tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21503568.post8971010537078201715..comments2023-11-03T06:32:28.410-04:00Comments on Staring At Empty Pages: Scootin' ScooterBarry Leibahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14205294935881991457noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21503568.post-68568280858176281922007-07-06T03:20:00.000-04:002007-07-06T03:20:00.000-04:00«The deterrent aspect of the law appears to have b...<I>«The deterrent aspect of the law appears to have been completely lost.»</I><BR/><BR/>The "deterrent" aspect is still there: if you're going to leak and lie, you'd better have a friend in a position to "take care of you"; otherwise you'll be in prison for two and a half years.<BR/><BR/><I>«Finally, I read that the fact that President Bush commuted the term instead of pardoning the crime means that the Fifth Amendment still applies»</I><BR/><BR/>Actually, I misspoke[1] above, when I said "friend". I'm more convinced, the more I think about it, that The George has actually admitted complicity by commuting the sentence. Think about it: if Libby did it because George wanted him to do it, then the latter has an obligation to make it so the former doesn't, as Andy says, feel the sting. If that weren't the case, well, it's clear that "Scooter"[2] should be serving his time.<BR/><BR/>So it's pretty obvious that we should now be going after the Big Pretzel.<BR/><BR/>Oh, but I forgot: we don't have any evidence now. Yes, "sigh".<BR/><BR/>————<BR/>[1] "Lied".<BR/><BR/>[2] How on Earth can a grown man go by "Scooter"? Well, I suppose it eliminates the need to the Prez to come up with his own nickname for you, which might be worse.Barry Leibahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14205294935881991457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21503568.post-78301327325067914932007-07-06T00:30:00.000-04:002007-07-06T00:30:00.000-04:00As I understand it, there are three parts to the o...As I understand it, there are three parts to the original sentence: a fine, a prison term, and a probation term. As you note, the fine is probably covered by contributions from rich friends, none of whom will ever notice the sting. The prison term has been commuted, so no one will ever notice the sting. According to the judge in the case (regrettably, I can't cite a source here), the relevant law is worded such that the probation term can only begin after the prison term, so no one will ever notice that sting, either, because absent a prison term there can be no probation. We are left with a crime and no punishment. The deterrent aspect of the law appears to have been completely lost. (I must also agree with Ray's observation that we probably misunderstood the meaning of the promise "take care of" the perp.)<BR/><BR/>Finally, I read that the fact that President Bush commuted the term instead of pardoning the crime means that the Fifth Amendment still applies - Mr. Libby has no reason to explain his actions further and is motivated to obscure the actions of any other actors in the drama. Pretty clever, I would say. Not something to reinforce the perception of Keystone Kops - highly clever.<BR/><BR/>Sigh.<BR/><BR/>-andyscouter573https://www.blogger.com/profile/10617089494446058172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21503568.post-71329038407824732782007-07-04T13:44:00.000-04:002007-07-04T13:44:00.000-04:00The good would have been that Scooter would have t...The good would have been that Scooter would have talked had Bush not promised him no jail time.The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21503568.post-10830522497930517092007-07-03T08:44:00.000-04:002007-07-03T08:44:00.000-04:00I know that after all this time I really should be...I know that after all this time I really should be shock-proof, but Bush's bald-faced actions continue to amaze me. What amazes me even more, though, is the placid way in which the press and the American public seem to accept everything this person does, as though there's nothing that can be done.<BR/><BR/>It is interesting to note that Shrub actually did keep his September 2003 promise to "take care of" anyone in his administration who was found to have broken the law. I guess it was our own fault that we misinterpreted what he meant by that.Rayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15198072683770155918noreply@blogger.com