Only Libby smiling today

Chicago Sun Times ^ | July 3, 2007 | Robert Novak

[gpapa]

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's commutation of Scooter Libby's sentence pleased but did not fully satisfy restive conservatives, while enraging his liberal critics. Libby himself can breathe a sigh of relief that he does not have to serve prison time, but hardly anybody else is all that happy.

[sgtbono2002]

Novak,doesnt know SQUAT.

[MEGoody]

If Libby gets a new trial and is found guilty again

They aren't actually retrying him. In an appeal, they are actually just reviewing the trial already held. They can't resentence him, they can only overturn the sentence already handed down.

[Melchior]

Novak is a miserable SOB. Worse, his actions in the Libby case prove he is a coward, both morally and intellectually. He belongs in Washington.

[stockstrader]

I am very happy.

And I am ESPECIALLY HAPPY that the MSM, democrats and liberals everywhere are so upset!!!....LOL

[MEGoody]

Bush, evidently still mired in his old, discredited "new tone-ism", appears to have thought that a commutation would not bring down as much wrath on his head as a pardon.

He could just as easily have been thinking that this keeps Libby out of prison while still allowing him to clear his name (and his record) in the appeal. A full pardon clears the record (as I understand it), but it would not allow Libby to clear his name.

[Volunteer]

When Libby's appeal overturns the guilty verdict, and I truly think it will, is there any chance they will go after Armitage?

No.

Will Joe Wilson be made to account for his distortions of the truth?

No.

Libby still has to pay what I think is a hefty fine for a crime he did not commit.

[iopscusa]

NOVAK, YOU FESTERING PUSTULE, you got that right.
Novak,MSM, DOJ, CIA, Wilson, Plame, Armitage, Powell and many others have hell to pay for facilitating this injustice....the day is coming for payback...

[F.J. Mitchell]

You whom I once respected but now hold responsible as the main ogre in this whole damn Plame game,do not speak for me, Novak. I am smiling so wide that my ears are having a family reunion at the back of my neck.

Anyone who disagrees with this Presidential pardon of Libby, is too stupid to understand that no crime was ever committed in this case. All those accused of crimes were proven innocent.

Libby was nailed by a special prosecutor so desperate to screw somebody/anybody because all the accused were cleared of any crime, that he persecuted the innocent Mr Libby for the crime of having a poor memory.

Luck for the absentminded Clinton's and their crew, that Fitzpatrick wasn’t judging their escapades.

Thank you Mr President! Now let’s expand this justice to our GI’s and border patrol agents.

[shekkian]

Now how about we pardon those two Border Patrol guys ...

[syriacus]

It will look far better for Libby if he is completely exonerated through ordinary legal channels (as Oliver North was) than if he gets let off the hook by a presidential pardon.

I agree.

[wingsof liberty]

Could someone explain to me why Armitage and Powell delibertately held back what they knew about outing Valerie, and they get off scott free? I still cant understand that.

[dfwgator]

I’m happy. It’s better than nothing. It is a travesty that Libby would have to serve jail time, while Sandy Berger walks free.

[dfwgator]

Now how about we pardon those two Border Patrol guys ...

And end the "Breaker Morant" treatment of the Haditha Marines.

[norwaypinesavage]

?Who were the other journalists besides Russert?"

Mitchell stipulated through her lawyers that when she told Imus on the radio that everyone in Washington knew Mrs Wilson was a CIA bureaucrat, she (Mitchell) was lying. Woodward, Pincus, Cooper, and Miller all told things to the investigators that in some ways conflicted with their printed stories.

[TChris]

SMILING ______________________

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[SoFloFreeper]

Sorry Novak: I’m smiling today.

I would’ve preferred a full pardon, but the fact that this OUTRAGES the left so much almost makes up for it.

I’ve got a big, happy smile on my face and a little extra energy in my step today.

[jwpjr]

It comes down to a single sentence! Libby says he told Tim Russert during a phone conversation that he had heard about Plame being a CIA employee from other reporters. Russert says Libby did not say “from other reporters.” It was even Libby who brought Plame’s name up in the conversation. His statement was in response to a statement by Russert. That is all there is to it, three words from a conversation that took place three years earlier, a conversation that neither Libby or Russert recorded or during which they took notes.

The jury took Russert’s version of what Libby said.

[Alberta's Child]

Scooter may very well NOT be exonerated by the appellate court. All our hoping and wishing and knowledge of the facts in this case won't make it so.

Then a full pardon can be issued later. There's no compelling reason to do it now.

[mkjessup]

Oh screw you Novak, you’re as much to blame for this fiasco as anybody else.

[dirtboy]

I’m happy. A full pardon would have denied Libby the ability to spank Fitz in appeals courts.