Just so it doesn’t get lost in the Libby avalanche, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) hired Ollie North’s former lawyer Brendan Sullivan to defend him in the Veco-Fishery-House-Renovation scandal.

From Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT): “The President’s muted words and deeds in the aftermath of this conviction pale in comparison to what he said before the investigation was launched.”

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) slow to respond to Libby commutation.

Joe Biden: Americans should “flood the White House with phone calls.”

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)’s got no comment on Libby commutation.

SurveyUSA has instant numbers out on public reactions to the commutation.

Via Byron York at the Corner, Patrick Fitzgerald’s statement …

We fully recognize that the Constitution provides that commutation decisions are a matter of presidential prerogative and we do not comment on the exercise of that prerogative.

We comment only on the statement in which the President termed the sentence imposed by the judge as “excessive.” The sentence in this case was imposed pursuant to the laws governing sentencings which occur every day throughout this country. In this case, an experienced federal judge considered extensive argument from the parties and then imposed a sentence consistent with the applicable laws. It is fundamental to the rule of law that all citizens stand before the bar of justice as equals. That principle guided the judge during both the trial and the sentencing.

Although the President’s decision eliminates Mr. Libby’s sentence of imprisonment, Mr. Libby remains convicted by a jury of serious felonies, and we will continue to seek to preserve those convictions through the appeals process.

Siegelman lawyers to Bush: We’ll take the Scooter treatment, please.

Hillary releases her statement on Libby …

“Today’s decision is yet another example that this Administration simply considers itself above the law. This case arose from the Administration’s politicization of national security intelligence and its efforts to punish those who spoke out against its policies. Four years into the Iraq war, Americans are still living with the consequences of this White House’s efforts to quell dissent. This commutation sends the clear signal that in this Administration, cronyism and ideology trump competence and justice.”

Here at TPM we’re particularly interested to see Republican responses to the Libby commutation. If you’re watching cable TV this evening and you see reactions from the right, particularly from elected officials, shoot us an email with time, channel and who gave the statement. We’ll get the clip and put together a montage of all the choicest reactions.