President Bush Commutes Libby's sentence

[Jean S]

It was a half measure.

And totally unacceptable. Pardon him or not, but don't pull this garbage.

[bestrongbpositive]

I believe in theory it may be OK but I believe that a lot of kids are simply passed thru the system under this act without earning it and that can’t be good for them..C+ is a little better so I’ll go along with you.Thanks for the reply..

[Theodore R.]

Insufficient: is GWB saying that Libby is really guilty of something but merely that the jurors were overzealous? The kind of half-hearted actions one would expect of GWB

[GRRRRR]

DU Reaction LIVE!!!

[bray]

President Bush does what he thinks is right no matter who thinks it is wrong.

Potatohead should be in jail for Perjury not Libby. This was one of the worst injustices in DC ever.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[soccermom]

And what about the PBA ban and ban on fed funds for embryonic stem cell research? B+ at least!

[traderrob6]

Well Bush did it again.....took a pretty good move and screwed it up with a squishy statement praising the juries decision and closing the door on what I would have predicted was a likely pardon as he was leaving office.

He still hasn’t learned after 6 years that you can’t please the left with compromise. He would have been better off pardoning him now, at least he would have gotten kudos from the right. As it stands now nobody is going to be happy.

PS I like Bush but when he acts like this it drives me crazy.

[Christian4Bush]

Welcome to America, where the judicial branch legislates, the legislative branch executes wars, and the executive branch metes out justice.

Bass ackwards, isn't it? :)

[b9]

Because a pardon looks like he’s covering something up. By commuting, he allows Libby to clear his name in court.

Yes.

[snowsislander]

My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby. The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.

I am glad that President Bush did at least commute the sentence, but I have to say that I don't particularly care for this paragraph in the announcement. It sounds to me (and maybe I am misreading it) that the President is saying that this amount of punishment is sufficient, thus granting some legitimacy to the conviction and some portion of the sentence.

I recognize this partial commutation gives Mr. Libby the opportunity to appeal without having to worry about spending time in prison; however, he has already spent a great deal of his time on this Earth and much money on this frivolous prosecution. I would have at least preferred to see a complete commutation of his sentence, and for the announcement to have not included the paragraph that I quoted.

[Jean S]

bray, why didn’t President Bush pardon him instead? I don’t get it.

[Petronski]

A pardon makes an appeal moot. Libby would like a chance to clear his name on appeal.

[roses of sharon]

Frightening how the Dims are willing to let an innocent man go to jail for political reasons.

But since Nifong, I am no longer willing to humanize Dims as just plain political enemies, they are truly out for our blood.

Yet another reason for a ruthless SOB Republican for Pres in 08.

[STARWISE]

Well, not this woman.

[pissant]

You are reading it wrong. This was a better move by Bush.

[tobyhill]

I think you’re right, Clinton commuted numerous sentences only to pardon as he walked out the door and I think Bush will do the same.

I don’t know which ones were originally commuted but here’s all of Clinton’s Pardons.

http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/clintonpardon_grants.htm

[buccaneer81]

Yet another reason for a ruthless SOB Republican for Pres in 08.

Fear not, Fred's on the way!!

[Kaslin]

Good news!

[bray]

This also gives Libby the chance to get Fitzmas disbarred after the appeal.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[traderrob6]

“You are reading it wrong. This was a better move by Bush.”

Please explain. After that statement he can’t possibly pardon him.