Comments on: Bush Commutes Libby's Prison Sentence

President's Order Spares Former Aide From 30-Month Prison Term In CIA Leak Case

[abbe7]

"Folks,Bush the decider had to decide:
Pardon "Scotter" or pardon Paris Hilton?
"Scotter" the scum wins!
Posted by rushlimpdrug at 07:59 AM : Jul 03, 2007"

Yes, the republican crowd said "free Barrabas"

Just curious ... will Libby's lawyers going to appeal, and if yes, what if the jury confirms the first sentence ? Does Queen Bush have to commute again ?

[abbe7]

Patrick Fitzgerald:

We fully recognize that the Constitution provides that commutation decisions are a matter of presidential prerogative and we do not comment on the exercise of that prerogative.
We comment only on the statement in which the President termed the sentence imposed by the judge as %u201Cexcessive.%u201D The sentence in this case was imposed pursuant to the laws governing sentencings which occur every day throughout this country. In this case, an experienced federal judge considered extensive argument from the parties and then imposed a sentence consistent with the applicable laws. It is fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals. That principle guided the judge during both the trial and the sentencing.
Although the President%u2019s decision eliminates Mr. Libby%u2019s sentence of imprisonment, Mr. Libby remains convicted by a jury of serious felonies, and we will continue to seek to preserve those convictions through the appeals process.

[rharrin1]

I respect the jury's verdict," Bush said in a statement. "But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive.

If he truly feels that way about excessive punishment, then why did he not pardon Paris Hilton as her crime was far less than ole scooters?

[imprisonbush]

Now is the time for all good Americans to come to the aid of this country and express your opinion to the President about his commuting of Libby's sentence (pardon to follow on the way out the door). The direct phone line to the president's office in the White House is [phone]. It's open at 9 a.m. eastern time.

[infidel_us]

"How many pardons did he give out as governor?"

Don't know...but I can tell you that Bush has given out fewer commutations and pardons than any president in modern history.

At least he didn't SELL pardons, like Clinton did. "Hey, wanna contribute a mill to my adult book store (presidential library)? If you do, I'll pardon your husband/wife/friend/coworker."

[infidel_us]

Bush should have pardoned him. The witch hunt used to convict him was nothing short of what Nifong did to the Duke trio.

They wanted Rove and Cheney but settled for the scalp of this poor shmuck. A political witch hunt....that's all it was.

[panhandlpete]

Can't you just see the DECIDER and his GANG thumbing their noses at "we the people" who put them in office???? Laws and the CONSTITUTION are for the poor, non-educated low-life......not the elite, rich and politically powerful. (Say the sentence was too stiff....well, I know a person who got LIFE for selling drugs.....UNFAIR.)

Did you figure out ahead of time that this decision was made when Congress had left town and just before a national holiday so the public would be distracted?

Sure hope Congress does not take any action for we just might have to have our own "scare alert" to divert attention away from this issue. What really scares me is how "dumb" these folks think Americans really are that we cannot see what is really happening with our government!!!

IMPEACH NOW....

[mbpfrance]

I am of an age where I was taught to believe and have faith in our President! At 57 my personal hero is still Davy Crockett and what I believed he and I would stand for and against to point of death in the defence of the nation and what we stand for!

If we cannot rely on a level of binding truth to be provided at the White house level then to whom does the rule %u2018tell the truth all and nothing but the truth apply to?

Consider that the sentencing Judge involved declared that the punishment of jail time was required as a result that the defendant had deliberately and repeatedly lied under oath and further that his position of trust (being in White House staff) had to be considered as duty to tell the truth!

If Libby can be allowed to not incur the prison term as sentenced %u2013 why not anyone who lies under oath? And if not, on what basis of equality or immunity is applicable? To you, me or the man in the moon! Because using the Libby pardon as a precedent the American justice system individual accountablity becomes a true folly!

Libby and anyone of us who deliberately lies under oath thereby misleading justice deserves a jail sentence! It is that simple!

American citizens, our veterans, our forefathers deserve better than this!

Much better!

[rharrin1]

Bush's statement made no mention of the term "pardon," and he made clear that he was not willing to wipe away all penalties for Libby.

With all the money bush and cheney have made on their oil war $ 250,000.00 is nothing they could lose that every day and never miss it.

Equal justice for all everybody.

One crook protecting another crook.

Why didn't bush pardon Paris Hilton?
Was he afraid ole scooter would learn how to talk in jail?

How many pardons did he give out as governor?

Once again bush slaps America across the face and spits in her eye.

As I have said before Al Capone would be green with envy to what this gang has got Al had to bribe officials these just say it's ok.

Some justice system

[rhmc430]

I think this stinks!!! Mr Libby was convicted in a fair trial. His sentence was not that harsh. He, as well as anyone who breaks the law, should serve a sentence for having broken the law. I have long thought that President, and Vice-President Cheney feel that they are above the law. Now, we see the President giving into pressure, and commuting Mr. Libby's sentence. Our forefathers did not enact the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to be applied by our, now, nations leaders to keep friends from serving a just sentence. It's time for the people of this great nation to let out a loud cry and tell The Executive and Legislative branches of our government that WE ARE FED UP, AND MAD AS HELL!!

[imprisonbush]

Not to say I told you so, but this is exactly what I predicted: i.e. that Bush would commute his sentence to make sure Libby does not go to prison but minimize the political fall out from letting him off of the hook. Bush says he respects the jury's decision and will leave intact the remainder of the sentence. Libby's friends may pay off the $250K fine but on the way out the door in 2009, Bush will pardon Libby of his conviction, when it will not be able to politically affect Bush and/or Republicans in the 2008 election. Bush does not give a rat's as$ about anything but lining the pockets of his friends and himself and maximizing his power to accomplish his fascist agenda and punishing those who try to keep them from lining their pockets and maximizing them from accumlating power to achieve their fascist agenda. Watch this prevent for another I told you so message (assuming Bush does not invoke the recently enacted law to allow him to act as dictator in the envent of some emergency and thereby keep his power).

[infidel_us]

"Clinton lied about s@x, this is about treason"

Is that the talking points on Huffington and koz today? What a loser. A LIE to a grand jury is a LIE. A LIE to a federal investigator is a LIE.
Only to a lib is the subject of the lie of any relevence.

It's the SAME. Deal with it and then get over it. Or don't......I couldn't care less. It's done.

[dukeudevil]

'Tis really, really sad. This president no longer even attempts to hide his complete lack of morals. What other president has spent so much time fighting the American legal system specifically designed by our founding fathers to keep rogue presidents in check?

Simply put, Bush is a crook. He makes Nixon look like a saint.

[prinzowhales]

Cheney/Libby betrayed a US covert CIA operative and her network which dealt with nuclear proliferation.

Bush had no qualms about putting a teenage girl to death as governor of Texas--what is harsh about a 30 month 'Club Fed' term. Libby would have time to pen another 'Christian' novel... with a little girl having intercourse with a trained bear. These people disgust me--even worse are their supporters.

It was Cheney who as DoD Secretary fought to REDUCE THE strength of the US military and at the same time championed privatization AND the plans for the forward movements into the Balkans and the Gulf. Naturally, he moved to Halliburton to take full advantage of the policies that he helped inaugurate.

Congressman MacDermott of Washington has called for his impeachment--a day late, a dollar short.

[mbpfrance]

I am of an age where I was taught to believe and have faith in our President! At 57 my personal hero is still Davy Crockett and what I believed he and I would stand for and against to point of death in the defence of the nation and what we stand for!

If we cannot rely on a level of binding truth to be provided at the White house level then to whom does the rule %u2018tell the truth all and nothing but the truth apply to?

Consider that the presiding/sentencing Judge involved declared that the punishment of jail time was required as a result that the defendant had deliberately and repeatedly lied under oath!

If Libby can be allowed to not incur the prison term as sentenced %u2013 can anyone else? And if not, on what basis of equality or immunity is applicable? To you, me or the man in the moon! Because using the Libby pardon as a precedent the American justice system becomes a true folly!


Libby and anyone of us who deliberately lies under oath thereby misleading justice deserves a jail sentence! It is that simple!

Our citizens, our veterans, our forefathers deserve better than this!

Much better!

[cfin5]

After seeing how Sandy walked after what he did compared to Scooter, the political ***-for-tat is now even.

[michellem99-2009]

We were talking about that at supper. Lebby should do his time. That Bush needs to be removed from office. I don't care for the crocked Bush family. Why he is far worse than Nixon. Now mind you Nixon messed up and he knew he'd be impeached so therefore resigned. It was on TV live.So bush had no business helpping Libby not go to prisom. What was in it for Bush. Time to wash the clothes and see what's comes out in the wash. Mum said it'll come out in the wash. Yeah what is Bush hiding and is libby part of the plan.Will we find out too late to stop the changes.

[rushlimpdrug]

Folks,Bush the decider had to decide:
Pardon "Scotter" or pardon Paris Hilton?

"Scotter" the scum wins!

[omnibus66]

To the few of you out there trying to draw some comparison between this and what Bill Clinton did.

Clinton lied about s@x, this is about treason. Clinton was impeached by a Republican House of Representatives and subsequently found not guilty by a Republican Senate. Bush and Cheney have committed some of the most treasonous acts imaginable, and have so far gotten a free pass.

You neocons are, in effect, trying to compare a parking violation to vehicular homicide and saying that they are the same. Your attempts to defend the indefensible are lame, juvenile, and purely disgusting.

If this Congress has any respect for the Constitution and the American people, they will immediately file impeachment against both Bush and Cheney when they return from the 4th of July break.

[infidel_us]

And all the libs in Libville cried boo, hoo, hoo.....

What a pathetic bunch of whiners. He lied, JUST LIKE CLINTON LIED! In fact, he did EXACTLY the same thing. I'm sure you were equally outraged that he didn't even get convicted.

Also, at least Bush did't sell Commutations and pardons like Clinton did.

Your outrage is selective, and your intellect is dishonest.