If you don’t like this you should be on the streets of Alexandria Va. or Washington DC tonight.
Chatter in restaurants and Starbucks ranges from disgust to rage.
Are we ready to Impeach yet? How much shit is enough shit?
The pile of BuShit is so high you need a back hoe to deal with it, not a lawn scooper.
Bush Commutes Libby Prison Sentence
By BEN FELLER
The Associated PressMonday, July 2, 2007; 7:24 PM
WASHINGTON --
Bush Commutes Libby Prison Sentence
By BEN FELLER
The Associated PressMonday, July 2, 2007; 7:24 PM
WASHINGTON --
President Bush spared former White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby from a 2 1/2-year prison term in the CIA leak case Monday, delivering a political thunderbolt in a highly charged criminal case. Bush said the sentence was just too harsh.
Bush's move came just five hours after a federal appeals panel ruled that Libby could not delay his prison term. That meant Libby was likely to have to report soon, and it put new pressure on the president, who had been sidestepping calls by Libby's allies to pardon Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff.
"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's decision enraged Democrats and cheered conservatives _ though some of the latter wished Bush had granted a full pardon.
"Libby's conviction was the one faint glimmer of accountability for White House efforts to manipulate intelligence and silence critics of the Iraq war," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone." [How would you like to go for a full menu of Justice Harry, a three course meal: Indict, Impeach, Imprison]
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush's decision showed the president "condones criminal conduct." [So Nancy what are going to about it? The answer in right under your table girl!]
Unlike a pardon, which would have wiped away Libby's criminal record, Bush's commutation voided only the prison term. [He can do the full pardon thing later.]
The president left intact a $250,000 fine and two years probation for his conviction of lying and obstructing justice in a probe into the leak of a CIA operative's identity. The former operative, Valerie Plame, contends the White House was trying to discredit her husband, a critic of Bush's Iraq policy. [No sweat; one of the defense funds will pay that off.]
Bush said his action still "leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby." [What a crock, and everyone knows it.]
Libby was convicted in March, the highest-ranking White House official ordered to prison since the Iran-Contra affair.
Testimony in the case had revealed the extraordinary steps that Bush and Cheney were willing to take to discredit a critic of the Iraq war.
Libby's supporters celebrated the president's decision.
"President Bush did the right thing today in commuting the prison term for Scooter Libby," said House Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri. [That’s one more idiot chiming in, [note] make sure the folks back home in Missouri get the message]
"That's fantastic. It's a great relief," said former Ambassador Richard Carlson, who helped raise millions for Libby's defense fund. "Scooter Libby did not deserve to go to prison and I'm glad the president had the courage to do this." [Somebody deserved to go to prison and we all know who; don’t we Washington Post?]
Already at record lows in the polls, Bush risked a political backlash with his decision. President Ford tumbled in the polls after his 1974 pardon of Richard M. Nixon, and the decision was a factor in Ford's loss in his bid for re-election. [Well there’s two things (W) doesn’t have to worry about.]
White House officials said Bush knew he could take political heat and simply did what he thought was right. They would not say what advice Cheney might have given the president. [Oh God, what a joke!]
On the other hand, Bush's action could help Republican presidential candidates by letting them off the hook on the question of whether they would pardon Libby. [Yep, well the President did it and he didn’t ask my advice…yak, yak…]
A message seeking comment from Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's office was not immediately returned. [Professional or not the guy probably needs some cooling off time.]
Bush said Cheney's former aide was not getting off free. [BuShit!]
"The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged," Bush said. "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." [Not in this town; they’ll have him reinvented in no time.]
A spokeswoman for Cheney said simply, "The vice president supports the president's decision." [Right! That’s all Cheney had to say…]
The White House said Bush came to his decision in the past week or two and made it final Monday because of the ruling of the appeals panel, which meant Libby would be going to prison soon. [Yep. And I have some of that prime real estate in Florida near the Everglades.]
The president's announcement came just as prison seemed likely for Libby. He recently lost an appeals court fight that was his best chance to put the sentence on hold, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons had already designated him inmate No. 28301-016. [Save it for Cheney or Bush!]
Bush's statement made no mention of the term "pardon," and he made clear that he was not willing to wipe away all penalties for Libby. [Get real!]
The president noted Libby supporters' argument that the punishment did not fit the crime for a "first-time offender with years of exceptional public service." [That would be “First time caught” offenders.]
Yet, he added, "Others point out that a jury of citizens weighed all the evidence and listened to all the testimony and found Mr. Libby guilty of perjury and obstructing justice. They argue, correctly, that our entire system of justice relies on people telling the truth. And if a person does not tell the truth, particularly if he serves in government and holds the public trust, he must be held accountable."
Bush's move came just five hours after a federal appeals panel ruled that Libby could not delay his prison term. That meant Libby was likely to have to report soon, and it put new pressure on the president, who had been sidestepping calls by Libby's allies to pardon Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff.
"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's decision enraged Democrats and cheered conservatives _ though some of the latter wished Bush had granted a full pardon.
"Libby's conviction was the one faint glimmer of accountability for White House efforts to manipulate intelligence and silence critics of the Iraq war," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "Now, even that small bit of justice has been undone." [How would you like to go for a full menu of Justice Harry, a three course meal: Indict, Impeach, Imprison]
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Bush's decision showed the president "condones criminal conduct." [So Nancy what are going to about it? The answer in right under your table girl!]
Unlike a pardon, which would have wiped away Libby's criminal record, Bush's commutation voided only the prison term. [He can do the full pardon thing later.]
The president left intact a $250,000 fine and two years probation for his conviction of lying and obstructing justice in a probe into the leak of a CIA operative's identity. The former operative, Valerie Plame, contends the White House was trying to discredit her husband, a critic of Bush's Iraq policy. [No sweat; one of the defense funds will pay that off.]
Bush said his action still "leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby." [What a crock, and everyone knows it.]
Libby was convicted in March, the highest-ranking White House official ordered to prison since the Iran-Contra affair.
Testimony in the case had revealed the extraordinary steps that Bush and Cheney were willing to take to discredit a critic of the Iraq war.
Libby's supporters celebrated the president's decision.
"President Bush did the right thing today in commuting the prison term for Scooter Libby," said House Republican Whip Roy Blunt of Missouri. [That’s one more idiot chiming in, [note] make sure the folks back home in Missouri get the message]
"That's fantastic. It's a great relief," said former Ambassador Richard Carlson, who helped raise millions for Libby's defense fund. "Scooter Libby did not deserve to go to prison and I'm glad the president had the courage to do this." [Somebody deserved to go to prison and we all know who; don’t we Washington Post?]
Already at record lows in the polls, Bush risked a political backlash with his decision. President Ford tumbled in the polls after his 1974 pardon of Richard M. Nixon, and the decision was a factor in Ford's loss in his bid for re-election. [Well there’s two things (W) doesn’t have to worry about.]
White House officials said Bush knew he could take political heat and simply did what he thought was right. They would not say what advice Cheney might have given the president. [Oh God, what a joke!]
On the other hand, Bush's action could help Republican presidential candidates by letting them off the hook on the question of whether they would pardon Libby. [Yep, well the President did it and he didn’t ask my advice…yak, yak…]
A message seeking comment from Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's office was not immediately returned. [Professional or not the guy probably needs some cooling off time.]
Bush said Cheney's former aide was not getting off free. [BuShit!]
"The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged," Bush said. "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." [Not in this town; they’ll have him reinvented in no time.]
A spokeswoman for Cheney said simply, "The vice president supports the president's decision." [Right! That’s all Cheney had to say…]
The White House said Bush came to his decision in the past week or two and made it final Monday because of the ruling of the appeals panel, which meant Libby would be going to prison soon. [Yep. And I have some of that prime real estate in Florida near the Everglades.]
The president's announcement came just as prison seemed likely for Libby. He recently lost an appeals court fight that was his best chance to put the sentence on hold, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons had already designated him inmate No. 28301-016. [Save it for Cheney or Bush!]
Bush's statement made no mention of the term "pardon," and he made clear that he was not willing to wipe away all penalties for Libby. [Get real!]
The president noted Libby supporters' argument that the punishment did not fit the crime for a "first-time offender with years of exceptional public service." [That would be “First time caught” offenders.]
Yet, he added, "Others point out that a jury of citizens weighed all the evidence and listened to all the testimony and found Mr. Libby guilty of perjury and obstructing justice. They argue, correctly, that our entire system of justice relies on people telling the truth. And if a person does not tell the truth, particularly if he serves in government and holds the public trust, he must be held accountable."
[Bush said what!]
Bush then stripped away the prison time. [Right. That makes perfect sense.]
The leak case has hung over the White House for years. After CIA operative Valerie Plame's name appeared in a 2003 syndicated newspaper column, Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald questioned top administration officials, including Bush and Cheney, about their possible roles. [Possible, Possible; I think I’m going to be sick.]
Nobody was ever charged with the leak, including Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage or White House political adviser Karl Rove, who provided the information for the original article. Prosecutors said Libby obstructed the investigation by lying about how he learned about Plame and whom he told.
Plame believes Libby and other White House officials conspired to leak her identity to reporters in 2003 as retribution against her husband, Joseph Wilson, who criticized what he said was the administration's misleading use of prewar intelligence on Iraq.
Attorney William Jeffress said he had spoken to Libby briefly by phone and "I'm happy at least that Scooter will be spared any prison time. ... The prison sentence was imminent but obviously the conviction itself is a heavy blow to Scooter." [Barf!]
___
Associated Press Writer Matt Apuzzo contributed to this report.
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