Libby Found Guilty

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Absolutely what a waste of time and money. I hope Bush pardons him soon. For him to spend time in jail would be completely absurd.

In some ways, I do agree with you.
However I do find it rather interesting that a few years ago, not much was said about the time and money spent on a few other investigations and trials that went just about the same way.....

[UGAalum94]

Why did you think Moveon was formed?

A lot was said about the case a few years ago along those lines, a lot.

And since the real issue of what exactly was leaked, whether it was illegal to leak it, and who did the leaking wasn't even addressed by this case, it's kind of seems like a silly comparison anyway.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

Why did you think Moveon was formed?

A lot was said about the case a few years ago along those lines, a lot.

And since the real issue of what exactly was leaked, whether it was illegal to leak it, and who did the leaking wasn't even addressed by this case, it's kind of seems like a silly comparison anyway.

True to a point.
I was thinking more of the larger picture-one side is all hell bent for leather for investigations then all of a sudden does not like them.
And in fact, prior to this election, was telling its core to get out and vote or we will be on the other side......

Another story, that is now getting some news coverage is the sudden sacking of several Federal ADA's around the county for what seems to be political reasons rather than performance.

Will be rather interesting to see what comes up in the next 20-50 years.

[UGAalum94]

But you realize that Clinton fired ALL the US attorneys when he took office, right?

[shinerbock]

I thought the Clinton-Monica thing was stupid. He should have been censured, but the investigation was dumb. Now the investigation into the Rose law firm and all that shady stuff in Arkansas is completely legit. I think time will show just how deep the Clintons were into some very disturbing stuff back home.

I just don't like the idea of someone getting in trouble for lying about an investigation that yielded no substantive wrongdoing. A lot of people are saying he's a fall guy, and thats true. However, I don't think he's a fall guy for Cheney or Rove, rather he's a fall guy for Fitzgerald & Co. who found the need to continue an empty investigation. What a waste. I'm gonna be furious if Bush doesn't pardon him. Only a few people are still going to bat for the administration, and Scooter was one. If Bush now does what Scooter didn't do, which is crumble under political and societal pressure, I'll be incensed.

[RU OX Alum]

he lied to congress

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

The conviction apparently, and I'm going by quotes from jurors, is based on their belief that he must have remembered conversations that he said he forgot.

I got the impression that it was more that Tim Russert flatly denied the conversation that Libby claimed to have had with him.

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

But you realize that Clinton fired ALL the US attorneys when he took office, right?

Sure. Most presidents do. US Attorneys serve at the will of the president, and most new presidents want people of their choice in the position.

The issue right now is not the fact that US Attorneys serve at the will of the president. It's a combination of the allegation that these particular US Attorneys were fired essentially as retribution for not being political enough and the use of a provision of the Patriot Act to replace them with interim US Attorneys, which bypasses the need for Senate confirmation.

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I hope Bush pardons him soon.

I don't see that happening until December '08 or January '09. That's why Libby will need to stretch the request for a new trial/appeal process out as long as possible, and try to get a court to stay the judgment pending appeal.

I just don't like the idea of someone getting in trouble for lying about an investigation that yielded no substantive wrongdoing.

It's tradition. That's always what gets people in trouble in Washington -- it's not the deed itself, it's the cover-up and lying afterward.

[shinerbock]

Yeah, it does seem pretty common. I too doubt Bush will pardon him soon, but his appeal should eat up a fairly substantial bulk of time. I don't want him to do it immediately, but I think he should do it if his appeal doesn't work. Its not like he's got a lot of political capital on the line.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Yeah, it does seem pretty common. I too doubt Bush will pardon him soon, but his appeal should eat up a fairly substantial bulk of time.

The challenge is going to be keeping Libby out of prison pending appeal. I don't practice federal criminal law, but I don't think that's the way it usually works.