What if Libby Was Black or Mentally Retarded?
July 03, 2007News & Politics
This post, written by Bob Cesca, originally appeared on The Huffington Post
Scooter Libby's sentence was "excessive," President Bush said.
In other words, two-and-a-half years in jail for perjury is just way, way over the line in a case in which the White House and Scooter Libby undermined national security; exposed a CIA agent's cover; and potentially damaged this agent's covert operation to track unaccounted-for nuclear material (loose nukes) -- all orchestrated by the vice president and Libby to sucker punch Ambassador Joe Wilson.
So the president all but pardoned Libby by commuting his prison sentence.
The Republican-American pundits and bloggers are, of course, applauding this action by the president for some reason, which is weird since the same set of googly-eyed Cotton Mathers wanted President Clinton at least impeached and, at most, castrated after he was caught lying to a grand jury about oral sex.
However, in the case of Scooter Libby, justice is simply too unfair and mean. To wit, I give you these remarks from Michelle Malkin's freshly minted comments section:
But let's get back to "excessive." That's a strong word considering President Bush's war for reelection and profit has killed anywhere from 30,000 to 600,000 Iraqi civilians. That's excessive. It's also a strong word for a man who four years ago today baited the Iraqi insurgents to attack our soldiers by taunting them with "bring 'em on" -- the most irresponsible statement any president has uttered since President Grover Cleveland streaked pantless across the White House roof while shouting, "Bring on a New Jersey Turnpike rest area named after me! Let it thus betoken my legacy, and so too the Roy Rogers fixins' bar contained therein. Oyez! Huzzah! And other joyous old-timey skidoo!"
What's excessive? President Bush, who suddenly hates excessive punishments, once refused to commute the death sentence of a 33-year-old mentally retarded black man with an IQ of around 60 and the functional skills of a 7-year-old boy.
Scooter Libby's sentence was "excessive," President Bush said.
In other words, two-and-a-half years in jail for perjury is just way, way over the line in a case in which the White House and Scooter Libby undermined national security; exposed a CIA agent's cover; and potentially damaged this agent's covert operation to track unaccounted-for nuclear material (loose nukes) -- all orchestrated by the vice president and Libby to sucker punch Ambassador Joe Wilson.
So the president all but pardoned Libby by commuting his prison sentence.
The Republican-American pundits and bloggers are, of course, applauding this action by the president for some reason, which is weird since the same set of googly-eyed Cotton Mathers wanted President Clinton at least impeached and, at most, castrated after he was caught lying to a grand jury about oral sex.
However, in the case of Scooter Libby, justice is simply too unfair and mean. To wit, I give you these remarks from Michelle Malkin's freshly minted comments section:
We need to support the President on this one. He did the right thing in the face of the stiff political winds. This witchhunt against Libby was wrong from the beginning. I only hope that the President pardons him later on. The libs are going to be spitting up their lattes up on this one.
This is a brilliant decision. This means that Libby can still appeal, and that the injustice done by the lower court can still be righted. A full pardon would have taken that away, from what I understand.
It was the LEAST Bush could do for Libby - and I do mean THE LEAST! he whole trial was a fiasco and Fitty should have been on trial by now for abuse of power Nifong-style.
Good decision. I always looked at the whole thing as a sham anyway. Too bad he is still strapped with the fines.Yeah. Poor Scooter.
But let's get back to "excessive." That's a strong word considering President Bush's war for reelection and profit has killed anywhere from 30,000 to 600,000 Iraqi civilians. That's excessive. It's also a strong word for a man who four years ago today baited the Iraqi insurgents to attack our soldiers by taunting them with "bring 'em on" -- the most irresponsible statement any president has uttered since President Grover Cleveland streaked pantless across the White House roof while shouting, "Bring on a New Jersey Turnpike rest area named after me! Let it thus betoken my legacy, and so too the Roy Rogers fixins' bar contained therein. Oyez! Huzzah! And other joyous old-timey skidoo!"
What's excessive? President Bush, who suddenly hates excessive punishments, once refused to commute the death sentence of a 33-year-old mentally retarded black man with an IQ of around 60 and the functional skills of a 7-year-old boy.
