Gravy Train

President Bush commuted the sentence of the former chief of staff for the Vice President, I Lewis "Scooter" Libby, on the basis that the sentence was "excessive."

This administration continues to put its foot in its mouth when it is entirely unnecessary, just like with the fired US Attorneys. In that case, all they had to do was fire them and not give any reason, instead they said it was for performance, when it was apparently political.

In the Libby case, one would think the lawyers on Mr. Bush's staff would know the sentence was within the Federal sentencing guidelines, and that the majority of perjurers and obstruction of justice criminals go to jail. So why not just pardon him outright and simply say it is the right of the President to do this?

I was also wondering, given the reason the President cited for commuting felon Libby of this prison sentence, how deeply Mr. Bush studied the Federal sentencing guidelines and how many similar cases he researched in order to get an understanding just what is a fair sentence? I noticed he cited no legal precedent for his actions. I would bet there are hundreds of people languishing in prison with similar sentences for similar crimes who would love the same preferential, extra judicial treatment Mr Bush accorded Mr Libby.

The aspect that troubles me the most, is that for the past 16 years, the America people will have had the past two Presidents setting an example that it is acceptable to lie under oath. Isnt that remarkably sad? That some lies are ok, or that lying is not ok, yet punishment for lying is also not acceptable.