I wish we could count on the legal profession, merchants like Walmart, and agribusiness to get behind this idea, a sovereign and free "America" today.
Posted on 07/07/2007 5:41:51 AM PDT by kellynla
It is this reporter's opinion that President Bush's commutation of Lewis "Scooter" Libby's sentence marks a sharp contrast in our nation's history.
In order to convict Libby, a jury had to conclude that he not only knowingly and repeatedly lied to the FBI and a grand jury, he leaked classified information about CIA operatives.
But the Libby case is only one example of those in government found guilty of bribery, voter fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy, tax evasion, obstruction of justice, racketeering, extortion, drug possession, and perjury.
Recently it was revealed that at least 20 former members of Congress were convicted of a range of criminal offenses, yet continued to draw taxpayer supported pensions each year.
Such pensions range from $126,000 in the case of Dan Rostenkowski to an average of $50,000 or $60,000 for others.
People like Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D–Calif. and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D–Calif. have been accused of shady government business transactions.
What contrasts we witness on this Fourth of July weekend. We have a right to ask what became of the men who so boldly signed their names to our Declaration of Independence and lighted the fires of liberty in souls of men throughout the world.
They signed and pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And what do we know about those brave men who risked everything to create a free America?
Five of them, captured by the British as traitors, were tortured to death.
Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned to the ground.
Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army.
One of the signers had two sons captured.
Nine of the 56 who signed fought and died in the Revolutionary War.
What manner of men were these who signed our Declaration of Independence?
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, 11 were merchants, nine were farmers, and plantation owners.
Many of these men were well educated and well off. They had everything to lose yet they signed the Declaration of Independence though they knew the penalty would be death on the gallows if they were captured.
These were courageous men, dedicated men who signed our Declaration of Independence. What a contrast they are to those 20 former members of Congress convicted of a range of criminal offenses.
Standing tall and straight and unwavering, the men of Washington stayed and pledged their support of the Declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence.
These brave men mutually pledged to each other our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor so we could live free. These brave men, filled with God and a patriotic fervor, gave us an independent America.
When a group of citizens asked Benjamin Franklin what type of government had the signers of the Declaration of Independence created, he responded, "a republic if you can keep it."
In the words of Benjamin Franklin, can we keep it?
He did?
I wish we could count on the legal profession, merchants like Walmart, and agribusiness to get behind this idea, a sovereign and free "America" today.
distortion/lie. Now, are you sure 5 signers were torured and killed by the British? Who were they?
They were well versed in the history of England, and its laws, so they had to be aware that pardons and reprieves can be abused. They still included them. And I, for one, do not think the power was abused in Libby's case. I think the prosection was abuse and the jury's verdict was totally inappropriate.
How would a jury have to conclude that when he was not charged with it.
Perhaps the author should ask the Founding Fathers whether the Wilsons, the DNC and the DBM were guilty of sabotaging the nations foriegn policy.
First of all she was NOT a Cia “operative”.
In the words of Benjamin Franklin, can we keep it?
No, its over. The boomers where the last nail in America’s coffin It is now a narcissistic materialistic juggernaut marching towards being a bankrupt european styled socialist milquetoast country.
Compared to Washington DC they where saints. These where the most educated and philosophical leaders we ever had and it has been downhill ever since.
Somebody please tell Putzman (and kellynla, who blesses him) that Grandee Inquisitor Fitzpatrick was able to convict Libby of holding on to mistaken recollections about who told/heard what and when he heard/told it. Fitzy knew, going in, that DICK Armitage was the one who let it out that whining liar Joe Wilson had been sent on his no-fact finding mission to Yellow-cake Land in Africa by his CIA desk-jockey wife. Fitz’ investigations were little better than Duke Lacrosse Stripper Nifong’s.
The founding fathers would be rolling over in their graves looking at the what the current elected officials have done to our great country.
“Putzman?”
The gentleman’s name is Putnam.
I suggest you remember that... P U T N A M
and as a fellow former Marine and conservative, he deserves that respect.
That is Putnam’s point. The jury had to believe that Libby did knowingly lie repeatedly about the so-called “leak” of an undercover CIA agent. Of course we all now know that Plame was NOT an undercover CIA agent and her husband was NOT a CIA operative.
And furthermore, that Fitzgerald knew within a day who actually “leaked” Plame’s job at CIA yet Fitgerald continued on his witch-hunt.
Something else the founders would be appalled about is the state of our judicial system, where judges decide that relevant information can’t be provided to the jury, and where prosecutors and defense lawyers agree that only the stupidest among us should actually be on juries. That was not the intention of the way our courts were set up. And what about a speedy trial? And the new definition of cruel and unusual punishment - like having the wrong peanut butter, or being denied HBO?
Scooter Libby’s case involves a number of the elements that have made our judicial system the wreck it is today, where justice is no longer the point - who wins and who loses is the point.
If not us ...who? If not now....when?
Those were the leading edge boomers, the ones radicalized in colleges that had been infiltrated by communists. Those of us late in the baby boom could see the bad in the movement, but were not powerful enough to stop it. I'm not too worried though, I see our children, the 'echo' of the boom, as being much more in favor of individual rights and freedoms, and more aware that freedom has a price in responsibility. They also learned in our public school system that most rules (laws) are better ignored, and no one will do anything about it anyway. You just need to watch for which laws are currently 'in vogue for enforcement' (like politically correct speech) and make sure you don't get caught. When they are truly of age, and taking over the reins of government, I won't be surprised to see some of the crap laws repealed, and many others simply left to fade away (like the laws about horsemen with lanterns preceding automobiles at night that may still be out there).
Libby deserved jail, period; he was tried and convicted by an American jury. Bush has set a terrible example for the judicial system and equal justice. I’m not saying he’s any worse than Clinton and his pardons. But I have a lot more respect for Gordon Liddy than I’ll ever have for Libby.
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