Posted July 2, 200717 yr comment_914671 WASHINGTON - President Bush commuted the sentence of former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter� Libby on Monday, sparing him from a 2?-year prison term that Bush said was excessive. Bush’s move came hours after a federal appeals panel ruled Libby could not delay his prison term in the CIA leak case. That meant Libby was likely to have to report to prison soon and put new pressure on the president, who had been sidestepping calls by Libby’s allies to pardon the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney. “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. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison.� Bush left intact a $250,000 fine and two years probation for Libby, and Bush said his action still “leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby.� Libby was convicted in March of lying to authorities and obstructing the investigation into the 2003 leak of CIA operative’s identity. He was the highest-ranking White House official ordered to prison since the Iran-Contra affair. Bush said of Cheney’s former aide: “The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.� Link So, just so we're clear: Democrat commits obstruction of justice- gets impeached Republican commits obstruction of justice- convicted by the courts, but let off the hook by the President. The fine for Libby is irrelevant, because GOP supporters like Fred Thompson have raised most of that money already for him. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914672 ...and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States /thread Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914672 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914673 Clinton pardoned much worse individuals. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914673 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr Author comment_914674 It's not a pardon. Just because he has the ABILITY doesn't mean it's right, and that goes for any President. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914674 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914675 Clinton pardoned much worse individuals. Thank you, if we need any more of that I'll give you a call on the bat phone. God, the guy's legacy is beyond worthless and some are still trying to salvage it by the whole "Well.... Well... Clinton was worse" arguement It doesn't really matter as Fox said, it's his power it's a tastless act IMO but every president is going to do it so it's a non issue. I don't think the courts tomorrow will be in turmoil with judges letting rapists go, and petty thieves being given life. So I think it's safe to say the courts will be just fine. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914675 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr Author comment_914676 God forbid that SOMEONE is held accountable in this White House... Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914676 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914677 Libby in Cell: Powers awarded by the Constitution, FTW! *fist pump* Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914677 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914678 God forbid that SOMEONE is held accountable in this White House... What do you want, all the charges against them are severly flimsy. Their scumbags but you can't possibly with a straight face cry that you want the court system protected yet you want these people arrested on flimsy charges. Libby was a scapegoat and don't give me that you want him to go to jail for the sole reason of protecting judicial intergrity. No, you're angry so don't lie about your purposes. Relax, this is an administration that so desperately wants a legacy that will not be there. Justice is served. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914678 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr Author comment_914679 He was convicted by a Republican appointee and a jury. I don't know what else it takes. My complaint is that Libby was the only person even taken to court for putting a CIA operative's life in jeopardy because of a political vendetta against her husband, and now he's not going to jail. That means that no one will be adequately punished for an offense that should have put people in jail. Bush claims that the charges were too harsh, yet the conservative judge followed the standard federal sentencing guidelines for this crime. A conviction is a conviction, so there should not be an argument about whether he was guilty or not. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914679 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914680 Not unexpected. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914680 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914681 He was convicted by a Republican appointee and a jury. I don't know what else it takes. My complaint is that Libby was the only person even taken to court for putting a CIA operative's life in jeopardy because of a political vendetta against her husband, and now he's not going to jail. That means that no one will be adequately punished for an offense that should have put people in jail. Bush claims that the charges were too harsh, yet the conservative judge followed the standard federal sentencing guidelines for this crime. A conviction is a conviction, so there should not be an argument about whether he was guilty or not. So you want to convict someone just to convict someone despite whether he is actually guilty or not? WOW you're smart. :notworthy Please explain to me how that is fair to a) him b) his family c) the court system d) the country. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914681 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr Author comment_914682 He was guilty, but not as heavily involved as either Karl Rove or Richard Armitage. Let's face it, he was the fall guy who protected guys like Cheney and Rove from charges. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914682 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914683 He was guilty, but not as heavily involved as either Karl Rove or Richard Armitage. Let's face it, he was the fall guy who protected guys like Cheney and Rove from charges. I'm not going to get into a debate on whether he was guilty or not......BUT the way you worded your post, it seemed as if you were in favor of sending him to jail just to send him to jail. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914683 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914684 He was guilty, but not as heavily involved as either Karl Rove or Richard Armitage. Let's face it, he was the fall guy who protected guys like Cheney and Rove from charges. I'm not going to get into a debate on whether he was guilty or not......BUT the way you worded your post, it seemed as if you were in favor of sending him to jail just to send him to jail. No he didn't word it that way, read his post again... slowly this time "A conviction is a conviction, so there should not be an argument about whether he was guilty or not." That means there should be no debate about his guilt since the court already found him guilty. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914684 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr Author comment_914685 Thank you. Jonathan Turley just made a good point on Hardball, saying that the Libby defense team was going to try and bring Dick Cheney in to testify, but that this mysteriously disappeared once the trial actually began. Just a brief comment on Libby's family: What about Valerie Plame and her family? She was involved in investigating illegal WMDs overseas, and worked for what was actually a CIA front company. You never know what could happen to her in the future, once this whole thing dies down. No matter what, she is going to have to look over her shoulder for the rest of her life. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914685 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914686 Jonathan Pollard's sentence deserves to be commuted moreso than this scumbag's. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914686 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914687 Jonathan Pollard's sentence deserves to be commuted moreso than this scumbag's. If I'm ever President of the United States, the only time Pollard would hear 'pardon' from me would be if I just farted. Libby was not pardoned. The President of the United States used the barest fraction of his power to modify the man's sentence. Democrat commits obstruction of justice- gets impeached Republican commits obstruction of justice- convicted by the courts, but let off the hook by the President. Clinton commits perjury and obstruction of justice and gets off the hook. Libby (pending appeal) commits obstruction of justice and gets to be a convicted felon. Try to keep it straight. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914687 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914688 He was guilty, but not as heavily involved as either Karl Rove or Richard Armitage. Let's face it, he was the fall guy who protected guys like Cheney and Rove from charges. I'm not going to get into a debate on whether he was guilty or not......BUT the way you worded your post, it seemed as if you were in favor of sending him to jail just to send him to jail. No he didn't word it that way, read his post again... slowly this time "A conviction is a conviction, so there should not be an argument about whether he was guilty or not." That means there should be no debate about his guilt since the court already found him guilty. Not only was he found guilty by the court, but the appeals were denied. Top that with Bush giving out nearly NO pardons for even the most outragous sentences in the past, and its just... well i guess expected by now. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914688 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914689 Jonathan Pollard's sentence deserves to be commuted moreso than this scumbag's. If I'm ever President of the United States, the only time Pollard would hear 'pardon' from me would be if I just farted. Libby was not pardoned. The President of the United States used the barest fraction of his power to modify the man's sentence. Democrat commits obstruction of justice- gets impeached Republican commits obstruction of justice- convicted by the courts, but let off the hook by the President. Clinton commits perjury and obstruction of justice and gets off the hook. Libby (pending appeal) commits obstruction of justice and gets to be a convicted felon. Try to keep it straight. No. Clinton commits the above stated and the crime is called by all on the right and in the media a real crime. an punishable crime. and a true breaking of the law. Scooter libby is found guilty of the same and the same people claim that were is no crime. They don't agree with the decision so that makes it not fair. and he shouldnt be punished. Try to keep it straight. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914689 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr comment_914690 If we wanna compare the two even more, let's compare even more: Clinton's questioning was on stuff not even remotely germane to the case on hand and led to the death of no one. Libby's, on the other hand, was, and the original crime probably led to the deaths of some of our best CIA NOCs who probably would be REALLY important in Iran right now (probably b/c they were there at the time Brewster Jennings was unmasked by our own government). PS: Nice trying to put words in my mouth. I didn't say "pardon", I said "commute". Remember, at the time of sentencing, it was thought the crimes actually perpetrated by Hanssen and Ames were done by Pollard (now known to be complete BS). When even your pro-Israel friends start to piss on you, that's when you should know to shut up about things you don't know about. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914690 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 2, 200717 yr Author comment_914691 Clinton certainly didn't get off the hook. He was only the second President ever impeached, which was absurd to begin with. His legacy is also permanently tainted by the scandal. Yes, he lied, but he wasn't about anything that was relevant to the case being made against him. The entire impeachment affair was as political as this current Libby incident has now officially become. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914691 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 3, 200717 yr comment_914692 No. Clinton commits the above stated and the crime is called by all on the right and in the media a real crime. an punishable crime. and a true breaking of the law. Scooter libby is found guilty of the same and the same people claim that were is no crime. They don't agree with the decision so that makes it not fair. and he shouldnt be punished. Try to keep it straight. Perjury. A crime Bill Clinton committed beyond a shadow of a doubt. He was acquitted. Obstruction of Justice, a crime both men may have committed (Libby is pending appeal). Clinton was acquitted, Libby was convicted (again, pending appeal). If Scooter Libby did commit obstruction of justice, then he did it and was convicted for it. He has criminal penalties and everything. But the big crime he supposedly covered up has been revealed to have not been a crime in the first place. Libby's, on the other hand, was, and the original crime probably led to the deaths of some of our best CIA NOCs who probably would be REALLY important in Iran right now (probably b/c they were there at the time Brewster Jennings was unmasked by our own government). bulls***. Plame was outed in ignorance by another person entirely before Libby spoke with anyone. Libby's crime was supposedly misrepresenting his conversations to reporters during the investigation. PS: Nice trying to put words in my mouth. I didn't say "pardon", I said "commute". Remember, at the time of sentencing, it was thought the crimes actually perpetrated by Hanssen and Ames were done by Pollard (now known to be complete BS). When even your pro-Israel friends start to piss on you, that's when you should know to shut up about things you don't know about. The pardon bit was a joking reference. The point was, "f*** Pollard." When you join an intelligence agency you take an oath beyond anything a United States citizen is expected to live up to, even if that citizen is chief of staff of the man that is 1st in line to take over the Presidency. He plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to deliver national defense information to a foreign government, and in violation of his plea agreement went on 60 Minutes before his sentencing. The Israeli government has admitted he is a spy. There is not a single redeeming element to the whole thing, and unlike Libby, he didn't perform his crime after the fact when no harm was done. Not a single portion of his charges made any mention to the actions later linked to Hanssen and Ames. Secretaries of Defense under Democrats and Republicans, as well as the Director of Central Intelligence have all been vehemently opposed to the release of Pollard, even to the point of Tenet threatening to quit over the matter. Clinton refused to commute Pollard's sentence even after Israel threatened to leave the peace process over the matter. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914692 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 3, 200717 yr comment_914693 Democrat commits obstruction of justice- gets impeached Republican commits obstruction of justice- convicted by the courts, but let off the hook by the President. Clinton commits perjury and obstruction of justice and gets off the hook. Libby (pending appeal) commits obstruction of justice and gets to be a convicted felon. Try to keep it straight. Nice reach. It's funny seeing you try and compare one person lying about his sex life (which really isn't anyone's business to begin with) to Libby's ordeal. Real similar. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914693 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 3, 200717 yr Author comment_914694 Eric, the appeal process for Libby is over. That's the reason that Bush made this move today. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914694 Share on other sites More sharing options...
July 3, 200717 yr comment_914695 Eric, the appeal process for Libby is over. That's the reason that Bush made this move today. No it is not. The judge ruled that he must go to jail during the appeal, which is likely why Bush made his move today. I find it pretty unlikely that his appeal will succeed, I am merely keeping the facts straight. July 2 (Bloomberg) -- Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, must go to prison while appealing his conviction for obstructing a CIA leak probe, a U.S. appeals court said. Link to comment https://www.marlinsbaseball.com/topic/53425-bush-makes-a-joke-of-court-system/?&do=findComment&comment=914695 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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