How is it possible that people are even bringing up Clinton's iffy pardons to evoke a comparison? Even if you ignore the fact that doing so at the end of one's presidency is vastly different, from a PR perspective, than in the middle, it seems as if smart folks would want to avoid any reminders of Bill at all. You know, because he was IMPEACHED for perjury?? Because his presidency serves as an example of how serious the right wing once thought lying to a grand jury was? It's amazing that they even have the gall to compare Bush with Clinton, when in reality the closest to the former pres in this situation is Libby.

Not only that, but Libby's crime is far more grave than Clinton's ever was. Instead of lying about who his extramarital affairs, Libby destroyed someone's career and endangered national security AND the entire thing was a part of an effort to trick the American public into feeling comfortable with the disaster of a war.

Since Bush & Cheney and all their abettors will never have to answer for their usurpation of our democracy, I suggest they be shunned like O.J. Simpson. Whenever they appear in public they should see only the backs of people of good will.

You miss the point about Clinton. We're not comparing the acts of Clinton and LIbby. We're comparing the reactions.

Clinton pardoned (not commuted the sentence of) a guy who was living as a fugitive overseas but who had given oodles of money to Clinton.

Clinton also pardoned terrorists and murderers from a Puerto Rican separatist group in order to help his wife's senate campaign, as the Puerto Rican vote is very big in NYC.

Clinton's pardons were far more craven than what Bush has done, yet there was nothing but silence from the same people who are pissing their pants over this relatively simple affair.

As someone else said, it's the hypocrisy.

I think we are more on the mark by comparing father and son. Bush1 sure did not want any one cooperating with the prosecution in order to avoid jail time, thus a pardon. Bush2, well like father like son.

Bush commuted his sentence and did not pardon so Libby can plead the 5th if he is called in. So he has it both ways he's protected Libby and himself (and Cheney). Just goes to show that republicans are just corrupt like the rest of them (including some of the Democrats and others) and it is time for republicans to stop acting as if they have the moral high ground because they do not. All men are corrupt perhaps but the Left has a lot more compassion, that's more than can be said of the right wingers.

I saw a letter over at MSNBC that captures the criminality of this pardon perfectly:

"The difference between this pardon and others is that this is the pardoning of a crime that directly and intentionally benefited the President who granted it."

That's exactly right. It's the textbook definition of abuse of power. Libby lied to protect Bush; Bush pardons him. It's not back-scratching. It's corruption.

By that logic, Bush could now send goons to murder Democrats and then pardon them. There's no accountability left. It's tyranny, pure and simple.

There's only one solution: impeachment.

(Never mind that technically it's a commutation, not a pardon - that's irrelevant.)

Yes, I'm sure it's all about the hypocrisy with you. That's what has driven you to keep responding with the same point over and over. But since you say its about hypocrisy and a supposed lack of reaction for Clinton's wrong actions, then you must be then acknowledging that Bush's actions were wrong too. Otherwise, it's pointless to try and balance the one off the other.

If I promise to get mad at Clinton, will you promise to hold Bush to account too? Is that what you are wanting here? Okay, I'm mad at Clinton.

Your turn.

The best part of commuting Libby’s sentenance – “I can not commit on an oning case”. We may never know the truth.

"<<Pullo>> Sounds like a kickass hero to me." -- Hornet Driver

From your same Wikipedia paste (guess you didn't actually read the whole thing): <<In the Civil War of 49 BC, Pullo appears to have been attached to a legion commanded by Caesar's legate Gaius Antonius. In 48 BC, Antonius was blockaded on an island and forced to surrender; Pullo was apparently responsible for most of his soldiers switching sides to fight for Pompey. Later that year, he is recorded bravely defending Pompey's camp in Greece from Caesar's attack shortly before the Battle of Pharsalus.>>

In an America where any dang fool can be a 'hero' (the word has absolutely nil meaning anymore), Freedom Medals are given to men of great moral standing (Tenant, Bremer), and has a meglomanic President who compares himself to Churchill and calls himself a 'War President' (what war??), I guess a guy that was "apparently responsible for most of his soldiers switching sides" during a Civil War is a great role model.

I still say turncoat and traitor, but what do I know?

You misunderstand the historical context of Titus Pullo. In the last days of the Republic many Roman legions fought for the highest bidder. Entire legions would turn sometimes depending on how they saw fortune falling. That was Antony's ultimate undoing.

There's nothing particularly unique about Pullo's changing to fight for the winning side. We can deplore it as dishonorable or whatever today, but it was pretty much par for the course then.

Libby knows everything about how we we were lied into the Iraq war and he knows all of Cheney's other secrets. Can anyone believe that he would ever see the inside of a prison? The fix was in from the beginning.

The very first poster suggested that we fly the flag(s) upside down.

I am looking at the moment of a family album. Years ago I drove a 1948 green Studebaker into DC on a Fourth of July weekend to do a farmers market at DuPont Circle. The truck has red wood side-racks and a yellow flapping canopy with a flag upside down hanging on the back.

We had a few farm intern/apprentices that summer who gave me faith that some youth were going to be ready for times like this. To go into DC with a flapping American flag on a truck as old as me didn't seem radical, but the timid side of me was suppressed and when I said, "O, we can't do that!" The farm youngsters said, "O, Y's chicken?"

The market day was a riot of fun. Cars were passing us the 100 mile ride to DC, and honking!

I'm glad the youth overpowered my timidness. Now I have a photo with me, REMEMBRACE, and I am standing next to a old weather-beaten truck. I have always liked the photo.

The first 'letter' writer was not saying anything radical. Thanks.

P.S. American Farmland Trust use to sponsor the DC market, but a couple of ladies (Bernie and Ann) sorta changed the market idea for the better ( Fresh Farm Market) and expanded.

*Happy Fourth Indeed!

It is a beautiful day when the brown mules come to DC with their saddle bags and wagons piled high with fine greens.

It is a precious Fourth of July when farmers display glistening colorful food.

It is a pure precious day on any Market Day when a farm caravan rolls into town.

It is a Happy Fourth Indeed, more so than if, the impractical Mercedes, Buick, or Oldsmobile was loaded down with cold gold.*