The value of honoring the trust inherent in the granting of a security clearance was violated by Bush's allowing Libby, a smarmy political hack, to escape serving time for voilating that trust. Then again, what's trust worth in a government for sale to the highest bidder?
POLITICS
No Pardon For Libby
Bush uses clemency powers sparingly to the end
Jan 19, 2009
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Posted By: twoifbysea @ 03/01/2009 3:08:36 AM
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Posted By: MichaelX @ 02/26/2009 11:28:32 AM
"Ollie-Ollie North goes Free" Cronies-R-Us will always find a way to help each other along.
"Scooter" will have future involvements. Stay tuned.
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Posted By: JohnSteinbeck @ 02/18/2009 4:59:43 AM
Scooter Libby deserves to go to prison for his role in manipulating intellingence data (and public opinion) for war in Iraq,
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Posted By: fgm514 @ 02/21/2009 3:57:47 PM
yeow, he was just the messenger, and we all know He was "chief-of-staff" of ouyr very dear VP, c'mon...!!!
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Posted By: TOM KIMMEL @ 02/19/2009 2:46:36 PM
Mr. Cheney to advance his cause--a pardon for Scooter Libby--might do well to listen to the counsel he gave to the Kimmel family.
In 1989, then Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney counseled that to advance their cause--posthumous advancement of Rear Admiral Kimmel on the retired list to admiral--the Kimmel family should obtain endorsements from:
1) the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association;
2) Admiral Arleigh Burke;
3) other "voices of that time;" and
4) the United States Senate. He said that until such endorsements were obtained "advice to the President [to advance Kimmel] would not be prudent."
Accordingly, since then we have obtained all of Mr. Cheney's suggested written endorsements and much more (see my website: www.pearlharbor911attacks.com for details).
Presented with the preceding endorsements by my father and uncle in 1991, Mr. Cheney replied "that the promotion process is not the way to address the issue of your father???s place in history.??? He made no suggestion as to what the way was.
Tom Kimmel,
eldest grandson of Admiral Kimmel
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Posted By: boogman @ 01/20/2009 6:05:44 PM
Libby was not the man who outed Plame, That would be Richard Armitage. The prosecutor know this before the Libby trial even started. Plame was hardly covert - her neighbors knew she worked for the CIA and it was common knowledge among reporters and the power players of Washington. Libby was guilty of a process crime. His jail time was commuted. I would rather have Bush leave this way than the way the previous administration sold pardon's like Blago trying to sell Senate seats.
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Posted By: Etowah2009 @ 01/22/2009 9:31:20 AM
A smart answer for a change.
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Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 6:10:14 PM
He covered up and took the fall. Slice it how you want, bread salesman. Just don't mention yellow cake, or mushroom clouds in your state of the onion address... Wow...
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Posted By: boogman @ 01/20/2009 6:33:23 PM
AP updated 6:57 p.m. ET, Sat., July. 5, 2008 - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25546334/
The last major remnant of Saddam Hussein's nuclear program ??? a huge stockpile of concentrated natural uranium ??? reached a Canadian port Saturday to complete a secret U.S. operation that included a two-week airlift from Baghdad and a ship voyage crossing two oceans.
The removal of 550 metric tons of "yellowcake" ??? the seed material for higher-grade nuclear enrichment ??? was a significant step toward closing the books on Saddam's nuclear legacy. It also brought relief to U.S. and Iraqi authorities who had worried the cache would reach insurgents or smugglers crossing to Iran to aid its nuclear ambitions.-
Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 6:43:51 PM
That did not constitute an imminent threat. It did not justify taking the eye off OBL. It did not justify completely blowing the Iraq invasion.
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Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/20/2009 10:13:17 PM
LOL, you can never win with libs!
Well, I would say that a nuclear Iraq does trump all, even getting OBL. If OBL had access to nukes, he would have used them on 9/11, so it is clear that he does not have them. Iraq was another story, they were developing them and therefore they were the more imminent threat.
And what is this revisionist history you are trying to peddle regarding "blowing the Iraq invasion"? Perhaps you can take issue with what happened after the invasion, but the Iraq invasion was a smashing military success.-
Posted By: dawurz @ 01/21/2009 10:10:59 AM
You are the one revising history. Bush and his administration relentlessly - and falsely - linked Saddam to both OBL and 9/11. They also relentlessly sold the tripe of Saddam and his "stockpiles of WMDs" because
"we don't what the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud". They did so by fixing the intelligence around their predetermined policy. And "Perhaps you can take issue with what happened after the invasion"?! Ya THINK?
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Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 6:26:31 PM
I'm just extra glad to see him leave under any circumstances. Do you recall that Fitzgerald said that there was a dark cloud over the VP?
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Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/20/2009 10:07:54 PM
"A dark cloud"? This is somehow actionable? Is there some evidence of some wrongdoing somewhere in this "dark cloud"?
I didn't think so...-
Posted By: dawurz @ 01/21/2009 9:53:42 AM
That's the point Genius: we do not know if there is evidence because Libby obstructed justice by committing perjury. Which part of that do you not understand?
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Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 6:08:09 PM
Ya, Libby just obstructed the investigation for no reason. LOL...
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Posted By: Etowah2009 @ 01/22/2009 9:28:15 AM
What's the big deal, he should take his sorry *** and stay where he is. Kudo's to Bush!!!
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Posted By: Etowah2009 @ 01/22/2009 9:27:07 AM
What's the fuss, the moron was guility and should take his punishment. What makes him so damn important. Good job Bush.
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Posted By: rlg377 @ 01/20/2009 3:40:55 PM
I agree know more listening to the winers who have not been attacked in the years following 911 (i guess this does not include the conspiracy crowd ha ha) so now we have a new president thats ok to but for me i will judge him by what he does not by the color of his skin or the words that come out of his mouth.....
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Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 4:07:20 PM
Are you saying we have not been attacked since 9/11 because of Bush's leadership??
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Posted By: punkindunkin @ 01/20/2009 4:29:43 PM
you must be a "Dumocrat" Weak minded and easily led!
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Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 5:57:28 PM
That is one of the things that are problems with the right wing. Anyone who is an independent thinker is a Dem, weak minded, dumb, easily led, a lefty, or worse.
Btw, who led you to support the Iraq invasion?
A 40 year republican-
Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 6:12:28 PM
Ya, it is funny, I wish i could meet morons like this in real life. They crawl back into their roach holes though and hide. Cut and runners, hit you from behind and run away. Bully, *** punks...
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Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/20/2009 10:20:41 PM
BTW, "cut and run" is what you limp-wristed lefties were advocating during the Iraq war, remember? I guess you were hoping we would forget...
As a general statement, I would have to agree with punkindunkin that most of Obama's wild-eyed followers strike me as followers, always looking for someone to lead them and solve their problems for them; they are simply too weak-minded to be rugged individualists.-
Posted By: dawurz @ 01/21/2009 10:36:01 AM
"cut and run" - You cant even come up with your own language anymore. You're a blind sheep following the dead-end of neo-con philosophy. That same lame-a** accusation was levied against Reagan by conservatives when he wisely pulled out of Lebanon. This is he did after listening to his generals - what a concept! Reagan wisely realized that to stay in a conflict to 'make a statement' was wrong. Reagan realized that the US must have well-defined interests and achievable goals when you put American soldiers in harm's way; both were missing in Lebanon. See any parallels with Iraq? Of course not.
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Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 6:28:55 PM
They don't have the courage to talk like that in real life.
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Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 4:35:22 PM
I am an independent and will fight for American values. I do not support excuses for the Bush administration or any administration that corrupts the values of this country. Don't care about party. I do not have a party thinking for me, that makes us different.
If your idea of great leadership is Bush, then your bar is set very low. If you think we wee kept safe by Bush, give me some proof...-
Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/20/2009 10:22:15 PM
Well Einstein, why don't you list off in chronological order the terrorist attacks on the US homeland since 9/11/01?
Still waiting...
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Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 4:38:11 PM
You little minded person, leftover from the Bush abortion...
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Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 4:37:14 PM
Ya, I am so weak minded... A lefty:) You are laughable...
If the GOP folllows your mentality they will be in the wilderness for a long long time... LOL!
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Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/20/2009 10:17:17 PM
Yes, that is true, thanks for stating it.
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Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 5:16:45 PM
I am just wondering now how much trouble GWB is in with Cheney...
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Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 5:51:12 PM
I would like....lots.... for both of them... Can't help wonder, though, whether Obama will adopt the view of Ford re Nixon, better for the nation to move on than to continually pick that scab. I think it would be appropriate to get those guys, but it would be devisive and distracting.
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Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/20/2009 10:15:53 PM
And require some true evidence of wrongdoing and illegal activities, which, oh by the way, you and your leftist ilk do NOT have!
Details, details...-
Posted By: dawurz @ 01/21/2009 10:23:18 AM
Details like outing a covert CIA agent during two wars? This fact does not meet your vaunted requirements for "wrongdoing" or "illegal activities"?! Huh? What netherworld are you living in? Or doesn't it matter because she was "a glorified secretary" (Republican Congressman Jack Kingston). I fully expect you to sell the crap that she was a "paper pusher", or you could just tell us what SHOULD have occurred over the Valerie Plame leak, if anything.
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Posted By: dawurz @ 01/21/2009 9:50:40 AM
Even Bush was appalled the leak. His language was telling when he commuted Libby's sentence, primarily referencing the length of the prison sentence, versus embracing the "witch hunt" language Libby's supporters were pushing.
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Posted By: crazyoldman @ 01/21/2009 1:48:11 AM
this is a side of W that was shown when he was govenor of texas . he led the nation in death sentences carried out. and libby was not worth the effort and i am sure chaney will take good care of him. chaney has always demanded loyalty, to him not from him
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Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/20/2009 10:33:55 PM
You know, 40yrR, I have said it before, and I will say it again; kicking your @ss is almost too easy! It's not even sporting, it's like shooting fish in a barrel...
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Posted By: merly @ 01/20/2009 2:13:57 PM
Wise decision, man of integrity.Time will tell George W. Bush is did what is right!!!
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Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 4:29:20 PM
Integrity and Bush should not be used in the same sentence, please do not dilute the meaning like hero and patriotism has been diluted, or changed under Bush. . "Time will tell" is a distraction". When somebody is on the spot and are in trouble, they say things like "time will tell", or history will judge".
We can fully judge terrible leadership in real time. When it fleis in the face of our values...-
Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 01/20/2009 10:25:28 PM
Did you mean when it Heidi Flies' in the face of our values?
You are such a rambling goofus. Please, stop embarrassing yourself here... -
Posted By: sparta16 @ 01/20/2009 9:15:33 PM
Judge do we? Judge you then, we will, in real time. You are an idiot
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Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 5:58:58 PM
Sorry, I couldn't get my eyes to go past 'Wise' in this one....
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Posted By: NewsWkDickG @ 01/20/2009 3:22:08 PM
The inauguration oath and speech, the limo pulling away and the lift off of the helicopter all were reassuring and inspiring moments. Change is here, a new course has started, today allows hope for tomorrow and then bold deception and arrogant self-indulgence can now be replaced with sincere openness and honest conscientious efforts towards regaining America???s responsible position in the world and having real concern for its people at home. Barack Obama has given the American people reason for renewed hope and while he can not be all things to all people and guarantee everyone all they want, he does honestly identify the problems and then responsibly address them for a very refreshing change. He has been idolized by some and that scares Republicans who yet may see it as an opportunity to withhold any sincere cooperation, put obstacles in his way and then point to his resulting difficulty. Obama has correctly challenged all Americans to be part of the turn around, indicating that cooperation is really the only way, and one way the voters can be productive is to hold their representatives, all of them, to honestly and responsibly be reasonably cooperative in this country???s best interests. For their recent downfall the Republicans only have themselves to blame as they were caught stubbornly and selfishly totally backing the Bush-Cheney administration who were focused on benefiting Special Interests and a select few while giving the average American only apathy, the costs and an abundance of subterfuge. Now we desperately need all representatives, Republicans, Democrats and Independents, to be sincere in a cooperative effort to solve the problems. Any political gamesmanship would be just demonstrating more obnoxious and self-focused irresponsibility and should reflect negatively on any who indulge.
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Posted By: sparta16 @ 01/20/2009 7:45:07 PM
Dear Sir,
What are you smoking? "Special Interest and select few" is the cornerstone of the Dem and Rep party. Do you really expect the president to change that? If people want change than hold your representatives "Accountable" for thier votes. Your suggestion that we hold them accountable if they are not playing nice with the folks across the isle is like telling a boxer not to hurt the other guy. The President can not change this country. land thinking. Change comes when we get rid of the professional politicians we elect over and over and over again. The balance of power has changed, but the players are all the same. "Term limits" that will get some real change. .
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Posted By: American100% @ 01/20/2009 11:31:02 AM
WOW!Let's see: 98 out of 100 voted for Iraq war (Senators)
Saddam ignored 17 U.N. resolutions
A convoy of 26 trucks crossed the border into Syria just before allowing inspectors in
U.S. pilots reported constantly being fired at during patrols of no fly zone set up by U.N. (act of war)
Saddam plotted to assinate Pres. Bush (41) (act of war)
14 French made silkworm missles found in n. Iraq. w/ man. date of 2002
Mass graves, rape squads, public execution. Citizens living in fear
French made bio lab vehicle found in Iraq. & 767 Boeing airliner used by Al Queda in Iraq to train for hijacking in N. Iraq
Kicked out inspectors from IAEA.
All this and more. Of course the dumbest President that ever lived was so stupid that 98 out of 100 of the sharpest minds in our country were dupped into believing to go to war..............hummmmmm!!! Now who was it that was so stupid?-
Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 6:37:35 PM
Here's just some of what is stupid. Taking the eye off the ball on OBL. Believing that Iraq would be quick and pay for itself. Ignoring, and firing, the experienced military and diplomats who predicted what would happened and advised to do what proved to be necessary.
Corrupt is telling everyone that Saddam constituted an imminent threat. -
Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 2:57:12 PM
They were all stupid. The senators let fear and politics rule over truth and accountability. 9/11 was the leverage bar that preid them all...
Al Qaida in Iraq was not teh Al Qaida that attacked us on 9/11.
We were not defending ourselves against Iraq and Saddam, it is a load of crp that I wish would get shoved back down the throats of defenders of that Bullsht so we can be a proud nation again...
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Posted By: Doroteo @ 01/20/2009 1:41:06 PM
Hopefully, this will lead Libby to spill the beans.
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Posted By: dtechba @ 01/20/2009 3:22:22 PM
The best part of Bush's departure will be the departure of you idiots who criticised endlessly whether or not your criticisms were based on any common sense at all. The departure of your ignorance is to be celebrated....
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Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 6:31:14 PM
The idiot and cohorts left the White House today.
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Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 4:40:13 PM
The Bush departure is sure sweet, it is the end of the corruption of the GOP. Maybe they can put country first this time...
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Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 6:01:25 PM
Wouldn't that be SWEEEET ? ! ! !
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Posted By: yindragon @ 01/20/2009 5:29:29 PM
Now is the time to put up or shut up. The Dems control the House the Senate and The White House. We'll either see that true change is coming or it won't take long to see that it's the same CRAP from a different source. There are no excuses now.
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Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 5:53:10 PM
Let's hope bipartism will finally prevail.
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Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 6:27:25 PM
Ooops, Forgot to credit Repub for the elegant word...
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Posted By: 2178743 @ 01/20/2009 7:35:46 AM
If only Libby had lied about sex to a grand jury, then it would have been "OK." Keep in mind here, Libby was not convicted of any crime here other than "lying." But, the hate continues from the left.
www.usefulopinions.blogspot.com-
Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 6:18:28 PM
Are you making a comparison about covering up sex or covering up treason, and restribution for uncovering the Bush administrations intents to mislead this country into a war against a country that we did nto need to defend ourselves against??? Are you kidiing me...
Clinton was an idiot for what he did, president Cheney adn Bush were criminal, adn acted like the mob. That is how they operated. If they were being held accountable publically, they would attack character or undermine te issue.
There are still crimes to be prosecuted...
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Posted By: bronc_17113 @ 01/20/2009 4:34:46 AM
I personally believe that history will show that President Bush was a president in unprecedented times and did a far better job at keeping us safe than many give him credit for. I am not a fan of Obama but I hope he has the fortitude to keep us safe as a nation
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Posted By: sieg6529 @ 01/20/2009 9:50:41 AM
keeping us safe? On whose watch did 9/11 happen? It sure as hell wasn't Clinton! He had plenty of time to beef up security; he would have received a full intelligence briefing prior to taking office. I am sick of people thanking Bush for keeping us safe. Planes were hijacked, buildings fell down, and 2 wars were started on his watch. I sure never felt safe with him in power.
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Posted By: 40YearR @ 01/20/2009 6:08:05 PM
Yes. He had that memo that said Al Qaeda was deternined to strike in the U.S., access to all intelligence, and eight months before 9/11. That R argument for Bush is no better than arguing Clinton protected U.S. soil for years after the first WTC bombing.
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Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 4:16:01 PM
I keep hearing Bush supporters talk about HIstory will show... We already understand teh historic blunders of the Bush administration. The only thing history will now show is that we had to clean up after that mess.
Is that all the excuses you have left, "history will show"? That is all you can really do I guess, distract from reality into some future where incompetence is rewarded, and accoujntability and American values are diluted... -
Posted By: whatisreal? @ 01/20/2009 3:05:26 PM
History is now. As far as terrorism, we do have data that shows what common sense dictated, The Bush policies actually accelerated Terrorism recruitment.
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Posted By: MvGuy @ 01/20/2009 1:46:02 AM
Count me among those as one who thinks outing Plame tupunish her husband for telling the truth was TREASON..
All her contacts were rounded up and grilled....Some were liquidated............ But I believe that bush wanted to harm the CIA
"Pardons tell where the bodies are buried.......... God knows there are enough bodies left behing by the neocon bush CABAL
What needs to be done now........ Is to find every word they spoke.......Every e-mail they sent.........Every individual act
against any PERSON they injured or killed................ They NEED to go UNDER the SAME microscope they used on US-
Posted By: boogman @ 01/20/2009 6:03:18 PM
Libby was not the man who outed Plame, That would be Richard Armitage. The prosecutor know this before the Libby trial even started. Plame was hardly covert - her neighbors knew she worked for the CIA and it was common knowledge among reporters and the power players of Washington. Libby was guilty of a process crime. His jail time was commuted. I would rather have Bush leave this way than the way the previous administration sold pardon's like Blago trying to sell Senate seats.
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