Elliott Abrams: Bush made ‘a serious mistake’ in failing to pardon Libby.
Elliott Abrams: Bush made ‘a serious mistake’ in failing to pardon Libby.
Writing in the Jerusalem Post, Ruthie Liebowitz reports on an interview she did with her brother-in-law, Elliott Abrams — Bush’s former Deputy National Security Adviser. Abrams, a leading neoconservative, pled guilty for illegally withholding information from Congress regarding the Iran-Contra affair, but was later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush. In the interview, Abrams said President George W. Bush made a serious mistake in failing to pardon Scooter Libby:
As for Scooter, I really don’t know. I think it was a serious mistake on the president’s part not to have pardoned him.
Abrams is the second figure from Bush’s inner circle to criticize him over Libby. Vice President Cheney disclosed last month that he “strong believe[d]” Libby deserved a pardon, and “obviously disagree[d]” with Bush’s decision. (HT: Steve Clemons)
-- On Middle East peace process: "I was the resident skeptic." -- On whether Bush would bomb Iran: "It's hard to remember what I believed about that in, say, at some date in 2002 or 2003. But I did not really believe it in the second term." -- On Iraq withdrawal: "The war in Iraq is being won, and we will be able to leave - though I would have us leave a lot more slowly than the new administration would."
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Bush must have decided that Libby deserved his fate for breaking the one main rule in any crime organization:
Don’t get Caught!
February 15th, 2009 at 1:03 pmOnce he pardons them, they can’t take the fifth ammendment.
Course, it isn’t like it looks as though anyone is going to hold any of these folks accountable for the criminality either.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:03 pmAs if Bush is going to risk making himself look guilty — for anyone.
STFU, Abrams.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:04 pmAnyone whose mind-set urges them to write a ‘novel’ that includes little girls being raped by bears should be in jail.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:06 pmOh, wait, wasn’t there something like that in the bible?
Well, since Abrams got his pardon from GHWB, he can tell us everything he knows about the Iran-Contra Affair.
How anyone can believe that Libby “deserved” a pardon is beyond me. Abrams must not know what the word “deserve” means. What Libby “deserves”, Mr Abrams, is his own jail cell, right next to Karl Rove’s jail cell.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:10 pmAnd I don’t care what your legal status is, Mr. Abrams, you are still a criminal in my mind.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:11 pmElliott Abrams: Bush made ‘a serious mistake’ in failing to pardon Libby.»
– - “Serious” for whom? Does Abrams state any consequences to anyone over this “serious mistake’? This is prattle.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:15 pmAnyone whose mind-set urges them to write a ‘novel’ that includes little girls being raped by bears should be in jail.
– - Metaphorically, girls = Liberals; bears = Russkies.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:17 pmAnother Joe nailed it — if Libby is pardoned, then he can be hauled before Congress or a Grand Jury to answer questions and he can’t take the Fifth.
That’s dangerous for BushCo.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:21 pmDr. H, depends on your suggested Bush interpretation of “success”
The base objective for the Iraq invasion was not to ” remove a dictator and install Democracy in IRAQ ”
Rather, the objective was to remove Democracy and install a Dictator … in America!
Mission Accomplished!
February 15th, 2009 at 1:21 pm“Serious” for whom? Does Abrams state any consequences to anyone over this “serious mistake’?
Excellent point, badmoodman.
Metaphorically, girls = Liberals; bears = Russkies.
No matter what the metaphor is, the idea is still crazy-sick!
February 15th, 2009 at 1:24 pmJane E. Schneider Says: Anyone whose mind-set urges them to write a ‘novel’ that includes little girls being raped by bears should be in jail. Oh, wait, wasn’t there something like that in the bible?
The Old Testament is the Republicans’ operation manual…
February 15th, 2009 at 1:24 pmOh, menballer, don’t you realize that Scooter Libby was Marc Rich’s PARDON ATTORNEY?
Open mouth, insert foot.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:26 pmbenmaller Says: And wouldn’t we like to know were all of the money that Marc Rich absconded with went? Oh sorry, different President.
Still ignoring the $3 trillion Bush spent on blowing up a third world country and giving rich people who pay no taxes more tax cuts?
February 15th, 2009 at 1:27 pmwow, another republican neocon jew who thinks that ‘On Middle East peace process: “I was the resident skeptic.”‘
who woulda thunk it?
February 15th, 2009 at 1:28 pmbenmaller Says:
And wouldn’t we like to know were all of the money that Marc Rich absconded with went? Oh sorry, different President.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
How sad…
Ball Mauler simultaneously plays the “Clinton did it too” card, while failing to recall who served as Marc Rich’s attorney.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:28 pmMenballer, why don’t we all ask Scooter ‘were’ that money went?
OMG, I’m still laughing at how ignorant you are!
February 15th, 2009 at 1:29 pmZooey, great minds… :D
February 15th, 2009 at 1:29 pmJane, I just noticed that!! :-D
February 15th, 2009 at 1:30 pmI love it when Righties try to sound snarky.
I’ts like watching classic PeeWee Herman clips.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:33 pmEarlier on one of the political news programs John McCain was warning us of the chaos on the Mexican border, how Mexican drug cartels are taking over towns on both sides of the border and that we must do something about it.
What I find so ironic about his statement and concern is back in 2004 I happened to catch him on some program and the topic was why our borders remained open after 9/11. The host asked McCain why our troops couldn’t assist in protecting our borders and McCain responded “Our troops are not trained for that.”
Huh!?! Our troops are trained to protect/guard the border between North and South Korea, they are trained to protect/guard the Iraqi/Syrian border but our troops aren’t trained to protect/guard our own countries borders!
With sound thinking like this you now know why our country is in the mess we are in today. Thank God the dim bulb from Arizona didn’t win the presidency or it would be more of the same. Wait until a small problem becomes a big crisis before we react to it.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:34 pmGood Morning Youngster’s,Good post’s… What bother’s me is the fact any reporter would want to interview a criminal like Abrams, oop’s forgot they are related by marriage…Must be like the kid in school who has to write an article about a relative most important…This work’s in grammer school, maybe but not now..Time to return to your insignificant, criminal self Abrams…P.B. & J All
February 15th, 2009 at 1:36 pmI see the irrelevant trolls keep bringing up what happened under the Clinton years. Yet there are some trolls who get angry when progressives keep bashing Bush and his inept presidency which was filled with failure and unaccountability.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:37 pmSeriously? This is what you bring?
Geez. talk about bringing a spork to a gunfight.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:37 pmbenmaller Says:
And wouldn’t we like to know were all of the money that Marc Rich absconded with went? Oh sorry, different President.
Rich has never used his pardon and returned to the US because a careful President Clinton required that Rich return millions of dollars he’s “absconded with”. And you should take some time to learn what that pardon was really all about.
Joe Conason:
February 15th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Menballer, the topic, and Marc Rich’s pardon attorney, is the criminal I. SCOOTER LIBBY.
Ya ignorant menballer!
February 15th, 2009 at 1:38 pmbenmaller Says:
Holder was Clinton’s deputy attorney general, and he played a significant role in the pardon. When asked by the White House what he thought about a pardon for Rich, Holder replied, “Neutral, leaning towards favorable.” These four words have stalked him since.
Conservatives have been whining about Holder and Marc Rich for year, true. I guess you can call that stalking if you want.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:38 pmstill there are righties with Clinton Derangement Syndrome??
sick puppies, indeed.
Nice piece about that Criminal Abrams, and his association with the Bush Family criminal organization.
RICO, the Bush cabal is thy target.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:42 pmgummitch Says:
benmaller Says:
Holder was Clinton’s deputy attorney general, and he played a significant role in the pardon. When asked by the White House what he thought about a pardon for Rich, Holder replied, “Neutral, leaning towards favorable.” These four words have stalked him since.
Conservatives have been whining about Holder and Marc Rich for year, true. I guess you can call that stalking if you want.
*
bm’s favorite stalker.
*
February 15th, 2009 at 1:42 pmDear Senator Pat Leahy,
Do all the investigation that you want into the criminal activities of the Bush gangster regime, but under no circumstances grant any legal immunity from legal prosecution to any of them.
Let the wheels of justice turn on their own. Let the Dept. of Justice do their own investigation and bring their own charges.
We already “know” what the Bush gangster regime did in the last eight years of torture, treason and tyranny. Now these Bush clowns should pay a heavy price for their crimes…
February 15th, 2009 at 1:43 pmWhen I was a kid, there was an obnoxious brat in the neighborhood who hung around the cool kids even though everybody made fun of him mercilessly. The cool kids let him hang around just because he was fun to abuse and even seemed to relish the attention he was getting, negative though it was.
Reminds me a lot of Men Baller — er, benmaller.
In fact, reminds me a lot of all of our trolls.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:43 pmJane E. Schneider Says:
Menballer, the topic, and Marc Rich’s pardon attorney, is the criminal I. SCOOTER LIBBY.
““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Waiting for:
A-The trolls head to explode.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:44 pmB-To deny that I. Scooter Libby was ever Marc Rich’s pardon attorney.
benmaller Says:
Marc Rich absconded with went? Oh sorry, different President.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:25 pm Recommend (1)
My apologies to TPers for accidentally hitting the ‘Recommend’ button instead of the intended ‘Report Abuse’.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:46 pmbenmaller Says:
February 15th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Does calling me ignorant help in your efforts to allow your testicles to descend from your abdominal cavity?
If so, please continue — you need all the help you can get.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:49 pmToo bad trolls! We won and now we can use all of those sinister laws and executive orders from the Bush administration to remain in power for eternity! Boo ha ha ha!
February 15th, 2009 at 1:50 pmMan, Scooter Libby wanted that pardon almost as much as he wanted one for his client.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:51 pmMenballer (or something): And wouldn’t we like to know were all of the money that Marc Rich absconded with went? Oh sorry, different President.
– - And wouldn’t we like to know where that original $125 Billion Iraqi reconstruction money went? Oh sorry, different president.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:53 pmMcWars, thanks for explaining that. I wondered where the ‘recommend’ came from, since there were no other trolls and you can’t ‘recommend’ your own comments!
February 15th, 2009 at 1:53 pmUncle Fester Lurks Says:
Too bad trolls! We won and now we can use all of those sinister laws and executive orders from the Bush administration to remain in power for eternity! Boo ha ha ha!
Mwommmy!!!!!!!!!!!
February 15th, 2009 at 1:53 pmConvicted Criminal Abrams knows Libby did alot more and will go to jail. Fitz never charged him with all his crimes and Cheney knows it. Libby fell on the sword for Cheney and Bush’s Father told him to save hisself and let the others hang.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:53 pmWaiting for:
A-The trolls head to explode….
I know, the suspense is killing me!
February 15th, 2009 at 1:55 pmThis troll has less staying power than most. It appears it has crawled back under the bed.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:56 pmI often wonder how much better off America would be if we didn’t waste so much money and time trying to extinguish the fires created by Zionists here and in Israel.
February 15th, 2009 at 1:56 pmYou’re welcome, Jane. The trolls can enter the sweepstakes code on the Cheetos bag as their own reward. But I certainly won’t water down any function at TP for them.
February 15th, 2009 at 2:04 pmWriting in the Jerusalem Post, Ruthie Liebowitz reports on an interview she did with her brother-in-law, Elliott Abrams —
Another Abrams family connection: His father-in-law is Norman Podhoretz, godfather of neoconservatism.
February 15th, 2009 at 2:07 pmwhen will americans say enough is enough with being israel’s puppet?
February 15th, 2009 at 2:18 pmLibby and everybody else from those bunch of crooks deserves jail sentences! Some in the Bush administration deserves execution for War Crimes.
February 15th, 2009 at 2:32 pmObama’s administration, if it does not prosecute Bush’s officials for war crimes and misdemeanor, he will own these crimes as well!
As per Bush’s mistakes… Many years ago his father made a serious mistake: -’Hey Barbara… I’m horney!’
February 15th, 2009 at 2:34 pmIt has also been a mistake not to give that horrible child for adption…
Bush’s entire life has been a terrible mistake!
benmaller,
What Marc Rich did is not, and never has been, the issue here. The issue is Elliott Abrams and his absurd, unpatriotic, un-American claim that a man who helped leak the name of a covert CIA officer (and she was covert) should be pardoned. Even Bush’s father said that anyone who does that should be jailed. (He used to head the CIA, so I guess he took it personally.)
Tell me something, ben. Do you think that Bush and his father ever talk about people who leak the names of covert CIA officers? What do you Bush, Sr’s, reaction would have been if his son pardoned someone who did what Libby did (and we all know Rove did it, too)?
February 15th, 2009 at 2:38 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says:
Bush made ‘a serious mistake’ assuming he could be a successful president.
Wonder if the thought of “success” per se ever entered his mind. Most selfish children grasp only the “Iwanna so I oughta” concept. And Botch had a fine grasp of that.
February 15th, 2009 at 2:55 pmtombaker Says:
I love it when Righties try to sound snarky.
I’ts like watching classic PeeWee Herman clips.
And there are similarities in the moral compass, as well. . .
February 15th, 2009 at 2:59 pmHmmm a very curious troll moniker benmaller. Spoonerize it and it’s menballer. Probably real close.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:00 pmHey even the screw-ups think Bushy didn’t do something right. Perhaps they can stand in line with their indignation at the back after all the folks who think that Bushcheney shouldn’t have even been in office.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:01 pmAs for Abrams, he’s probably right. If the new justice dept starts digging, the stink will float up so stenchified that pardons may well have been the only saving grease.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:01 pmListen, Abrams. Since you and your fellow Iran-Contra “patriots” were convicted of breaking US and international laws at the behest of the actor posing as a president, you should have done longterm jail time, instead of being pardoned by a fellow conspirator (GHWB).
It amazes this Canadian that a young black in Florida who steals a car, is caught, and found guilty, loses his right to vote for life, yet Abrams and his ilk can run a secret government, be convicted of crimes, and can resurface in government as though they are honorable people.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:03 pmHi, RUCerious, how’s the baby?
Er, saving “grease”?
February 15th, 2009 at 3:05 pmIf Daddy Shrub had not pardoned the thugs of Iran Contra Mr Abrams would still be in jail instead of making ludicrous statements in the defense of traitors in the Little Shrub administration.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:07 pm“…It amazes this Canadian…”
Gabe, it amazes these Americans here, too.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:07 pmMy guess is that the lack of a pardon was a final fxck you from Bush to Cheney. I am amazed that they haven’t immunized Libby and put his ass in front of a congressional committee.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:13 pmBush made a lot of serious mistakes; not pardoning Libby isn’t one of them.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:16 pmI wonder if the “deserve” a pardon criticisms don’t imply that there was a working arrangement in the WH:
You do “it” even though you know it to be illegal. And in return I’ll “take care of you” via pardons etc.
The Nurenberg defense didn’t play too well in Germany, though.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:30 pmMapleStreet,
Good point, but unless someone wants to admit it (after getting caught), we may never know. Because if the president was involved with any such quid pro quo, it would have meant that he was involved in a conspiracy, and he could go to jail just for that.
February 15th, 2009 at 3:37 pmIt is a sad situation when to be an American. Which is to say a citizen of this United States of America. A Nation modeled on Laws, Freedom and Democracy. Means to some people, the freedom to find every “loophole” or framing of Legislation to circumvent, or otherwise skirt around, and in lots of cases (as in this last Mis-Administration) blatently ignore our LAWS.
Just think what it would be like if EVERYONE acted in this way?
To me, this is not being true to the core of our beliefs. And if you are one of those that participate, cooperate, support and or believe this philosophy. YOU have no right to call yourselves Americans, or Patriots, or Righteous.
These perpatrators should pay heed. The true believers of Constitutional Law are tired of our country being run roughshod into the abyss. The MAJORITY agrees it is time for change. It is long past due, it is time. IT IS COMING. I think it may already be here.
February 15th, 2009 at 4:32 pmDid the friendly, softball, in-the-family interviewer ask about any mistakes Mr. Abrams thought he’d made himself? You know, since he was convicted and all?
February 15th, 2009 at 6:33 pmI say it’s high time for Elliot Abrams’ return to the Romulan Empire.
- Tom
February 15th, 2009 at 9:42 pmTombaker, I read the first two pages of the ‘interview’ (it went on for 6+) and couldn’t take it anymore. Sorry.
February 15th, 2009 at 9:45 pmTomR Says:
Funny! Just give him the traditional Romulan ‘do and some pointy ears!
February 15th, 2009 at 9:48 pmUhhh… Elliot? G.W. Bush made a LOT of mistakes.
February 15th, 2009 at 9:55 pmIs Elliott an idiot, or what?
And he doesn’t have to worry about former president Bush not pardoning Scooter Libby, because there is every indication that President Barack Obama is de facto pardoning all the criminals in the Bush administration by not launching full-scale Justice Department investigations and bringing charges where necessary, while at the same time stating that no one is above the law.
Scooter Libby broke the law. In fact, everyone involved in the outing of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson broke the law, committing treason in the process. And definitely everyone involved in the Bush administration’s torture policy and programs broke the law, and should be prosecuted.
Right now, though, President Obama is the firewall conservatives have erected (especially the Blue Dog DINO Democrat conservatives) to block attempts to prove that no one is above the law in our liberal democracy, our republic of the people, by the people and for the people…not just conservative Republicans and Blue Dog DINO Democrats.
February 15th, 2009 at 10:22 pmWizard: You should slow down and allow the justice department do it’s job. The new administration has been in office for less than a month. They cannot make the wheels of justice move as fast as you like but they will do what is right. The whining about Obama not investigating is a little pre-mature.
February 15th, 2009 at 10:35 pmThank you, kasinca. Well put. It’s been less than a month. he’s got other problems to deal with right now.
The investigations by the Justice Dept will come, I’m sure. Imagine what the Republicans would have said if he started with the investigations before resolving the econmic crisis. As it is, we’ll keep hearing cries of “witch hunt” once it starts. (Now, for a real modern example of a “witch hunt”, just see Kenneth Starr’s investigation of the Clintons.)
February 15th, 2009 at 10:49 pmkasinca Says:
The new administration has been in office for less than a month.
Not to mention that Holder was only confirmed, what, about a week ago?
The gods know that we’d all like to have seen the Bush criminals in prison years ago, but I think we have to give Obama at least a couple of months.
February 15th, 2009 at 10:51 pmBush didnt pardon Libby…
I agree with his decision. Period. End of story. Go Bush on this decision.
February 15th, 2009 at 11:15 pmHey Jane @#60~! Baby’s fine. And yeah, like Amazing grease, how sweet the sound!
February 15th, 2009 at 11:19 pmWhat does this past decision have to do with today?
Elliot, because elections have consequence, is out of power.
February 15th, 2009 at 11:20 pmBush was right in not pardoning Libby; but, all in all, Bush is nonetheless an utter failure.
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
“GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY” BLOG OF ANDREW YU-JEN WANG
ONLINE, ANTI-BUSH, EDUCATIONAL, SCHOLASTIC RESEARCH: LISTING OF MAJOR ISSUES
http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/2009/01/online-anti-bush-educational-scholastic.html
February 15th, 2009 at 11:25 pmWow Andy! Hard up for a resume posting site? Welcome!
February 15th, 2009 at 11:37 pmbenmaller Says:
Oh looky another bone ignorant troll with the look over there or over there or anywhere a Dem MIGHT be doings something wrong defense straight out of the Hivemind moron how to book page two
February 16th, 2009 at 1:02 ambenmaller Says: 24
My GOD you are ignorant. Zooey is a smart and gifted poster meanwhild you are so incredibly moronic that when I read your posts the stupid actually hurts my eyes
February 16th, 2009 at 1:03 ambush is not president anymore , what he did is not important , how to speed up ecomony development is Obama’s duty. steel jewelry wholesale
February 16th, 2009 at 2:01 amstacychen Says: 84
Go away blogwhore
February 16th, 2009 at 2:05 amEugeneDebs, yer a sweetie. ;)
February 16th, 2009 at 2:39 amThe reason it’s real serious is that Mr. Libby may write a book about the massive corruption in the Bush White House.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:17 pmGHW Bush made a serious mistake by pardoning Abrams and the other key players in the Iran/Contra affair. Abrams – along with Oliver North and Admiral Poindexter and others – should have done jail time for their treasonous acts .
If we don’t learn our lesson from Iran/Contra – that these traitorous scumbags can commit crimes of go unpunished – and prosecute to the fullest the Bush Administration criminals, then we deserve the eventual return of an even more criminal cabal that we surely will get (and deserve). I think it’s safe to say that if Reagan had been impeached and all those responsible for Iran/Contra had been punished, we wouldn’t have had the blatant criminality of the Bush Administration.
There’s a special place in hell for waiting for people like Elliot Abrams.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:14 pm