Its Not What You Are, It’s Who You Are
The President and the law and order party have spoken:
One might think that these statements are all endorsements of the Court of Appeals decision to deny Libby’s claims and recognition that he would soon begin his prison sentence. But that would be falling into the old trick of thinking that Conservative public words stand for truth and consistency of ideas and values, rather then attempts to fool the public by claiming one thing while doing the opposite.
Bush logic (I know it is a contradiction in terms) has concluded that despite the jury decision, the distinguished prosecution, and the verdicts of courts appointed by Republican Presidents; they all got it wrong and that therefore he has to rectify their errors. Bush pretty much on his own, after one and one half terms of almost never using Presidential pardon authority, has found this particular decision to be so grievous that compassion just impelled him to act.
He, so far, has not issued a full pardon; although today he said that is still on the table. But to his mind the jury sentence “was excessive.” Let’s not let words get in the way. If something were excessive wouldn’t that argue for reducing the period rather then eliminating it altogether?
Could this be hush money?
The real message is to everyone else who has not yet bailed out of the administration: lie as often as you need to in order to protect Bush and Cheney, and you won’t have to pay the consequences.
Both Bush and Cheney lament that Libby is faced with a $250,000 fine and diminished reputation. How long is it going to be before some Republican think tank, lobbying firm, or big business hires Scooter to provide his government expertise, at multiple millions per year, and we see pictures of him smiling as he pays the fine, while being lauded as a hero by the GOP base that despite the glaring evidence thinks Bush can do no wrong? In case you’ve forgotten, Spiro Agnew forced to resign as Vice President for accepting bribes while Governor of Maryland, retired in wealth to Palm Springs golf courses and numerous remunerative speaking engagements.
White House thinking must have been that with poll numbers as low as any President’s what is one more heinous act. Just a blip on an already tainted record. At least he is making the base happy, which is all he ever tries to do. Its been a good week for them – Libby spared from jail and the now the officially conservative Supreme Court grandiosely claiming to strike the specter of discrimination from the schools by preventing school districts from using race to achieve diversity has actually ensured that the stark reality of geographic segregation will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
President Bush’s statement on the commutation of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby -
From the very beginning of the investigation into the leaking of Valerie Plame's name, I made it clear to the White House staff and anyone serving in my administration that I expected full cooperation with the Justice Department.
… a jury of citizens weighed all the evidence and listened to all the testimony and found Mr. Libby guilty of perjury and obstructing justice. They argue, correctly, that our entire system of justice relies on people telling the truth. And if a person does not tell the truth, particularly if he serves in government and holds the public trust, he must be held accountable.
Mr. Fitzgerald is a highly qualified, professional prosecutor who carried out his responsibilities as charged.
I respect the jury's verdict.
Robert Bork and James Rosen, National Review -
Lying under oath strikes at the heart of our system of justice and the rule of law. It does not matter in the least what the perjury is about.
Bill Bennett, Wall Street Journal -
And we know that when a person testifies under oath that he doesn't remember something when in fact he does, he has committed perjury.
One might think that these statements are all endorsements of the Court of Appeals decision to deny Libby’s claims and recognition that he would soon begin his prison sentence. But that would be falling into the old trick of thinking that Conservative public words stand for truth and consistency of ideas and values, rather then attempts to fool the public by claiming one thing while doing the opposite.
Bush logic (I know it is a contradiction in terms) has concluded that despite the jury decision, the distinguished prosecution, and the verdicts of courts appointed by Republican Presidents; they all got it wrong and that therefore he has to rectify their errors. Bush pretty much on his own, after one and one half terms of almost never using Presidential pardon authority, has found this particular decision to be so grievous that compassion just impelled him to act.
He, so far, has not issued a full pardon; although today he said that is still on the table. But to his mind the jury sentence “was excessive.” Let’s not let words get in the way. If something were excessive wouldn’t that argue for reducing the period rather then eliminating it altogether?
Could this be hush money?
The real message is to everyone else who has not yet bailed out of the administration: lie as often as you need to in order to protect Bush and Cheney, and you won’t have to pay the consequences.
Both Bush and Cheney lament that Libby is faced with a $250,000 fine and diminished reputation. How long is it going to be before some Republican think tank, lobbying firm, or big business hires Scooter to provide his government expertise, at multiple millions per year, and we see pictures of him smiling as he pays the fine, while being lauded as a hero by the GOP base that despite the glaring evidence thinks Bush can do no wrong? In case you’ve forgotten, Spiro Agnew forced to resign as Vice President for accepting bribes while Governor of Maryland, retired in wealth to Palm Springs golf courses and numerous remunerative speaking engagements.
White House thinking must have been that with poll numbers as low as any President’s what is one more heinous act. Just a blip on an already tainted record. At least he is making the base happy, which is all he ever tries to do. Its been a good week for them – Libby spared from jail and the now the officially conservative Supreme Court grandiosely claiming to strike the specter of discrimination from the schools by preventing school districts from using race to achieve diversity has actually ensured that the stark reality of geographic segregation will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
posted by John Weiss at 4:54 PM
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