Scooter Libby Has Sentence Commuted

[ChaliceThunder]

One would think from the reaction that this is the first time a president ever intervened in a criminal case

Not really. He embraces crime on a regular basis.

Lying to Congress is a crime.

 

[HumbleMan]

One would think from the reaction that this is the first time a president ever intervened in a criminal case

For the sake of discussion, could you list some instances where a president has commuted the sentence, or given pardon, to a figure that plays a central role in an ongoing investigation into the administration?

The closest example I can think of is Nixon firing his Attorney General.

 

[jamesrwright3]

The silver lining, if you can call it that at this point, is that Bush has handed the White House over to the Democratic Party. There will be no contest now.

Republicans cannot, with any credibility, claim to be anything close to a "law and order party."

The only label they can legitimately claim now is "Soft On Crime."

What would you call the Democrats who posterboy Clinton issued far more pardons than Bush and for far more egregious acts?
I guess the Democrats are softer on crime than the Republicans.

 

[ChaliceThunder]

What would you call the Democrats who posterboy Clinton issued far more pardons than Bush and for far more egregious acts?
I guess the Democrats are softer on crime than the Republicans.

All I know is that your prez proved he is soft on crime yesterday.

 

[Maynard Keenan]

These Republicans don't care about justice, or freedom, or the prosperity of the American people. Only about their own power and the prosperity of their rich friends. Remember everyone, this is not just about Bush. This is about his entire party, they refuse to denounce him and continue to stand by him. The party as a whole, at a national level, stands shoulder to shoulder with Bush, to blame for this tragedy of a presidency.

 

[MachZer0]

For the sake of discussion, could you list some instances where a president has commuted the sentence, or given pardon, to a figure that plays a central role in an ongoing investigation into the administration?

The closest example I can think of is Nixon firing his Attorney General.

What ongoing investigation are you talking about?

 

[SOAD]

What would you call the Democrats who posterboy Clinton issued far more pardons than Bush and for far more egregious acts?
I guess the Democrats are softer on crime than the Republicans.

It is refreshing to see that some republicans also believe that fellow republicans are soft on crime. Not often do I see such honesty

 

[jamesrwright3]

These Republicans don't care about justice, or freedom, or the prosperity of the American people. Only about their own power and the prosperity of their rich friends. Remember everyone, this is not just about Bush. This is about his entire party, they refuse to denounce him and continue to stand by him. The party as a whole, at a national level, stands shoulder to shoulder with Bush, to blame for this tragedy of a presidency.

The Dems care about their rich friends too. Clinton pardoned Marc Rich..whose ex wife was good friends with the Clinton..and who donated a large sum of money to the Clinton library..hmmm

 

[Maynard Keenan]

All politicians care about their rich friends, it is an unfortunate fact. But right now the republicans have been throwing everyone under the bus in every way so that they can make out like bandits. They are doing nothing to help average Americans and everything to help themselves.

 

[HumbleMan]

What ongoing investigation are you talking about?

My bad, that was probably just wishful thinking. I thought that the office of special prosecutor was still investigating.

But my core question remains. could you list some instances where a president has commuted the sentence, or given pardon, to a figure that plays a central role in an investigation into the administration?

 

[k]

That pardon law needs to be repealed. Anyone else see the sick irony? The very person whose sole job is to defend the constitution gets to ignore it at will. It also gives de facto immunity to anyone in an administration. If this doesnt prove bush is a liberal nothing will.

 

[praying]

Most.
Corrupt.
Administration.
Ever.

Wtihout.
a.
doubt.


Well maybe not most corrupt but certainly feels it is beyond the laws reach and cna bend the law to suit there needs. I think Patrick Leahy's comment summed it up nicely.


“Accountability has been in short supply in the Bush administration, and this commutation fits that pattern. It is emblematic of a White House that sees itself as being above the law.”





and hey chalice! How bees you?

 

[MachZer0]

My bad, that was probably just wishful thinking. I thought that the office of special prosecutor was still investigating.

But my core question remains. could you list some instances where a president has commuted the sentence, or given pardon, to a figure that plays a central role in an investigation into the administration?

And If I provide a case where the President issued a pardon to a fugure that played a central role in an investigation into the administration, would you then confess that this case with Bush and Libby is an acceptable use of Presidential power? I don't want to do the research just to have you poo-poo it as not relevant.

 

[JoyJuice]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6263561.stm

Witch hunt.

Fitzgerald didn't want his investigation ruined with the truth, and he had the chance to get a conviction even though a crime was not commited.

Libby's crime? Openly testifying. He should have recited the Clinton's testimony. "I do not recall" "I have no recollection", "I am unsure"

And when you give an answer, say I believe that was....
So you give no definate answer.

Silly Rabbit.

Not only are you mistating truth, you seem to be under the innane impression that as soon as the first person is discovered to have leaked Plames name, the subsequent and real leaks by other Whitehouse officials to individuals who are not privy to that info doesn't count any longer.

That is like saying a gang 5 bank robbers each robbed the same bank 5 consecutive days in a row, we caught the first guy, so the subsequent robberies don't count.

There is some serious flaws in the ridiculous "...but Armitage leaked first argument" when by Cheney's own notes there was collusion to have officials leak Plames name to discredit her husband.

You guys would make horrid criminal investigators.

 

[SimplyMe]

Not surprised.


Libby has the chance to clear his name, this way.
With a pardon, he wouldn't be able to prove he didn't
do it.

Lets see, Libby was convicted of perjury and obstruction. But the judge talked about nothing but
outing a secret agent.
So Libby was punished for a crime they could not prove happened.
Libby was convicted of lying because he didn't get the
dates right. Or couldn't remember events(obstruction).

So why should he go to prison? He was just a pawn in the political witch hunt.

Yet this is where it breaks down. Both the prosecutor and the judge were Republican appointees. So who was making this a political witch hunt? All the key players were Republican.

I fully expect a pardon, if Libby doesn't win his appeal.
But if their is a justice system, he should be at least resentenced, since the punishment was for a crime he wasn't convicted of.

Libby convicted for lying and obstruction of an investigation of a crime that never happened.

Yet strangely, Bush actually has said that he respected the jury's verdict, so apparently the President disagrees with you. Not to mention that Bush left the conviction and the fine.

Rather, Bush appeared to reinforce the idea that when Republicans claim to be "tough on crime" they are only talking about crimes committed by the poor; that white collar crimes are to be punished by a slap on the wrist.

 

[oldbetang]

And If I provide a case where the President issued a pardon to a fugure that played a central role in an investigation into the administration, would you then confess that this case with Bush and Libby is an acceptable use of Presidential power? I don't want to do the research just to have you poo-poo it as not relevant.

You can bet there will be caveats thrown in.

Let's try Susan Mcdougal.for example.

 

[Maynard Keenan]

That pardon law needs to be repealed. Anyone else see the sick irony? The very person whose sole job is to defend the constitution gets to ignore it at will. It also gives de facto immunity to anyone in an administration. If this doesnt prove bush is a liberal nothing will.

What does giving a pardon have to do with being liberal? This "Bush is a liberal" thing needs to die. He is not liberal. He is an authoritarian, free spending conservative. Spending money doesn't make someone liberal when you're spending the money on right wing issues (things that, in the end, are benefiting corporations and the rich.)

I know the goal is to create the idea that the way to fix Bush is not a Democrat, since they're liberal like you say he is. But the liberalism of Democrats wouldn't produce anything like the policies of Bush's that have been so disastrous. You'd see serious attention paid to developing energy independence. To helping Americans and small businesses deal with the crippling costs of healthcare. To protecting America without assaulting liberties at home or miring ourselves in wars that do little to actually fight terrorism. To helping individuals, not corporate interests. To improving the welfare of average people, not of the super-rich. To increasing personal freedom, rather than curtailing it. Those are liberal ideals. Bush's policies represent the mainstream of Republican conservatism.

 

[Jacey]

You can bet there will be caveats thrown in.

Let's try Susan Mcdougal.for example.

What does Susan McDougal have to do with anything.......she was thrown in jail because she refused to testify and lie.

 

[MachZer0]

What does Susan McDougal have to do with anything.......she was thrown in jail because she refused to testify and lie.

Plus, she was convicted of fraud and conspiracy and later pardoned by Bill Clinton

 

[JoyJuice]

Let’s put this whole thing in perspective.

It was long time Bush confidant and Bush Whitehouse appointee, James Comey, who named Bush political appointee and career prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, to investigate the leak. The Bush appointee and career prosecutor, Fitzgerald, filed an indictment and went to trial before Bush political appointee, Reggie "no nonsense" Walton; just the type of Judge Bush promised to install if elected. A jury then convicts Libby, and Bush political appointee Walton sentences him. At sentencing, Bush political appointee Judge Walton described the evidence against Libby as "overwhelming" and concluded that a 30-month sentence was appropriate. And now Bush says the very judge appointed to get serious about sentencing is being too harsh, and his supporters are crying, even though through appeal again conservative judges found the sentence appropriate. Moreover, the current conservative swinging Supreme Court upon hearing a case just last month found that a 33 month sentence for perjury and obstruction of Justice, three months more than Scooter, was well within the sentencing guidelines.

Before I was kind of unsure of impeachment, but given the myriad of disrespect for the law and the constitution I will be sending all three of my representives smoking e-mails insisting they settle for nothing less.