Scooter Libby’s prison term is commuted by President Bush, who calls it “too harsh”. He still has to pay $250,000, and is on probation for two years.
Fuck.
Daniel
This administration is utterly corrupt.
What? He can’t get any more unpopular with those who already dislike him, and the far right has been clamoring for this for months. I’m disappointed but not suprised.
Funny how the sentence was at the low end of the applicable sentencing guidelines.
What a weeny solution. He didn’t pardon him. Scooter is still convicted and has a huge fine.
$250,000 is “smuggle the landscaping staff across the border again” money to these people.
Again, I am the Poster Child for Fighting Ignorance. 
You’re right— this administration IS utterly corrupt!
We could impeach President Bush, but then we’d end-up with President Cheney!
President Cheney would then give Scooter Libby a full presidential pardon and make him the new Vice President.
I dunno, friends who don’t cause trouble for him he shoots in the face.
Someone should pit anyone who didn’t predict this the moment he got indicted. :rolleyes:
Wake up people, this is how it goes. Member of admin gets indicted the pardoned, it’s the price of keeping your closet full of ‘state secrets’.
Welcome to politics in the real world, get over it. Obama, Richardson, Edwards or Clinton would all do the same, and probably will. I doubt we’ll see an administration without indictments, well, ever again.
No, they have been demanding nothing less than a full pardon because Scooter is innocent. INNOCENT, I tell you! By refusing to pardon, Bush has effectively affirmed the felony conviction.
I’ve got to say, I’m feeling sort of conflicted here. On the one hand - yah, this is the Administration finding yet another weasel way to avoid accountability. It’s frustrating. But on the other hand - darn it, I think Bush might be right. Scooter Libby poses no danger to anyone out on the street - society doesn’t need to incarcerate the man to protect itself from him. And yes, it’s important that Libby be punished - but he really is paying a substantial fine, and his legal career will never, ever come back. That might not sound like much - but I’ve only been a law student a year, and the thought of never being able to practice law is already enough to make me want to bawl like an infant. Does it really make sense for the state to assume the massive cost of imprisoning a criminal who poses no threat to the safety of people or property?
I wasn’t demanding a full pardon.
This sits pretty well with me. It seems perfectly in line with how similar matters have been handled in the past.
Accepting a pardon is an admission of guilt. Burdick v. United States.
This way he can pursue his appeal to clear his name, and stay out of jail.
Perjury is a threat to both people and property. If perjury is punished so lightly as to not deter it, the innocent are put in peril of imprisonement and loss of their property by those who give false testimony. Do you believe those convicted of any non-violent, white collar crime should avoid any jail time, just becasue they didn’t assault anybody?
Five bucks says Bush pardons him on leaving office.
You take Pay Pal? 
I like how rampant government corruption isn’t a threat to society.
If Libby’s appeal fails, he has nothing left to lose. I am sure if that happens, Bush will pardon him.
I also love how the announcement was timed for the slow 4th of July news week. Also, on a Monday, so it won’t make the Sunday talk shows. They’re probably thinking the Live Earth concerts and global warming will dominate the weekend news.