Almost a month ago I predicted that Bush would commute rather than pardon Libby. My prediction got some response so I thought to repost it with the attached comments in one convenient format. I will be curious to see what response it generates this time and if those who previously responded wish to add anything more.
Bush's Scooter Problem: A Solution, Unfortunately
by SON2007 [Unsubscribe] [Edit Diary]
Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 08:49:49 PM PDT
No one has mentioned that Bush does have a solution to his Scooter pardon problem. It would appease the right without infuriating the left. There is a third option between doing nothing and issuing a pardon. Unfortunately it could reduce the political heat.
SON2007's diary :: ::
At the moment the right is particularly hot and bothered about the severity of the sentence. Given the anger of his base over the immigration issue, Bush might need to appease them. A pardon would certainly do that, but it would provoke a firestorm from the Left. That is opposition that he would not mind since, reactively, it would rally the Limbaugh base to his cause, but it would reveal once again the hypocrisy of his policies, perhaps even provoking Broder and the Washington Post editorial board. None of this is a major consideration given his indifference to public opinion, but he would prefer to avoid yet another problem
Assuming as now seems likely that Judge Walton will insist that Libby start his sentence before appeals are exhausted, Libby will make his final move from the White House to the big house in about two months. At that point Bush does have a way-station on the way to pardon. He can simply commute the sentence so that Libby need serve no time. Commutation of a sentence is not a pardon and would not, I believe, be subject to the same high procedural standards. Libby would still be a felon, subject to all its moral and legal consequences, but he would be out of jail. At that point pressure from the right for the politically more fraught pardon would diminish. If Bush is still inclined in that direction, he could pardon him just before leaving office.
Tags: Scooter Libby, Plamegate, Valerie Plame, CIA, George W. Bush,
That sucks! (1+ / 0-)
Recommended by:peaceloveandkucinich
Can we wait this long? Impeach Bush/Cheney/Gonzales
by dangangry on Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 08:51:46 PM PDT
It would actually be worse for him (4+ / 0-)
Recommended by:BlackGriffen, mvr, emsprater, peaceloveandkucinich
The right would not be appeased as Libby would still be a felon and the left would still be outraged, also outraging those who promote law and order from the right.
The effect would be to just plain piss off everybody.
PEACE, through superior DIPLOMACY!
by Walt starr on Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 08:58:21 PM PDT
Fight Pardon Lite (2+ / 0-)
Recommended by:Native Light, peaceloveandkucinich
The solution is to expose this too as an attempt to subvert justice and continue to cover-up the underlying political machinations that Libby was hiding.
By exposing such a tactic we can make it as politically costly as a full pardon.
by SON2007 on Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 09:01:05 PM PDT
Yeah, this is likely. (1+ / 0-)
Recommended by:G2geek
But it will still look like what it is, especially when contrasted with Jr's high rhetoric about firing anyone who was responsible and so on. So those who will be pissed by a pardon will still be pissed. And those who want a pardon will have to wait until the end of Bush's term. That will mean for 100% of the population the end of his term cannot come quickly enough.
by mvr on Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 09:04:40 PM PDT
I honestly don't think the "right"... (2+ / 0-)
Recommended by:snakelass, offgrid
...is that whipped into a frenzy over this. That is to say, a regular right wing joe is not at all exercised over the sentencing of Scooter Libby. It is the right wing MEDIA that has created the so-called "pressure" on George Bush to pardon Libby. The daily newspapers repeat this as if it were gospel. I don't think it is.
So funny how Bush didn't feel pressure to end the war but now feels "pressure" to pardon Libby -- a pressure so intense he will simply HAVE to yield to it.
As for your proposed solution, it's nice, but it is a half-way meausure that will make Bush's detractor's angry. That won't bother Bush, but he doesn't do compromise, even when it is senssible and to his advantage or that of the country's.
Straight pardon, no chaser. It's coming. The reason was telegraphed today: Bush feels sorry for Libby's family.
"I am my brother's keeper. I am a Democrat." -- That's your slogan, Democrats.
by Bensdad on Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 09:05:16 PM PDT
Mostly, it's Scooter Libby's PNAC co-conspirators (2+ / 0-)
Recommended by:Bensdad, snakelass
... and those professional toadies like Rush Limbaugh, who suck up to Libby's co-conspirators, who are outraged by Libby's conviction.
Nobody else cares about him.
"You have to keep your knee on [Bush's] windpipe until the danger is past." -- Garry Trudeau
by tbetz on Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 09:28:13 PM PDT
[ Parent ]
Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos (4+ / 0-)
Recommended by:RickWn, snakelass, G2geek, offgrid
Liberals, moderates, independents, etc. will not see a commutation as being much different than a pardon. The perception will be the same in that Libby avoids jail.
As an aside ... the Right Wing, and especially the Lou Dobbs xenophobic branch of the Right Wing, have been screaming that Bush pardon or commute the sentences of Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos. If Bush were to pardon or commute the sentence of Libby without doing the same for Compean and Ramos they're going to go nuts (or in this case more nuts).
Nice dilemma for The Decider to be in.
by Norm DePlume on Wed Jun 06, 2007 at 09:15:47 PM PDT