Word has it that the deal was cut well in advance, Cheney told Scooter just be a good soldier and you'll never spend a day in jail. He supposedly told Bush that it must be understood no matter what happens not one second of jail time.

Nothing surprising about this as the big thing with Bush is loyalty above all else no matter how big a criminal or buffoon you are. He'll stand by Scooter, he'll stand by Alberto, he really could care less about this country and what happens to our system of justice and government. Bush has once again given the finger to the justice system and all Americans. Thank you, George, may I have another?

What is sort of funny though is that rather than wipe the slate clean for Libby he left part of the sentence intact and in doing so admits the guilt of this administration in covering up a crime. The investigation into the outing of Valerie Plame was destroyed by members of the Bush administration covering their tracks and obstructing justice, for which Libby was tried and convicted. During this trial Libby, his lawyers, Fitz, the judge, and jury all admitted that Libby was taking the fall for Cheney, his boss. Meaning it was in fact the Vice President and the President himself that approved the outing of Plame and the smear campaign that followed. So again Dubya does something half assed and only wipes out the jail time and in doing so admits there were crimes committed and covered up. The president is saying that it was ok for Libby to obstruct an investigation into the outing of Ms. Plame and not only was it ok but I too will now obstruct justice by letting Libby walk for his crime.

I don't understand the thinking behind that other than to say I have to assume that not only are they all a bunch of criminals but they are really fucking stupid to boot. Bush should know he'll get buried for letting Libby walk so holding up the rest of the sentence was pointless. His only reason for doing that was to try to save face somehow by showing he was still punishing Libby. Nobody will buy that crap. They did not want a guy who knows where all the bodies are buried facing jail time. That's a plain and simple fact. They always were going to let him walk, that's a fact. The public already has no faith in you as a president and knows you cover for all your loyal pals no matter what they do so why half ass this and only wipe out the jail time? It only makes you look foolish and makes it clear you have been lying to the public all along and will continue to do so. Stupid, just plain stupid. This idiot really is the worst president ever.

The only rational reason I can think of for Bush not to wipe the slate clean and leave the fine and probation intact is to allow the appearance that he has not himself completely committed the crime Libby was convicted for, by obstructing justice himself. This would leave the door open for action against the president and I'm guessing that would be the simple reason for it. The fact is though that Bush just put his stamp of approval on lying to federal investigators and obstructing an investigation into highly treasonous activity. He's done this during a time when we are "at war with terrorists" and so, in all reality, he committed treason by letting Libby walk and claiming his sentence was too harsh. He also opened the door for lawyers nationwide by setting this precedent. It's obvious Bush and his pals are out to completely destroy our justice system.