With the recent adventures of President Pissypants behind us now (like we didn't know this was coming) it is time to consider the "why" of the communtation of sentence given what we know about this Administration's manipulation of the truth...
Josh Marshall had a read send in this nugget of truthiness last evening...
I havent seen this noted but i think the reason for the commutation is that a pardon would mean that Libby was no longer exposed to criminal sanctions and thus had no Fifth Amendment privilege. As it stands he has a fine and probation at stake during the pendency of the appeal which inulates him ( and Bush and Cheney) from havaing to answer questions before Congress.
Ahhh...the eyes open and all becomes clear.
The Administration is attempting to run out the clock on this investigation proceeding any further.
We should therefore be looking for means to circumvent his strategy to proceed to the true aim of any investigation, finding out who leaked the name of a covert CIA operative and damaged US national security.
That is why Congress must give Libby immunity and compel his testimony before a joint committee.
The benefits of this are many:
- Libby could no longer claim the Fifth due to concerns of self incrimination.
- Bush is going to pardon him any way and he won't serve any time for his actions.
- It releases Democrats from the MSM drum beat of Democrats looking for revenge (not my meme) and offers up a Democratic Congress in pursuit of the truth.
- Places Libby in the position of being in contempt of Congress should he refuse to answer and subject to further trail and possible prison sentence.
- Might just shake lose information that could lead to the true culprits (perhaps Patrick Fitzgerald's files on Libby), Cheney and Bush, and possibly the impeachment of Richard Cheney for High Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Rather than sit back and take it, we should be trying to figure out how to compel the one thing Bush wants to prevent at all costs...
Libby testifying further on this issue.