COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Libby's Sentence is a Travesty

Not only was Lewis Libby sentenced to 30 months is prison, he has been fined $250,000.00. Compare the sentence to Sandy Berger's probation and $75,000 fine for stealing and destroying classified US documents. And what was Libby convicted of?
Mr. Libby was not charged with leaking Ms. Wilson’s name, which first appeared in a column by Robert D. Novak on July 14, 2003. Mr. Novak’s sources were later revealed to be Richard L. Armitage, a former deputy secretary of state, and Karl Rove, Mr. Bush’s senior political adviser in the White House, neither of whom was charged with violating the law prohibiting the disclosure of the identities of C.I.A. officers.

But Mr. Libby was indicted on charges of lying about his conversations with reporters about Ms. Wilson.

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Walton fined Mr. Libby $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system, but an inmate may be eligible for a reduction of up to 54 days a year for good behavior.
Most people probably think Libby was the one who revealed that Plame worked for the CIA. Patrick Fitzgerald argued that Libby should receive a stiffer sentence because he was "unrepentant." What a farce!

4 comments:

  1. "And speaking of principle, will the knave in the oval office pardon his loyal jester, Scooter Libby?" - 2164th (from a recent post)

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    I'm still trying to get my head around Deuce's comment. Where is he coming from?

    Whit, I agree with you 100% on the Libby Sentence Travesty. And if Deuce thinks Libby is getting a fair deal and deserved justice, then Deuce wouldn't get my vote for Dogcather of Dogpatch--although he has penned many other screeds in which I am in full accord.

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  2. naw, it is no travesty. The guy lied multiple times under oath to various legal bodies. Throw the book at the guy and ship him off for the maximum....ah, geee, that is what the judge thought too. Go figure....

    Aren't you folks also the same ones who pushed for Clinton's impeachment for his single lie (about BJ's nonetheless - Libby's lies were about war and such)?????

    Do you support your government officials lying under oath or not?

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  3. I didn't say he shouldn't pay a price for a crime. I said that the price doesn't fit the crime and provided some context. Also, where did you get the idea that he "lied multiple times under oath to various legal bodies." His recollection differed from those of a couple of reporters and this is what Fitzgerald seized on.

    Bush should pardon Libby.

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  4. Whit if you put

    Libby punishment for his repeated lies to a grand jury and to F.B.I. agents

    Into google you'll get a number of sources.

    Libby, a senior guy in the "tough on crime" Bush administration repeatedly lied and obstructed the investigation into the Plame affair. A jury found him guilty (doesn't really matter what the prosecutor said or didn't say) and Libby has shown no contrition or regret (usually a prerequisite for Presidential pardon).

    Now I'll bet you'll agree that he was covering for those higher up and if they let him sit in prison it doesn't say much about their loyalty but if they do spring him what does that say about their complicity?

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