An Appropriate Travesty

The Nation: Bush Reveals His Disdain For Accountability By Commuting Libby's Jail Sentence

(The Nation)  This column was written by David Corn.

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It's appropriate.

The president who led the nation into a disastrous war in Iraq by peddling false statements and misrepresentations has come to the rescue of a White House aide convicted of lying by commuting his sentence. Before the ink was dry on today's court order denying Scooter Libby's latest appeal — a motion to allow him to stay out of jail while he was challenging his conviction — George W. Bush commuted Libby's sentence. Libby will no longer have to serve the 30-month prison sentence ordered by federal district court Judge Reggie Walton. He will, though, have to pay the $250,000 fine that was part of the sentence.

The commutation — which is not a pardon and does not erase Libby's conviction — is a reminder that Bush and his crew do not believe in accountability. Bush has been rather stingy in the use of his pardon power. And regulations issued by his Justice Department note that recipients of pardons should serve their sentences and demonstrate contrition before obtaining presidential absolution. (Libby had expressed no remorse and was not scheduled to report to jail for several weeks.) Yet with this commutation, Bush ducked those requirements, and he is allowing Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, who was found guilty of lying to federal investigators in the CIA leak case, to go unpunished. The fine will be no problem for Libby. His neoconservative friends and admirers will kick in to cover that tab. (Perhaps even Cheney will send a check.)

Libby had become a symbol of the Bush White House's problem with the truth. After all, his lies had been designed to block FBI agents and federal prosecutors from learning the full truth of a White House effort to discredit a critic who had accused the Bush administration of twisting the prewar intelligence. And now the final act in the long-running CIA leak scandal — Bush's commutation — stands as another symbol of this grand theme: lying doesn't really bother this crowd. In the 2000 presidential campaign, Bush claimed he would bring responsibility to the White House and, as a PR stunt, he dubbed his campaign jet Accountability One. Yet with this commutation, he takes the position that in his administration an aide who purposefully misleads government officials investigating a possible national security crime need not be held fully accountable.

This is no shocker. Early on in the CIA leak affair, the White House announced that anyone involved in the 2003 leak that disclosed the CIA employment of Valerie Wilson, an undercover Agency officer, would be booted out of the administration. But Karl Rove, who had disclosed classified information about Valerie Wilson to two reporters and who apparently lied about his actions to White House press secretary Scott McClellan, was not pink-slipped. Bush has never acknowledged this broken promise. (Libby left the White House only after he was indicted in the fall of 2005.)

Bush shielded Rove, and now — better late than never — he's doing the same for Libby. Ever since Libby's conviction in March, neoconservative and conservative Libby partisans have been urging — or demanding — that Bush pardon Libby. They have cried that his indictment, his conviction, and his sentence were travesties of justice. They blasted Bush for declining to intervene in the proceedings, branding the president (their pal!) a coward. They acted as if Bush's refusal to pardon Libby was a personal betrayal of each and everyone of them. They showed more concern for Libby than any of the civilians who have perished in Iraq in the years since they, Libby and their allies engineered the invasion of Iraq. Libby was their cause; he was one of them.

Once again, Bush, being nudged by the neocons, has sent a clear message: telling the truth doesn't matter. Bush has refused to acknowledge that he, Cheney, and other administration officials — to be polite about it — stretched the truth about Iraq and the threat it posed before the war. Today, he says that if you lie to protect the White House (especially the vice president), you can escape retribution. But if Bush, Cheney and the others could get away with big untruths about war, why shouldn't Libby get away with small lies about a cover-up? Fair's fair, right?

The foundation of a democratic judicial system is that the sentence fits the crime. In this instance, the commutation fits the administration.

[guysdigdirt]

Mark, and all you other who are so mad at the current administration, do you really think you have all the answers. Do you really know what is the attitude of the people in Iraq? Do you think the media tells you the whole truth? Do you think the media is fair and inpartial? Why don't you get off the sofa, turn off the Simpsons and go talk to some people who have been there and find out the reality of it before the media plays you for the fool.

[guysdigdirt]

Do you know that over 3,500 Americans have been killed in Iraq. HOW MANY WERE KILLED BECASUE BILLY DID NOT DO HIS JOB AND STOP ALL THOSE TERRORISTS AS THEY COMMITED THIER MURDERS OR AMERICANS UNDER HIS WATCH?


That those "triumps" you listed have cost us half a TRILLION dollars! IF YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE IRAQUIS YOU WOULD THINK IT WORTH EVERY PENNY.

That, tens of thousands of brave Americans have been mamed! That hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's have been killed! YOU SEEM LIKE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO WOULD SEE AN OLD LADY BEING RAPED AND KILLED AND JUST PASS BY SO YOU WOULD NOT GET HURT, MAMAED OR POSSIBLY KILLED YOURSELF.

That Bush lied to get us into this engagement! bUSH DID GET BAD INFO, BUT SO DID HILLARY, NOW SHE HAS TURNED HER BACK ON THE TROOPS SINCE IT IS NO LONGER POPULAR, SHE HAS NO SPINE OR CHARACTER.

That Bush commuted Libby's sentence to keep him and others from spilling the beans on Bush's war! DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU HAVE A CLUE ON WHY HE REALLY DID WHAT HE DID, I DO NOT THINK YOU DO.

WAKE UP! Clinton lied about a BJ and no-one was hurt, ANYTIME WE CATCH A LIAR IN A BOLD FACED LIE AND HE MAKES ANOTHER LIE TO GET OUT OF THAT, YOU CAN BET YOU ONLY SAW THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF THE LIES.

Bush lied us into the most massive foreign relations blunder in US history! NOW YOU ARE A HISTORIAN?
Posted by MarkS7177

[guysdigdirt]

Do you know that over 3,500 Americans have been killed in Iraq. HOW MANY WERE KILLED BECASUE BILLY DID NOT DO HIS JOB AND STOP ALL THOSE TERRORISTS AS THEY COMMITED THIER MURDERS OR AMERICANS UNDER HIS WATCH?


That those "triumps" you listed have cost us half a TRILLION dollars! IF YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE IRAQUIS YOU WOULD THINK IT WORTH EVERY PENNY.

That, tens of thousands of brave Americans have been mamed! That hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's have been killed! YOU SEEM LIKE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO WOULD SEE AN OLD LADY BEING RAPED AND KILLED AND JUST PASS BY SO YOU WOULD NOT GET HURT, MAMAED OR POSSIBLY KILLED YOURSELF.

That Bush lied to get us into this engagement! bUSH DID GET BAD INFO, BUT SO DID HILLARY, NOW SHE HAS TURNED HER BACK ON THE TROOPS SINCE IT IS NO LONGER POPULAR, SHE HAS NO SPINE OR CHARACTER.

That Bush commuted Libby's sentence to keep him and others from spilling the beans on Bush's war! DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU HAVE A CLUE ON WHY HE REALLY DID WHAT HE DID, I DO NOT THINK YOU DO.

WAKE UP! Clinton lied about a BJ and no-one was hurt, ANYTIME WE CATCH A LIAR IN A BOLD FACED LIE AND HE MAKES ANOTHER LIE TO GET OUT OF THAT, YOU CAN BET YOU ONLY SAW THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF THE LIES.

Bush lied us into the most massive foreign relations blunder in US history! NOW YOU ARE A HISTORIAN?
Posted by MarkS7177

[guysdigdirt]

Do you know that over 3,500 Americans have been killed in Iraq. HOW MANY WERE KILLED BECASUE BILLY DID NOT DO HIS JOB AND STOP ALL THOSE TERRORISTS AS THEY COMMITED THIER MURDERS OR AMERICANS UNDER HIS WATCH?


That those "triumps" you listed have cost us half a TRILLION dollars! IF YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE IRAQUIS YOU WOULD THINK IT WORTH EVERY PENNY.

That, tens of thousands of brave Americans have been mamed! That hundreds of thousands of Iraqi's have been killed! YOU SEEM LIKE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO WOULD SEE AN OLD LADY BEING RAPED AND KILLED AND JUST PASS BY SO YOU WOULD NOT GET HURT, MAMAED OR POSSIBLY KILLED YOURSELF.

That Bush lied to get us into this engagement! bUSH DID GET BAD INFO, BUT SO DID HILLARY, NOW SHE HAS TURNED HER BACK ON THE TROOPS SINCE IT IS NO LONGER POPULAR, SHE HAS NO SPINE OR CHARACTER.

That Bush commuted Libby's sentence to keep him and others from spilling the beans on Bush's war! DO YOU REALLY THINK YOU HAVE A CLUE ON WHY HE REALLY DID WHAT HE DID, I DO NOT THINK YOU DO.

WAKE UP! Clinton lied about a BJ and no-one was hurt, ANYTIME WE CATCH A LIAR IN A BOLD FACED LIE AND HE MAKES ANOTHER LIE TO GET OUT OF THAT, YOU CAN BET YOU ONLY SAW THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG OF THE LIES.

Bush lied us into the most massive foreign relations blunder in US history! NOW YOU ARE A HISTORIAN?
Posted by MarkS7177

[guysdigdirt]

Are you kidding me? This is not comparable to Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich.

CLINTON PARDONED 192 CRIMINALS IN THE LAST FEW HOURS OF HIS OFFICE. ARE YOU TO EXPECT US TO BELIEVE HE CAN DETERMINE WHAT CRIME IS OK TO PARDON AND WHAT CRIME NOT TO? ARE YOU SAYING YOU HAVE THAT ABILITY TO SAY WHAT IS WORSE, ECSPECIALLY SINCE YOU DO NOT HAVE ALL THE FACTS? BUT YOU CAN SAY BUSH IS WORSE THAN CLINTON OUT OF YOUR INFINITE WISDOM, YOUR MOTHER MUST BE SO PROUD.

Bush thinks that he is the King of America, but in reality he is a piece of $hit, and a Criminal! SOUNDS LIKE YOU KNOW WELL WHAT TYPE OF PERSON YOU ARE SAYING HE IS, FEELING LONLY IN THE GUTTER AND WANT SOMEONE TO JOIN YOU?
Posted by MarkS7177

[guysdigdirt]

WAKE UP! Clinton lied about a BJ and no-one was hurt, Bush lied us into the most massive foreign relations blunder in US history!
Posted by MarkS7177
-------------------------


If you are closed minded enough to think it was just a white lie about a cigar you are beyond clear thinking and reason. The problem is that there are enough like you who only rely on what you read in a slanted rag or magazine for your "reality". You think Pro-Wresting is real too don't you!!

[guysdigdirt]

You misguided anti-Bush "let's impeach him and relapce him with Clinton" Einsteins think you have it all figured out.

Hillary voted to send us to Iraq. Do not say she had bad information before she made the vote to do so. It is her job to get the right information, she had the right information or she did not do her job. If she did not do her job then, then why do you suppose she will as President?

Once she had voted to send the troops to Iraq she found it no longer popular to support the effort there. Flake. at least Bush has the fortitude and spine to do what is right even if it is not popular.

Now if you can get her to admit is she will tell you she sees the needs for troops in Iraq for another 10 years. Her phrasology was "If I am elected president for two consecutive terms, I see the need to have American troops in Iraq even after I am no longer President." But you think she will bring then all home right after she is elected don't you. Simpleton!

You find fault in Bush, not because he has done wrong, but solely due to his political party.

[guysdigdirt]

Did you know

that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq ?

that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction in Iraq ?

that Iraq 's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?

that Iraq 's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers every 8 weeks?

there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq ?
They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations,
22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW!
WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?

OUR MEDIA WONT TELL US!

[guysdigdirt]

Did you know

that 47 countries have re-established their embassies in Iraq ?

that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction in Iraq ?

that Iraq 's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?

that Iraq 's Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi operational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?

that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers?

that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers every 8 weeks?

there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq ?
They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations,
22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.

that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?

that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?

that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW!
WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW?

OUR MEDIA WONT TELL US!

[guysdigdirt]

NEVER TRUST A REPUBLICAN ... that's the legacy of George W. Bush. Unless they streal future elections, they won't be trusted again for genereations.
Posted by WogerWabbit
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But you trust the Clinton-Poster_Boy Democrats, you worship him and his lies, cheats and anti-ethical behavior.

If the Democrats do get into office you will deserve what you get. You will probably even lie and say you like it rather than admit is is all messed up.

[guysdigdirt]

In your simple mind, Joe Blow-job equates a larger crime than Johnny Treason. Interesting logic you have there Connie ole girl.
Posted by clemenhagen1
-------------------------

On August 17, the President testified for over four hours before the grand jury on closed-circuit television from the White House. In his testimony, he admitted the Lewinsky relationship, but denied that he perjured himself because he did not interpret the conduct with Ms. Lewinsky as constituting sexual relations. On the same evening, he appeared on national television and admitted that he had an "inappropriate relationship" with Lewinsky and had misled the American people about it.

He lied and then lied that he did not lie.

In your perverted mind it is OK for a President to lie and perjur himself, but only if he is a Democrat.

[guysdigdirt]

One guy gets called in front of an inquisitor to answer questions about his own private (and consensual) *** life with regards to a politically motivated CIVIL CASE. He lies about his own private sexual relationships.

Another guy gets called in front of a federal grand jury investigating the treasonous outting of a covert CIA operative. This guys knowingly and deliberately lies in order to obstruct justice and protect his boss (a boss who endangered national security and exposed anyone associated with the CIA agent to death).

In your simple mind, Joe Blow-job equates a larger crime than Johnny Treason. Interesting logic you have there Connie ole girl.
Posted by clemenhagen1
------------------------------

Twist it however you want to make you sleep better with your inane reasoning. Facts are, Clinton lied to you, me and everyone else! He lied on camera, then said he did not lie because he had his own definition of a few words. He is a troubled man, and just because he lied about his adultry does not make it any less of a lie. This is just one of the lies we caught him at. He was the President of the United States and lied straight out. He should be held to a higher standard as the President.

[guysdigdirt]

One guy gets called in front of an inquisitor to answer questions about his own private (and consensual) *** life with regards to a politically motivated CIVIL CASE. He lies about his own private sexual relationships.

Another guy gets called in front of a federal grand jury investigating the treasonous outting of a covert CIA operative. This guys knowingly and deliberately lies in order to obstruct justice and protect his boss (a boss who endangered national security and exposed anyone associated with the CIA agent to death).

In your simple mind, Joe Blow-job equates a larger crime than Johnny Treason. Interesting logic you have there Connie ole girl.
Posted by clemenhagen1
------------------------------

Twist it however you want to make you sleep better with your inane reasoning. Facts are, Clinton lied to you, me and everyone else! He lied on camera, then said he did not lie because he had his own definition of a few words. He is a troubled man, and just because he lied about his adultry does not make it any less of a lie. This is just one of the lies we caught him at. He was the President of the United States and lied straight out. He should be held to a higher standard as the President.

[guysdigdirt]

AMERICAN CONSTITUTION GIVES POWER TO THE PEOPLE TO REPLACE ITS GOVERNMENT!

Its about time for the American People to Storm the Bastille. And they are getting ready to March on Washington and clean out that entire next of rats with their bare hands! That is the American Peoples constitutional right!

THE WORLD HAS TRIED WAR CRIMINALS FOR LESS THAN THESE PEOPLE HAVE DONE! THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF THOUSANDS, LIEING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE UPHEAVAL OF THE ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST!
Posted by bluestardad
-----------------------

Same tired arguement you used in Vitnam isn't it?

[tbweb]

I personally didn't know that much about President Bush before he came to office except he was the Governor of Texas and his family name of course and that he owned a baseball team, he sounded like a cool guy back then. But for the most part when Pres. Bush entered the national spotlight he was sold as someone who could work with Democrats and Republicans and cited his many successes in Texas as an example. There was a lot of division in Washington between political parties and I'm sure everyone was looking for someone who could get business done and overcome party politics. What happened to that George Bush and did he ever really exist? We later also learned that Tom Delay redrew districts in Texas giving Republicans voting advantages. I fault Texas! If Texans knew the real deal they should have spoke up before we put Bush in power! Silence is consent!

[bluestardad]

AMERICAN CONSTITUTION GIVES POWER TO THE PEOPLE TO REPLACE ITS GOVERNMENT!

The American Elected Government does not now represent the will of the People! Those elected officials have abdicated their charter to Lobby Groups who direct, manipulate, and plan American Foreign policy for their own countries special interest!

THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE, AEI WHICH IS A PRO-ISRAELI THINK TANK CAME UP WITH THE CURRENT SURGE PLAN! NOT AMERICAN GENERALS!

Gen. William Odom discusses the %u201Cworst strategic disaster in American history, the war in Iraq: the view of most generals that the war is wrong, the failure of the politicians to see the consequences of their actions, the centrality of the neoconservatives and the Israel lobby in pushing for the Iraq invasion, the %u201Csurge,%u201D

www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/
05/10/gen-william-odom

Bush is funding Al Qaeda in Lebanon with funds from Iraq!

http://www.newyorker.com/
fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh

READ AIPAC BRAG ABOUT THEIR INFLUENCE
ON AMERICAN POLITICIANS!

http://www.aipac.org/for
ms/join_aipacClubs.htm

Its about time for the American People to Storm the Bastille. And they are getting ready to March on Washington and clean out that entire next of rats with their bare hands! That is the American Peoples constitutional right!

THE WORLD HAS TRIED WAR CRIMINALS FOR LESS THAN THESE PEOPLE HAVE DONE!

[bluestardad]

AMERICAN CONSTITUTION GIVES POWER TO THE PEOPLE TO REPLACE ITS GOVERNMENT!

Its about time for the American People to Storm the Bastille. And they are getting ready to March on Washington and clean out that entire next of rats with their bare hands! That is the American Peoples constitutional right!

THE WORLD HAS TRIED WAR CRIMINALS FOR LESS THAN THESE PEOPLE HAVE DONE! THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF THOUSANDS, LIEING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE UPHEAVAL OF THE ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST!

[mcvet]

In your simple mind, Joe Blow-job equates a larger crime than Johnny Treason. Interesting logic you have there Connie ole girl.
Posted by clemenhagen1 at 10:09 PM : Jul 03, 2007

You left out ONE critical point. One is a member of the Bush Gestapo and is a member of the fuhrer's Staff. That means they are superior to the rest of us and deserve special Treatment according to these Nazi's. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[clemenhagen1]

A refresher course for you Libby "amnesty" defenders:

BushCo needs to scare us into war - "smoking gun a mushroom cloud" - knowingly lie about "yellowcake uranium" during State of the Union though document clearly a forgery.

Joseph Wilson - former ambassador to Niger and attache to Iraq sent to investigate - exposes the fiction for what it was...a manipulation (i.e. Downing Street Memo) to fan flames of war.

Cheney furious! Demands revenge to not only punish Wilson but to also send shot across-the-bow of the intelligence community: don't mess with our fictions about the war or we will bury you.

Libby, Armitage, Rove, and others knowingly expose Wilson's wife, a covert CIA operative. Novak prints Plame's name & CIA front-operation, Brewster-Jennings, in his column.

CIA demands investigation into treasonous leak - Fitzgerald appointed when Ashcroft recuses himself.

Rove and Libby lie to the grand jury to cover the trail and obstruct justice. Right-wing echo chamber in full blown spin mode, smears Wilson and Plame - Talking Points created to obstruct the facts of the case and blind the ignorant.

Fitzgerald, understanding full-well the source of the original leak (Cheney), opts to charge and convict Libby for perjury and obstruction of justice. Please try to remember the real story here, and not get lost in all the conservative mythology.

[clemenhagen1]

So Connie, let's get this straight.

One guy gets called in front of an inquisitor to answer questions about his own private (and consensual) *** life with regards to a politically motivated CIVIL CASE. He lies about his own private sexual relationships.

Another guy gets called in front of a federal grand jury investigating the treasonous outting of a covert CIA operative. This guys knowingly and deliberately lies in order to obstruct justice and protect his boss (a boss who endangered national security and exposed anyone associated with the CIA agent to death).

In your simple mind, Joe Blow-job equates a larger crime than Johnny Treason. Interesting logic you have there Connie ole girl.