Why not a full pardon? Libby still has to pay a $250,000 fine. How do you interpret this?
2007-07-03 00:24:05 · 16 answers · asked by ? 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Libby won't get a full pardon until Bush is sure he won't spill his guts. This is his way of putting a carrot in front of him. You can bet your life a full pardon will come on Bush's last days in office.
This will cost the republicans the white house. Nobody likes amnesty.
2007-07-03 09:52:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This hasn't all played out yet by a longshot. Libby still has the option to appeal and, as others have said, Bush's could still pardon Libby in '08.
2007-07-03 00:43:39 · answer #2 · answered by sagacious_ness 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll take the commute over the pardon because it will ban Libby from employment as a liquor store clerk or rent a cop for the rest of his life.
Actually...
I think bush is pleasing his base with this move. $250000 is pocket change for anyone connected with the bush administration, and he knows this. Commuting is as good as pardoning, in terms of getting him off the real hard part of the punishment the courts gave him. That will appease his supporters, who'd been after him for a pardon, but also leave a nibble or two on the bone he threw the rest of us -- the 72% who see through the emperial presidency.
2007-07-03 00:28:55 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. Vincent Van Jessup 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because a pardon would have immunized Libby from prosecution and he could be forced to testify against Rove, Cheney and Bush.
As it is, there are still additional charges that can be filed, so he can avoid testifying by invoking the 5th Ammendment.
A quarter million is nothing to these guys. Someone will put the money up for him.
2007-07-03 00:35:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bush said he agreed with the verdict (that Libby lied to a grand jury) he just doesn't want him punished for it, or Libby might be inclined to tell the whole truth.
2007-07-03 00:32:38 · answer #5 · answered by Honest Opinion 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Political expediency, pure and simple. Wait until his last day in office. Libby's name will be on the list. Probably the only one at that, unless someone else in the administration gets thrown under the bus before then...
FYI, it doesn't matter who leaked, Libby was convicted of obstruction of justice, NOT disclosing classified information. Get your facts straight, folks!
2007-07-03 00:27:24 · answer #6 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
because Bush felt Libby was guilty, and Bush believes that the law should exist. However, he thought that the sentence was wrong, so he only commuted the sentence.
2007-07-03 01:43:34 · answer #7 · answered by lundstroms2004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He will pardon him. If he had pardoned him now it would have just given more fuel to a fire that was set by the democrats.
2007-07-03 00:48:16 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some reason, Bush agreed with the verdict, but thought the 30 months in prison was too harsh.
2007-07-03 00:26:21 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
this way it looks like Bush did not totally disregard the legal system, a contributor will pay his fine. Besides, thats what Cheney told him to do.
2007-07-03 00:28:33 · answer #10 · answered by i_m_the_1_u_luv 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋