This is how whacked our legal system is: Paris Hilton will have spent more time behind bars than Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who was convicted in the CIA leak case. President Bush saw to that on Monday, commuting Libby's 2 1/2-year prison term. And we thought Paris got special treatment.
Here's breaking news from the Associated Press:
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.
Hilton spent 23 days in jail for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless-driving case. That's fine for Paris, but the president said Scooter has suffered enough for his misdeeds. Here's a quote from Bush:
"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."
Here's our editorial on the issue.
Seems fitting to have this come just days before the nation celebrates Independence Day. July 2 will now be known as Scooter Libby Independence Day.
If Clinton thug Sandy "Burglar" hasn't spent a day incarcerated, then why should Libby?
Gerald Ford's negative legacy was his pardon of Nixon.
Part of Bush's negative legacy will be this unpardonable pardon.
One unanswered question is whether Libby can no go back to work for Cheney while he's still on probation.
I guess Libby hasn't received a pardon yet, but that's apparently being considered. What's next, a Medal of Freedom?
"Scooter" Libby Is A Pawn in the Cheney/Neocon Foreign Policy Cabal
As President, Bush certainly has the right to pardon Libby but this disregard for the will of the majority of Americans in this situation is just business as usual for the politicians of both political parties. For too long they have generally ignored the will and views of productive, working Americans for the powerful special interests that control both political parties.
It is time to take control of Washington away from the special interests and return to a decentralized, limited federal government controlled by the voters. The best way to accomplish this is politically through the Ron Paul Campaign and by education of the American public on the benefits of direct democracy and limited confederation government like our first central government, The Articles of Confederation.
For more information, review the free, online book, "The Swiss Preserve Solution" which highlights how Swiss style confederation government and direct democracy could restore limited government to the United States. Read Restoring America's Original Republic with the Swiss Confederation Institute at http://www.swissconfederationinstitute.org/swisspreserve41.htm
Billy Bob Clinton didn't serve one day in jail for doing the same thing. On top of that, El Presidente (a little Spanish there) Cleentone pardoned a terrorist and some real felons. There were no complaints from the mainstream media about that. Democrats seem to be up to their usual "much ado about nothing," While they continue to do nothing about solving the nation's genuine challenges.
Libby was convicted of a crime. Clinton wasn't. That is a crucial difference (or was back when habeas corpus still meant something in the U.S.).
That is so funny equating Clinton to Libby.