Bush Helps Libby Escape Prison

This post, written by Christy Hardin Smith, originally appeared on FireDogLake

President Bush, once again throwing the rule of law out in the trash to cater to his rabid base, has commuted Scooter Libby's prison sentence. Both MSNBC and CNN are reporting this.

As Jeff Toobin just said on CNN: A pardon is if the conviction had never happened -- a pardon is an absolute reversal of fortune. A commutation leaves the conviction, the fine and the two years of probation on the books, but it does remove the prison time from the mix.

The President has an absolute right to do this. But by commuting the sentence of his former Presidential advisor and the former Number 2 to Dick Cheney -- the President has put protecting Dick Cheney and his actions above respect for America's system of justice.

This is a shameful, self-dealing action which will have long-term political ramifications for the Bush Administration. And it should.