Thread: Scooter Libby's Sentence Commuted

I'm surprised nobody beat me to this. What are your feeling about President Bush commuting the sentence of VP Cheney's former chief-of-staff Scooter Libby? Libby will serve no jailtime, but is still a convicted felon with a $250,000 fine to pay.

I'm not really surprised it happened. I'm disappointed nonetheless. Just goes to show if you have money & friends in high places you can walk.

One American I know said that there are 3 words holding back the impeachment process 'President Dick Cheney'

If the prime minister did something like that over here the government would fall and we'd have new elections very soon.

Every time something like this happens I think 'This time he won't get away with it' but every time he does.

All I can say is business as usual. I'm not surprised at this, especially from this administration. It shows that they really do believe themselves to be above the law.

X

All I shall say: this saves the U.S. tax payer a hell of a lot of money. Usually guys like he get many expensive priviliges in jail and reduced sentences when the heat is off the case.

Originally Posted by Kees

All I shall say: this saves the U.S. tax payer a hell of a lot of money. Usually guys like he get many expensive priviliges in jail and reduced sentences when the heat is off the case.

But that should have nothing to do with it. You cannot possibly think that he should be let off because of this?

He should be pardoned.

This was the result of a Democrat fishing expedition and nothing else.

Does anyone know the facts of the case?

Does anyone remember Clinton committing perjury??


Did anyone catch the judges letting terrorists go free from GITMO because the tribunals were set up for
" Unlawful Enemy Combatants"
and apparently the towel heads they had locked up were just
" Enemy Combatants ".

Result? A " Get Out Of Jail Free " card. Don't you think that's more important?
I bet not because they are just political prisoners who are being held by a corrupt administration right?


Jesus people, go look at how many commutations Clinton had!
38 !!
For things like
cocaine trafficing
bank fraud
obstruction of justice
defrauding Federal poverty programs
terrorism

Pardons??? 140 !!!
I'm tired of typing... I found a List_of_people_pardoned_by_Bill_Clinton

This thread is an excellent example of how a little information can be more dangerous than none at all.

GW -- you're right, the system stinks and, as you've perfectly demonstrated, it doesn't matter which administration is in charge, they're as corrupt as each other.

So.......

how does that make overruling the judiciary right? In fact, forget 'overruling', it's actually undermining the entire independent legal system.

And let's not all go into whether the judgment was correct or not. That's neither here nor there with respect to whether it's OK for a President to commute or pardon.

Frankly, I think this goes beyond party politics. Democrats, Republicans... who cares? They're doing what they want from a position of complete power. No matter how Bush and his ilk dress it up, it has the smell of corruption.

According to Joe Klein, TIME's political columnist, there's also the idea that Libby was going to write a tell-all memoir and with the commuted sentence, the book will not be written. At the very least, some secrets will now be withheld.

I think there's no way in hell Libby would have talked, ever. I think the hubbub is just noise. Personally, I find it pleasurable to see Bush exercising Constitutional powers he really has, as opposed to those he makes up as he goes along.

Originally Posted by majurey

That's neither here nor there with respect to whether it's OK for a President to commute or pardon.

In US politics Governors of states and Presidents have the ability to commute sentences and pardon criminals. I'm curious... is this unique to the USA? Do the heads of government in other countries (eg, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, etc.) also do this?