So Scooter Libby has been convicted and sentenced. This is a good thing because we are a nation of laws and we respect those laws, right?
Especially true of those who are entrusted with enforcing those laws, right? They would have a keener sense of what it means to be a nation of laws, laws that apply to all - not just a few.
Of course, I was not surprised to hear talk of a Presidential Pardon for Scooter. Talk all you like. But, please, let us all review what we should expect from the Executive branch of government.
According to Bens' Guide to the US Government for Kids "The executive branch of Government makes sure that the laws of the United States are obeyed. The President of the United States is the head of the executive branch of government. This branch is very large so the President gets help from the Vice President, department heads (Cabinet members), and heads of independent agencies."
Seems pretty straightforward, right?
It seems reasonable to me that those elected officials and appointees in the top echelons of the executive branch might have a basic understanding of what their roles might be in that respect. They might also have some understanding of the laws that are to be obeyed.
Laws exist regarding the control and protection of classified information. Someone in the executive branch, probably within the White House, broke that law(s) when they disclosed the identity of a covert CIA operative. Scooter lied about it to cover up the original crime(s).
Now, I've been involved with the military both in and out of uniform for over 30 years. I have dealt with classified material and held clearances. In my business, ignorance is not a valid defense. If I'm unsure whether something is classified or not, I am required to check. Assumptions are not a part of the security vernacular.
I certainly don't accept any argument that says senior members of the executive branch didn't know such and such information was classified. These are the people responsible for running the "free world", right? Don't we have a reasonable expectation that these same people would be a little better versed in control and protection of classified material than your average clerk at the McDonald's drive through window? And recall? Geeze, you would swear some of these same people would have a hard time finding their way home after work given the amount of information they can recall. Again, these are the people responsible for running our government, running the "free world". Should we not expect them to be somehow better performing than us peons?
The test that this administration often applies in determining whether a piece of information should be classified is a political test. The existence of an illegal domestic spying program is classified because it would embarrass the administration. The outing of a specific covert operative is suddenly not classified because it serves the administration to have that information in the public domain.
Ooops, forgot about those pesky laws.
So, the President could issue a Presidential Pardon to Scooter. Someone in the White House broke a law (or several) and Scooter broke more in trying to cover up the original crime(s). So the President, responsible for making sure the laws of the land are obeyed, is not interested in seeing that those who hold the ultimate trust of the 'Mercun Peeble are held to a higher level of accountability?
There sure is a lot more I could write here but I don't want to end up with just another rant.
Suffice it to say that the Presidential Pardons "system" should not be used in these circumstances. There needs to be some changes to ensure that a President CANNOT pardon any administration official convicted of any crime. Never. Ever.
The President, since he gets to stack the judiciary and the Justice Department, must have total respect for the decisions of the courts in these matters, especially as they apply to the administration. What message does it send to us peons if the President does not respect the decisions of his or her judiciary?
These guys have already made bumper stickers out of phrases like;
"Protect the Constitution" subtitle "Anything is justified!", and
"The 'Mercun People support" subtitle "A couple of my campaign contributors want this."
"All animals are equal" subtitle "but some animals are more equal than others."
The "debate" over a pardon for Scooter Libby should not even be happening. At best, a conflict of interest, at worst ... we'll I'm sure that is yet to come.