# Scooter Libby skates free **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 3, 2007, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296 "2007-07-03T00:18:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Airblairxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Airblairxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airblairxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/1 "2007-07-03T00:18:27Z")
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. > **[Bush commutes Libby's prison sentence - CNN.com](http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/02/libby.sentence/index.html)** > > President Bush on Monday spared I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby from prison, commuting the former White House aide's 30-month prison term. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/2 "2007-07-03T00:20:22Z")
Fuck. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/3 "2007-07-03T00:26:24Z")
This administration is utterly corrupt. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/4 "2007-07-03T00:28:48Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/5 "2007-07-03T00:29:42Z")
Funny how the sentence was at the low end of the applicable sentencing guidelines. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/6 "2007-07-03T00:32:04Z")
What a weeny solution. He didn’t pardon him. Scooter is still convicted and has a huge fine. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/7 "2007-07-03T00:34:30Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] Scooter is still convicted and has a huge fine. [/QUOTE] $250,000 is “smuggle the landscaping staff across the border again” money to these people. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/8 "2007-07-03T00:40:45Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] $250,000 is “smuggle the landscaping staff across the border again” money to these people. [/QUOTE] Again, I am the Poster Child for Fighting Ignorance. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kitemaker\_chuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e4f/32.png) [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/9 "2007-07-03T00:44:14Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] This administration is utterly corrupt. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/10 "2007-07-03T00:50:26Z")
[QUOTE=kitemaker\_chuck] President Cheney would then give Scooter Libby a full presidential pardon and make _him_ the new Vice President. [/QUOTE] I dunno, friends who don’t cause trouble for him he shoots in the face. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/11 "2007-07-03T00:53:45Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/12 "2007-07-03T00:56:04Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] 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. [/QUOTE] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/13 "2007-07-03T00:57:08Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/14 "2007-07-03T00:58:25Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/15 "2007-07-03T00:59:15Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] What a weeny solution. He didn’t pardon him. Scooter is still convicted and has a huge fine. [/QUOTE] Accepting a pardon is an admission of guilt. [Burdick v. United States](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=CASE&court=US&vol=236&page=79). This way he can pursue his appeal to clear his name, and stay out of jail. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/16 "2007-07-03T01:06:12Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Excellent] 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? [/QUOTE] 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? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/17 "2007-07-03T01:06:52Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Accepting a pardon is an admission of guilt. [/QUOTE] Five bucks says Bush pardons him on leaving office. You take Pay Pal? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/18 "2007-07-03T01:08:48Z")
I like how rampant government corruption isn’t a threat to society. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/19 "2007-07-03T01:09:03Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] Five bucks says Bush pardons him on leaving office. You take Pay Pal? 🙂 [/QUOTE] If Libby’s appeal fails, he has nothing left to lose. I am sure if that happens, Bush will pardon him. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/20 "2007-07-03T01:13:58Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296.md?page=2)