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March 07, 2007
A Pardon?
Even though sentencing won't occur for awhile yet, attention is turning to Libby's prospects for a presidential pardon once Bush leaves office. I doubt it. Bush has never been one to keep loyalty a two-way street. It's long been his M.O to cut loose even the most faithful of servants after they outlive their usefulness. And Scooter Libby has definitely outlived his usefulness. To pardon him would refocus the blame onto the presidency, make it clear the administration felt indebted to an underling doing their bidding. That's all true, of course, save for the indebted part. Libby was doing their bidding and now it is done. End of transaction.
I'd actually prefer a pardon -- it would focus the historical attention on the Bush administration, leave his legacy stained from the outset, and come closer to harming the prime movers behind the Plame Affair -- but I doubt Bush is willing to tarnish his own record to protect a pawn.
March 7, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
...but I doubt Bush is willing to tarnish his own record to protect a pawn.
Depends on how much the pawn knows, and how much he's willing to blab.
Posted by: Jasper | Mar 7, 2007 8:46:52 AM
I'd estimate the chances of a Jan ' 09 pardon at very close to 100%.
Posted by: Petey | Mar 7, 2007 8:58:06 AM
I'd actually prefer a pardon -- it would focus the historical attention on the Bush administration, leave his legacy stained from the outset, and come closer to harming the prime movers behind the Plame Affair -- but I doubt Bush is willing to tarnish his own record to protect a pawn.
You mean because Iran Contra has been such a big deal?
Posted by: SomeCallMeTim | Mar 7, 2007 9:07:54 AM
you're comparing Ted Haggard to Scooter? That's a bit weak. Haggard lined up votes for Bush in 2004, his job is done. Libby knows where the bodies are buried when it comes to the case for selling the Iraq War. He hasn't outlived his usefulness yet. Look at it in a "save you ass" way. The only way to save Bush/Cheney's ass is to pardon Scooter. You think he wants to spend years in prison for his bosses? That's loyalty I don't expect to find in this day and age.
I'd be happy to bet a considerable sum of money that Scoots gets his pardon. He did his job (cover Cheney's ass), now Bush has to do his.
And how the heck does a pardon "come closer to harming the prime movers behind the Plame Affair"?
Posted by: verplanck colvin | Mar 7, 2007 9:19:10 AM
"I doubt it. Bush has never been one to keep loyalty a two-way street. "
Have you been paying attention?
The VP Cheney controls much of this administration.
The VP IS loyal to his people.
Scooter was and is Cheney's dude not W's.
sheesh
Posted by: anon | Mar 7, 2007 9:23:15 AM
"And Scooter Libby has definitely outlived his usefulness"
His usefulness now might be his ability to keep secrets. He hasn't outlived that bit of utility to Bush and Cheney. That bit of utility might be threatened by some serious jail time.
I'd bet on a pardon; Bush thinks his record will be looked upon favorably 50 years in the future, and this wouldn't change that calculus in his mind.
Posted by: tomboy | Mar 7, 2007 9:27:13 AM
between shooting people by mistake, watching all of his machiavellian plans unravel,bombs blasting that were meant for him, blood clots in his legs and a gay, pregnant daughter, it has been quite a year for mr. cheney and his lovely wife!!
...in his rare appearances, he always looks disgusted, ancient and exhausted. i wouldnt even want to be a fly at the cheney breakfast table this morning...i wouldnt even want to land on his toast.
Posted by: jacqueline | Mar 7, 2007 9:34:14 AM
Since one of the primary motivations of this administration is to piss off "liberals" and pardoning Libby would for sure accomplish that, it is a certainty Libby will be pardoned.
Posted by: Ron | Mar 7, 2007 9:45:37 AM
i wonder who will play dick cheney in the movie.
too bad that george c. scott still isnt around. he would have done great with the sidewise grimace...
and madonna dressed up nicely for "evita"...she could probably muster a good valerie plame.
....isnt this the way our present history becomes recorded and remembered these days?
...time for a day in the country to restore the soul...i am glad to report that the bee box on my land is filled with bees!
at least they are alive and well in these parts!
Posted by: jacqueline | Mar 7, 2007 9:46:23 AM
If Cheney wants him pardoned, he gets pardoned. If not, not.
If Cheney wants him made Cardinal Archbishop of Salzburg, he gets a red hat.
Let's not forget who's running the country here.
Posted by: Davis X. Machina | Mar 7, 2007 9:57:24 AM
Are you insane? Do you think Bush gives a damn about "refocusing the blame on the presidency" after he's gone? History will vindicate him, remember? What has he got to lose by pardoning Libby, compared to what Libby might do if he doesn't?
Posted by: Ginger Yellow | Mar 7, 2007 9:58:21 AM
Depends on how much the pawn knows, and how much he's willing to blab.
Libby knows it ALL. The question is how much hardball he's willingn to play. Lots is my guess. Shooter Cheney will back his Scooter (if he lives until then).
If Libby's lawyers start throwing 90 mph curves in the direction of 1600 PA, the pardon could come right after the appeals court ruling. July 3rd sounds about right.
Bet on it. Bush has nothing to lose and something to gain by a pardon - cutting off an impeachment move if the whole truth came out. The Bush/Cheney criminal enterprise is endangered from a high-level stooge.
Posted by: JimPortlandOR | Mar 7, 2007 9:59:27 AM
What has he got to lose by pardoning Libby, compared to what Libby might do if he doesn't?
Ginger Yellow is absolutely right. Of course Bush will pardon him if the appeals fail and that's what it comes down to. Regardless, Libby will never, ever see a prison wall unless something extraordinary happens.
And The Hill is alive with the sound of it.
Posted by: litbrit | Mar 7, 2007 10:14:22 AM
Oh, I don't think the left wants to get into a pissing contest over presidential pardons. Especially after Clinton.
I guess Monica defined the Clinton presidency, so maybe Bill thought pardons for cash and pardoning drug dealers and terrorists couldn't do too much more damage to his legacy.
I think Bush is a disgrace for NOT pardoning those two border patrol agents. Bush is a disgrace on the border, period.
Oh, by the way, all you morons who think Bush's ratings are so low cuz of the war, there are a lot of people like me who would say they disaprove of Bush, if polled, because of the border. I still support the war, but I no longer approve of Bush.
He has turned his back on this country as far as our southern border is concerned.
A pardon for Libby would raise his stock with me tho.
Posted by: Captain Toke | Mar 7, 2007 10:21:22 AM
I doubt Bush is willing to tarnish his own record to protect a pawn.
Um, have you seen the state of his record currently? Pretty tarnished already I would say. Moreover, he knows this. He's made it clear short-term popularity is not a priority. I agree, loyalty to subordinates isn't, either. But Libby knows dirt, primarily on Cheney, but which, if it comes out in a Libby tell-all book, will tarnish the whole admin's long-term rep, something Bush does care about. Not wanting that tarnish, and with Cheney insisting, Bush will grant the pardon, buying Libby's silence on the worst dirt, but not before forcing Libby to spend a small fortune (including, admittedly, lots of other people's money) on appeals, so that Bush can pardon him when it hurts him least -- upon his leaving office.
Posted by: Ryan | Mar 7, 2007 10:37:25 AM
Bush has never really done very much to insure any kind of legacy other than the one of contempt he's done a magnificent job of building. I don't think that impacts whether scooter gets off or not. bush will do whatever he wants regardless of the consequences. If experience with bush and his administration has taught us anything, it's that.
Oh, and that his supporters might be some of the bizarrely gullible people on the planet.
That said, there is one irrelevant observation I would make. If you want to collect the truly intellectually blighted, as a group, right now it's easier than ever before in history. Simply tally all the current bush supporters. There's no group more impoverished morally or challenged spiritually than anyone who could hang with george and his gang at this point. It's a fairly small group and their vocal outburts as easily distinguished.
Posted by: ice weasel | Mar 7, 2007 11:35:56 AM
Thanks Toke, for weighing in just as I was wondering to myself what the stupid people out there are thinking.
Posted by: jimmmm | Mar 7, 2007 11:36:58 AM
It's long been his M.O to cut loose even the most faithful of servants after they outlive their usefulness.
The premise is weak. First, the evidence at the link, what of it there is, is almost all about people who turned out to be scoundrels or broke the law or both. Why should Bush stand by them? If he did, the same people gleefully moaning about his distancing himself from them would be raising hell about his standing by them. What should he do?
Second, there has been zero evidence presented that Libby lied to protect the Administration, and zero evidence that he was asked to. People who say or imply that and who consider themselves part of the reality-based community ought to give some evidence. Or better, just accept reality.
Posted by: Sanpete | Mar 7, 2007 11:51:10 AM
maybe Bill thought pardons for cash and pardoning drug dealers and terrorists couldn't do too much more damage to his legacy.
Looked at the list of GWB pardons lately?
Posted by: Jason | Mar 7, 2007 11:51:47 AM
People who say or imply that and who consider themselves part of the reality-based community ought to give some evidence. Or better, just accept reality.
Or admit that they make inferences based on a model of how the world works, and then claim that their model is better than others. Which is usually implicit in almost any discussion of anything.
Posted by: SomeCallMeTim | Mar 7, 2007 12:02:53 PM
Tim, the model still needs to be supplemented by at least a teeny bit of evidence, since the world works in several different ways that could account for Libby lying. Evidence is all the more necessary in this case, since we have the advantage of the trial record, in which the prosecution gives very convincing evidence based on a different and sufficient model, that Libby lied to cover his own tail, not Cheney's or Bush's or anyone else's. Let's have some reality here.
Posted by: Sanpete | Mar 7, 2007 12:15:25 PM
I see. And what about the Cheney note?
Posted by: Ginger Yellow | Mar 7, 2007 1:04:19 PM
Well, what about it? Does it show or even suggest that Libby was asked to lie, or that he lied to protect others?
Posted by: Sanpete | Mar 7, 2007 1:11:40 PM
Anonymous, I think this analysis of Cheney's character - that he is loyal to his people - is wrong. The amazing thing about Cheney is his moral autism - there are few people who have ever risen so high in public life with such a narcissistic and self-centered personality. Politicians all fake empathy, but the good thing about democratic politics is that they learn, at least, to fake empathy. Cheney is a backchannel guy, his one elective post was as a representative (elections are normally about presidents - the vps are along for the ride), and having never learned to fake empathy, he is left with what empathy he can muster from the shabby shallows of his heart. I doubt that he considers Scooter Libby a friend, anymore than Scrooge thought of Bob Cratchitt as a friend. It is funny, in the recent outbreak of ersatz outrage over whether or not Bill Maher said he would be happy if Cheney died, no attention was paid to the oddest part of the whole terrorist attack - Cheney didn't say word one about the twenty three people who were killed. A regular politician would have. Bush would have. From Cheney, zip. Those people who mistakenly think they are Cheney's friends - like the guy he shot in Texas - soon learn their lesson when the slightest problem arises. I imagine even Cheney's mistress, the ambassador to Switzerland who he was visiting down at the ranch when the hunting accident happened, will be dropped like a hot potato if she becomes inconvenient. More than his politics, it is Cheney's personality that makes him so frightening and dangerous, a true gangster figure.
Posted by: roger | Mar 7, 2007 2:38:46 PM
This is all very interesting... but the deal is done. Libby will be pardoned. I'm surprised Ezra thinks there's even a question.
Posted by: weboy | Mar 7, 2007 4:07:55 PM
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