From an Albuquerque Tribune editorial, 7/4/07:
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/jul/04/editorial-we-thought-justice-had-prevailed-it-didn/

We thought justice had prevailed. It didn't.


Outrage does not begin to cover it.

President Bush's commutation of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison
sentence is a direct assault on the federal judiciary, our national
reverence for the law and the American sense of justice.

It is unacceptable, inexplicable and inexcusable.

In rescuing Vice President ***** Cheney's former chief of staff from
hard time, Bush mocks the judicial system and sets a horrible
precedent for power over justice, loyalty over ethics, party over
country and men over the rule of law.

On this July 4, Americans know intuitively that this is not the way
the Founding Fathers meant for things to work.

This is not the embodiment of the presidency.

This is not equal justice under law.

This is not the American way.

In the Libby case, the American way had prevailed.

The system actually worked - until Bush rashly intervened on Monday.

Many are speculating on what Bush's true motivations are, including
who Libby's silence will most protect.

But let's be clear about what is known, what is obvious, what no
amount of Bush, Republican or conservative rhetoric can spin away.

In keeping Libby out of jail, Bush blatantly disregarded:


The facts of the case, which began with an orchestrated White House
effort to discredit and punish an administration Iraq war critic, Joe
Wilson, by outing his wife and undercover CIA agent, Valerie Plame
Wilson.

A formal complaint to the Justice Department from the CIA asking for
an investigation into the outing of its agent and its elaborate and
costly covert cover for her.

The dedicated work of a special prosecutor, Republican-appointed
Patrick Fitzgerald, who successfully prosecuted Libby and accused him
of critically blocking his investigation into the White House role in
Valerie Wilson's outing.

A special grand jury that likewise found Libby had lied to
investigators as well as to them and, in doing so, had obstructed
justice by obstructing the investigation.

A jury that unanimously agreed with the grand jury and convicted Libby
of felonious crimes.

Federal District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton, appointed by Bush
himself, who concluded Libby's conduct deserved a stiff 30-month
prison sentence and that it should begin within 30 to 45 days.

And a three-judge federal appellate court panel - comprised of two
Republican-appointed judges and one Democrat-appointed judge - that
unanimously ruled Monday that Walton was correct: Libby should
immediately begin serving his prison sentence even pending his appeal.


Against all that, Bush decided that his buddy's buddy, Libby, should
not serve even a single hour in the slammer.

Never mind that such presidential mercy is completely at odds with
Bush's behavior both as president and governor of Texas.

Never mind White House law-and-order hypocrisy.

Never mind a president who promised to deal directly with any member
of his staff found to be involved in revealing the identity of a
covert agent.

Americans are an inherently just and merciful people.

They often tolerate honest mistakes by their elected officials.

They usually show incredible mercy to those who express regret and
contrition.

But as the last federal election and the many recent public opinion
polls increasingly show, Americans resent politicians who deceive
them, who twist the truth to suit their own purposes, who tamper with
the judicial system and who cover their misdeeds by stonewalling
federal prosecutors, juries and judges.

Of all Bush's transgressions, Americans are likely to remember this as
the one in which a president placed himself and his minions above the
law.

_____________________________________________________

Harry

From an Albuquerque Tribune editorial, 7/4/07:

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/jul/04/editorial-we-thought-justice-had-preva
iled-it-didn/

We thought justice had prevailed. It didn't.


Outrage does not begin to cover it.

President Bush's commutation of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison
sentence is a direct assault on the federal judiciary, our national
reverence for the law and the American sense of justice.

It is unacceptable, inexplicable and inexcusable.

In rescuing Vice President ***** Cheney's former chief of staff from
hard time, Bush mocks the judicial system and sets a horrible
precedent for power over justice, loyalty over ethics, party over
country and men over the rule of law.

On this July 4, Americans know intuitively that this is not the way
the Founding Fathers meant for things to work.

This is not the embodiment of the presidency.

This is not equal justice under law.

This is not the American way.

In the Libby case, the American way had prevailed.

The system actually worked - until Bush rashly intervened on Monday.

Many are speculating on what Bush's true motivations are, including
who Libby's silence will most protect.

But let's be clear about what is known, what is obvious, what no
amount of Bush, Republican or conservative rhetoric can spin away.

In keeping Libby out of jail, Bush blatantly disregarded:


The facts of the case, which began with an orchestrated White House
effort to discredit and punish an administration Iraq war critic, Joe
Wilson, by outing his wife and undercover CIA agent, Valerie Plame
Wilson.

A formal complaint to the Justice Department from the CIA asking for
an investigation into the outing of its agent and its elaborate and
costly covert cover for her.

The dedicated work of a special prosecutor, Republican-appointed
Patrick Fitzgerald, who successfully prosecuted Libby and accused him
of critically blocking his investigation into the White House role in
Valerie Wilson's outing.

A special grand jury that likewise found Libby had lied to
investigators as well as to them and, in doing so, had obstructed
justice by obstructing the investigation.

A jury that unanimously agreed with the grand jury and convicted Libby
of felonious crimes.

Federal District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton, appointed by Bush
himself, who concluded Libby's conduct deserved a stiff 30-month
prison sentence and that it should begin within 30 to 45 days.

And a three-judge federal appellate court panel - comprised of two
Republican-appointed judges and one Democrat-appointed judge - that
unanimously ruled Monday that Walton was correct: Libby should
immediately begin serving his prison sentence even pending his appeal.


Against all that, Bush decided that his buddy's buddy, Libby, should
not serve even a single hour in the slammer.

Never mind that such presidential mercy is completely at odds with
Bush's behavior both as president and governor of Texas.

Never mind White House law-and-order hypocrisy.

Never mind a president who promised to deal directly with any member
of his staff found to be involved in revealing the identity of a
covert agent.

Americans are an inherently just and merciful people.

They often tolerate honest mistakes by their elected officials.

They usually show incredible mercy to those who express regret and
contrition.

But as the last federal election and the many recent public opinion
polls increasingly show, Americans resent politicians who deceive
them, who twist the truth to suit their own purposes, who tamper with
the judicial system and who cover their misdeeds by stonewalling
federal prosecutors, juries and judges.

Of all Bush's transgressions, Americans are likely to remember this as
the one in which a president placed himself and his minions above the
law.

_____________________________________________________

Harry

From an Albuquerque Tribune editorial, 7/4/07:
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/jul/04/editorial-we-thought-justice-had-prevailed-it-didn/

We thought justice had prevailed. It didn't.


Outrage does not begin to cover it.

President Bush's commutation of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison
sentence is a direct assault on the federal judiciary, our national
reverence for the law and the American sense of justice.

It is unacceptable, inexplicable and inexcusable.

In rescuing Vice President ***** Cheney's former chief of staff from
hard time, Bush mocks the judicial system and sets a horrible
precedent for power over justice, loyalty over ethics, party over
country and men over the rule of law.

On this July 4, Americans know intuitively that this is not the way
the Founding Fathers meant for things to work.

This is not the embodiment of the presidency.

This is not equal justice under law.

This is not the American way.

In the Libby case, the American way had prevailed.

The system actually worked - until Bush rashly intervened on Monday.

Many are speculating on what Bush's true motivations are, including
who Libby's silence will most protect.

But let's be clear about what is known, what is obvious, what no
amount of Bush, Republican or conservative rhetoric can spin away.

In keeping Libby out of jail, Bush blatantly disregarded:


The facts of the case, which began with an orchestrated White House
effort to discredit and punish an administration Iraq war critic, Joe
Wilson, by outing his wife and undercover CIA agent, Valerie Plame
Wilson.

A formal complaint to the Justice Department from the CIA asking for
an investigation into the outing of its agent and its elaborate and
costly covert cover for her.

The dedicated work of a special prosecutor, Republican-appointed
Patrick Fitzgerald, who successfully prosecuted Libby and accused him
of critically blocking his investigation into the White House role in
Valerie Wilson's outing.

A special grand jury that likewise found Libby had lied to
investigators as well as to them and, in doing so, had obstructed
justice by obstructing the investigation.

A jury that unanimously agreed with the grand jury and convicted Libby
of felonious crimes.

Federal District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton, appointed by Bush
himself, who concluded Libby's conduct deserved a stiff 30-month
prison sentence and that it should begin within 30 to 45 days.

And a three-judge federal appellate court panel - comprised of two
Republican-appointed judges and one Democrat-appointed judge - that
unanimously ruled Monday that Walton was correct: Libby should
immediately begin serving his prison sentence even pending his appeal.


Against all that, Bush decided that his buddy's buddy, Libby, should
not serve even a single hour in the slammer.

Never mind that such presidential mercy is completely at odds with
Bush's behavior both as president and governor of Texas.

Never mind White House law-and-order hypocrisy.

Never mind a president who promised to deal directly with any member
of his staff found to be involved in revealing the identity of a
covert agent.

Americans are an inherently just and merciful people.

They often tolerate honest mistakes by their elected officials.

They usually show incredible mercy to those who express regret and
contrition.

But as the last federal election and the many recent public opinion
polls increasingly show, Americans resent politicians who deceive
them, who twist the truth to suit their own purposes, who tamper with
the judicial system and who cover their misdeeds by stonewalling
federal prosecutors, juries and judges.

Of all Bush's transgressions, Americans are likely to remember this as
the one in which a president placed himself and his minions above the
law.

_____________________________________________________

Harry