[kabar]

aking the claim that the dems won't like it and they will be even harder to get along with if we pardon Scooter is hardly compelling. Since when do they like anything this President has ever done.

It is not a claim, just a fact. The Dems and MSM will make political hay out of it. It is just another pretext to attack Bush. Why give them the ammunition?

I tend to disagree with your analysis this time.

I tend to disagree with yours. Again, what are the political advantages of giving Libby a pardon now?

[NautiNurse]

The Dems and MSM will make political hay out of it. It is just another pretext to attack Bush.

What race does Bush lose if he pardons Libby?

[rodguy911]

Pardoning Libby right now I think would really fire up the base which sorely needs it.

[Phsstpok]

what are the political advantages of giving Libby a pardon now?

The reason to do it now has nothing to do with political advantage (except in a negative sense, as you state, probably).  The reason to pardon him now is because it's the right thing to do.

There are times when you do the right thing despite the political consequences.

I admit that the President may have more information than I do about what the real cost of suffering those consequences now may be and I still trust him to make that judgement.  He and Libby both would put off doing the right thing by Libby if it were to be at too high a price to the country.

I harbor the same fond hope as RodGuy911 that a pardon, now, would be the opening salvo in an aggressive campaign to stomp the traitorous bastards on the other side into the ground (my characterization, not his).  And I certainly agree with him that it would fire up the base.