Thursday, March 08, 2007
A Pardon for "Scooter" Libby, A Pardon for the President
Steve Bell 2007steve.bell@guardian.co.uk
President Bush has, reportedly, decided to stay away from pardoning "Scooter" Libby because of political impact on 2008 election. Even some Republicans are wary about the idea. It would raise a firestorm but it could happen. Although he did not appear in court, the facts that came to light during the Libby trial were damning for Vice President Cheney. And the president himself has been tainted by exposure of lies and manipulation of the media orchestrated between the White House and the vice president's office. So, a pardon for "Scooter" Libby would clear the slate for Vice President Cheney and for President Bush. It is not off the table regardless of the reports.
William Jefferson Clinton, our 42nd president, faced impeachment for diddling with Monica Lewinsky. We now have a president who took the nation to war against Iraq based on lies and exaggerations. As of today 3,188 soldiers have died in Iraq (including 24 so far in the month of March). The President talks about bravery of our soldiers. But it was his administration that allowed the deplorable conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center to happen. And in recent days facts have emerged about the Justice Department's systematic purging of attorneys who were perceived to be "unfriendly" to the goals of the Bush Administration. Then, of course, there was Katrina. President Bush is not going to be impeached; he will ride into the sunset after the 2008 election, uttering claptrap. But he ought to be.
