Bush Spares Libby From Prison Term - New York Times

Bush Spares Libby From Prison Term - New York Times:

"President Bush spared I. Lewis Libby Jr. from prison Monday, commuting his two-and-a-half-year sentence while leaving intact his conviction for perjury and obstruction of justice in the C.I.A. leak case."

Comment: I wish I trusted the president to do the right thing in this case, since I recognize that I don't have nearly enough understanding of the events and the law to make an informed decision. However, it seems to me that the commutation was the wrong thing to do. The threat of real punishment is, I understand, often used to get felons to cooperate with the law and provide evidence on their co-conspirators. No threat, no cooperation. Moreover, Libby is apparently not to suffer at all from lying to the law and covering up in an investigation of a felony. I don't think the two year probation will be a problem, and I suppose the hat will be passed to pay for his fine. While lots of us now understand he is deserving of our disapprobation, I suspect the millions of remaining Bush true believers will see him as a hero. I bet he gets a good job with high pay in the near future as a result of his connections (as well as his abilities, which must be quite formidable.)