There are just too many ways to pick apart the hollowness, the transparency of President Bush’s fear-based commutation of Scooter Libby’s sentence. Thirty months was apparently ‘excessive’, despite the fact that this is what the federal sentencing guidelines recommend and numerous people are thus today sitting in prison under a similarly excessive term.
But, okay, let’s say it’s excessive. What would be appropriate? One year? Six months? A month? Can anyone really say that the prosecution was legitimate (which the president does) and that the verdict was legitimate (which the president does) and that probation with no jail time is the appropriate penalty?
Paris Hilton did more time than Scooter Libby.
The whole thing is just too transparent. To borrow the Army phrase, President Bush wasn’t willing to let Libby make first contact with the federal prison system. There’s only one argument that makes sense of this decision: no jail time. That’s the argument. Scooter’s price. Otherwise, he might have been tempted to go the Fitzgerald route to reduce his sentence.
SecDef Bob Gates wants to trade with the Dem Congress: long-term presence in Iraq for a near-term troop drawdown.
President Bush’s first statement on the Libby commutation …
Ahhh, yesterday when we were young and Bush still wanted to get to the bottom of the CIA leak case, a little walk down (video) memory lane in today’s episode of TPMtv. You’ll want to see this one …
Today the Republican field’s fundraising numbers are in for the quarter — and Rudy Guiliani takes it with $17 million, up on Mitt Romney‘s $14 million.
Dennis Kucinich to keynote a convention of political cartoonists. That and other political news of the day in today’s Election Central Happy Hour Roundup.
Happy News: BBC journalist Alan Johnston, held hostage in Gaza since March 12, is released.
CNN front page headline: “Giuliani tops ’08 race fundraising.”
Guess they missed the Obama and HRC numbers.
Fun Article: It’s now the time of the year when nutso Sturgeon unpredictably jump out of the water and injure recreational boaters and jet skiers on Florida’s Suwannee River.
Sign …
Be Aware
Boaters have been seriously injured from impacts with these jumping fish.
Large sturgeon jump in the river during the summer and fall months.
Reduce Speed to Reduce Risk of Impact!
Sturgeon can grow to 8 feet and weigh up to 200 pounds. They are a protected species and cannot be harvested. To report sturgeon collisions call 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).