Hotline After Dark -- Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200
The nets went into breaking news mode as Pres. Bush commuted Scooter Libby's sentence:
MSNBC's Shuster: "There was every expectation that at the end of the day, Scooter Libby was not going to be serving in prison" ("Countdown," 7/2).
ABC's Raddatz, from Kennebunkport: "The president was up here about three hours ago. He got out of here. That's when they made the announcement. The White House press corp is all here. He went to Washington to make this. And we're all scrambling to talk to people. This is all a very last minute move" ("World News," 7/2).
NBC's O'Donnell: "Senior advisers to the president say that Mr. Bush has been considering this for a long time and that White House lawyers have been evaluating the legal arguments for a period of weeks, and over about a last week or so, they say the president began to lean towards this option, commuting the sentence" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/2).
FNC's Angle, on Bush's action: "He is not challenging the verdict in any way, other than to say that the judge denied the recommendation of sentencing people, who suggested a lighter sentence" ("Special Report," 7/2).
CNN's Henry: "The pressure was really building on the president to act. And what he's trying to do here is split the difference" ("Situation Room," 7/2).
CNBC's Harwood: "When you're at rock bottom like this president really what you have left is your base. ... This is not going to be popular with the American public as a whole but Republicans are happy tonight and I tell you so is Dick Cheney" ("Nightly News," NBC, 7/2).
Washington Post's Milbank, asked if this damages Bush's presidency: "The question assumes that there is a presidency left to damage. I mean that quite seriously. For most presidents, this would be injurious. But if the president sitting at 25 percent or 28 percent in the polls, and he has already lost all but the hardcore of conservatives, this actually gains him a couple of percentage points. This could be the difference between the 27 and 29 percent presidency" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 7/2).
CNN's Toobin: "I was totally shocked by this, because pardons are poison to presidents' reputations" ("AC 360," 7/2).
GW's Jonathan Turley: "This president has been one of the most miserly presidents in history when it comes to pardons. And he is the last guy that I know of that complains about the harshness of sentences. His administration has defended sentences that have been condemned internationally because they're too harsh. Scooter Libby gets a multiple-month sentence and he says this is too severe for me to tolerate" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 7/2).
Amb. Joe Wilson: "I don't give really a darn whether Scooter Libby goes to jail or not. What I care about is that the rule of law and the system of justice that has undergirded our democracy for 220 years is upheld. And that is what has been subverted by the president's actions today" ("AC 360," CNN, 7/2).
FNC's Colmes: "What does it say, Scooter Libby, four felonies, no jail. Paris Hilton, misdemeanor, 23 days in jail?" ("Hannity & Colmes," 7/2). [EMILY GOODIN]
The president and all of his men do not believe in the rule of the law. According to them its ok to lie to FBI and police. They are setting perfect examples for criminals.
The president said that the sentence was excessive, if so, he should direct all federal judges to change their guidelines. This is the same president who wanted judges to stick to the guidelins. How moronic!
The bottomline is this admin supports criminals and is involved in quid-pro with Scooter. President and Darth Vader save Scooter's ass and Scooter saves their's. This will put all infamous duos to shame. There is no rule of the law, whats the difference between pre-2002 Iraq and current regime here?
Criminals protecting other criminals! I agree with how Josh Marshall outlined the whole thing: President has used his pardon power to shortcircuit the investigation of a crime to which he himself was quite likely a party, and to which, his vice president, who controls him, certainly was. The president's power to pardon is full and unchecked, one of the few such powers given the president in the constitution. Yet here the president has used it to further obstruct justice. In a sense, perhaps we should thank the president for bringing the matter full circle. Began with criminality, ends with it.
How true!
DOJ manual on Commutations clearly says that, "Requests for commutation generally are not accepted unless and until a person has begun serving that sentence.". Here it is:
Section 1-2.113 Standards for Considering Commutation Petitions
A commutation of sentence reduces the period of incarceration; it does not imply forgiveness of the underlying offense, but simply remits a portion of the punishment. It has no effect upon the underlying conviction and does not necessarily reflect upon the fairness of the sentence originally imposed. Requests for commutation generally are not accepted unless and until a person has begun serving that sentence. Nor are commutation requests generally accepted from persons who are presently challenging their convictions or sentences through appeal or other court proceeding.
Doesn't it make you wonder what Cheney is afraid that Scooter is going to say if he starts talking?
Nice site really!