Libby pardoned

[MURP]

[phillymic2000]

We had a budget surplus?

[Rome]

We had a budget surplus?

Damn straight.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Democratic President + Republican Congress = Gridlock = Government wastes less money = WIN

[Eaglez]

I hate budget surpluses because idle capital is just sitting in the government coffers and doing nothing. What the government should aim for is a balanced budget so more capital is available for investment.

But anyways, I like the commutation. First, this whole matter should have never involved a special prosecutor or any charges on Libby. Fitzgerald knew that Armitage informed the media about Valerie Plame (not a covert CIA operative under the applicable statute -- plus, even if she regards herself as a covert CIA operative she sure does like to expose herself to numerous media outlets and pose for Vanity Fair) yet Armitage was never charged with "leaking a CIA operative" or trying to prosecute him under the Intelligence Identities Protection Act. Why? He has no connection to the Bush Administration and has been in the State Department since, I think, the Clinton Administration. Plus, he's a detractor from the War in Iraq. It wouldn't make for a very compelling news story.

Secondly, Libby was found guilty for obstruction of justice and perjury. Fine. It is reasonable for the jury to conclude based on the evidence presented. However, first honestly evaluate the evidence. The question that got him in hot water was "when did you first become aware of Valerie Plame Wilson?" and he made a statement that was inconsistent with what a few news reporters and journalists said (meaning he gave one approximate date and the other journalists gave another). There was no tangible evidence like written transcripts or voice recordings -- just a bunch of fuzzy memories and a "he said she said" case. Mind you these conversations happened years ago as well. I guess the journalists' testimony corroborated with each other and the jury put great weight on that.

Considering this case involved the deprivation of liberty, the jury had to determine beyond a reasonable doubt that Libby purposefully made inconsistent statements (i.e. he lied). I think it would be tough to conclude based on the evidence that he purposefully made misleading statements beyond a reasonable doubt. Is it reasonable to conclude that, however? Maybe. Reasonable people could disagree.

But then the judge, who is charged with imposing the sentence, decided to throw the book at Libby. He was within the sentencing guidelines promulgated by Congress, but he chose the maximum. That is why saying Bush doesn't respect the jury's decision is disingenuous -- he did respect it. The jury concluded Libby was guilty and Libby is still guilty of those crimes. The jury is charged with making a determination of guilt or innocence. It is the duty of the judge to impose a sentence based on that guilt or innocence determination. Sometimes a judge will ask for the jury's recommendation as to a sentence, but the judge is in no way compelled to follow it. Often times, the judge doesn't give a poo as to what the jury thinks in terms of sentencing. Bush thought the jurist who imposed the sentence was harsh, so he commuted it.

Libby, after this criminalization of politics, will pay a $250,000 fine, serve 2 years probation, and most likely will lose his livelihood (his law license). I think that is more than enough punishment for this enormous waste of time. In fact, I would recommend a full pardon to discourage these witch hunts in the future.

And the only reason people bring up Clinton pardoning so many individuals (140 on his last day in office) is because of all the lunatics on the Left who are going nuts over this. It is an enormous double standard that just infuriates people who actually make an effort to follow politics honestly. What is more infuriating is that those politicians keep misrepresenting what this case really was about. However, no one gets upset when they lie to the American people. It doesn't go towards the merits of this particular case, but it is worth pointing out to establish the character of all the others who decided to do a 180 right now and further delineates the bitter partisanship in this country.

[Phanatic]

Democratic President + Republican Congress = Gridlock = Government wastes less money = WIN

Winner! Same goes for a Republican President and a Democratic Congress.

[MadMarchHare]

It's a sad commentary that political gridlock is the best case scenario.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Democratic President + Republican Congress = Gridlock = Government wastes less money = WIN

Winner! Same goes for a Republican President and a Democratic Congress.

It hasn't seemed to work out that way.  Both Reagan and W overspent on stupid shtein, and the Congress didn't stop them.

[Cerevant]

I hate budget surpluses because idle capital is just sitting in the government coffers and doing nothing. What the government should aim for is a balanced budget so more capital is available for investment.

Did you forget our $8 trillion debt?  Perhaps we should make some payments on that?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Did you forget our $8 trillion debt?  Perhaps we should make some payments on that?

?

Aren't you a Canadian now?

[Seabiscuit36]

I hate budget surpluses because idle capital is just sitting in the government coffers and doing nothing. What the government should aim for is a balanced budget so more capital is available for investment.

Did you forget our $8 trillion debt?  Perhaps we should make some payments on that?

[Cerevant]

Did you forget our $8 trillion debt?  Perhaps we should make some payments on that?

?

Aren't you a Canadian now?

Living in Canada does not equal being Canadian.  I still carry a US passport, and I still have to pay farging US taxes.

If Giuliani gets elected, or if Bush refuses to abdicate, that will very likely change.

[Phanatic]

Democratic President + Republican Congress = Gridlock = Government wastes less money = WIN

Winner! Same goes for a Republican President and a Democratic Congress.

It hasn't seemed to work out that way.  Both Reagan and W overspent on stupid shtein, and the Congress didn't stop them.

Reagan had the opposite Congress to deal with but the majority of W's spending was all GOP for 6 years.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Let's just say the new Congressional majority isn't exactly lighting the world on fire.

[Diomedes]

Actually, nm.