On Collusion
Bush commutes I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison sentence, saying that "I respect the jury's verdict", but that the 30-month prison term was "excessive".
Libby's not fully unaccountable -- the fine levied against him and the probation (whatever that really means) are intact, but I guess it just goes to prove that white collar crime with more far-reaching repercussions are favored over what people who DO go to prison for 30 months (or more). What remains amounts to a slap on the wrist.
But really, more than that, more than returning loyalty given by being their fall guy (intended or not), it seems pretty clear that this is more about covering their own asses than anything else.
I am so sick of this puppet theatre.
[Update]
The more I hear people talking about it, the more I regret having much of the same (admittedly emotional) reaction. All I keep thinking is "never ascribe malice to that which can be explained by incompetence" -- or words to that effect. I don't want to be sure there's some nefarious coverup or plot because it hasn't been proven. At the very least, it would seem that Libby lied to cover up someone else's slip-up (even Bush admits he agrees with the verdict).
So, aside from commuting the sentence, Bush (through Tony Snow) didn't deny that a pardon was off the table. Nurr.
And I'm sick of people questioning Valerie Plame's status as a secret agent. First, Fitzgerald was the one who filed the papers regarding the issue precisely because her identity was classified. And as for those who call it a victimless crime, this affects more than her: all of her contacts, everyone who ever worked with her, everyone who ever used that office as a cover and THEIR contacts, all of their families... SO MANY people are potentially at risk now because of this. It's a big deal.
~Sean
Libby's not fully unaccountable -- the fine levied against him and the probation (whatever that really means) are intact, but I guess it just goes to prove that white collar crime with more far-reaching repercussions are favored over what people who DO go to prison for 30 months (or more). What remains amounts to a slap on the wrist.
But really, more than that, more than returning loyalty given by being their fall guy (intended or not), it seems pretty clear that this is more about covering their own asses than anything else.
I am so sick of this puppet theatre.
[Update]
The more I hear people talking about it, the more I regret having much of the same (admittedly emotional) reaction. All I keep thinking is "never ascribe malice to that which can be explained by incompetence" -- or words to that effect. I don't want to be sure there's some nefarious coverup or plot because it hasn't been proven. At the very least, it would seem that Libby lied to cover up someone else's slip-up (even Bush admits he agrees with the verdict).
So, aside from commuting the sentence, Bush (through Tony Snow) didn't deny that a pardon was off the table. Nurr.
And I'm sick of people questioning Valerie Plame's status as a secret agent. First, Fitzgerald was the one who filed the papers regarding the issue precisely because her identity was classified. And as for those who call it a victimless crime, this affects more than her: all of her contacts, everyone who ever worked with her, everyone who ever used that office as a cover and THEIR contacts, all of their families... SO MANY people are potentially at risk now because of this. It's a big deal.
~Sean