Soft on Crime
A Links entry from Monday, July 2, 2007Soft on Crime
Judging from his decision yesterday to commute the 30-month sentence of I. Lewis Libby Jr. — who was charged with perjury and convicted — untarnished ideals are less of a priority than protecting the secrets of his inner circle and mollifying the tiny slice of right-wing Americans left in his political base.
(Via Daring Fireball.)
Jason
As tempted as I am to vilify Bush, at this point one can only ask, “how was this unexpected?”. Besides, at the very least one could argue that its not a pardon, at most they could bring up Clinton’s less than admirable pardoning of Marc Rich. I’d say pick and choose which battles to take up against Bush, otherwise people risk coming off as just unpleasable, thereby losing any validity to their claims.
Bryan Klausmeyer
Yes, but…
Scooter Libby was convicted of obstruction of justice. No one has ever been pardoned for obstruction of justice.
Also, Marc Rich had to pay $100 million dollars even after the pardon.
More importantly, it is just a reminder to anyone that perhaps questioned otherwise—Bush does not, and never, gave a shit.
Mark Cullen
RE: Clinton
You could also make the argument that a precedent for corruption does not make corruption justifiable. Then again, that doesn’t really change political reality…
Bryan Klausmeyer
bryklaus@umich.edu
3 Comments