Bush Has Commuted Libby's Sentence

[Richard Tafoya]

Nothing but this so far: BREAKING NEWS President Bush commutes prison sentence of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby .

---

Earlier today, an Appeals court unanimously denied Libby's request to delay the start of his sentence until he has exhausted his appeals.

Hours later, Bush demonstrated that the rull of law doesn't apply to his inner circle.

[LesterX]

Well isn't that special? Way to go, George. You and Dickie must have been mighty afraid to have the guy really start talking from the confines of his lonely jail cell.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Is anyone surprised? You know this deal was made long ago.

[Richard Tafoya]

More from AP:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/02/AR2007070200927.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR

President Bush commuted the sentence of former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby today, sparing him from a 21/2-year prison term that Bush said was excessive.

Bush's move came hours after a federal appeals panel ruled Libby could not delay his prison term in the CIA leak case. That meant Libby was likely to have to report to prison soon and put new pressure on the president, who had been sidestepping calls by Libby's allies to pardon the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.

"I respect the jury's verdict," Bush said in a statement. "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."

Bush left intact a $250,000 fine and two years probation for Libby, and Bush said his action still "leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby."

Libby was convicted in March of lying to authorities and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative's identity. He was the highest-ranking White House official ordered to prison since the Iran-Contra affair.

Bush said of Cheney's former aide: "The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting."

[DoubleEdgeSword]

What possible justification can Bush offer the American people for this commutation? If this doesn't kill the GOP in the next election, I don't know what will. This pisses me off, royally.

[LesterX]

^We can only hope that it does, but I won't hold my breath.

[Richard Tafoya]

Hold on, isn't this all playing out strikingly similar to Paris Hilton? Maybe tomorrow, the judge will insist Libby attend a court hearing and Libby will cry and tell "Cheney!"

[BrokenHalo]

lol. Ouch. (alas, a commutation can't be challenged by any attorney or court...)

Will be interesting to see if he ends up pardoning him (that is still an option, too.)

[Richard Tafoya]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): “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.”

[Annoyedlistner]

so after standing in front of the American People and claiming he would fire who is involved in the leak...he not only defends him all through the trial...and then does away with his jail time?

The GOP catch phrase from 2004 without a doubt works here....

FLIP FLOP

This is a new low....his approval ratings is in the mid 20's and he does this? This just sealed his legacy.

What a freakin scum bag.......

[db44]

I should have known there was a reason for the London distractions...

[Richard Tafoya]

SurveyUsa:
http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=4b5255b9-3878-4082-b7d0-160d8ddcd52e

Most in USA Disagree with Bush Decision to Commute Libby Prison Sentence: 21% of Americans familiar with the legal case involving former White House aide Scooter Libby agree with President Bush's decision to commute Libby's prison sentence, according to a SurveyUSA nationwide poll conducted immediately after the decision was announced.

1,500 Americans were surveyed. Of them, 825 were familiar with the Libby case. Only those familiar were asked to react to the President's action. 17% say Bush should have pardoned Libby completely. 60% say Bush should have left the judge's prison sentence in place. 32% of Republicans agree with the President's decision, compared to 14% of Democrats and 20% of Independents. 26% of Republicans say Libby should have been pardoned completely, compared to 21% of Independents and 8% of Democrats. Conservatives split evenly: 31% say Libby should have been pardoned. 35% say the judge's sentence should have been left in place. 31% agree with the President's decision to commute the prison sentence, but to leave the fine and conviction in place.

Reaction to the President's decision may evolve over time. This poll attempts to measure a first reaction to the news, before many individuals would have had a chance to be influenced by political spin applied to the story.

[Richard Tafoya]

Huffington Post roundup of reactions:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Bush: "I Respect The Jury's Decision"...
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070702/cia-leak-trial/)REACTION: Only 21% Of Americans Support...
(http://politicalwire.com/archives/2007/07/02/most_disagree_with_bushs_libby_decision.html)Pelosi: Bush's "Word Is Not To Be Believed"...
(http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/02/libby-commutation-washington-responds/#more-682)Clinton: "In This Administration, Cronyism And Ideology Trump Competence And Justice"...
(http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070703/ap_on_go_pr_wh/cia_leak_quotes_2)Reid: Act "Disgraceful"...
Obama: Cements Bush Legacy "Of Cynicism And Division"...
Edwards: Bush "Clinically Incapable Of Understanding" Consequences...
(http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/02/libby-commutation-washington-responds/#more-682)Fitzgerald: "It Is Fundamental To The Rule Of Law That All Citizens Stand Before The Bar Of Justice As Equals" (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070702/cia-leak-trial/)

[tiger_rascal]

*hangs head in shame*

Im not familiar with the case. What did Libby do? Libby is a guy! All this time I thought it was a woman!

Something about leaking classified info or something? Who did this hurt?

[pinky]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17479718/
WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was convicted Tuesday of lying and obstructing a leak investigation that reached into the highest levels of the Bush administration.

Libby is the highest-ranking White House official to be convicted of a felony since the Iran-Contra scandal of the mid-1980s. The case brought new attention to the Bush administration's much-criticized handling of weapons of mass destruction intelligence in the run-up to the Iraq war.

The verdict culminated a nearly four-year investigation into how CIA official Valerie Plame's name was leaked to reporters in 2003. The trial revealed that top members of the administration were eager to discredit Plame's husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who accused the administration of doctoring prewar intelligence on Iraq.
That's the summary of his conviction in March.

[tiger_rascal]

Oh, ok, I get it. Plame and Libby is where I always got confused.

Is Bush stupid or something! Notice there is no question mark.

[*Katy*]

This is so disappointing, theres something very wrong with this country that this kind of situation just slides by and no one even thinks twice about it.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Who's "no one?" The American public ain't likin' it. Most of Congress isn't either. And history sure won't paint this in any kind of pretty light.

[pinky]

Sadly, DES, there's a substantial contingent who genuinely believe that Bush didn't go far enough, and ought to have pardoned Libby.

One pundit actually claimed (with a straight face) that the entire investigation was politically motivated, and he should have been acquitted.

I guess national security only counts if you get to scare the bejeezus out of the people with it.

[LesterX]

My favorite was Kate O'Beirne from the National Review on Hardball. She claims Libby should receive a full pardon, but admitted to supporting Clinton's impeachment for perjury and obstruction of justice. When asked how she could justify such inconsistency, her response was that Clinton admitted guilt and Libby didn't. Either Chris Matthews or the other guest responded "but a jury convicted Libby."

And then there's good ol' Mitt Romney, who likes to brag about his refusal to pardon or commute one sentence during his tenure as MA governor but defends Bush's decision. He should be soooo proud of refusing to pardon this guy:

As governor, Romney twice rejected a pardon for Anthony Circosta, who at age 13 was convicted of assault for shooting another boy in the arm with a BB gun -- a shot that didn't break the skin. Circosta worked his way through college, joined the Army National Guard and led a platoon of 20 soldiers in Iraq's deadly Sunni triangle.

In 2005, as he was serving in Iraq, he sought a pardon to fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/07/03/romney_opposed_pardons_as_governor_but_defends_bush_on_libby/

[pinky]

She's the one I was talking about, Leslie. I couldn't remember her name.

What a buffoon.

[*Katy*]

Who's "no one?" The American public ain't likin' it. Most of Congress isn't either. And history sure won't paint this in any kind of pretty light.
I meant, its not getting the attention it should be getting. I would bet that the majority of americans have never even heard about this case, let alone the recent events. Sadly, this allows for politicians to be more corupt without being held accountable. I watch the news pretty regularly, this is the first place i heard about this yet i did hear about the LA mayor's affair numerous times, when i was at the gym it was on CNN the WHOLE time i was there.

[pinky]

I'm confused by that. I've seen it on all the major news outlets, and it was the headline of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

[*Katy*]

I'm confused by that. I've seen it on all the major news outlets, and it was the headline of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Maybe im just catching the news at the wrong time, i do live in a very conservative town too. I dont watch cable news though(unless im at the gym and forced too)

[pinky]

That might explain it, then. The cable news outlets were all over this story. ;)

[ConnieB]

What possible justification can Bush offer the American people for this commutation? If this doesn't kill the GOP in the next election, I don't know what will. This pisses me off, royally.And what justifications did Clinton give for pardoning and commuting over 300 people during his 2 terms. I never heard him justify his decisions on doing so.

For example:

* Marc Rich was indicted on tax evasion, commodities fraud and other charges in 1983 and fled to Switzerland. After Clinton pardoned him, a House committee probing Clinton’s pardons sought testimony from Rich’s ex-wife Denise, who had been a major contributor to Democratic causes – including Hillary’s Senate campaign and the Clinton Presidential Library. Denise Rich invoked the Fifth Amendment.

* Almon Glenn Braswell was pardoned of his mail fraud and perjury convictions after paying about $200,000 to Hillary’s brother, Hugh Rodham, to represent his case for clemency. He later returned the payments, but he too invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Congressional hearing.

* On his last day in office, Clinton pardoned his old friend Susan McDougal, who had already completed her sentence for her role in the Whitewater scandal.

* Clinton also pardoned his brother Roger on drug charges, and former Housing secretary Henry Cisneros, who was convicted of lying to the FBI about payments to a mistress. Definite favoritism!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* How about Mel Reynolds the child molestor who now works for Jesse Jackson. Jackson asked Clinton to pardon him.

*Carlos Vignali, one of the largest cocaine dealers (delivered over 800 lbs of cocaine) in the U.S history was pardoned by Clinton as well. The other men who were caught with this guy are still in jail today.

* He also pardoned Smith and Gaines who were sentenced under federal drug sentencing laws and had NO chance for parole, they were suppose to serve over 25 years and they served less then 3 years.


Clinton showed favoritism as well during his terms as president, so don't go pointing the finger at Bush without doing the same for Clinton...they both pardoned or commuted people they knew.


Another thing....Hillary should have been charged with the same thing as Libby. She was caught lying under oath 10 years ago. There was a mock trial held by the Independent counsel but because of her being the First Lady, they didn't think there would be enough evidence to convict her, so Hillary got off without paying a fine or going to jail. Looks like there was some favoritism for Hillary as well.

Oh yeah, don't forget about Bill lying directly into the camera several times...and he got off too. ROFL.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

This is a thread about Bush pardoning Libby, Connie. Perhaps you missed the title of the thread?

[LesterX]

LOL, DES. It's the same old, same old. When all else fails, bring up Clinton.

On another note...plagiarism is just so tacky. You really should cite your sources, Connie. In this case, most, if not all, of the list should be within quotes since it was obviously copied. Based on the word-for-word language, I'm guessing that most of your list came from here: http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/2/22/131809.shtml

[Richard Tafoya]

And to draw the relevant parallel, which of the Clinton pardons affected a person who was convicted of a felony while employed by the White House and while acting at the direction of the President and Vice President while committing that felony?

**chirp...chirp**

[pinky]

And which of those involved national security and the identity of a covert agent?