$250,000, two years probation and a felony conviction. Far better than a pardon. Did you really expect Scooter to serve time? I'm glad the American taxpayers don't have to foot the bill for his luxury incarceration, frankly.
Posted by ann at July 2, 2007 03:02 PMAgree with Ann. Better than a pardon but still bullshit. Another get out of jail free card for a rich criminal. I didn't think Bush would pardon him because he couldn't square it with his 'principles'. This way he can feel like he helped out a 'loyal soldier' but not look like he's excusing a serious crime done to benefit him.
Smacks of....triangulation! Just like his stem cell 'compromise'.
Posted by snark at July 2, 2007 03:13 PMSomebody has got to explain the legalities of this. I knew Bush could pardon people, but he can commute their sentences, too, leaving intact some penalties? Please, somebody, explain how this works.
Posted by Brian Bell at July 2, 2007 03:13 PMbu$h = The Commuter!
Lots of hearts for libby but Plame is shut out. No book, no job, muzzled, nada, zilch, name drug through the mud! What a fucking shame and sham!
With all those rich friends, "scooter" will still land a job making millions! No secrets coming out, that's for sure.
I want to see fucking justice come to the bu$h cabal!
!!!IMPEACH!!!
Posted by Seven of Six at July 2, 2007 03:23 PMYes he can legally commute a sentence. Nothing can be done about it.
But neither can they stop us from putting more pins in our Bush action figures. We'll show them.
Posted by TIKI AL at July 2, 2007 03:26 PMI'm glad the American taxpayers don't have to foot the bill for his luxury incarceration, frankly.
Posted by ann
So the rule of law doesn't count when it's W and the gang? Hmmm. I thought justice was blind - silly me. I still thought I was living in america, but now its amerikkka. I'm pretty sure you go to church, pretty sure you try and do the right things, pretty sure you try and raise your children with a respect for the law, pretty sure you are a law abiding citzen: why then do you support the boy king doing away with the rule of law? It would be fun to listen to you explain to the kids why repeatedly lying to the FBI and a grand jury isn't really a big deal. It's not as bad as what Clinton did, huh?
Posted by Tom at July 2, 2007 03:28 PMI'm watching the news. The big story is about the republi-con rascists bitching and moaning that immigration laws aren't being enforced. My goodness, these are some law abiding fucktards! "Law, law, law! What's right, what's right!" Some real justice seeking bottom feeders.
Scooter's sentence was obviously unfair because he never said he had done anything wrong (no contrition), and he got 7 months less than he could have been sentenced to considering federal sentencing guidelines. Oops, the next news story is about the border patrol agents who obstructed justice and lied in that border case where the drug smuggler was shot. It seems 100 republi-con Congressassholes want the agents released. Justice!
Christ, I'm changing party affiliations and robbing people (through a stock scam). Republi-cons get a walk in this world.
Posted by phidipides at July 2, 2007 03:29 PMWelcome to Iran/Contra part deux.
Posted by cheSF at July 2, 2007 03:33 PMHe'll pardon Scooter in 1/09 -- don't shed any tears about that $250,000 fine, Scooter has plenty of rich friends and also comes from a wealthy family.
Posted by Marie at July 2, 2007 03:33 PMOK, 7, I think the kidding around is pretty much over, I'm with you, impeach now.
In the mean time I'm thrusting a giant hat pin into the codpiece of the Commander Commuter action figure.
Posted by TIKI AL at July 2, 2007 03:37 PMIn the mean time I'm thrusting a giant hat pin into the codpiece of the Commander Commuter action figure.
Crap! You'll poke a hole in the back of the head of your Scooter action figure!
Of course, the news story of the grossly incompetent Mad King pardoning Scooter is followed by the terrorism story where the grossly incompetent terrorists didn't do too much in London and Glasgow. Of course, we must be very afraid in the United States, so airport security increases to prevent you from carrying a gasoline and propane canister laden SUK-v onto your flight. I feel much safer.
Posted by phidipides at July 2, 2007 03:50 PMFrom the reasons in Article 1 of the Nixon Articles of Impeachment:
9. endeavouring to cause prospective defendants, and individuals duly tried and convicted, to expect favoured treatment and consideration in return for their silence or false testimony, or rewarding individuals for their silence or false testimony.
Posted by Doug Berg at July 2, 2007 03:51 PMFuck, it's already off the news hour. More on the London bombing, campaign cash, etc. My wife just got home from work and it disapeared from the radar. I guess it'll get a few minutes at the top of the hour.
Disgusted!!
Posted by Seven of Six at July 2, 2007 03:52 PMMad King pardoning Scooter
Commuterating, that is.
Posted by phidipides at July 2, 2007 03:52 PMWell, I am sure that President Bush would also pardon Sandy Berger for stealing and destroying classified documents from the national archives: stuffing these documents down his underwear and socks, if I remember correctly.
But, hey, for an interesting read, check out President Clinton's pardons at:
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pardonchartlst.htm
Some of my favorites are
Verla Jean Allen: False statements to agency of United States.
Marvin Dean Dudley: False statements.
Gerald Glen Rust: False declarations before grand jury.
Jerri Ann Rust: False declarations before grand jury.
...among all of the drug dealers and Puerto Rican terrorists.
Posted by And Bagley Was A Friend Of Mine at July 2, 2007 03:56 PM
The underlying story may be that a commutation still allows Scooter to exercise 5th amendment rights thereby still blocking any futher investigation and continuing the coverup as well as any chance that Scooter might flip to avoid prison time.
Posted by coyote john at July 2, 2007 03:58 PMYup, and most of Clinton's pardons were wrong too Bagley. Next?
Posted by Steve Soto at July 2, 2007 04:02 PMNero: I'm the Prezlident! That's what so great about being a Preznidental Deciderer! Ah gets to decide everythin'!
Stooges of the Right (chorus): That's the way we like it in BushAmerica! Rule o Law! Rule o law!
Nero: Dick says break these laws, but ah DECIDES! He's always talkin', but it's up TO ME! Decidin' to Commoot today! Hard work!
(Stooges): That's the way we do it, BushAmerica! Rule o Law, Rule o Law.
Nero: So many laws, cain't keep 'em straight. Scoot's family's sorry, so that's enuff. Putin says commutin' is what he'd do, unless he had the judge killed. Pass me 'nother lobster, Poot! Hard work! Hard work!
(Stooges): We follows the law in BushAmerica, what the judge says goes, exceptin' if Preznodent don't like it! Rule o Law, we got a Rule o law, right here in BushAmerica!!
Pile it on the legacy, Deadeye.
Posted by euzoius at July 2, 2007 04:04 PM"Yup, and most of Clinton's pardons were wrong too Bagley."
A point of agreement.
It is the nature of politicians, Steve. I do not like it either.
Posted by And Bagley Was A Friend Of Mine at July 2, 2007 04:05 PMBut, hey, for an interesting read, check out President Clinton's pardons at:
If your comparisons were not so freaking lame, it might make sense to explain it to you. But let me try: None of the persons you wrote about were DIRECT REPORTS to the administration. None of the persons you wrote about could 'drop the dime' on the bush assministration for felony criminality. Nope, i have a feeling you are going to believe whatever limbaugh tells you to believe, so we are wasting my time. later...
Posted by Tom at July 2, 2007 04:18 PMA cynical, desperate, feckless, self-exculpatory Cheney administration act.
As with all of Total Dick's strategems, a blunder further closing the circle.
Should go over big with a dwindling base; more normal people less so.
Ok, so he was not pardoned yet. But now Bush can wait till the last day he is in office and then pardon him. The pressure is off of him for now. I predict Libby will be officially pardoned before Bush leaves office. I am willing to be 1 Grain Belt beer on it.
Posted by Jon at July 2, 2007 04:43 PMPvt. Keepout
Yep.This finishes any talk of Bush being in charge. No doubt Snarl slammed the ex cheerleader against the wall, slapped him around a few times and reminded him who was president.
The collapse has now been officially timestamped.
Posted by Daryl at July 2, 2007 04:43 PMEs geht immer besser, wenn man partei- und führertreu ist.
Posted by Davis X. Machina at July 2, 2007 04:57 PMand the American people say..."wha...whaz going on here?"
I dont get it?
Es geht immer besser, wenn man partei- und führertreu ist
Man, ain't Scooter-butt a loyal little lackey?!
And Speaker Pelosi weighs in:
"The President's commutation of Scooter Libby's prison sentence does not serve justice, condones criminal conduct, and is a betrayal of trust of
the American people.
"The President said he would hold accountable anyone involved in the Valerie Plame leak case. By his action today, the President shows his word is not to be believed. He has abandoned all sense of fairness when it comes to justice, he has failed to uphold the rule of law, and he has failed to hold his Administration accountable."
I speak Democrat Speakerese, so I'll translate: "Impeachment is off the table. Let me check my lipstick before we go to the K Street fundraiser."
Harry Reid said:
"...history will judge him harshly for using that power to benefit his own vice-president's chief of staff who was convicted of such a serious violation of law".
Translated: "Ooooo! I hope I see Nance at that K Street thing! My boys and Son-in-law will be there! I want to show them my new 'swoon' look when I say 'we just don't have the votes!' It's a real party favorite!"
!!ROFLMAO!!
Bagley, All the folks you listed truly compares to the 2nd highest chief staff in the entire world?!
That is the funniest thing you've ever come up with 'bags'! Please, continue! Oh man, that is fucking funny! The tears are flowing, I'm laughing so hard!
Posted by Seven of Six at July 2, 2007 05:55 PMOne lying smirking traitor pardons another lying smirking traitor. Treason all around. Happy Birthday, America, from the Bush crime family.
Posted by james k. sayre at July 2, 2007 05:56 PMI wonder what Fitzgerald and Judge Walton think?
Bush Seeks To Re-Impose Mandatory Minimums
"In a speech June 1 to announce the bill, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales urged Congress to re-impose mandatory minimum prison sentences against federal convicts — and not let judges consider such penalties “merely a suggestion.”"
God damnit, the Mad King, idiot son of George, is a law-and-order throw-the-book-at-em kind of guy!
"It would be fun to listen to you explain to the kids why repeatedly lying to the FBI and a grand jury isn't really a big deal."
I never said that what Libby did wasn't a big deal, I think it's huge, but at least Bush had the political sense not to pardon the twerp. He could have easily done this, but he didn't. And I am glad that the taxpayers won't have to pay for Scooter's incarceration in the country club of prisons he would have gone to.
If I were queen, Libby would have been hung with Cheney, Bush, Rummy, Wolfie and Condi.
Posted by ann at July 2, 2007 06:29 PM"Bagley, All the folks you listed truly compares to the 2nd highest chief staff in the entire world?!"
What about the meaning of "is" is?
Not the "2nd highest chief staff in the entire world" but the President of the United States...
Yeah, yeah, I know: it [was] private consensual...blah....blah....blah....and blah...
P.S. And for the record, all the Bagley's thought / think that Ken Starr's pursuit of this particular issue was, if not prosecutorial misconduct, very misguided.
Posted by And Bagley Was A Friend Of Mine at July 2, 2007 06:32 PM
I applaud this new move by Commander Cuckoo: it's another nail in the Repuke Party coffin.
'the system works'
'the system works'
i say tear the whole damn fcuking thing down
poor Fitz wasted a lot of time
Posted by michael72 at July 2, 2007 06:40 PM
He's still got ya. All this fuss, even some in German with NSDAP references. More degrees, or less, who cares. He's got you all hot and bothered. The pardon's still out there. The power of the President, not muted at all now is he.
Posted by peter at July 2, 2007 06:43 PMAnd here's why the sentence was commuted rather than pardoned:
I havent seen this noted but i think the reason for the commutation is that a pardon would mean that Libby was no longer exposed to criminal sanctions and thus had no Fifth Amendment privilege. As it stands he has a fine and probation at stake during the pendency of the appeal which inulates him (and Bush and Cheney) from having to answer questions before Congress.
I'm going to go vomit now.
Posted by ann at July 2, 2007 06:45 PMNot the "2nd highest chief staff in the entire world" but the President of the United States...
Now you know, the best pResident ever, wasn't convicted of anything.
From Wiki:
"The two charges that were passed in the House (largely on the basis of Republican support but with a handful of Democratic votes as well) were for perjury and obstruction of justice... The Senate later voted to acquit Clinton on both charges.
Nah, he wasn't the best but he sure as hell makes "the King of the Crackers" look silly.
(no offense to all you liberal, loving, gawd fearing 'crackers' out there)
Posted by Seven of Six at July 2, 2007 07:09 PMHere's the White House phonebook so you can give them a call and share your concerns--and I'm going to call 'til I reach someone, anyone. Remember our civil servants have a lot of important work to do, so be civil.
I’d anticipate that the switchboard will be quite busy tomorrow, so it’s important to have a lot of numbers so you can get through; the Directory has a many, many numbers.
Posted by lambert strether at July 2, 2007 07:43 PMpeter, he still got us what?....Gawd what a pathetic piece you are... that is what you focus on. How juvenile, neener neener, the president still got a bunch of liberals mad...hahahaha. The boyking Junyah sure showed us, he got us hot and bothered... big whoop peter. That is NOT the effin issue here. All you care about is that Junyah got us and therefore you miss the bigger picture (surprise, surprise).. You know like important things like International laws, Geneva Conventions,upholding the rule of law, rampant abuse of power, lying and obstructing justice, corrupt corporate military cronyism, scamming the system, constitution shredding, starting wars on false cherrypicked stovepiped information, outing covert CIA operatives, conflict of interests in regard commuting sentences of their own national security advisors/assistants..etc. You know things like that....but no...the only thing you give a shit about in regards to all of this is that Mr. 28%, the most hated and unpopular leader in the world, just pissed off a bunch off people who disagree with him and his political party....Jeebus H. Kerist....get a life woman.
Posted by emal at July 2, 2007 08:17 PMFitzgerald sure did waste a lot of time and money on his prosecution of Libby. I would imagine he has a few things to say about it.
Bush feels bad for Libby's family. Oh fuck, give me a break. The deal was always there, formed a long time ago, and now has been carried out. I can hear Cheney telling Libby "dont worry about lying or obstructing justice. You will be taken care of, and no one will be able to do a thing about it." Pardon coming in '09.
Next week, this will be old news and in two weeks, forgotten. Rove is right in his assumptions about the attention span of Americans.
Posted by Judith at July 2, 2007 08:22 PMI am surprised. Bush is going to pay for this--damn these felons!
Little good it will do us. Jesus, will this fucking nightmare ever end?
Posted by paradox at July 2, 2007 08:26 PMDoes anybody remember Greenberg, Kansas?
Posted by peter at July 2, 2007 08:34 PMThis is really sick!
Bill Kristol, from the National Review, June 11, 2007
—On Scooter Libby—
KRISTOL: I think [the president] will not let Scooter Libby go to jail. He may not pardon him. He may commute the sentence, the prison sentence — in other words, say no prison sentence, but let Libby pay the $250,000 fine that Judge Walton imposed and therefore not overturn the actual verdict.
h/t Think Progress
Remember Susan McDougal? Or Marc Rich?
Posted by Julie at July 2, 2007 10:05 PMExcuse me -- Clinton's pardons were wrong so this action is okay??? Presidents DO have the prerogative of pardons.
Bush commuted Libby's sentence and will probably issue a pardon later on. This is quid pro quo for obstructing justice: a pardon would have probably opened the Cheney Bush Gang to investigation and criminal charges in a criminal conspiracy. (Legal blogs can explain this -- I've no doubt given a simplistic version.)
And will someone tell these goddamn Bush apologists to stop going to that well?
For two fucking administrations PLUS, Banana Republicans have been whining that whatever corruption the Bu'ushites pull out of their asses is okay because Clinton did something similar -- usually not close to egregiously corrupt, partisan or outright criminal.
Yet Repugs have been eating lunch for a decade on the claim that they are holier than Clinton in character, more respectful of the offices, and mouthing rule of law at every step of their decade long desperate witch hunt.
They ran for office on a promising to return character, rule of law, and holy fucking moral half baked wholesome goodness to the White HOuse.
All they've done is turn it into the Republican Palace, stuff their pockets, reward their cronies and privatize the Constitution into a document to protect their criminal endeavors. Every single Repulican should be hanging their heads in shame for what they've allowed and what pieces of sick, lying criminal crap they are.
They've chop shopped a great nation to get cents on the dollar. They have sentenced all of our children to pay for a multi trillion dollar war based on lies that will burden them for their whole lives.
Their greed, arrogance and bigotry have condemned future generations to be sicker, dumber, have fewer educational and job opportunities and room for advancement, and with zero ideals left of democratic fairness, justice, and liberty to impel them, or laws and a constitution to protect them while doing so.
Any Republican who supports this is an unspeakable disgrace and lower than the scum that scum scrape off their shoes.
.
"Jesus, will this fucking nightmare ever end?"
-( paradox )
No. America itself is something that just 'is.' It is not something with a transitive reality of beginning, middle, or end. It can only be and do that which it 'is.'
A nightmare? Yes. But that is something that cannot 'end' without becoming nothing more than a solipsism of what is.
The Black hole of no hope because there never has been a time where hope as change in time has ever been permitted.
Change is illusory.
The lode star of death in life.
Posted by Jill Bains at July 2, 2007 10:10 PMExcuse me -- Clinton's pardons were wrong so this action is okay??? Presidents DO have the prerogative of pardons.
Well, frankly, I find it terribly interesting that Scooter Libby was an attorney for super-mobster Marc Rich, who was pardoned by Bill Clinton. And Susan McDougal spent, what?, 18 months in prison for refusing to testify against Billy Boy. There was a lot of speculation that she, too, had boinked Bill, which makes me wonder if that's why she didn't get a "commutation"--Hillary would have objected. But old Marc got his pardon.
Posted by Julie at July 2, 2007 10:18 PMFrom now on, there are no politicians in the US government worth supporting at all, if they are not doing everything possible, every day, loud and proud to IMPEACH ALL OF THESE BASTARDS and bring them to JUSTICE.
Posted by mparker at July 2, 2007 10:58 PMat least george is man enough not to let someone serve time for something he did..and cheney..kudos to bush..and shame on the democratic congress which continues to do what is right without political calculation...power corrupts..absolute power corrupts absolutely..
Posted by dennis at July 3, 2007 04:06 AMRu Paul is more of a man then George Bush.
George Bush is a Criminal and a Coward pulling Libbys ass out of the fire to prevent his own from being torched.
Posted by mparker at July 3, 2007 05:04 AM
Look, pretty much everyone in DC for anytime longer than a month ends up having a political network. The higher the pay and position, the bigger the network. Marc Rich, the one who had fled prosecution was pardoned by Clinton (after Rich's wife dropped a cool million in Clinton's Library fund), NOT commutted. So, I'm looking at another situation where the richest have paths the rest of us don't.
The only way we can get out of this fix is to elect those who aren't Beltway types. This means no Hillary, Kerry, McCain, Edwards, and the whole passel of third raters on both sides. This leaves Bloomberg for the Democrat nomination and either Thompson, Giuliani or Romney as the Republican reps (Thompson had a very truncated, uncomfortable time in DC, a good recommendation).
every 8 years, they should all go away and let newbies take over.
Posted by falkoyn at July 3, 2007 08:13 AMThe Bush commutation of Libby's sentence is a travesty of justice. Prosecutor Fitzgerald and Judge Walton and the jurors did their duty by the law; but at the end of day we see what passes for justice in this country. The dear family man who obstructed justice, and covered the tracks of treason in high places will not serve the sentence handed to him. John Edwards is right when he says there are two Americas.
Posted by Copeland at July 3, 2007 09:27 AMI wish Steve Gillard was around he'd have a stop sniching shirt picture up quick.
Posted by Pancho at July 3, 2007 10:35 AMI wish Steve Gillard was around he'd have a stop sniching shirt picture up quick.
Posted by Pancho at July 3, 2007 10:35 AM
Pancho, Steve's buds have a new site up, and they do "have a stop snitching picture up"!