Comments on: The Day The Spinning Stopped

CBSNews.com Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen: Basic Legal Principle Trumps Basic Political Principle

[samthetvcat]

"He later goes on to claim an arrogant abuse of power by the Bush administration...how so? Becuase Libby forgot when and what he said to reporters?"
Posted by a91mar709

Ummm . . . an impartial jury after weighing the evidence concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Libby didn't just 'forget when and what he said to reporters' - and in the process he intentionally lied to investigators, which brings up the larger question of WHY Libby would criminally lie . . .

Just because it isn't currently a crime to declassify an agent's covert status with the (apparent) intent of retaliating against her husband for speaking a TRUTH that worked counter to the administration's agenda doesn't mean it shouldn't be or that it's moral.

It sounds as though this jury did a very thorough job and they voted to convict because the evidence warranted it. No more---no less. Not only that, they wondered along with the rest of America why only Libby was up for trial.

[goldesprit]

A lot of this article is true.
But since its about the end of spin, we need to realize that this excerpted paragraph is wrong:

"The predictable conviction of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby on federal perjury, false statement, and obstruction of justice charges brings to an end an ugly chapter in the life of the Bush administration."

No. When he is permanently sentenced, and his superiors and Carl Rove in particular--are actually tried and sentenced--after any and all appeals--then this single chapter of many vile chapters, will be over.

It ain't over 'till its over.

[susanhelit]

The CIA says this leak was a crime, one they DEMANDED be investigated when Bush tried to sweep it under the rug. Libby didn't get charged with the full crime - doesn't mean one didn't happen.

[sandycat2]

This is a ridiculous column written here. Libby was found guilty of lying. There was never any crime about outing Plame. If there was, someone would have been tried for doing that. This prosecutor knew early on that Richard Armitage was the leaker of Plames name and that no crime was committed. But he continued to investigate these other people in the White House anyway which seemed to me to be an inquistion. And just to prove the prosecutor hadn't wasted our tax money, he indicted someone, Libby, who just got things mixed up in his inquistions. And the prosecutor wasted more of our tax dollars by going ahead with the prosecution rahter than admit his investigation was for nothing, just a wasteful spending of tax dollars on a witch hunt. This article is beyond stupid.

[a91mar709]

I was appaled at Mr. Cohen's claim statement that the judgement against Mr. Libby was not equivalent to the treatment Bush inflected upon its enemies..."real and perceived". What specifically is Mr. Cohen referring to? He later goes on to claim an arrogant abuse of power by the Bush administration...how so? Becuase Libby forgot when and what he said to reporters? It would be interesting to hear Mr. Cohen's take on Dan Rather's failed smear of Mr. Bush during the 2004 election. Mr. Cohen's hyperbole is no surprise; we remember well his "legal analysis" during the disputed 2000 election. Mr. Cohen was little more than a cheerleader for Mr. Gore and the democrats then as he is now.

[dredre2k]

Cheney is the source of this debacle; Scooter's just the fall-guy. Cheney committed treason when he ordered the leak of a CIA agent's identity.

If I were Scooter... now that i'm convicted and going to prison, i'd start spilling ALL of Cheney's, Karl Rove's, and Bush's dirt. I'm sure he had access to all of the juicy scandals in Washington.

[creeper00]

clemenhagen1,

In six years I have never seen a clearer depiction of the corruption in this administration than the one you posted here. I thank you for your post.

[samthetvcat]

Okay, time to really turn the screws on these thugs to minimize the chances of Bush granting him a pardon and making even more of a mockery of their abuses of power . . . sentence this clown to the max, no special breaks with a country club prison, maintain a high profile on the Wilson/Plame civil suit of Cheney and Rove, Congress needs to introduce a bill/amendment to exclude ex-cabinet members from being granted a Presidential pardon, give Scooter a cell-mate named 'Bubba' if you know what I mean, etc

[Razzl]

I hope he gets a transfer to Guantanamo...who else could appreciate *** Cheney's idea of due process better than his policy poodle?