By confessing that Libby was engaged in a cover-up -- after all, that was the verdict -- Bush establishes his own motive. In brief, Bush's act ratifies Libby's cover-up. The 'cloud over the vice president' that the prosecutor decried will never be dispelled. Cheney -- and Bush -- walk, too.
Libby had to have understood, without a word ever being passed, that leniency of some sort would be granted. His steadfast cover-up was encouraged by his intimate knowledge of the methods of Cheney and Bush. The fine he must pay -- $250,000 -- is meaningless because he will certainly not be paying it himself. His legal defense fund, supported by the friends of the president and vice president, boasts a treasury of $5 million. He has been well taken care of.
The pardon is the one monarchical power that the framers of the Constitution assigned the presidency. But they placed one restriction, that it could not be exercised for impeachment. In other words, the president could not use his power to pardon himself. Bush is entirely within his narrow right to use the pardon power in the Libby case. But it violates the spirit, if not the letter, of the law governing that power because it is a consummate gesture of self-exoneration, at least if the vice president is an 'entity within the executive branch.' Bush rewards Libby's cover-up, thwarting the investigation into Cheney's and perhaps his culpability. Bush's commutation is the successful culmination of the obstruction of justice.
Not my favorite source, or my candidate for the most reliable one. But on the subjects of perjury and White House conniving, he presumably knows whereof he speaks.
Now I have to listen to Bill's discourse on Bush's abuses of the pardon power.
I'm tired of these ruling families. Let's try someone else.
A thought for July 4: Prince Charles might be less monarchical.
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