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Bush pardons Libby
Breaking via New York Times:
President [sic] Bush commuted the sentence of former White House aide I. Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby on Monday, sparing him from a 2 1/2-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.''
Remember, this is the guy who laughed when Karla Faye Tucker asked to have her sentence of death commuted to life in prison. Glad to see he's such a soft touch these days.
At what point does impeachment become a viable option?
It's yucky, it's a scandal, it's a shonda for the neighbors but
I have no confidence that commuting Libby's sentence is an issue that will help drive these crooks from office. Has anyone reviewed polling data on this? While I'm outraged by Mr. Bush, can we use the outrage creatively? Letting Libby loose is not so bad as forcing our fighting forces to continue in Iraq, in my book. Looking at the GOP responses of Mr. Thompson & Mr. Giuliani, I conclude that they think Bush can get away with this. Can he?
BUSH PARDONS LIBBY
Unfortunately there is not enough time left for impeachment. What we need is for Congress to sit on Bush from now until January 20, 2009.
The prison sentence was not excessive, it was in line with what others convicted of the same crime would have received.
70% of those polled were against a pardon but I guess Libby and his knowledge (which I heard he and his family were threatening to let out) were more important than Karla Faye and all the others who he let be excuted and also all the detainees at Gitmo.
What about AFTER he's gone...
I have a question. Can Congress investigate and bring charges against Bush, Cheney, et al, AFTER they have left office? Because if so, I think that's what they should do because YOU KNOW that Bush is going to pardon everybody before he leaves office. And I wouldn't put it past him to try to give out a pardon BEFORE someone has been charged and convicted.
But seriously...can Congress do this AFTER he's out? I think it's the only way we can truly hold them accountable.
Afraid not.
Presidential pardon power is absolute. However, Bush can't pardon himself.