From washingtonpost.com:
President Bush today commuted the prison sentence of I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff, sparing him the 30-month term to which he was sentenced last month for lying to federal investigators about his role in the White House leak of a CIA officer's identity.
Hey, what has he got to lose? The 28 percent or so who still support him wouldn't care if Dubbya raped a small child, gutted it, and ate it raw on the White House lawn. And the rest of the American people already hate his guts. So why not free Scooter from the threat of jail and give the big middle finger to everyone who'd point out the gross obstruction of justice here?
Because here's the thing: If Bush pardoned Scooter, he'd lose the protection of the Fifth Amendment and he could be compelled to talk about what went on in the Dark Tower...sorry, the White House. If Scooter went to prison, there'd be the risk he could decide to talk willingly. The fine will no doubt be paid by rich Republican supporters who've been filling the coffers of Libby's defense fund. And the appeals go on, so Libby can still take the Fifth.
Scooter's being paid to keep quiet. And who's going to do anything about it? The Democrats? Please. We'll hear a few indignant squeals, then they'll move on for fear of being thought partisan.
You got punk'd, America.
11 comments:
I am trying my best to contain my rage on this. Trying real hard. Gotta breathe, gotta breathe.
Might as well have some fun: TAGGED.
http://www.nathansinger.net/news/?p=53
(sorry)
You know, generally speaking I appreciate the US restrictions that keep presidents limited to two terms. Problem is, what does Bush care if everyone hates him? He's not running again and it isn't like he can be given the boot.
Whatever happened to "government of the people, by the people, for the people"?
We don't have a president; we have an oligarch. His name is Cheney. That other thing is only a marionette. If you think there'll ever be another presidential inauguration, you haven't been learning from recent history. These gangsters are shameless. Our choices are either to excise them or admit we're gutless.
I can't even say I was surprised. I think your analysis is right. Mine went something like this:
1. Want to pardon him but can't until I'm done with office because there will be too much political blowback and I spent all my political capital years ago.
2. Some bright political advisor in the dark tower says: why don't you commute his sentence. That way Cheney won't gut you like a fish in your sleep, Libby won't flap his lips and you can always pardon Scoot when you're running out the door. It's a win-win situation.
When I saw the news last night, I said to myself: I'll bet that Dusty Rhoades'll have a few choice words to say about this.
My reaction? It's a good thing FL is a long drive from Kennebunkport, Maine cause I'd spend the 4th burning the flag, along with a copy of the Constitution, on a certain First Family's front lawn (I bet Putin would get a kick outta that, since he's their holiday house guest).
Something tells me this ain't the last of Bush's f--- you's to the American people.
I'm sure the Democrats in Congress will get right out there and really do something, oh wait, they're spineless and let the President do whatever he wants, I forgot. It's kinda hard to do that checks and balances thing when the institution that is supposed to check and balance doesn't do shit.
I can almost always argue the other side of a political argument because I can almost always see some merit in the other person's position. But this is one thing I can't wrap my head around.
Not the commutation, I get that.
It's the outting of a CIA agent. I don't know how people who claim such hyper-patriotism can so casually dismiss the violation of security clearances and the damage to our inrtelligence community for what? Political payback? A vendetta against Plame's husband? What?
Yet they use sopistry - she wasn't really covert (she was), everybody knew she worked at the CIA (they didn't) and Joe Wilson is a jerk (irrelevant) - to let this entire administration get away with something that, had it been done by a foreign agency would be sparked an international incident.
I call it treason. I don't know how you could call it anything else.
Sorry about all the typos. It's tough hitting the proper keys when you're writing with your fists.
Hi JD.
I can't really talk about this stuff on my own blog becuase, you know, politics is a no-no over there, which is fine.
But over here I can say: WHAT THE FUCK?
What's even scarier than this dumbshit getting away with Treason (I've been calling it that too, David) is that no one is really freaking out about it.
So again I say: WHAT THE FUCK?
What is it going to take? The Senate sending The Capitol Police over to enforce subpoenas only to be met by the National Guard? Tanks on Pennsylvania Avenue?
OK, that's it for now. I have to get ready to celebrate Independence Day and I still have flags to paint on my toenails.
But over here I can say: WHAT THE FUCK?
Welcome to Liberty Hall, darlin'. You can spit on the mat and call the cat a bastard.
For lack of a better word, Bush is a rotten piece of shit. All the Repubes who voted him in should be sent to bed without dinner. Actually I think it was fraud on both elections and who cares if its close as long as you own the supreme(ly stupid) court...I think impeachment is too easy for "Big Time" dick and the little shrubby. They should be treated like any other traitor and executed. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
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