Tuesday, July 03, 2007

First Commutation, Next a Pardon?


George w. Bush hasn't washed his hands of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

Yesterday he commuted the guy's jail time but kept the fine and probation terms intact. In essence, Scooter got sprung before the cell door slammed shut even once - anything to keep him from talking.

Maybe Scooter is still a threat. After saying that the fine and probation parts of the sentence were warranted, Bush today refused to rule out an absolute pardon. "As to the future, I rule nothing in and nothing out," Bush said as he left a visit to Walter Reed Medical Center.

A commutation is enough to keep Libby out of jail, and out of Bush's hair, while Shrub runs out the clock on his presidency. On his way out the door in January, 2009, he'll be free to pardon Libby outright.

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