Posted on 07/03/2007 10:10:10 AM PDT by SmithL
IN COMMUTING the sentence of former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby, President Bush sent the message that perjury and obstruction of justice in the service of the president of the United States are not serious crimes.
Never mind the president's words about our system of justice relying on "people telling the truth" -- and that those who don't "must be held accountable." His bottom-line action speaks louder than all the platitudes and caveats in the president's statement.
Libby was sentenced to 30 months in prison after being convicted by a jury for his part in trying to stymie an investigation into the 2003 leak of a CIA operative's identity. The sentencing judge seemed determined to see that the vice president's former chief of staff serve time for his felony convictions.
Now, thanks to Bush's intervention, Libby will not spend a day behind bars.
The president's rationalization that Libby has suffered immensely with the damage to his reputation, the hefty fines -- and the resulting strain on his wife and children -- could be said of just about anyone with a previously clean record who is about to enter a federal prison.
But Bush has not lifted a finger on behalf of obstructers of justice who don't happen to work in the White House.
Perhaps the underlying message here is that Bush feels his administration has suffered enough for its manipulation of intelligence before the Iraq war and its attempts to chill voices of dissent.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
How much jail time did Sandy Burglar serve?
“President Bush sent the message that perjury and obstruction of justice in the service of the president of the United States are not serious crimes.”
No, Congress sent that message during the clinton years.
Sometimes a barf alert is mandatory.
Other times it would be inadequate. This is one of those times. This tripe is just barnyard stupid.
Don't forget, he also pardoned his CIA Director John Deutch.
I guess I’d be more concerned about this paper’s opinion on Scooter Libby if they had been up in arms about Marc Rich, or Sandy Burger.
Lessee, Libby was convicted of “Obstruction of Justice” and “Perjury” in an investigation that concluded no criminal acts had occured.
So, logically, Libby could NOT have “obstructed” justice and the perjury charge is pretty iffy, too.
What is sad is that President Bush didn’t give him a full and complete pardon.
“perjury and obstruction of justice in the service of the president of the United States are not serious crimes.”
But if you ARE the president, it is ok SFT?
Where was the “outrage” when clinton was PROVEN to have literally been PAID for pardons?
First class hypocrits.
Also it was a COMUTATION but WITHIN THE GUIDELINES! Essentially to allow the appellate system to continue.
It ain't gonna' work for them over the Independence Day holiday.Nobody, except the extreme rabid liberals, gives a rat's hiney about it.
This prosecution was a Witch Hunt. Scooter is guilty of being associated with the target of the Witch Hunt, nothing more.
When the entire campaign of Fitz's was a blatant sham, and politics overruled the law as a matter of course, don't you dare pretend that the prosecution of Scooter Libby had anything at all to do with high-minded justice!
Prosecutors didn't want the truth, they wanted this administration's head on a platter.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“What is sad is that President Bush didn’t give him a full and complete pardon.”
Yet.
No wonder printed papers are going broke.
Well, given that Bill Clinton sent the message that perjury (and subbornation of perjury) and obstruction of justice simply aren't crimes at all.
I think that I've read enough of this editorial.
Mark
You missed the “barf alert”, this IS the SF Cornholicle.
“barf alert” not needed, since this IS clearly identified as the SF Comicle
Well, what Libby did is certainly less serious than Sandy Burglar's stuffing documents down his pants in an effort to cover up for Clinton.
Libby will continue his appeal. The appeals court may not vacate or reverse, but there is a high probability that SCOTUS will, if Libby can go that far.
If that happens, Libby would have been wrongfully imprisoned without the commutation.
That's why W did the right thing here. There is a strong possibility that Libby may be completely vindicated in the long run.
Oliver North had all his convictions overturned, in the long run.
Sentences should be commuted because there is a possibility of the conviction being overturned on appeal? Willing to do that for everyone?
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