Bush: Your Puny Laws Do Not Bind Me...Nor My Minions
Or: Bwa Ha Ha
Well, as you probably know by now, Bush commuted Libby's prison sentence. Apparently commutations cannot be challenged.
Personally, my favorite part of all of this is that, in the announcement of the commutation (linked to above), the white house actually lists the arguments both for and against commuting the sentence. Some talking heads were saying that this was unusually even-handed for this administration. So, when it's a close call, or when merely the majority of reasons are against them, they pretend like the evidence is obviously in their favor. And when the VAST preponderance of reasons and evidence are against them, and they don't have a leg to stand on, they act like it's a close call that a reasonable person could see going either way. And then that counts as being even-handed.
These people are shameless.
Or: Bwa Ha Ha
Well, as you probably know by now, Bush commuted Libby's prison sentence. Apparently commutations cannot be challenged.
Personally, my favorite part of all of this is that, in the announcement of the commutation (linked to above), the white house actually lists the arguments both for and against commuting the sentence. Some talking heads were saying that this was unusually even-handed for this administration. So, when it's a close call, or when merely the majority of reasons are against them, they pretend like the evidence is obviously in their favor. And when the VAST preponderance of reasons and evidence are against them, and they don't have a leg to stand on, they act like it's a close call that a reasonable person could see going either way. And then that counts as being even-handed.
These people are shameless.
posted by Winston Smith at
7:09 PM
6 Comments:
The first thing that went through my head when I read that was "Holy crap, he really is a tyrant" followed immediately by "Why do we even have laws?"
He can do anything he wants. I thought about it at first, but I didn't really think it would happen; how could anyone ever be convicted of anything? Just have a fall guy who can even be convicted of something and then simply have the punishment commuted?
It's unstoppable. As long as you have someone in your administration who's willing to take blame for whatever wrong happens, why can't you just let him and then commute the sentence?
He's officially a tyrant. He has not listened to or acted on the will of the people. When Congress asked for documents - no, when Congress subpoenaed documents - his administration literally called it a "ridiculous request" via Tony Snow and outright refused to turn them over. When the Courts ruled against one of the cronies, they simply accepted the ruling and overturned the punishment.
They've effectively rejected the orders of the people, literally rejected the official orders of the Legislative Branch, and literally rejected the official orders of the Judicial Branch.
There's nothing left but them - the Executive Branch - and when one person and his backing administration run the land, that's called tyranny.
Is it not now, officially tyranny?
I can't wait for:
1. Cheney is impeached (for any of a number of things)
2. As president of the Senate, Cheney presides over his own impeachment.
3. Even if he is somehow convicted, Bush pardons him.
4. Bush is impeached.
5. Bush resigns, making Cheney president.
6. Cheney pardons Bush.
WS, you'll be glad to know that your scenario wouldn't work because impeachment is guarded from the pardon power of the President.
So if Cheney and/or Bush is impeached, they are finished.
Whew. Thanks, DA.
Now I can go back to my normal level of outrage.
So, are you going to be outraged, or you going to push back?
If the answer is "push back" then call your US Representative and each Senator and say (politely):
"1. Bush’s commutation of Libby’s sentence was nothing less than obstruction of justice.
2. Congressman ____ should please stand up for the rule of law and make a public statement denouncing Bush’s action as obstruction of justice.
3. Congressman ____ must push for a full Congressional investigation of this travesty and must move forward with impeachment immediately if the administration fails to cooperate with the investigation."
Thanks to Reader *xyz at Firedoglake
If you are still outraged after that (and who wouldn't be?), write a letter to the editor of the local paper to the same effect. And, post this to your blog. And urge as many people as you can to do the same. (Commenting in other's blogs is one way to do so.)
Outrage is not enough. It is time to convince the public at large and our Congress to hold Bush and Cheney accountable.
Well, I vote in Chapel Hill, NC, and (a) our representative already gets flooded with such calls and (b) the local paper is pretty much filled with that stuff all the time.
Not that I'm averse to adding my voice...but I'm more likely to do those things when I'm living in a more conservative area. Here everybody and his brother is denouncing Bush in every possible venue all the time.
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