Libby sentence commuted! : Lone Star Times

Libby sentence commuted!

by David Benzion · 07/02/2007 5:01 pm

FOX News reporting that Bush is about to commute Libby’s prison sentence “within minutes.”

Thank God.

I’ll be honest–the idea of Scooter Libby doing a minute in prison was about to break it with me and this administration. (Yes, I know a lot of you already left the reservation.)

Don your helmets kids… the nutroots is about to explode in unparalleled rage.

UPDATED– Yes, I know about Sandy Berger, and Ramos and Compean, and this isn’t a full pardon, etc. I’m not saying I like every aspect of the decision, just that Libby doing a minute in prison would have been an injustice, and Bush has allowed him to avoid that. For that I’m grateful. Short of subsequently bombing Iran’s nuclear program, I’m not certain I could have fully forgiven anything less.

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Comments

39 Responses to “Libby sentence commuted!”

retire05 on July 2nd, 2007 at 5:10 pm

While Bush has his “pardon” pen in hand, he should also pardon the Texas Three; Ramos, Compean and Hernandez. But he won’t because Johnny Sutton operates with the full approval of Gonzales and the Mexican government would have a hissyfit.

The Libby trial was a travesty and Fitzmagoo should be investigated. As should Sutton. But don’t look for that to happen. Bush has a love for clueless people with Hispanic last names (Gonzales and Martinez).
davewolfgang on July 2nd, 2007 at 5:20 pm

So a friend of mine didn’t rob a bank. I didn’t call the police and tell them he didn’t.

Did I break the law?
RickG on July 2nd, 2007 at 5:32 pm

1.

There was supposed to be some demonstration outside Sutton’s office Saturday. Has Sutton resigned yet?
RickG on July 2nd, 2007 at 5:35 pm

2.

Though I hate the special prosecutor position - because it basically compels a prosecutor to seek a conviction, not seek the truth - Libby was convicted of affirmative wrongdoing: lying. Now, I agree with your sentiments. We should not be trying to trap people into a prosecution for lying about a crime that never occurred. But a jury thought Libby lied.

I think Bush did what should have been done with Libby. The more important point is that we avoid these runaway special prosecutors in the future.
american woman on July 2nd, 2007 at 5:41 pm

We are going to pay for Kenneth Starr for some time. Going after Bill Clinton, not that he didn’t deserve it, infuriated the left. Chuck Schumer is on a witch hunt.
RickG on July 2nd, 2007 at 5:48 pm

6. aw

Yes. We conservatives don’t like to admit it, but Starr did the same thing - he went after Clinton for lying about something that wasn’t a crime.
davewolfgang on July 2nd, 2007 at 5:54 pm

Actually what Clinton did was a crime. He lied to a Grand Jury.

But remembering “if” you had sexual relations with somone and remembering a conversation with one of hundreds of poeple, are two VERY different things.

Is there a male in this WORLD who doesn’t know any and every woman he’s has sexual relations with? (OK basketball players, maybe…we get into the 100’s thing again…. :-p )

If I asked about a converstaion that happened months ago and I remember it a certain way, but then the next day or the next week I remember MORE about it, does that mean the first time I lied?
HomerJ on July 2nd, 2007 at 6:15 pm

I’ll enjoy watching the Left go nuts. Maybe Bush will finally figure out that the Left hates him regardless of what he does, so why try to please them?
bigjolly on July 2nd, 2007 at 6:26 pm

HomerJ, I’m guessing you aren’t holding your breath on that one, right?
jimb on July 2nd, 2007 at 6:42 pm

Obama on Bush’s action:

This decision to commute the sentence of a man who compromised our national security cements the legacy of an Administration characterized by a politics of cynicism and division, one that has consistently placed itself and its ideology above the law. This is exactly the kind of politics we must change so we can begin restoring the American people’s faith in a government that puts the country’s progress ahead of the bitter partisanship of recent years.

Just conveniently ignoring the fact that he was never convicted of any action whatsoever that “compromised our national security”??

The Left will say anything…
american woman on July 2nd, 2007 at 6:49 pm

At some point Obama is going to get caught in his own web. I am thinking the Clinton machine hasnt even heate yet. Politics of cynicism and division, does that sound like liberals? Obama wants to put this countrys progress first. Doesn’t he have to admit first that we have a healthy economy, have not had a serious attack since 911, and that employment is the lowest in too many years to count? This guy speaks emptiness.
american woman on July 2nd, 2007 at 6:49 pm

heated up*
RickG on July 2nd, 2007 at 6:54 pm

7.

Actually, Libby did the same thing - he lied to a grand jury. Defending the prosecution of Clinton while criticizing that of Libby is inconsistent. Besides, you’re making a jury argument - one that was made at trial and which the jury rejected.
RickG on July 2nd, 2007 at 6:55 pm

10 jimb

Obama is a true talent. He has managed, in just a few years in the Senate, to become as phony and sanctimonious as 20 year veterans.

What a fraud.
Squawkbox on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:02 pm

Cronyism pure and simple. Tony Snowjob has said time and again that Bushco has some procedure he observes, including appeals before taking this type of action.

Libby should be heading to jail. What is good for our BPA’s should be good for Scooter Pooter Libby.

/I will be so glad when this hypocritical president finally departs the arena.
Squawkbox on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:05 pm

Obama is a true talent. He has managed, in just a few years in the Senate, to become as phony and sanctimonious as 20 year veterans.

What a fraud.

That is to funny. A fraud calling out a fraud. Obama/Bush that is.

Pot/Kettle analogy is in effect.
kd5dgs on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:18 pm

A “commuted sentence” allows for appeals.
Judge Reggie (the judge who sat for this case) did a poor job.
Should the appeals fail to finish by 22 January 2009, a full pardon is due to Mr. Libby
Dov on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:19 pm

I ask you Obama. How many did Clintoon pardon ?
american woman on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:20 pm

Help me here. I thought Libbey was found guilty because he said he told Tim Russert about Plame, and when Tim was on the stand, he said,” No, Libbey did’nt tell me. As I understood this, if Scooter Libbey had said, ” I don’t remember” none of this would have happened.
RickG on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:27 pm

15. Squawk -

I am said to say I must second that emotion.
RickG on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:30 pm

Sorry about 20.

What I meant to quote Squawk’s

I will be so glad when this hypocritical president finally departs the arena.

And then say I second that emotion.
davewolfgang on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:31 pm

#19 - Also remember the FACT (that wasn’t allow to be presented to the jury) that all this was about something that WASN’T against the law.

Refer to my earlier “not robbing a bank” comment.
Squawkbox on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:32 pm

I was going to skip the presidential box the second time around, but didn’t. I stopped defending him and his policies (and the Republicans) about a year before his re-election. But nooooo I caved into the we might get democrats argument.

Sigh. I am going ot slink back into my cave after I turn the alarms on and let the dogs loose.
Squawkbox on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:33 pm

RickG

I knew……
Squawkbox on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:37 pm

Disclaimer:

I do believe that Libby was wrongly prosecuted and the entire mess is deplorable for him, BUT so is what happened to our BPAs.
american woman on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:56 pm

Squawk I am with you there! I blame Bush’s blind faith in those he appoints, and Alberto Gonzales for being inept and an open border advocate.
little mikey on July 2nd, 2007 at 7:59 pm

I’m glad Libby has been “commuted”, but I think the real reason is that he would “sing” about what he knows if he went to prison.
golfer1 on July 2nd, 2007 at 8:01 pm

RickG #6 - can you tell me how many Clinton cronies plead guilty during Starr’s investigation? I’ll give you a hint, had there been just one, it would have been one more than Fitzfong got in his witch hunt.
golfer1 on July 2nd, 2007 at 8:01 pm

RickG #6 - can you tell me how many Clinton cronies plead guilty during Starr’s investigation? I’ll give you a hint, had there been just one, it would have been one more than Fitzfong got in his witch hunt.
Dov on July 2nd, 2007 at 8:41 pm

And Bush was wrong but Clintoon was right ?

Hmm from another blog

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,98756,00.html
headshaker on July 2nd, 2007 at 8:51 pm

Libby lied, Plame cried!
Atlas *shrugged* on July 2nd, 2007 at 9:02 pm

I’ll be honest–the idea of Scooter Libby doing a minute in prison was about to break it with me and this administration.

Scooter Libby would have done time because Scooter Libby had a little problem with the truth. There was no underlying crime re: Plame, and had he told the truth, he wouldn’t have found himself in this pickle.

This resolution (conceding his guilt, but not making him do the time) isn’t the end of the world, but letting him do the time wouldn’t have been the end of the world either.
jimb on July 2nd, 2007 at 9:19 pm

#32 - the left’s contention that Bush doesn’t respect separation of powers, or the law in general, based on this non-pardon, is ludicrous, though.
jimb on July 2nd, 2007 at 9:28 pm

They’re going DELETED nuts over at Kos about this.
vlou on July 2nd, 2007 at 9:40 pm

Our government is going to the pigs…and it smells rotten. Where is integrity? Scooter Libby is guilty and should pay for his bad behavior with a prison sentence. We should not reward liars.
jimb on July 2nd, 2007 at 9:51 pm

#35 - if Libby lied or obstructed any investigation that wasn’t spawned by political operatives for political reasons, I would agree with you 100%.

However, this is 100% political. Libby did indeed break a law, but the punishment didn’t fit the crime, IMO.

Wonder what Eric “P” Coltrane would say about this??
I.P.A.Bill on July 3rd, 2007 at 7:27 am

#30 DOV
What a great link ! I printed several copies.
Every time one of my liberal frinds brings up Libbys’ pardon I’m going to hand them one !
Unhyphenated_American on July 3rd, 2007 at 10:56 am

1. Thank God he hasn’t freed those who shoot people in the back!!!
wyatt on July 3rd, 2007 at 7:07 pm

OK, late into the fray.

Scooter for President!