BUSH COMMUTES LIBBY'S SENTENCE!
(Picture of President trying to commute Libby's sentence. But careful readers will note that the phone was upside down. This apparently is what caused the delay in the matter.)
"Ah said I would let the legal process work, and it hasn't. No rich white man goes to prison...not while I'm President anyways."
Earlier in the day the Court of Appeals had denied Libby's appeal of the trial Judge's denial of the motion to remain out on bond pending appeal.
Looking at this from the lawyer's point of view, do the appellate lawyers now have to refund Libby's fee? That would be a real tragedy.
The arrogance of this President and his administration knows no bounds. He has now simply added to the perception that he considers himself and his cronies above the law and his administration the most corrupt since Nixon. Bush II will go down in history as the biggest mistake this country ever elected and he is singlehandidly assuring that the Republican party is DOA in the 2008 elections. The Democratic candidates are salivating over this and rightfully so.
ReplyDeleteIt is well within my authority as part of the executive branch of goverment.
ReplyDeleteSoome don't like the rulings of the 11 members of the 3rd DCA. But those rulings are within the power of that branch of goverment.
In short SHUT THE F... UP!!
PS.. Rumpole if you ever need a pardon from my office give my chief if Staff a ring.
GWB
Oh, please....the appeal goes on...
ReplyDeleteIt's a good result. Richard Armitrage isn't going to jail for leaking Plame's name to Novak, Woodward, etc...Fitz knew who the leaker was the moment he took over the case, but kept on like Capt. Ahab.
BTW, Mr. Rumpole, whatever happened to defense attorneys being appalled by prosecutorial abuse?? Do you look at the politics of your clients before you defend them?
I would have loved to have represented Scooter Libby. Just like although I despise their politics, I would immediately represent any individual being held at Gitmo. That is what I do. I represent people accused of crimes. That DOES NOT MEAN that I am not allowed to have an opinion on a topic of the day. Not being Scooter Libby's lawyer, my view is this- he is the fall guy for an administration that commited an act of TREASON by outting a CIA agent to punish her husband- who by the way, just happened to be speaking the truth when he said that the administation knew there were no WMDs in Iraq. The revealing of a CIA agent's identity is something that you would think a liberal administration like the Clinton's would do. No. They managed to keep state secret's secret. It was the right wing- build up the military republicans who showed their real true colours- that nothing- not even national security, was as important as their ability to hold power and punish their enemies. So there.
ReplyDeleteWAY TO GO, Mr.President...make a joke of entire criminal justice system. Who else wonders what dirt Libby has on the Oval Office?
ReplyDeleteLadies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States.
ReplyDeleteGWB: Good afternoon. Today I signed an order comuntin the sentence of Scooter Libby. Under this order which I, as the decider, can decide, and I did decide, Scooter can commute to and from his sentence. I believe in the rule of law. I was the first Governor to sentence a woman to death, and I watched her fry. But this 30 months, with no commutin, was too harsh. So Scooter can go to do his sentence, and come home at night, where his wife and family need him. Unlike any other person in prison in the United States, I have decided that Scooter's sentence was too harsh and that his sentence would affect his family in a bad way.
Thank you.
Rumpole:
ReplyDeleteOur former sovereign James II was described as a man who "was utterly self-confident, but often showed bad judgment, with the easy courage of the limited mind." Doesn't this sound like the present sovereign of our former colonies? We can only hope that King G.W. Bush suffers the same disgrace, despair, and ignomineous fate that James Stuart did and slinks off into the night to never sully our shores with his pathetic presence again.
Oh, how quickly you partisan revisionists forget:
ReplyDeleteBill Clinton pardoned Edgar and Vonna Jo Gregory, owners of the carnival company United Shows International, for charges of bank fraud. Hillary Clinton's youngest brother, Tony Rodham, was an acquaintance of the Gregorys, and had lobbied Clinton on their behalf. He received$107,000 from the Gregorys for the pardons, in the form of loans that were never repaid.
He pardoned Almon Glenn Braswell of his mail fraud and perjury convictions, even while a federal investigation was underway regarding additional money laundering and tax evasion charges. Braswell and Carlos Vignali each paid approximately $200,000 to Hillary Clinton's brother, Hugh Rodham, to represent their respective cases for clemency.
Clinton pardoned Susan McDougal for her role in the Whitewater scandal; McDougal was convicted on contempt charges for refusing to testify about Clinton's role.
And finally, Clinton pardoned his half-brother, Roger Clinton, for a previos drug conviction.
I'd like to see Bush's term in office commuted. And Cheney? We should drop him off in Sadr city with his trusty shotgun.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, say what you want about WJClinton, no one in his administration ever revealed the name of a CIA officer. No one in his administration was ever convicted of perjury. Perjury! A Texas tough guy law and order republican feels that a 30 month sentence is too harsh for perjury and obstruction of justice? I wrote on the blog last week about a US Military officer accused of the exact crimes who received 31 months. I didn't read about the President commuting his sentence.
ReplyDeleteMr. Rumpole,
ReplyDeleteDid you miss the news that RICHARD ARMITRAGE (Colin Powell's #2) was the leaker? A man beloved by the Georgetown cocktail circuit because he was generally on the other side of W's foreign policy? And that Fitz told him to keep quiet about it for the next three years?
Libby didn't leak anything. Besides, Plame's identity was compromised years ago by Aldrich Ames. Probably the reason Hubby Joe Wilson was so free about ID'ing her in Who's Who 1998, and all her buds - like ABC's Andrea Mitchell - knew she was CIA.
"Treason" by Libby?...gimme a break.
I'm no partisan revisionist. Clinton was a whore.
ReplyDeleteYou, sir, are the partisan hack who justifies political immorality with a glib, "everyone's doing it" attitude.
Between illegal NSA wiretapping, the failure to win the peace in Iraq, the torture in Guantanamo and Abu-Ghraib, extraordinary renditions, Cheney's fourth branch of government, Karl Rove's missing emails, Alberto Gonzalez's gross politicization of the Justice Department and Scooter Libby as the latest cherry on top, the administration embarrasses and angers me.
No, perhaps not anyone in his administration was convicted or perjury-But the president himslef committed perjury in the infamous "it depends on what your definition of IS, is" He wasn't CONVICTED of perjury, but we all know Clinton perjured himself in that deposition. Anyone who spins an excuse for that comment under oath is an exaple of pure partisan politics and the reason Washington is such a mess on both sides. I don't agree with the president's decision, but I don't throw rocks in glass houses either.
ReplyDeleteUntil we are willing to call a spade a spade regardless of the party affiliation we are all doomed for more politics as usual.
"...no one in his administration ever revealed the name of a CIA officer"
ReplyDeleteLibby was NOT convicted of revealing a CIA officer's name. In fact, he was NEVER charged with that either. Do you know why? Because he didn't do that.
Don't blow this out of proportion.
My problem with you, Rump, is that if you had represented Scooter, you would NEVER say the things you are saying about him. No, you would speak glowingly about him which makes you a hypocrite!
And, by the way, it "BJ" Clinton--biggest scumbag of our lifetime.
W should have outright pardoned Scooter.
Signed,
Guess who
If you really look behind the scenes of this scandal, you will the see the VP orchestrating an attack campaign against Joe Wilson (husband of CIA Officer Plame) and whipsering to reporters about her. Dick Armitage admitted (ie., told the truth) that when asked by a reporter who was snooping around (a the behest of the office of the VP) he did reveal the identity of Plame. But he did not do it for the malicious reasons the VP wanted it done. It was a mistake. Armitage admitted it. And that is why he was not prosecuted. What this White House has done is TREASON. Can you think of many worse acts that revealing the name of an undercover CIA field officer for punative reasons relating to her husband? I can't. They should be ashamed of themselves.
ReplyDeleteBy the way- Marcus on the federal blog is correct. If the president really believes the sentence was too harsh- and the sentence was within the guidelines- just what is he going to do to amend the guidelines to prevent others in the same situation from receving the same sentence?
10:01-see my response at 8:46. Not being a lawyer, it is understandable how you cannot conceive of the difference of being a professional, and having a personal opinion. Lucky for you that doctors have the same obligation and ethics as sttorneys,, or you wouldn't have anyone available to save your mangy butt.
ReplyDeleteGet your head out of your ass and the New York Times. You will see the world more clearly, Rump.
ReplyDeleteClinton was a scumbag? Oh I forgot- he started a war for a lie; killed over 3,000 americans for a lie; wasted 500 billion dollars for a lie. I'll tell you, the Monica Lewinsky thing was a shame- and a blight on the presidency- what this current president has done is a crime- and he has ruined our reputation in the world. And I can think of over 3,000 americans and their families, who would agree that there is a large difference between lying about a blow-job, and sending a nation to war for a lie. Those 3,000+ dead americans can never be apologized to.
ReplyDeleteAt least I read a newspaper every day. Try getting your news from something other than channel 7, the National Enquirer, and TMZ.com.
ReplyDeleteOther than in an emergency room in a life/death situation, a doctor does NOT have to treat anyone they choose not to. What are you talking about?
ReplyDeleteAnd, enough with this "lie" bs. Everyone in the world, including all your liberal hacks, thought there were WMDs in Iraq. Do some lexis/nexis research and you will find all kinds of pre 9-11 quotes from Cankles CLinton (that's Hillary), John Kerry, etc...
Don't you love John Edwards bumper sticker theory...tell it to Scotland!
Butch up, Rump...hmmmm "Rump" is there a double entendre there?
What kind of a response was that? It sounded like "nany nany boo boo stick your head in doo doo!"
ReplyDeleteYou call that a newspaper? It has no credibility.
Bush should have granted a full pardon. Libby was the loyal fall guy who protected both the executive and the cheneyal branches of government. The least the executive branch could do was to give him a full pardon and pay him his legal fees.
ReplyDeleteI thought John Dean (of all people) had the right perspective on this issue. He said even Nixon and Ford had enough sense to leave John Ehrlichman and H. R. Haldeman in jail and in jeopardy.
ReplyDeleteWithout any question this President believes he and all around him are above the law. He beleives he can rewrite the law. Like his brother he has nothing but contempt for our judiciary, the rule of law and the will of the people.
The Vice-President is as corrupt a man as has ever been in office.
Disclosure of a CIA operative's name and endangering her life is TREASON. Here it was done solely as payback for her husband's failure to support and vocal opposition to Bush's lies which led us into an unnecessary war for the profit of the Vice-President's friends.
These two are just unpatriotic jerks. Don't wrap yourself in our flag and then stomp on all it reperesents.
Time for the Special Prosecutor to give Libby Immunity, put him in front of a Grand Jury and if he refuses to testify, jail him until he talks. Subpeona him to appear before Congress. Give him Use Immunity and prosecute him for Contempt of Congress if he refuses to testify. Many believe he has knowledge of the President and the Vice President's complicity in all of this sad episode.
Warren Harding move over. You were the worst, but you knew you were incompetent. Bush is now the worst and the sad part is that after all these years he still thinks he is smart.
Articles of Impeachment even if
you can not convict.
God help us get through the next 18 months.
Moments like this one remind me why I voted for GWB. We elect the President to exercise his discretion where the Constitution warrants it. Mr. Bush exercised good judgment to correct a wrong perpetuated by an inefficiency (independent prosecutors run amok) in our justice system.
ReplyDeleteI take umbrage with your last remarks Rumpole. I have had blow jobs to die for, the best by a drug addicted hooker who lost her teeth to drugs, she took out her false teeth before doing the deed. best I ever had. to choose between dying or having legs blown off or that blow job is a tough call. you should try it. You know rumpole -we are failures at life - we want to change the world and it won't change- was it aristotle or plato that said only the dead have seen the end of war. we should change to a lifestyle of he who dies with the most toys wins- workaholic criminal defense attorneys -often unpaid for our services-stressed out etc. what good is it? murder won't stop, duis wont stop etc. We are in Iraq II because Bush and his father didn't get enough blow jobs.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely amazed at the number of neo-fascists that post on this blog. And the fact that many are attorneys...
ReplyDeleteforget Con Law, did you you people even take civics in high school? Ever read a history book? (I love the justification for the commutation that "the president has the power, so it's OK to do it.") Discretion, we say we want it in prosecutors, how about a little from a President. We're in awfully deep when the justification for the exercise of discretionary power is "I'm authorized to do it." Dear God, why not just name him Leader for Life now and be done with this Democracy clap-trap.
We now suffer the (me) generation that grew up under the influence of the most overrated president in history, Ronald Reagan. The gift of crack cocaine wasn't enough, Ron, you just had to seed us with right-wing attorneys. Thanks.
batman = blowhard
ReplyDelete2:55, Sounds like you need to go see your doctor and get yourself tested....QUICK
ReplyDeleteEverybody did not believe they were WMDs in Iraq - the National Intelligence Estimate which was provided to the Senate raised questions about whether Iraq was truly a threat. Twenty three Senators voted against the war resolution, including our own BOb Graham who STRONGLY suggested everyone actually read the NIE before voting. Clinton and Edwards, their eyes firmly on the 2008 race voted in favor of the war without bothering to read the 90 page NIE because they believed to do otherwise would be political suicide - they were trying to be as tough as Bush thinking that's what America needed. There are many dirty hands in this war, not just Bush.
ReplyDeleteThe Scooter issue rightfully raised the ghosts of Clinton's pardons past. Someone should ask Hillary. While you're at it, ask her about co-sponsoring the Flag Burning Amendment, another dodge to appease the right when she could have easily stood up for the First Amendment and no one would have thought twice of it.
I'm a staunch Democrat, but I'm disturbed by the growing tendency in this country to cast aspersions without actually discussing the legitimate issues.
Some interesting clips from a Wapo section apparently and ironcially developed to discuss Clinton's impeachment.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtonpost.com/
wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/
stories/watergatedoc_3.htm
From a report by the Judiciary Committee in 1974 in the aftermath of the Watergate crisis.
"In the [Constitutional] convention George Mason argued that the President might use his pardoning power to "pardon crimes which were advised by himself" or, before indictment or conviction, "to stop inquiry and prevent detection." James Madison responded:
'[I]f the President be connected, in any suspicious manner, with any person, and there be grounds [to] believe he will shelter him, the House of Representatives can impeach him; they can remove him if found guilty...'
Madison went on to [say] contrary to his position in the Philadelphia convention, that the President could be suspended when suspected, and his powers would devolve on the Vice President, who could likewise be suspended until impeached and convicted, if he were also suspected.
Not that it'll ever happen. :/