You stated “Special prosecuter Fitzgerald set out to discover the source of the leak that outed Valerie Plame as a CIA operative. Did Scooter Libby do this?” however, Scooter convenient memory lapse was the reason Patrick Fitzgerald didn’t find out the source and path of the leak for which Bush said he would hold those accountable who took part in it. Many people believe thrwarting the investigators intentially from getting to the heart of the investigation is as bad as or contemptible as commiting the underlying crime. According to the statutes of the United States the punishment did fit the crime and was actually on the low end of it. 18 USC 1001 violations for lying to federal investigators during the course of an official investigation actually carries a sentence of five years (which I actually believe is overly harsh), but is the law of the land). Apologies for a slip of the keys on “thinks he should have been pardoned” but if it was only a lapse of memory I would actually agree with a full pardon and not just commutation. Indeed you were only arguing that the commutation was a just result. If my clairvoyance proves correct and he is indeed pardoned, do you think that would be in appropriate? Keep your answer in mind if my wild hunch turns out to be true, and even if not, in my personl estimation of this case (worth what it cost to make) I think this was an inappropriate action on the part of the President which sent a poor message about our justice system, but probably did send the message he wanted to give to subordinates as is time starts to grow short in the White House.

I reread my post twice and no where in it do I say or insinuate that Scooter Libby needs to be pardoned. I fully agree that a crime was committed and I fully agree that he should pay for that crime. The question at the heart of this matter is whether or not the punishment fits the crime.

Special prosecuter Fitzgerald set out to discover the source of the leak that outed Valerie Plame as a CIA operative. Did Scooter Libby do this?

A crime was committed in the process of the investigation and that is a shame. Scooter Libby resigned his post, defended his actions, and was subsequently convicted by a jury of his peers. He is guily there is not doubt of this and I am the last person that you will hear bad mouthing the verdict.

While Tony Snow has stated that a pardon is not off the table, said pardon has not yet been issued. In other words, he ain’t done it yet and there is no guarantee that it will be done. So, until President Bush pardons Scooter Libby, the subject of a pardon is moot. His sentence was commuted.

God help us if he/she was serious…and if that is really what the collective mind of the party has come to.

Feed the base…Ignore the law…Just win, baby!

“He’ll probably end up as a policy advisor for a corporation if he is lucky.” – Whoo, never considered it that way, life is tough all around, and while those positions normally squeak by at slightly better than minimum wage, I am sure you realize it will be enough to pay off his fine to the government – on the wild assumption he is not pardoned for that too, in short order.

“as a result of a lapse of memory he will not be remembered for anything but this.” – If you really believe this last doosy of a statement then in the words of Yoda “I feel your anger” no wonder you are so ticked and thinks he deserves to have been pardoned.

The judge who sentenced Libby noted there were “overwhelming” evidence that he gave the false evidence under oath for the purpose of “thwarting investigators,” not the ‘memory lapse’ issue that we keep hearing about. So thanks, but not thanks.

The factors he mentioned are traditionally considered in the sentencing phase of any criminal proceeding. For whatever reason, the judge was not as convinced as Been There (or the President) would have liked.

None of which changes the fact that the President made an extremely questionable call, at an extremely questionable time. Defend it all you want — but if you were one of the legion who cried foul and decried the blatant political motivations behind Bill Clinton’s pardons 6 years ago, then your complaints ring hollow.

The bottom line: Bush’s actions continue to blur the line between the Dems and the GOP.

Ask yourself: if Clinton were still in office, and Scooter was one of his minions, would the result have been any different?

As a result of him lying under oath, Scooter Libby has lost his law license, he has lost credibility, and he has put himself and his family through incredible scrutiny. Oh, and how could I forget the $250,400 in fines that he has to pay. Who really thinks that commuting his 30 month sentence (not his 2 years probation, mind you) is the Bush administration not holding him accountable? He’ll never practice law again. I seriously doubt that he will lobby in DC. He’ll probably end up as a policy advisor for a corporation if he is lucky.

I don’t know how many of you have met Scooter Libby, but I have on several occasions, and he is a stand-up guy. He has given years and years of service to the United States government (years where he could have been earning millions in the private sector) and as a result of a lapse of memory he will not be remembered for anything but this.