmI guess a gelatinous blob wouldn’t have much trouble gnawing an amoebic tentacle off, would it.
Comment by RUCerious — July 7, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
Want me to call the White House and ask him? LOL
“Excuse me Mr. Vice-President, sir, but the peasants would like to ask you a very important question, sir… “
July 7th, 2007 at 5:41 pmOkay then.
Comment by spit take — July 7, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
You can look, but you will not find a post of me suggesting that Libby not get jail time.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:42 pmYou can’t use the ‘p’ word that is the anatomically correct term for the male member or the spam filter eats them… :D
Comment by unbelievable
What??? Are you saying they filter out the word “pinhead”?
July 7th, 2007 at 5:42 pmWhat the hell does the GOP stand for?
Fiscal responsibility? Not at all.
America first? Nope, empire first.
Less intrusive government? Don’t make me laugh.
Law and order? Not any more it doesn’t.
Personal responsibility? Not this White House.
When the hell did American conservatism morph into authoritarian cultism? If Barry Goldwater was here, he’d slap the bejeezus out of that willfully ignorant, reflexively belligerent idiot Bush.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:43 pmOh good Kevin’s gone, we can go back to an actual discussion about the real issue.
The bottomline is that Libby was pardoned to save Bush, Dicktator and Rover from the truth ever getting out.
July 7th, 2007 at 5:44 pmAre you saying they filter out the word “pinhead�
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — July 7, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
Don’t be surprised if this post disappears now… :D
July 7th, 2007 at 5:45 pmYou can look, but you will not find a post of me suggesting that Libby not get jail time.
Comment by Kevin — July 7, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
You’re right; I apologize. I guess I took this statement: If anyone needs to be in jail it’s Sandy. to mean that Berger deserves jail time more than Libby does and that if Berger goes free, then Scooter should too.
Did I read that wrong?
July 7th, 2007 at 5:46 pmI am sure that isn’t for me. See #41.
Comment by Spudge_Boy
Sorry, Spudge. Answering too fast. These F-ing trolls will do that to ya…
July 7th, 2007 at 5:47 pmRepukes are TRAITORS!!
July 7th, 2007 at 5:49 pmAnd yet how he concludes “that Berger deserves jail time more than Libby does” is beyond me.
It is highly improbable, to the point of saying it most certainly did not happen, that anyone in the world died as a result of Berger’s wrong-doing.
It is quite likely, to the point of saying most probably, that someone in the world DID die as a result of what Libby, et al, did.
July 7th, 2007 at 6:01 pmWayne, I can tell you for sure that I wouldn’t have wanted to be a recognizable employee of Brewster Jennings on that July morning of 2003…
July 7th, 2007 at 6:02 pmAnd yet how he concludes “that Berger deserves jail time more than Libby does†is beyond me.
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — July 7, 2007 @ 6:01 pm
Wayne, let’s not jump to conclusions yet. That judgment that Kevin thinks Berger deserves jail time more than Libby is my own, based on my reading of Kevin’s words.
Maybe I’m wrong and there’s some narrow meaning that Kevin intended that we’re not getting. Maybe he’ll answer us.
July 7th, 2007 at 6:08 pmYou’re right, spit take, I was quoting from your comment, not his. Still, Berger’s actions did not get anyone killed. Libby’s may well have. I find it hard to believe that Bush’s father approved of his letting Libby of the prison hook. Maybe that’s exactly why he did it, because his father told him not to.
July 7th, 2007 at 6:14 pmHagan’s argument is simple if the law doesn’t apply to Libby how can it apply to others? Bush has no respect for the rule of law when comes to protecting corrupt White House officials. He commuted Libby’s sentence to protect himself, Rove, and Cheney among others. Libby was involved in the outing of covert CIA agent Plame to get back at her husband because he questioned Bush’s claim that Saddam bought yellow cake uranium from Niger. This was a national security issue. Libby deserves to go to prison for 30 months.
July 7th, 2007 at 6:27 pmHere’s the story the Right doesn’t want anyone to know about the Marc Rich Pardon: cannonfire.blogspot.com
July 7th, 2007 at 6:35 pmAll you Sycophants for Bush might not want read it ,the truth might burn your eyes!
Wayne, I agree with you entirely. This entire administration has shown us that the charms that immaturity carries with it (and there are some charms) have no business in assigning positions of authority.
GWB is easily the least emotionally mature man ever to occupy the Oval Office, and the fact that he’s been acting out his Oedipal phase through deployment of our military on the world stage should be to his parents’ shame as well as his own.
Unfortunately, I don’t think a single one of them is capable of such emotions, and we’re the ones left to pick up the burden of shame for our country.
July 7th, 2007 at 6:39 pm#157 peppy lopez
July 7th, 2007 at 7:33 pmThanks for the tip. Good article, particularly the last half.
Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, and Al Gore were in an airplane that crashed. They’re up in heaven, and God’s sitting on the great white throne. God addresses Al first.
“Al, what do you believe in?”
Al replies, “Well, I believe that the combustion engine is evil and that we need to save the world from CFCs and that if any more freon is used, the whole earth will become a greenhouse and we’ll all die.”
God thinks for a second and says “Okay, I can live with that. Come and sit at my left.”
God then addresses Bill. “Bill, what do you believe in?”
Bill replies, “Well, I believe in power to the people. I think people should be able to make their own choices about things and that no one should ever be able to tell someone else what to do. I also believe in feeling people’s pain.”
God thinks for a second and says “Okay, that sounds good. Come and sit at my right.”
God then address Hillary. “Hillary, what do you believe in?”
“I believe you’re in my chair.”
July 7th, 2007 at 7:33 pmHey, Franklin Delano Romanowski! Good to see you, buddy! Funny joke!
July 7th, 2007 at 8:23 pmSusan MacDougal actually served 22 months in tough prisons (not the luxury types the Watergate criminals got) and locked-down 23 hours a day because she refused to lie about Whitewater (a big non-crime).
Scooter Libby and six others outed a covert CIA senior official working in their Counter Proliferation Division for the Middle East. They were ordered to do this by Cheney for the discrediting of and retaliation against Joseph Wilson (because he told the truth about Bush’s lying in the State of the Union Speech). He knew the truth because he did the investigation. The White House also knew they were lying because he and others told them eleven months before the SOTU.
July 7th, 2007 at 8:49 pmAn observation concerning the Libby case:
Bush’s attorneys had four choices from which to choose.
1) Do nothing, and let Libby’s sentence stand, allowing Libby the chance to pay for his crimes.
2) Commute Libby’s jail time. (Which they did, while leaving the charges intact. Hmmm, by leaving the charges still intact, they left open the door to a future pardon).
3) A narrow pardon. If they’d chosen this route, would they have limited the scope of the Libby pardon to only the charges for which he was tried, convicted and sentenced…lying and obstructing justice?
4) A full, blanket pardon, covering not only the crimes for which Libby was convicted, but also covering any “underlying crimes” that led Libby to do what he did?
Aaaah, now I see why commutation was chosen.
The Bush attorneys didn’t want Libby to see the inside of a federal jail cell, but they also chose not to pardon him…at this time.
Just like the U.S. Attorney firings in the “off-season” in December 2006, a pardon of Libby right now, whether limited or broad in scope, would have provoked a political firestorm, especially when compared to the less-radical choice and less-scandalous reaction expected in commuting Libby’s sentence (or at least Bush’s attorneys hope).
After the November 2008 elections, though, Bush’s attorneys will issue Libby a pardon, but this pardon will not be just for the crimes for which Libby was tried, convicted and sentenced.
Everyone in the Bush administration, including former Cheney aide Libby, still face legal jeopardy for the “underlying crime” of criminally outing a covert CIA agent, destroying a covert CIA overseas network and betraying our national security in the process.
Thus, when Libby is issued his pardon, the pardon will be a full pardon that will retroactively cover Libby’s butt (and consequently those people for which he lied and obstructed justice). This blanket pardon for Libby, therefore, will encompass and neutralize any legal jeopardy Libby might have still faced in the future due to his involvement in conspiring to disclose the classified identity of a covert CIA operative in 2003.
I foresee the Bush attorneys, after the November 2008 elections, pulling a similar stunt to the one pulled by the GOP Kentucky governor several years ago. In that case, this GOP governor pardoned members of his staff to obstruct an investigation into alleged criminal acts by his administration.
Thus, commutation now, but a blanket pardon for Libby later, a pardon that will be an attempt to try to insulate the criminals in the Bush administration from ever being tried and convicted for the “underlying crime” of outing a covert CIA agent.
Game, set and match…at least in Karl Rove’s and David Addington’s twisted way of thinking. Totally political. Totally un-American. Totally “culture of corruption” Republican. Totally part of the Republican strategy for the November 2008 elections…and beyond.
It will take a convincing progressive Democratic victory in November 2008 to right the criminal wrongs of the Bush administration, including impeaching all Republican public officials (even those pardoned) so they can never seek nor serve in public office ever again.
All the Republican traitors must be outed. Our very democracy hangs in the balance. No more taxpayer money should go to any of the “culture of corruption” Republicans out to destroy our republic as part of their mad quest to establish permanent one-party rule. Evil is as evil does, and certain crazed Republicans have chosen totalitarian evil over our pluralistic, egalitarian, democratic society…and must be stopped.
July 7th, 2007 at 10:16 pmwell, something of use from fdr… good joke there…
also funny how hillary scares the shit outta you cons! ha!
here’s a good joke… completely off topic… or is it? …
2 guys – one on either side of the world…
July 7th, 2007 at 10:51 pmone is on a tightrope, walking between 2 skyscrapers…
the other is getting a bj from a 98 year old wh0re…
each is thinking the same thing…
can you guess?
…
Democratic culture of corruption!
July 7th, 2007 at 11:46 pmAs everyone knows now, Bush denied a reduced sentence for Victor Rita, a Marine Corps veteran of exemplary military service. Rita got 33 months for exactly the same crimes Libby committed. What’s the difference? Why a different justice for the same crimes, perjury and obstruction of justice?
The difference is the decider decided to commute Libby’s sentence.
July 7th, 2007 at 11:50 pmTry comparing apples to apples next time, instead of comparing apples to golf balls. Neither Clinton nor Berger were tried in a criminal court for perjury or obstruction of justice.
Cisneros was indicted for conspiracy and obstruction of justice, and he got an out the door pardon from slick Clinton!
Samuel Morison was convicted of espionage and got an out the door pardon from slick Clinton!
July 7th, 2007 at 11:54 pmWanna talk about really unethical pardons? Okay… Let’s discuss how not a single person did time for the Iran-Contra scandal EXCEPT an American citizen who held a street sign hostage in return for all the tax payers’ money lost to teh Contras. HE did time. Talk about lacking ethics… Let off the criminals who helped terrorists that have attacked us, but punish a guy for making a point with an inanimate object. Clinton has nothing on that!
Not according to Jimmy Carter. He was silent on the Bush 41 pardons, but called Clinton a disgrace!
July 7th, 2007 at 11:55 pmWhoever is paying these trolls isn’t getting anywhere near their money’s worth.
July 8th, 2007 at 1:07 am