Think Progress

No holiday pardon for Libby.

By Amanda Terkel on Dec 11th, 2007 at 7:30 pm

No holiday pardon for Libby.»

Today, President Bush pardoned 29 convicts, but not to Scooter Libby, Vice President Cheney’s former top aide who was convicted in the Valerie Plame leak scandal. His pardons went to carjackers, drug dealers, moonshiners, and an official who received kickbacks in defense procurement contracts.




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66 Responses to “No holiday pardon for Libby.”

  1. DieNowForPeace Says:

    His pardons went to carjackers, drug dealers, moonshiners, and an official who received kickbacks in defense procurement contracts.

    All loyal, card-carrying members of the GOP, no doubt.


  2. leftcoast Says:

    You would be more than Bush-stupid to pardon a WH staffer during an election year. Bush would sink the republicans if he did.


  3. DieNowForPeace Says:

    Comment by CaptainMantastic

    Er, you don’t work “here”, and unlike you, we’re up-to-date on everything you’ve posted.

    This isn’t Redstate where people are S T O O P I D . . .


  4. Spudge Boy Says:

    Libby, who recently dropped appeals to have his convictions overturned, has paid a $250,000 fine and remains on two years probation.

    Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:38 pm

    Fu*k that traitor. He should be sent to fu*k-you-in-the-a$$ prison for 20 years, then hung from the tallest tree in Washington.


  5. Spudge Boy Says:

    And wouldn’t the Libby pardon be a no brainer for someone so bereft of moral character?

    Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:41 pm

    His NeoCon keepers didn’t want Bush to fu*k up the republican party anymore than he already has, so that took Scooty off the table for Bush.


  6. leftcoast Says:

    Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
    Yep a no brainer is what we have. But, beside the point he would still hurt his party if he did and that is precisely what he was advised.


  7. Buckie Boy Says:

    Were they all related or connected to Repulsican donators to Bush?

    Buck Fush


  8. leftcoast Says:

    The Captain has no understanding of politics and how the world works.


  9. j swift Says:

    Ahhhhhh shucks.


  10. gummitch Says:

    If Bush is such a power abuser, wouldn’t he be pardoning more of his cronies (not less) than his predecesors?

    And wouldn’t the Libby pardon be a no brainer for someone so bereft of moral character?

    Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:41 pm

    How many of his cronies need pardons? Judging from your response, there must be a LOT. Wow.

    But, sure, it would make perfect sense for a sitting president to pardon a whole lot of Republican dirtbags because that’s just what the Republicans need right now to clean up their image prior to the 2008 elections.

    You really aren’t very bright, you know?


  11. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Libby, who recently dropped appeals to have his convictions overturned, has paid a $250,000 fine and remains on two years probation.

    Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:38 pm

    FOR CONVICTIONS ON FOUR OF FIVE COUNTS INCLUDING PERJURY AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

    These charges, bt the way, all related to a case in which the identity of a covert CIA operative was revealed in the press, to the political advantage of the White House.


  12. DieNowForPeace Says:

    Were they all related or connected to Repulsican donators to Bush?

    Buck Fush

    Comment by Buckie Boy

    Of course, that’s how “it” works. You could ask my dad, but he’s dead. :(


  13. Coffins Draped with a Flag Says:

    Sounds like Bush pardoned all his real friends and buddies. Wonder if they drank beers together.


  14. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    As I understand it, there’s a strategic advantage to commuting Libby’s sentance but not pardoning him (just yet). I fhe were pardoned, he could be compelled to testify about what he knows, without the threat of further prosecution. Therefore, no danger of self-incrimination. No pleading of the fifth.

    He would have to resort to BushCo Plan B: “I can’t recall.”


  15. gummitch Says:

    Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:51 pm

    So is this you apologizing for your stupid comment earlier? Or is this you marveling at how utterly devoid of compassion Bush is? Maybe you want to add these numbers to the number of death sentences Bush refused to commute, or reference the time he mocked a woman on her way to execution? Try to be more clear.


  16. leftcoast Says:

    Sounds like Bush pardoned all his real friends and buddies. Wonder if they drank beers together.

    Comment by Coffins Draped with a Flag
    Liked the laugh. But, you know that he would not do a pardon for a WH felon during the election cycle. But, in 2009 he and Scooter will be drinking beers and snorting everything under the sun.


  17. Coffins Draped with a Flag Says:

    So Libby is left in limbo - sentence commuted and yet no pardon. Just another one thrown under the bus. Libby can’t even do the talk shows like his buddy traitor Rove. They both should be tried as traitors. Seems like that option should still be on the table.


  18. leftcoast Says:

    He would have to resort to BushCo Plan B: “I can’t recall.”

    Comment by ralph the wonder llama
    Excellent point!


  19. leftcoast Says:

    For a Hitler type that disregards the Constitution and the rule of law, he sure doesn’t seem to be abusing the pardon process.

    Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
    This is just one process. But, I will never invoke the Hitler thing.


  20. tombaker Says:

    2 - Either he’ll have made up the gap by next January, or us regulars here are going to be really happy people.


  21. Coffins Draped with a Flag Says:

    leftcoast - glad you enjoyed the laugh. That was the intention. And your probably spot on with Bush and Libby drinking beers and snorting everything under the sun. It will most like be in Paraguay which should lower the transportation costs of Bush’s favorite nose cookie.


  22. Coffins Draped with a Flag Says:

    Must admit, Ralph the Wonder Llama is cleaver.


  23. gummitch Says:

    For a Hitler type that disregards the Constitution and the rule of law, he sure doesn’t seem to be abusing the pardon process.

    Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:57 pm

    You just don’t listen at all, do you? Blah blah blah blah.

    Get back to us in January 2009, fool.


  24. gummitch Says:

    Must admit, Ralph the Wonder Llama is cleaver.

    Comment by Coffins Draped with a Flag — December 11, 2007 @ 8:01 pm

    June Cleaver?


  25. Coffins Draped with a Flag Says:

    Thanks gummitch. I meant clever, not cleaver. A cleaver could be used to cut off the fingers of a thief or cut out the tongue of a liar…


  26. jurassicpork Says:

    This doesn’t surprise me. With a full-blown pardon, Libby loses his right to take the 5th. Still, this doesn’t jibe with Libby waiving his right to appeal.


  27. gummitch Says:

    Thanks gummitch. I meant clever, not cleaver. A cleaver could be used to cut off the fingers of a thief or cut out the tongue of a liar…

    Comment by Coffins Draped with a Flag — December 11, 2007 @ 8:06 pm

    Oooh, I knew that. It’s just that June Cleaver was online earlier and I couldn’t resist.


  28. gummitch Says:

    This doesn’t surprise me. With a full-blown pardon, Libby loses his right to take the 5th. Still, this doesn’t jibe with Libby waiving his right to appeal.

    Comment by jurassicpork — December 11, 2007 @ 8:12 pm

    Sure it does. Libby gets to stop wasting money on lawyers, knowing full well he’ll get his pardon in January 2009.


  29. barfly Says:

    Oh, come on now. Surely everyone knows that Bush will do his pardoning as he leaves office, so as not to endanger the republicans before the election. Afterwards, he couldn’t care less.


  30. leftcoast Says:

    so as not to endanger the republicans before the election. Afterwards, he couldn’t care less.

    Comment by barfly — December 11, 2007 @ 8:26 pm

    My point exactly throughout this thread. Bush will not jeopardize the election cycle. Of course, he didn’t think of this. Rove and Cheney did.


  31. Jackie Says:

    Good news for the GOP 29 more people to give money to the criminal GOP. As for Libby he will have to wait to see if Cheney gives orders to Bush. Bush does what he’s told and really has no idea what’s really going on. I wonder if Mrs. Huckaberry has met Cheney yet. Both like shooting people with guns it’s a match made in hell. Cheney should order all GOP criminals to have pardons for the crimes they have committed over the past 7 years. Of course give himself a pardon.


  32. joe cantwell Says:

    Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:51 pm

    cm, you’ve convinced me, where do i sign up to be a neo-con nazi like you?

    (just kidding, keep writing those funny comments of yours. they’re a waste of your time but least we know where you are.)


  33. GL2814 Says:

    You 24%er GOP asshats don’t even realize how far back this disgusting sh*thead of a so-called president has set the republican party.

    Bush will easily be placed historically in the list of worst presidents in American history, alongside other infamous republicans like Grant, Tricky Dick, Herbert Hoover, and Dear Old Dad!


  34. GSD Says:

    Convicted felon Scooter Libby is on Bush’s pardon short list, along with the Halliburton 7 gang-rapists.

    -GSD


  35. GSD Says:

    Captain Mangina, you are my hero!

    -Turdblossom


  36. thecowboydictator Says:

    hey captain retard. What is to be gained by pardoning Libby? He already commuted his sentence and probably got his good ole buddy Dick Wad Cheney or some other cronies to pay his fine….wait however, you will see him pardoned before Bushie leaves office. Mark my words Bushie will not fail to pardon him right before he leaves office and before the DEMS take over to try and put us back on path….if its not too late..


  37. Coffins Draped with a Flag Says:

    GSD - not to mention all the other murderous Halliburton mercenaries that Cheney and Bush are protecting.


  38. drtichy Says:

    So RAMOS and COMPEAN are not on the list?

    Most probably not. They were after a drug dealer, which seems to be against of what Bush wants. He pardons drug dealers.

    All Bush-it!!!


  39. JPV Says:

    If Bush is such a power abuser, wouldn’t he be pardoning more of his cronies (not less) than his predecesors?

    And wouldn’t the Libby pardon be a no brainer for someone so bereft of moral character?

    Comment by CaptainMantastic

    LOL!!! yeah, pardoning some criminals shows character but pardoning Scooter wouldn’t.

    YOU MAKE NO SENSE WHATSOEVER!!!

    Let’s see who and how many he pardons just before he leaves office… that is if he ever leaves office.


  40. JPisHere Says:

    Where were you all when Clinton pardoned SERIOUS criminals and those linked to the Democratic party. Just look at the list of those pardoned by Bush…no comparison in any way. He pardoned a grandpa involved in a gambling ring…


  41. fletc3her Says:

    CaptainMantastic is our troll du jour. He is taking the tack of posting a lot of meaningless factoids. Ignore the troll.

    The commutation of Libby’s sentence demonstrates the lengths he is willing to go to to pay back political operatives in his employ.

    I believe that Bush has issued few pardons because he is lazy. Pardons, like so much in government, are work and Bush has little desire to do any work. It wouldn’t surprise me if he signed pardons until his hand got tired and then threw the rest in the garbage with his trademark snicker.


  42. tombaker Says:

    uh-oh - JingoPanderer is here.

    “Clinton did it”, “TP hates Christians”, “Al Gore is the devil”

    anything I didn’t cover for you JP, cause I’d like to go ahead and get it all out of the way right away, than have to suffer the drip, drip, drip of dittmonkey slurs all night.


  43. tombaker Says:

    oh, and also, you totally, totally, win. JP wins, and I concede defeat at the hands of the very astute and righteous JP.

    are we done now?


  44. bamabarrron Says:

    hey CaptainMantastic your name is quite intriguing … does it mean what i think it does … you are just so gay over dubya?

    your remarks alone would indicate you have had your head firmly stuck up little geroge’s anus!


  45. tombaker Says:

    funny - the comments defending the Prince’s pardons-to-date tally seem to assume that the list is final - as though they’ve internalized the idea that the reign of the Cheerleader Prince is, in fact, OVER…

    that’s SO funny - I think it’s a widely-held sentiment, but technically, he’s got just over a year to go, and I think pardoning is another statistical category the Prince wants to set a record in, as he has in so many other significant areas:

    most signing statements; most recess appointments; most invocations of executive privilege; most raisings of the national debt ceiling; most scandals; most classification of public records; ummm…

    …whew!, it’s getting to be a long list. I’ll just leave it at that.


  46. Jane E. Schneider Says:

    Tombaker, did you catch the bit on Dan Abrams’ show tonight about the signing statements? Really scary stuff. At least it was good to see that someone actually won a Pulitzer for researching and reporting on the signing statements.


  47. joe cantwell Says:

    is jp here?


  48. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    “… lagging far behind the pace set by most modern presidents.”

    Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:36 pm

    However, in numbers of innocent civilians killed, Bush is leaing by a wide margin! He’s No 1! He’s No 1! He’s No 1!


  49. Jane E. Schneider Says:

    Hey, TRoS, you keep showing up when I’m ready to call it a night. Nice to see you, but I’m outta here.


  50. The Republic of Stupidity Says:

    Nice to see you, but I’m outta here.

    Comment by Jane E. Schneider — December 11, 2007 @ 11:20 pm

    Sorry, Jane. Different coasts. I’ll come by Wayne’s Brain one of these days and say hi.


  51. joe cantwell Says:

    jp?

    jp???


  52. tombaker Says:

    maybe my immediate capitulation was enough this time…

    whatever it takes - I don’t have the patience for that stuff.


  53. SP Biloxi Says:

    No holiday pardon? I’m all broken up in tears over the little soldier Libby. No balloons or cakes for Libby. Me thinks that Libby is banking on Bush to pardon. It is interesting timing that Libby dropped his appeal yesterday and Bush pardons criminals today.


  54. clif Says:

    His pardons went to carjackers, drug dealers, moonshiners, and an official who received kickbacks in defense procurement contracts.

    Bush is just warming up for the real criminals, you know members and former members of his mis-administration and all the corrupt criminal acts they did together. Bush will be pardoning more former members of his administration after Nov 2009 then his a$$hat of a father did after Nov 1992. Giving the law breakers who do their bidding a free pass if a Bush family trait.

    Just ask nazi fellow traveler Prescott Bush, who some claim was a co-conspirator in the Smedley affair early in FDR’s admin.


  55. MapleStreet Says:

    I read the list of the pardoned people in the linked story and I don’t get it. Does anyone see what I’m missing ?

    Basically, the list doesn’t, on the face of it, appear to be folks who would be likely to have high WH connections. Compared to the Ken Lays and Abramovs, they seem to be pretty small time.

    Is Shrub saving a list for December 2008 for all the folks who have fallen on their sword for him ? Or does he lack the gratitude to do that ?


  56. Marie Says:

    Bush just didn’t want to do it before the primaries, where Republican candidates might suffer — Libby’s pardon is coming, it is down the road, coming over the horizon.


  57. TC-12 Says:

    The obvious “Well, duh!” question: How many of those carjackers and drug dealers were either significant players in GOP local politics, or had, via themselves or associates, contributed mucho $$$ to GOP political causes? Kinda like asking “Will the sun rise tomorrow?” but has to formally thrown out there as a query nonetheless.


  58. lylepink Says:

    From what I have been able to gather is not one of the pardons went to anyone that had not served prison time. A pardon is not such a big deal to most of us for those that have served their time, what is really a BIG TIME DEAL is the commuting of the sentence for Libby, who did not serve a day in prison, for what many consider Treason.


  59. Democrat Soldier Says:

    #8 - “And wouldn’t the Libby pardon be a no brainer for someone so bereft of moral character?” Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 11, 2007 @ 7:41 pm

    Pres. Bush is not stupid (despite how much he seems to be), but he is lacking in moral character.

    The Libby Pardon will come sometime after Nov. 4th 2008. That’s when it won’t matter to the GOP how much Pres. Bush continues to screw them.

    The only thing remaining will be the legacy of “worst President, ever” for Pres. George “W”(idowmaker) Bush.


  60. lylepink Says:

    #61: The list seems pretty lame as to the folks pardoned, some were not even sentenced to jail time, only fined, were placed on parole. The thing to look for is just before leaving office how many of those at the top levels during the entire time of this Administration. I believe Libby will be among them, along with Cabinet members, and heads of other agencies.


  61. Menehune Says:

    The only thing the pardon would do at this point is allow Libby to vote in the next election. He’s already moved on to his cushy AEI job and he got to see the leaves turn in Aspen this year. Libby knows that his name is on Santa Bush’s naughty list for December of 2008.


  62. whiteyfresh Says:

    Fu*k that traitor. He should be sent to fu*k-you-in-the-a$$ prison for 20 years, then hung from the tallest tree in Washington.

    Comment by Spudge Boy — December 11, 2007 @ 7:40 pm

    That’s FEDERAL fu*k-you-in-the-a$$ prison, Spudge..

    :)


  63. tokin librul Says:

    Oh, c’mon!
    Libby will be pardoned NEXT year, when Bush issues the blanket pardon for his entire administration…


  64. lylepink Says:

    #71: I can’t say he will go that far, but mighty close.


  65. ClintonWasImpeachedAndDisbarred Says:

    CaptainMantastic, you’re running cirlces around these people. They’re obviously getting irritated by your inconvenient facts.


  66. Jane E. Schneider Says:

    #73, no, we just get irritated by his inconvenient (for him) idiocy.



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