"I respect the jury’s verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison." - George W. Bush
There he goes again, putting himself and his cronies above the law. So he really doesn't respect the jury's verdict or the law. What do you want to bet a complete pardon is just around the corner? After all, one can't have Libby spilling the beans about what Cheney and Rove really got up to vis a vis leaking Valerie Plame's name to the press.
Bush's move came hours after a federal appeals panel ruled Libby could not delay his prison term in the CIA leak case. Libby was convicted in March of lying to authorities and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of covert CIA operative Valeire Plame's identity. As former Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, he was the highest-ranking White House official ordered to prison since the Iran-Contra affair.
From my poem on May 17, "Hard to see the funny side:"
"Why is Scooter Libby going to jail
when Cheney and Rove created the trail
in a deliberate rush to fell
a CIA agent whose husband wouldn't tell
their lies to hasten war?
"How do people in power
get away with misdeeds?
Whatever happened to honourable creeds?
Where lies the truth in attempts to deceive?
Is there a single word said we can really believe?"
From my poem March 22, "Fired up!:"
"...The emperor has no clothes
but his court jesters weave and bob
painting the scenes just so
no one can see behind the facade
focus that harsh light anywhere
but firmly on the truth."
Some reactions to Bush commuting Libby's sentence (from Editor & Publisher):
Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois said the move “cements the legacy of an administration characterized by a politics of cynicism and division, one that has consistently placed itself and its ideology above the law.”
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mi.) released a statement saying that "until now, it appeared that the President merely turned a blind eye to a high ranking administration official leaking classified information. The President's action today makes it clear that he condones such activity. This decision is inconsistent with the rule of law and sends a horrible signal to the American people and our intelligence operatives who place their lives at risk everyday."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) stated that "the President's decision to commute Mr. Libby's sentence is disgraceful. Libby's conviction was the one faint glimmer of accountability for White House efforts to manipulate intelligence and silence critics of the Iraq war. Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone."
Patrick Fitzgerald, the federal prosecutor in the CIA leak case, released a brief statement: "We fully recognize that the Constitution provides that commutation decisions are a matter of presidential prerogative and we do not comment on the exercise of that prerogative.
"We comment only on the statement in which the President termed the sentence imposed by the judge as 'excessive.' The sentence in this case was imposed pursuant to the laws governing sentencings which occur every day throughout this country. In this case, an experienced federal judge considered extensive argument from the parties and then imposed a sentence consistent with the applicable laws. It is fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals. That principle guided the judge during both the trial and the sentencing."
Charles Schumer, a Democratic senator, echoed this: "As Independence Day nears, we're reminded that one of the principles our forefathers fought for was equal justice under the law. This commutation completely tramples on that principle."
This latest decision by Bush is another travesty of justice. It saddens me so. Thank you for sharing the quotes of these important voices. ~JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 05 July 2007 at 03:18
My husband and i were talking about this earlier today. It turns my stomach...yet again. It is a disgrace.
Posted by: Willow Grace | 04 July 2007 at 10:06
This was a non news item in my book. Presidents do this all the time. The funniest thing was the clip showing Hillary with Billary in tow deriding the president for this.
Conyer's comment had as much political bias as anyone. I believe that Mr Libby was convicted regarding perjury/obstructing justice. Why Conyer brought up giving away CIA operatives is a discredit to his position as this was not the crime Libby was convicted of.
On the other side of the coin, many Republicans were surprised that Bush didn't pardon Libby rather than commute him.
It's always FUN watching grown, supposedly smart men display their ignorance in having them think that they are credible when they start slinging the mud around.
The whole thing may not be right....but it's the way it has always been.
Tara responds:
I expect Bush will pardon Libby before he leaves office, as Libby knows too much about the inner workings of the Bush administration, particularly Cheney. As for Conyer discussing giving away a CIA officer's position, Libby was convicted for obstruction of justice in relation to leaking Valerie Plame's identity to reporters, so I'm not sure what your argument is here.
Posted by: Nutster | 04 July 2007 at 05:12
It is sad sad world we live in when Paris Hilton serves more jail time that Scooter Libby.
Posted by: My Melange | 04 July 2007 at 05:12
Tapping my foot, awaiting 2008 also....
Posted by: Southern Heart | 04 July 2007 at 02:36
It seems to happen no matter who is President. That's what is so alarming. Didn't Clinton pardon a whole bunch of peeps just before he stepped down?
Scooter (who the hell names their kid this??) will be fully pardoned I'm sure and then given a nice little severance package......enough to buy a little place on the east coast of Florida. Jeb will get him a deal on the land.
Posted by: awareness | 04 July 2007 at 00:56
The rage on the Internet has never been so high!
How can he respect a jury's verdict, then overturn it. He obviously doesn't respect it. His language is so @##$$% convoluted and twisted.
He will probably pardon him at the end of his term.
What really amazes me is that he keeps getting away with it. What is the matter with the American people/press/Congress???
Posted by: Colette | 03 July 2007 at 23:18
bush's statement is obvious. 'vive la corruption'! for the moment healthy food for the democrates.
Posted by: marita | 03 July 2007 at 23:16
Sad that none of us are surprised by this behavior anymore, isn't it? Thanks to our congressional friends, and the schemings of the executive branch - we're left to stand here while our country is run into the ground. It's like we're watching a movie of our lives and can't figure out how to stop the film. Ugh!
Posted by: Grace | 03 July 2007 at 21:54
Tara,
I know you're not surprised, nor am I. Bush and Chaney have thumbed their noses with their left hand while they've showed the middle finger of their right hand to us and the world since day one of this administration. The tenants of the constitution and the principles of America mean less than nothing to these usurpers of freedom. They are a disgrace to all their predicessors good and bad.. Their stain on America will be long remembered. I'm sickened as well as embarassed at their in your face actions. The legislators on both side of the aisle should be also! n8&^)*$##@&$#. Je tres desole, mais Je un problem avec marmonner des cerveaux!
rel
Posted by: rel | 03 July 2007 at 18:13
Will 2008 never get here? This is ridiculous...
Posted by: Regina Clare Jane | 03 July 2007 at 17:38
I am beyond being amazed by anything that Bush et al do. I like Kim's CB analogy. Very apt.
Posted by: ally bean | 03 July 2007 at 17:27
I wondered what you'd say about this.
I was fuming when I read the news about it but then I slapped myself and said, "are you REALLY surprised?" Nothing... NOTHING this administration does surprises me. I'm quite sure that he'll give him a full pardon just before he leaves office, too.
I've heard this analogy before but -- don't you just feel like Charlie Brown when Lucy keeps pulling the football away and he kicks at the air and ends up on his backside?
Posted by: kim | 03 July 2007 at 17:22