After Lewis “Scooter†Libby lost his federal appeal of the two and half year prison sentence he was given for lying and obstructing justice in the CIA leak case investigation earlier today, President Bush issued a grant of Executive Clemency and commuted Libby’s sentence. In a statement Bush said, “Mr. Libby was sentenced to thirty months of prison, two years of probation, and a $250,000 fine. In making the sentencing decision, the district court rejected the advice of the probation office, which recommended a lesser sentence and the consideration of factors that could have led to a sentence of home confinement or probation. 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.â€
The president rationalized his decision this way, “My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby. 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.†So Libby has to live with a conviction and that is punishment enough? Please. I think we all knew this day was coming. This White House was never going to let a loyal soldier like Libby see the inside of a prison.
I am sure there will be lots of outrage in left leaning circles over this, but coming from an administration that has consistently rewarded loyalty over competence and the truth, Bush’s actions were anything but a surprise. It would have been more shocking if the president would have let Libby go to jail. What is most disturbing about this is the message it sends. If you are rich and or connected to power, the rules don’t apply to you. It doesn’t matter what two federal courts have ruled, the rules are different for a person like Scooter Libby than they are for you and I.
As governor of Texas, Bush had no problem with putting the mentally ill and challenged to death. He always said that he respected the ruling of the courts and the opinion of the juries in those cases, but apparently none of those people whom he put to death were not nearly as important as Dick Cheney’s friend and former chief of staff. It is amazing that just when you think that this administration can’t give another black eye to either itself or the nation, they turn around and do something as self serving as this. We are witnessing an administration that cares nothing about the rule of law. Its critics have said time and time again that the Bush administration acts like it is above the law, and the clemency of Scooter Libby is the strongest proof yet that these critics are right.
Jason Easley is the editor of the politics zone at 411mania.com. Â His news column The Political Universe appears on Tuesdays and Fridays at www.411mania.com/politicsÂ
Jason can also be heard every Sunday at 7:00 pm (ET) as the host of The Political Universe Radio Show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepoliticaluniverseÂ
2 users commented in " Bush commutes Libby’s sentence "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThe commutation is proper, though it is a bit premature!
http://osi-speaks.blogspot.com/2007/07/though-premature-bushs-commutation-of.html#links
Mr. Clinton comitted perjury when he lied to the Suprere Court of the United States and should have been impeached. The war we are in with Islamsist would have been impossible should he have have acted swifty to the bombing of our embassies, Kobar Tower and the 500 hundered American lives lost and the ensuing belief of the islamists that they have open season on the US. He diddled while the U S was being tested to see if we had the gumption to stand up and protect our American Embassies, employees and our troops. We were shown lacking – Clinton refused to take the phone call when the men in the field had Oama bin Laudin in their sights and he refused to take the call and Berger said no to the field operative. What a guy – he should be in prison for committing perjury, treason & and the loss of lives and our purse to the Islamists. We can thank him for the Loral deal to give the most sopfiticated missle guidance to the Chinese thru the Riady funds he and Hilary received. Now he and Hilary Have 50,000M plus – Bill has Irish ciitizenship and he receives tax free all funds he receives thru his books as he is considered a writer. To bad the US treasuery could use those funds but again the Clintons feel they are entitled. – they are entitled & use every legal skills to take advantage of every single openning they can. Real loyal people and the American people are being conned. Look @# the 140 people he pardoned – most drugs and real bad guys. But I am sure he was paid off there too.
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