Today, in what can only be described as a callous disregard for the judicial system, President Bush commuted the sentence of I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby. Libby, who was convicted of obstruction of justice for lying under oath, will now only pay a fine of $250,000 and serve 2 years probation.
President Bush, who as Governor of Texas only issued 16 pardons, and oversaw the execution of more people than any Governor in Texas history up to the end of his service, (153 under GWB, 158 have been executed since) (source) has pardoned a partisan hack who would lie to save his butt and his magical puppeteer. So much for being tough on crime.
The biggest problem with this move is the message that it sends to not only Americans, but the entire world. By making this decision, Bush has weakened the rule of law world wide, by weakening one of the most fair, though certainly flawed, justice systems in the world. The President has confirmed that power trumps justice to a level that has formerly only been held by the tin foil hat community. Perhaps most importantly, he has diminished the moral and ethical framework that holds this nation together.
It’s sad really. As much as I despise all that this President has stood for, it’s really sad to see that our country truly has gone this far off the tracks. Trains don’t just magically un-derail themselves, and fixing all the messing up that this administration has engaged in is going to take a hell of a lot more than wishing and hoping and thinking and praying.
I’ve been reluctant to advocate this, mostly because of the scars I still carry, but I think it’s high time to impeach him. The hip check hasn’t been working, time to put this presidency in “HOLY COW” mode.
I’m still digesting this thing, but it’s past time to stop lobbing softballs, and start sending some 100mph fastballs at these folks…waaaaayyyyyy past time.
P.S. Fred Thompson, and all you folks who voted to remove Clinton for the same offense, yet have no problem with this little situation, you’re a bunch of hypocritical jerks.