Funny thing, tonight after work I was going through some articles that I was using for research for Bushido topics and I found numerous articles concerning the "Valerie P.-Wilson Incident". I am sure you remember the case: Valerie is a CIA agent, her husband Joe Wilson speaks out against the Iraq War and the Bush Administration, RoveCo gets livid; seeks political revenge and "Dead-Eye" Dick's right-hand man, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby leaks to Robert Novak and the "Press" that Wilson's wife is a CIA Agent. Libby "scoots" around (read: lies about) the issue in front of the Grand Jury, escapes Treason (punishable by death) but gets hit with a 30-month sentence for 4-felony counts of perjury and obstructing justice. Bad guys caught, Libby will get his, put articles in the shred box.
But as we all know who live in the Lowcountry, life changes just as quickly as the tides
On the way home, I get my favorite "WTF?-You got to be kidding me" moment of the day when I hear, "President Bush has used his power of clemency to commute the 30-month sentence of I. Lewis Libby because the sentence was too harsh!" And he over-ruled the jury's decision, Judge Reggie P. Walton and the Federal Court of Appeals who denied (late Monday afternoon) Libby's request to remain free while he was appealing his case.
Ebony and Irony
Did the President lose trust in Judge Reggie and the 12-peers on the jury? Perhaps, but you must admit, Bush's over-ruling is a most ironic action, considering this decision came from the former Governor of Texas who (as Governor) refused to grant clemency and review the decisions of death-penalty cases because he had full belief in the system and the decision by the juries in those cases. Think about that line of thinking for a moment: death penalty=trust the juries, 30-months sentence for a millionaire friend=don't trust the jury. If Justice is blind, she must still like to hear the cling of gold in those scales she's holding.
Scooter's Punishment
Despite being a grown man (who is not a surfer or cousin to the local mechanic on the Dukes of Hazzard) and living with the name "Scooter", Libby will have to serve 2-years probation and pay a fine of $250,000. Which I am sure with the millions in the Scooter Defense Trust, he won't have trouble doing. (Editor's Note: Wouldn't it be poetic if the Feds worked like the Charleston City Police when it came to fines and bail-cash only, with an odd figure, i.e. $253,137. Yeah Libby just go to the ATM in the lobby. Sorry, we don't make change, we have to put you back in the cell until you have the right amount.)
(Photo credits from Kevin)
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