# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/21 "2007-07-03T01:33:16Z")
Actually, I think Rove, Cheney, & Co have decided to cede the 2008 elections. You’re about to see two years of “damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” out of this White House. Congressional 'Pubs have proven faithless and must be punished. A good ass-whipping in 2008 and they’ll come crawling back to the neo-cons for 2010 and beyond. ---
**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, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/22 "2007-07-03T01:37:45Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] If Libby’s appeal fails, he has nothing left to lose. I am sure if that happens, Bush will pardon him. [/QUOTE] So if he can’t find recourse through appeal, he will admit guilt? ---
**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, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/23 "2007-07-03T01:57:27Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] So if he can’t find recourse through appeal, he will admit guilt? [/QUOTE] The last refuge of a scoundrel. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/24 "2007-07-03T02:08:42Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] 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. [/QUOTE] The slow news week is icing, but the timing was likely motivated because of this decision today: > [@](#): > > Hours earlier, Libby appeared headed for prison when a federal judge in Washington rejected his request to stay free on bail, pending an appeal against his March conviction on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. I think this is a logical strategy. Commute now and face the outrage with the response: “I didn’t pardon him, I just commuted the sentence”. Meanwhile, Libby is out of jail and can work on his appeal. If the appeal isn’t going well, Bush can pardon him at the end of his term and who is going to care? The attitude will be: “Well the sentence was already commuted, what’s the big deal if he is pardoned too?”. The timing makes sense as well. If Libby was going to be allowed to stay out of jail during appeals, then the President could have skipped step #1. All this is assuming that you can pardon after commuting. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/25 "2007-07-03T02:16:50Z")
So what’s the debate? ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/26 "2007-07-03T02:21:27Z")
Among scoundrels. Sheesh, I really am disheartened now. I at least thought that the patsy fall guy would be allowed to twist in the wind in some kind of prison for a bit of, well, decorum, and a solemn nod at the judicial process here. This is more like a carnival dunking booth: Scooter gets the balls hurled and dunked, but, now that the twinkling lights of the Midway have ebbed, gets dried off and all fears allayed as to any real penance. Anyone have a simple cauterization tool for the ol’ brainpan? It hurts to think of this type of action as what the US government has become. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/27 "2007-07-03T02:26:03Z")
The debate: How, exactly, can one express their dismay and heartfelt sickness and rage at this news, without getting a visit from the Secret Service? ---
**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, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/28 "2007-07-03T02:35:09Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] The debate: How, exactly, can one express their dismay and heartfelt sickness and rage at this news, without getting a visit from the Secret Service? [/QUOTE] Surely if that were a danger most Dopers would be in Guantanamo bay guarded by the rest by now. 🙂 ---
**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, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/29 "2007-07-03T02:40:07Z")
Take it from me, Gitmo is much more tolerable since I got my new iPhone. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/30 "2007-07-03T02:44:21Z")
[QUOTE=E-Sabbath] The debate: How, exactly, can one express their dismay and heartfelt sickness and rage at this news, without getting a visit from the Secret Service? [/QUOTE] Do not expect a pardon or commutation. You will face justice. ---
**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, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/31 "2007-07-03T02:46:22Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Take it from me, Gitmo is much more tolerable since I got my new iPhone. [/QUOTE] You want to elaborate on that? Where the hell did you get six hundred bucks? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/32 "2007-07-03T02:46:51Z")
Why even have laws? ---
**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, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/33 "2007-07-03T03:01:34Z")
[QUOTE=Sitnam] Why even have laws? [/QUOTE] So you can punish your political enemies, of course. ---
**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, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/34 "2007-07-03T03:11:31Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] So you can punish your political enemies, of course. [/QUOTE] I can not discern your political affiliation. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/35 "2007-07-03T03:43:09Z")
[QUOTE=Sitnam] Why even have laws? [/QUOTE] But then what would there be to flout? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/36 "2007-07-03T03:51:06Z")
[QUOTE=mswas] 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. [/QUOTE] Yeah…it sucks…doesn’t it? ---
**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, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/37 "2007-07-03T03:57:34Z")
Let’s not lose sight of how this fits together: Libby was convicted of lying. About the exposure of Valarie Plame as a CIA operative. Which occurred in response to her husband’s article. Which revealed that we were being lied into a war. Libby was not the victim of some niggling partisan attack. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/38 "2007-07-03T03:57:58Z")
[QUOTE=kitemaker\_chuck] 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. [/QUOTE] Screw impeachment. I say pitchforks and torches, and then the tar and feathers. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/39 "2007-07-03T04:19:04Z")
Torches and burning things are better handled in the **BBQ Pit**. I see no debate, much less a great one. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296/40 "2007-07-03T04:29:14Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] Surely if that were a danger most Dopers would be in Guantanamo bay guarded by the rest by now. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Where do you think banned posters are disappeared to? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scooter-libby-skates-free/410296.md?page=3)