Scooter Libby sentenced to 30 months and fined 250K

[FMJeff]

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8PIPOLG2&show_article=1

Finally...some closure to this embarassment. I would've hoped the scandal would've brought down the vice-president, but that was probably unrealistic on my part.

How many more government employees in the Bush administration need to go to jail before we call this administration a corrupt failure? Isn't Bush ultimately responsible for the corruption under him?

[reeshy]

Yes...I can't believe I agree with Jeff......But I love you , Jeff!!!!!

[Yerdaddy]

After the verdict was read Libby responded: "Pardon me? I wasn't listening" and went back to devouring his lunch of our national security with a side of curly fries.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8PIPOLG2&show_article=1

Finally...some closure to this embarassment. I would've hoped the scandal would've brought down the vice-president, but that was probably unrealistic on my part.

How many more government employees in the Bush administration need to go to jail before we call this administration a corrupt failure? Isn't Bush ultimately responsible for the corruption under him?

What? You don't think Bush will step up and handsomely reward Libby for being the fall guy?

[K.C.]

a) it's not long enough
b) I see a Presidential pardon in his future.

[Jujubees2]

How about good old Fred Thompson rushing to Scooter's defense?

Law and Disorder (http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTM4YmM4YjlhOGMwZGQyNzg5YzliMTM2NjQ5OGU0YTc=)

And did anyone catch the letters of recommendation that were written for Scooter regarding sentencing? Jesus, Paul Wolfowitz wrote a four-page missive. Guess he has nothing better to do.

Scooter Libby Love Letters (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0605071libby1.html)

[Yerdaddy]

How about good old Fred Thompson rushing to Scooter's defense?

Law and Disorder (http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTM4YmM4YjlhOGMwZGQyNzg5YzliMTM2NjQ5OGU0YTc=)

And did anyone catch the letters of recommendation that were written for Scooter regarding sentencing? Jesus, Paul Wolfowitz wrote a four-page missive. Guess he has nothing better to do.

Scooter Libby Love Letters (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0605071libby1.html)

I skimmed about 50 of those letters - from A to D - and I had no idea we had convicted Thomas Jefferson AND Mother Theresa. Dear Lord, what have we done!?

That Thompson piece is pure Good Ol' Boy garbage. He's for party over principle apparently. He claims two things: 1) that the Justice Department acted against the White House because they independently "folded under political and media pressure" and 2) that Libby's false statements took place in one single eight hour interview he gave when he was tired, (because it's hard work being Thomas Jefferson and Mother Theresa at the same time), and because the journalists who contraditcted him were out to get him. Both of these claims are insults to the public intelligence.

First of all this is the same Justice Department that organized a campaign directed from the White House to fire federal prosecutors because they weren't doing what senior Republicans wanted them to do. Never mind that the Justice Department is part of the executive branch - meaning they take orders from the President, not the press or other "political pressures". It's headed by Bush's personal attorney and life-long Bush loyalist.

Second, Libby repeated his lies in multiple interviews in multiple settings. Anyone who's read even the executive summary of any of the documents on this case would know that. Thompson's speaking to people who wouldn't do that. In other words, the Fox "News"/National Review crowd. He's serving up lies to those who want to be lied to.

Thompson's an ass. I looked at some of his other pieces and honestly I think we might as well re-elect Bush if he wins the nomination.

[Midkiff]

Oh, but VP Cheney is disappointed about it. So, we should all just give him his way.

[high fly]

The Bush administration response is a good example of their latest "core value."

CODDLE THE CRIMINAL AND BLAME THE VICTIM

[Furtherman]

After the verdict was read Libby responded: "Pardon me? I wasn't listening" and went back to devouring his lunch of our national security with a side of curly fries.



What? You don't think Bush will step up and handsomely reward Libby for being the fall guy?

BREAKING NEWS -- President Bush commutes the jail sentence of I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, The Associated Press reports.

[cupcakelove]

BREAKING NEWS -- President Bush commutes the jail sentence of I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, The Associated Press reports.

Its true, accountability no longer exists in our government. Here (http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/02/libby.sentence/index.html)'s a CNN article.

[Kevin]

He should have gotten that Long for just being a grown man and still being called Scooter

[angrymissy]

Its true, accountability no longer exists in our government. Here (http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/02/libby.sentence/index.html)'s a CNN article.

UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE.

[Furtherman]

Yep. Unfuckingbelievable is right. But could we expect anything less? I mean, is it really that much of a surprise?

I don't think so.

This is strictly, simply a case of Bush's "holier-than-thou" mentality that he bathed in like a bathtub full of shit during his march towards Iraq.

What's this? Joseph Wilson disagrees with me? He questions me? How dare he. What do we have on him? Oh yea, his wife.

Let's throw a little mud his way, and keep the focus off our pre-war intelligence (which, ironically, wasn't intelligent at all, and I'm still surprised today how many of us bought it).

Oh, and right about now Karl Rove is having another delicious steak. What? Me worry?


BUT... the shit rolls downhill and has to stop somewhere. Take one for the team Scooter, sure, your image will be tarnished a bit, but you'll be out in no time, earning big bucks on the lecture circuit and some nice interviews. Don't forget to blame the Democrats.

And it's business as usual.

[badmonkey]

Disagreeing with Bush doesn't automatically make a guy correct.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39834-2004Jul9.html

[FUNKMAN]

republican, democrat, IT DOESN'T MATTER! VOTING MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ANYMORE.

It's gonna take a National Labor Strike/Movement or Revolution to possibly change the course the country is going in. Too much wealth and power in the hands of a few.

[HBox]

January 20, 2009. Please come soon.

[DarkHippie]

I really wanna punch someone right now

[FUNKMAN]

I really wanna punch someone right now

http://superdairyboy.com/pictures/rocket_usa/Bozobopbig.jpg

[scottinnj]

Everybody's favorite atheist, in everybody's favorite online progressive magazine, agrees with me. (http://www.slate.com/id/2168642/) Which makes me the smartest poster on this thread. Nyah, Nyah Nyah Nyah, Nyah! :tongue:

[ChoppedLiver]

WOW! This guy is going to go down as being worse than Nixon.

THAT'S sayin' something.

[Tenbatsuzen]

WOW! This guy is going to go down as being worse than Nixon.

THAT'S sayin' something.

Nixon wasn't that bad. Take away Watergate and he was a very serviceable president. Only Nixon could go to China.

More like Carter. Carter was bad.

[DarkHippie]

Nixon wasn't that bad. Take away Watergate and he was a very serviceable president. Only Nixon could go to China.

More like Carter. Carter was bad.

Carter was a bad president, but he is a great man. I think that is why he was so bad in office. He wasn't immoral enough

[Recyclerz]

Disagreeing with Bush doesn't automatically make a guy correct.



No but it does push the likelihood way, way up. :wink:

I'm afraid your link to a three year old story about the Pat Roberts Senate intelligence committee reports neglects the overwhelming weight of evidence that has emerged since that Roberts was just carrying the Administration's water with the alleged bi-partisan (partial) report.

And to today's news I agree that it's not really surprising but it does add more weight to the side of the scales that some of us have been on awhile that this guy is definitely in the running for worst President ever. His ignorance of and/or disdain for precedent and the rule of law is downright scary; given that, I'll give W a 1/2 teaspoon of props for abandoning even the smallest of fig leaves of pretending he cares about being the President of all the people of this country and like some of his soul mates, say, Pinochet or Idi Amin, comes out & says "Fuck y'all. I'm taking care of my guys."

[scottinnj]

Carter was a bad president, but he is a great man. I think that is why he was so bad in office. He wasn't immoral enough


I you are right. I couldn't stand the sight of that guy when he was in office, but now I really like him.

[Recyclerz]

Everybody's favorite atheist, in everybody's favorite online progressive magazine, agrees with me. (http://www.slate.com/id/2168642/) Which makes me the smartest poster on this thread. Nyah, Nyah Nyah Nyah, Nyah! :tongue:

Only 'til Yerdaddy wakes up & starts posting again. :smile:

And nobody likes Christopher Hitchens anymore. :drunk: He nevers buys a round for anybody other than his own self. I think he & Dennis Miller both lost too many brain cell when they drank the Kool-Aid; it's not just that I disagree with them on issues, I really think both of them lost a good 10 mph on their fastball over the last few years. Sad, really.

I'm with you on Slate being great - although they have too much diversity of opinion (right leaners like Hitchens, Kaus & Jacob Weisberg) to be "just" a progressive site.

[scottinnj]

Only 'til Yerdaddy wakes up & starts posting again. :smile:




ssshhhhhhhhhhhhh! I wanna be smart!

[ChoppedLiver]

Carter was a bad president, but he is a great man. I think that is why he was so bad in office. He wasn't immoral enough

True.

Nixon at the time was the worst for the scandal. Carter was just a lame duck President
Bush is just so far beyond horrible...:wacko:

[Midkiff]

BREAKING NEWS -- President Bush commutes the jail sentence of I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, former aide to Vice President Dick Cheney, The Associated Press reports.

FUCK GEORGE W. BUSH IN HIS FILTHY HAYSEED ASS. :furious:

[epo]

FUCK GEORGE W. BUSH IN HIS FILTHY HAYSEED ASS. :furious:

Note that Bush commuted Libby's sentence instead of pardoning him. With that act Bush ensures that Libbay will keep quiet and be able to invoke the fifth before Congress without the risk of being cited for contempt.

Seriously I'm wondering if the Bush clan has any respect for the law.

[TheMojoPin]

Nixon wasn't that bad. Take away Watergate and he was a very serviceable president. Only Nixon could go to China.

More like Carter. Carter was bad.

Carter wasn't that bad. I'm not saying he's good, but his biggest strikes are the gas prices and the hostage crisis. Thing is, there really wasn't much he could do about the hostage crisis, at least not in the military terms everyone rants about in hindsight. People seem to forget our military was at one of its worst stages then, and storming in to take the hostages would have sent us to war, no way around it, and we were in no state to fight a war, not even close. Carter was damned no matter what with the hostages.

And I love defending Nixon. Yeah, he did some REALLY evil shit in office, but he also did some of the greatest things any of our presidents have ever done. He was a brilliant man completely brought down by crippling paranoia. He's a very complex figure and not the flat cartoon villain he's been made out to be. Watergate is the only major thing you fault him for, Matty? Come on, bombing Cambodia alone...

[TheMojoPin]

And really, who didn't see something like this coming?

Man, and I thought Clinton's pardons at the end of his term were ridiculous...Bush is gonna make him look like a piker when this is all wrapped up.

[HBox]

Note that Bush commuted Libby's sentence instead of pardoning him. With that act Bush ensures that Libbay will keep quiet and be able to invoke the fifth before Congress without the risk of being cited for contempt.

Seriously I'm wondering if the Bush clan has any respect for the law.

It took you this long to wonder? I reached the point where I was certain they had no respect years ago.

[PapaBear]

At least he still has to pay the million dollar fine and be on probation for 2 years. Not that it would be that big a deal to him.

[Fat_Sunny]

And really, who didn't see something like this coming?

Man, and I thought Clinton's pardons at the end of his term were ridiculous...Bush is gonna make him look like a piker when this is all wrapped up.

Come On, The Guy Got Convicted Of Lying About A Crime That Didn't Happen.

F_S Never Understood Why So Many People Fell For The Wilson's Fake Outrage.

Clinton Pardoned 16 TERRORISTS (Puerto Rican) To Nail Down Votes For Hillary In The NY Senate Race.

Which Is Worse?

[TheMojoPin]

Come On, The Guy Got Convicted Of Lying About A Crime That Didn't Happen.

F_S Never Understood Why So Many People Fell For The Wilson's Fake Outrage.

Clinton Pardoned 16 TERRORISTS (Puerto Rican) To Nail Down Votes For Hillary In The NY Senate Race.

Which Is Worse?

How can we compare them? Bush hasn't gotten to his pardons yet.

Like I said, Clinton's shenanigans at the end were embarassingly bad...but I think Bush is gonna trump him.

[HBox]

Come On, The Guy Got Convicted Of Lying About A Crime That Didn't Happen.

F_S Never Understood Why So Many People Fell For The Wilson's Fake Outrage.

Clinton Pardoned 16 TERRORISTS (Puerto Rican) To Nail Down Votes For Hillary In The NY Senate Race.

Which Is Worse?

He got convicted for lying in an investigation about a crime that the prosecutor couldn't prove. Is it really that hard to understand?

But forget that. It's irrelevant. He got CONVICTED. And now Bush just commutes his sentence because it's too harsh in his eyes? Is he constantly monitoring sentences across the nation making sure that all is right according to him? What about that black kid in Georgia doing 10 years for getting a blow job? I don't see him doing anything there.

[Fat_Sunny]

He got convicted for lying in an investigation about a crime that the prosecutor couldn't prove. Is it really that hard to understand?

But forget that. It's irrelevant. He got CONVICTED. And now Bush just commutes his sentence because it's too harsh in his eyes? Is he constantly monitoring sentences across the nation making sure that all is right according to him? What about that black kid in Georgia doing 10 years for getting a blow job? I don't see him doing anything there.

Honestly, F_S Went Ballistic When He Heard About That Poor Kid. He Hopes Bush Commutes His Sentence; No, PARDONS, Him As Well.

Prison Is Really Quite A Bad Punishment, And F_S Doesn't Think People Who Get Their Dicks Sucked Should Go There, Or People Who Have 1,000 Conversations A Day And Maybe Get Confused Should Go There Either.

F_S Can't Remember Conversations He Had 2 Weeks Ago, Much Less 2 Years Ago. Can You?

Prison Should Be Reserved For Those Who Are A DANGER To Society. F_S Is Very Liberal In Thinking That, Don't You Agree?

[LiddyRules]

And I love defending Nixon. Yeah, he did some REALLY evil shit in office, but he also did some of the greatest things any of our presidents have ever done. He was a brilliant man completely brought down by crippling paranoia. He's a very complex figure and not the flat cartoon villain he's been made out to be. Watergate is the only major thing you fault him for, Matty? Come on, bombing Cambodia alone... Nixon is my favorite president too. He's just such a fascinating man. More fascinating than any other president, IMO. The more you read about him the more you want to know.

As for this, well, if you disagree with the commuting of Lib's sentence, you hate America.

[HBox]

Honestly, F_S Went Ballistic When He Heard About That Poor Kid. He Hopes Bush Commutes His Sentence; No, PARDONS, Him As Well.

Prison Is Really Quite A Bad Punishment, And F_S Doesn't Think People Who Get Their Dicks Sucked Should Go There, Or People Who Have 1,000 Conversations A Day And Maybe Get Confused Should Go There Either.

F_S Can't Remember Conversations He Had 2 Weeks Ago, Much Less 2 Years Ago. Can You?

Prison Should Be Reserved For Those Who Are A DANGER To Society. F_S Is Very Liberal In Thinking That, Don't You Agree?

Yeah, I can agree with that. But the way to do that is through legislation, not the President just commuting his friend's sentences. Bush isn't making some stand against harsh sentences. He's doing a favor for a guy who took a bullet for him.

Remember, this is a guy from the Republican Party, the party that comes up with all these harsh sentences in the first place. And Bush spent his years before the presidency executing retards.

[scottinnj]

Nixon is my favorite president too. He's just such a fascinating man. More fascinating than any other president, IMO. The more you read about him the more you want to know.

As for this, well, if you disagree with the commuting of Lib's sentence, you hate America.

Nixon ended the draft.
Nixon began normal relations with China.
Nixon negotiated the original Salt Treaty with the Soviets.
Linebacker II-need I say more?

Pretty good Presidency overall, except:
If he hadn't of been a paranoid power hungry Jew Hating homophobe, he may have thought twice about participating in the Watergate coverup.

[Fat_Sunny]

Nixon is my favorite president too. He's just such a fascinating man. More fascinating than any other president, IMO. The more you read about him the more you want to know.

As for this, well, if you disagree with the commuting of Lib's sentence, you hate America.



If You Want Interesting Personalities/Psyches, LBJ Trumps Nixon. If You Haven't Read Caro's Books On LBJ, They Are PHENOMONAL, As Are Listening To The LBJ Tapes On C-Span (Well, At Least Up Until Last Month...Now They Are MIA :(

[fohat]

Come On, The Guy Got Convicted Of Lying About A Crime That Didn't Happen.

F_S Never Understood Why So Many People Fell For The Wilson's Fake Outrage.

Clinton Pardoned 16 TERRORISTS (Puerto Rican) To Nail Down Votes For Hillary In The NY Senate Race.

Which Is Worse?

what fake outrage? From what I have read, Mr. Wilson criticized the war. Then later his wife's secret identity wasn't so secret anymore.

Libby lied under oath, that's perjury. He obstructed Justice. The other people that leaked her name should be in trouble here also, not sure why they aren't (Armitage and Rove). You eluded in another post that Libby's crime doesn't fit the punishment, I don't know that I agree with that. Three counts of perjury and 1 of obstructing justice, sounds fairly serious.

[scottinnj]

I think if Libby was convicted for lying, then Wilson should be too. He's either a liar or the dumbest ambassador we have ever had. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39834-2004Jul9.html?referrer=emailarticle)
And if Wilson is so concerned about his wife's identity, why did he do a photoshoot (http://img.slate.com/media/64/031202_VF_ValeriePlame.jpg)with her in Vanity Fair?
C'mon, the whole thing was fucking retarded-the white house was stupid for doing what they did letting Armitage spill the beans to Novak about Valerie, but Wilson was a douche from the get go.


From the Washington Post July 10th, 2004 regarding the Senate Hearing:
The panel found that Wilson's report, rather than debunking intelligence about purported uranium sales to Iraq, as he has said, bolstered the case for most intelligence analysts. And contrary to Wilson's assertions and even the government's previous statements, the CIA did not tell the White House it had qualms about the reliability of the Africa intelligence that made its way into 16 fateful words in President Bush's January 2003 State of the Union address.

[TheMojoPin]

And if Wilson is so concerned about his wife's identity, why did he do a photoshoot (http://img.slate.com/media/64/031202_VF_ValeriePlame.jpg)with her in Vanity Fair?

Wait, when is that photo from? I'm assuming it's after everything blew up, so what's the big deal? Even if her cover hadn't been blown, it's not like she couldn't get her picture taken. Covert status simply means that her job with the Agency is hidden, not that she's supposed to not exist. It's not as if she was running around with people not knowing who her husband was.

[prothunderball]

Wait, when is that photo from? I'm assuming it's after everything blew up, so what's the big deal? Even if her cover hadn't been blown, it's not like she couldn't get her picture taken. Covert status simply means that her job with the Agency is hidden, not that she's supposed to not exist. It's not as if she was running around with people not knowing who her husband was.

yeah that photo shoot was done well after the whole thing had blown up, it really doesn't prove any point.

[TheMojoPin]

yeah that photo shoot was done well after the whole thing had blown up, it really doesn't prove any point.

And even if it was while she was covert, it's not like they were hiding who she was married to.

[HBox]

Administration seeks to pass legislation for mandatory minimum sentences. (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/06/17/administration_pushes_for_mandatory_sentences/)

Please, continue to defend them.

[HBox]

Hey guy! Sucks to be you! (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3302407)

The Supreme Court on Thursday made it harder for convicted criminals to argue on appeal that they should have received a lighter prison sentence than recommended by federal guidelines. By an 8-1 vote, the justices rejected arguments by a North Carolina man who sought less time in prison, and ruled that a sentence within the range set out by the guidelines may be presumed by a federal appeals court to be reasonable.

...

The ruling involved Victor Rita, who received 33 months in prison for making false statements during an investigation of illegal trafficking in machine gun kits. His sentence was at the bottom of the guideline range of 33 to 41 months.
Rita had sought a sentence lower than 33 months, based on his physical condition -- he has diabetes and other illnesses -- his likely vulnerability in prison and his military service in Vietnam and in Operation Desert Storm.
The Supreme Court upheld a U.S. appeals court's ruling that found Rita's sentence to be reasonable.

[Yerdaddy]

Re: Plame "sent her husband on a junket" as it was parrotted at the time:

An investigation of the Niger claims was desired by the agency and Plame suggested her husband because of his unique qualifications. Her superiors sent him, because of his unique qualifications. Can anyone name someone with better qualifications than these?:

Wilson served in the U.S. Foreign Service from January 1976 through 1998.

All details of Wilson's diplomatic postings are from "Diplomatic Career of Ambassador Joseph Wilson," The Politics of Truth 451.
1976–1978: General Services Officer, Niamey, Niger
1978–1979: Administrative Office, Lomé, Togo
1979–1981: Administrative Officer, U.S. State Department, Washington, D.C.
1981–1982: Administrative Officer, Pretoria, South Africa
1982–1985: Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM), Bujumbura, Burundi
1985–1986: Congressional Fellow, offices of Senator Al Gore and Representative Tom Foley
1986–1988: DCM, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
1988–1991: DCM, Baghdad, Iraq
1992–1995: Ambassador to Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe
1995–1997: Political Adviser to Commander in Chief U.S. Armed Forces, Europe EUCOM, Stuttgart, Germany
1997–1998: Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council, Washington, D.C.
From 1988 to 1991, he was the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. He was praised by George H. W. Bush after sheltering more than one hundred Americans at the embassy, despite Saddam Hussein's threats to execute anyone who refused to hand over foreigners. As a result, in 1990, he also became the last American diplomat to meet with Saddam Hussein.[10] When Hussein sent a note to Wilson (along with other embassy heads in Iraq) threatening to execute anyone sheltering foreigners in Iraq, Wilson publicly repudiated the dictator by appearing at a press conference wearing a homemade noose around his neck and saying "If the choice is to allow American citizens to be taken hostage or to be executed, I will bring my own fucking rope," a flair for public appearance that has become a trademark of Wilson.

As a career diplomat, Wilson later served as U.S. ambassador to Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe during the administration of President George H. W. Bush and helped direct Africa policy for the National Security Council during the administration of President Bill Clinton.[11]

I've always loved the noose for a necktie gag. Too bad it didn't stop him from being called a traitor and pro-Saddam back in good old days when dissent was treasonous.

[Yerdaddy]

Here's the most thorough and best written piece on the Plame affair: The Washington Back Channel. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/magazine/25Libby.t.html?ei=5089&en=17390d122cb9e5e1&ex=1332475200&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss&pagewanted=print)

Libby did not forget shit about those conversations because he's a busy guy. He lied repeatedly to protect his superiors as part of a campaing to destroy a well-informed critic of the rationale for the war (who we now know was correct in his claims) by leaking the name of his covert agent wife either knowingly or without regard for the fact that her identity was a classified national security secret.

Libby was convicted of perjury and obstructing justice which he knowingly committed, and his actions obstructed the investigation into other possible crimes beyond Armitage's initial leak of the information.

The only unresolved issue in my mind is why the fuck isn't it a crime to confirm the identity of a covert agent just because someone else leaked it first? What the fuck? If someone called the White House and said they had detailed plans of U.S. troop movements and they wanted confirmation that they're legit and the official confirms it that piece of shit is a traitor. But Rove gets a free pass and huzzahs from his followers. The most poignant aspect of this whole case is that the national secrets laws have been deliberately left weak to protect high government officials - probably on the assumption that nobody in those offices would trade national sell out the country for political gain. Woops.

Other than that I endorse everything that Recyclerz said except what he said about me. Scottinnj once made sense of the Bible. I can't do that!

[A.J.]

Why didn't Bush commute Paris Hilton's sentence when he had the chance??? WHY???

[Knowledged_one]

I find it a bit ironic that Clinton who pardoned Mark Rich during the last hours of his presidency for dealing with Iran during the hostage crisis then fled the country where he was on the FBI's most wanted list was defended in that case by Scooter Libby

[high fly]

I find it a bit ironic that Clinton who pardoned Mark Rich during the last hours of his presidency for dealing with Iran during the hostage crisis then fled the country where he was on the FBI's most wanted list was defended in that case by Scooter Libby

Maybe it's just a measure of thanks for all the work "Scooter" did on U.S. military force reductions at the end of the Cold War.


I watched Tony Snow today and the administration still concentrates on coddling a criminal while damning the victims......

[high fly]

Why didn't Bush commute Paris Hilton's sentence when he had the chance??? WHY???

Because she committted a misdemeanor that did not harm the national interest whereas "Scooter" participated in obstructing justice so the Bush administration could get away with shutting down a CIA operation investigating Iran's WMD.
CLEARLY Paris deserved more time in the slammer than "Scooter."

[MikeB]

http://www.hbo.com/sopranos/img/252x190/character/junior_soprano.jpg
Yet Bush would not pardon this man

[Midkiff]

Seriously I'm wondering if the Bush clan has any respect for the law.

I can answer that: no.

[epo]

Seriously I'm wondering if the Bush clan has any respect for the law.

It took you this long to wonder? I reached the point where I was certain they had no respect years ago.


I can answer that: no.

I know, but as an American I wanted to believe that even though I completely disagree with this Administration that they at least had respect for something.

Ugghhh....January 2009 can't come fast enough politically for me.

[Pitdoc]

Yes, I agree that this is a travesty of justice, but can we get back to the REAL crime? It is ILLEGAL to reveal the identity of a US government covert operative.This law was written into law at the urgings of the then President , George Bush (1). Now , we know for certain SOMEBODY broke the law,,why aren't they going to jail? I keep hearing how Richard Armitage spoke to Novak, but no reason given why he's not in the clink.Regardless, we know who's really behind it all' the SON of the man who got the law passed,or his bald puppetmaster.

[DarkHippie]

I can answer that: no.

Rich people don't have to follow laws. They have underlings who will take the rap for them. I bet Libby is gonna get a medal of honor.

Remember when everyone thought Enron was gonna be the big scandal in this aadministration?

[jetdog]

Regardless, we know who's really behind it all' the SON of the man who got the law passed,or his bald puppetmaster.
?????????
http://op-for.com/dr.evil.laser.jpg

[TooLowBrow]

.Regardless, we know who's really behind it all' the SON of the man who got the law passed,or his bald puppetmaster.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b354/led37zep/pyle-ESD-anim.gif

[Midkiff]

A snippet of the CNN article:

"Snow said Bush made the commutation decision because he wanted "to maintain the faith in the jury system."

"He did that by keeping intact the conviction and some of the punishments," Snow said. "It's important to respect what the jury concluded because the jury is the group that counts here.""

LINK (http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/03/libby.sentence/index.html)

Seriously, George W. Bush is an outright criminal. He needs to be impeached.

I know he can legally do this, so it isn't technically criminal. But this proves we just need to get him out, even if we have to impeach him for choking on a pretzel.

[scottinnj]

First of all Yerdaddy, I love the new Avatar. "Saigon, I'm back in Saigon...."


But as far as defending the administration, I'm not. Just Libby. I was hoping for a little jail time, say six months before the commutation/pardon whatever it was, because he did lie. Having said that, the sentence was too harsh for the circumstances.

As for Wilson and the photoshoot of him and his wife, it was another attempt of Wilson to divert attention from his stupidity and lies and say "I'm not the bad guy here, I'm just a poor innocent victim bowled over by the Administration"
Wilson is a douche, not a hero.

And Yerdaddy, you can drink from my canteen anytime.

[Stankfoot]

Here's the most thorough and best written piece on the Plame affair: The Washington Back Channel. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/magazine/25Libby.t.html?ei=5089&en=17390d122cb9e5e1&ex=1332475200&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss&pagewanted=print)

Libby did not forget shit about those conversations because he's a busy guy. He lied repeatedly to protect his superiors as part of a campaing to destroy a well-informed critic of the rationale for the war (who we now know was correct in his claims) by leaking the name of his covert agent wife either knowingly or without regard for the fact that her identity was a classified national security secret.

Libby was convicted of perjury and obstructing justice which he knowingly committed, and his actions obstructed the investigation into other possible crimes beyond Armitage's initial leak of the information.

The only unresolved issue in my mind is why the fuck isn't it a crime to confirm the identity of a covert agent just because someone else leaked it first? What the fuck? If someone called the White House and said they had detailed plans of U.S. troop movements and they wanted confirmation that they're legit and the official confirms it that piece of shit is a traitor. But Rove gets a free pass and huzzahs from his followers. The most poignant aspect of this whole case is that the national secrets laws have been deliberately left weak to protect high government officials - probably on the assumption that nobody in those offices would trade national sell out the country for political gain. Woops.

Other than that I endorse everything that Recyclerz said except what he said about me. Scottinnj once made sense of the Bible. I can't do that!

Thanks for posting this; I was getting a knot in my stomach reading some of the posts leading up to yours. It really burns me when I read people buying the administrations line on Joe Wilson. How many of you who trash him have actually read the op ed piece (link) (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/06/opinion/06WILS.html?ex=1372824000&en=6c6aeb1ce960dec0&ei=5007)that started the whole thing?

And as Yerdaddy said, Libby did reveal that Plame was a CIA operative to two reporters. Just because they weren't Novak's source doesn't mean he didn't commit a crime. I think the main problem with prosecuting him was trying to prove intent which is always difficult. It wasn't enough that they prove he leaked it.

And don't think commuting his sentence will be the end of it; I guarantee you Bush will pardon Libby right before he leaves office as a final "fuck you" to us all ...

[foodcourtdruide]

I still can't believe that people attack pre-war critics of the Iraq War, and defend those who pushed us into this mess.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

I still can't believe that people attack pre-war critics of the Iraq War, and defend those who pushed us into this mess.

It's a simple story. If you're on THEIR side, they back you up. If you're on ANOTHER side, they will never back you up.

If you're not from their part of town, you are forever the enemy, and the guys from your neighborhood must always be defended.

This is the case of remaining conservative support for the pro-war idiots (which I would point out is in fact dwindling by masses...not growing...which is generally a 'good' thing). Was the case for why OJ wasn't convicted. If the glove don't fit, you must acquit.

Exact same group/mob mentality. It don't care about the facts, it don't care about thinking outside its prejudices and biases... it just cares about smearing the other side's face as best they can. Why do you think genocidal war between two tribes in Africa has lasted longer than any form of peaceful disagreement in all of human history? Human nature.

[HBox]

If there is one story that could define Mitt Romney, his character, and everything he supposedly stands for, this is it. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19586943/)

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who as Massachusetts governor refused to pardon an Iraq war veteran's BB-gun conviction, on Tuesday called President Bush's commutation of Scooter Libby's prison sentence "reasonable."Defending Bush, Romney said at a campaign stop that "the president looked very carefully at the setting" before deciding to commute the 2 1/2-year sentence of Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, who was convicted in the CIA leak case.

...

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.
In his presidential bid, Romney often proudly points out that he was the first governor in modern Massachusetts history to deny every request for a pardon or commutation during his four years in office. He says he refused pardons because he didn't want to overturn a jury.
During the four years Romney was in office, 100 requests for commutations and 172 requests for pardons were filed in the state. All were denied.

[Tenbatsuzen]

If there is one story that could define Mitt Romney, his character, and everything he supposedly stands for, this is it. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19586943/)

Ha ha. Like anyone was gonna vote for Mitt anyway!

[Yerdaddy]

First of all Yerdaddy, I love the new Avatar. "Saigon, I'm back in Saigon...."


But as far as defending the administration, I'm not. Just Libby. I was hoping for a little jail time, say six months before the commutation/pardon whatever it was, because he did lie. Having said that, the sentence was too harsh for the circumstances.

As for Wilson and the photoshoot of him and his wife, it was another attempt of Wilson to divert attention from his stupidity and lies and say "I'm not the bad guy here, I'm just a poor innocent victim bowled over by the Administration"
Wilson is a douche, not a hero.

And Yerdaddy, you can drink from my canteen anytime.

For saving the lives of over 100 Americans by daring Saddam Hussein to carry out his threats to kill him, he's a hero.

I'll also say he's a hero for writing his Op-Ed that started the whole thing by exposing what is now undeniably a ball-faced lie to get us into this war in the President's State of the Union Speech. A couple weeks before the piece ran he spoke at a friend's conference on Iraq, told us his story and said it was probably going to bring the wrath of the White House on him. It did that while also bringing him his celebrity status. I'm sure he didn't expect them to destroy his wife's career, but he knew it was going to be bad.

He's a political partisan and a bit of a showboat and some of the things he said haven't been true. But nothing substantial. He said his wife had nothing to do with his being sent to Niger. She actually reccommended him to her superiors who sent him. He said he said he was certain Cheney had ordered him sent and had been briefed on his conclusions - Cheney denied this and nobody could prove he had. Considering the seriousness of the subject, and the fact that Cheney was the guy claiming with the most certainty that Hussein had an active nuclear weapons program, Cheney would be neglegent of his responsibilities to the nation's security if he had not been briefed. But they had the dominant voice and the VP's claim that he didn't know shit about it was proudly trumpetted in the media and even made it into the Senate Intelligence Report on pre-war intelligence, (a subject that wasn't even a part of the report's mandate).

Considering what we know now, but also with what we knew then, I don't see how it's possible to conclude that Wilson's actions were anything but a positive force for the nation's interests and the White House's actions, (originally burrying the badly forged documents that started the claims of Hussein wanting uranium from Niger, making the claim in multiple speeches including the S of the U despite no evidence for and plenty of evidence against the claim, to knowingly leaking Plame's identity to punish her husband for being right, to conducting a smear campaign coordinated with their friendly media sources, and I'll throw in that the President, after claiming he would fire anyone involved int he leak, never even fucking asked his staff who did it because he didn't want to know and only wanted to avoid anyone in his White House from responsibility), were anything but a negative force for the nation's interests. And I don't see how anyone can conclude that Wilson's publicity stunts were unwarranted from a guy in a long-running public battle against the White House with all of it's resources and access to public airwaves.

I very much consider him a hero even if he is a playboy and a showboat. That's something that shouldn't take away from the judgement of who was right and who was wrong any more than the fact that Nichole Brown Simpson had been driving around with the dead waiter that she was banging in O.J.'s car takes anything away from the question of whether he's guilty of murdering them. It took balls for Wilson to do what he did and it was in our best interest. I don't understand how that can still be a question at this point.

That's typical. Shit. Fuckin' Vietnam mission. I'm short and we gotta go up there so you can kill one of our own guys? That's fuckin' great! That's just fuckin' great. Shit.

[empulse]

http://whowantscake.org/images/Loyalty-Rewarded.jpg