Every once in a while I hear a bit of news that disturbs me greatly. I guess this means that current American administration has decided to simply not care about appearing corrupt?

What I think we need to watch for now is a pardon at the end of Bush’s term; Scooter’s jail time was commuted now so he doesn’t have to serve, but that doesn’t carry with it an implication of guilt, as a pardon would. This allows Libby to fight the sentence without setting foot in jail. If, however, things aren’t going well with that fight, look for a pardon right before Bush leaves office. Even if it does imply guilt (though from what I’ve read any judge or jury with half a mind would convict him not only for perjury, but also for treason).

Two things that really disturb me about this are:

1. The wording of the president’s statement sounded like something that might issue from a judge’s seat. Scarily similar, in fact. I don’t know if this is normal for pardons and commutations, but with the powers the executive branch of the US government has given itself of late, any move on its part — even posturing — to begin to usurp judicial control begins to sound creepy. Like the beginning of a monarchy, or fascism, or something.
2. Republicans will find a way to make this about the good of America. They’ll justify it. While these same people hounded for Clinton’s head (pardon the pun), and though he didn’t even perjure himself, he was still impeached! Partisan politics is good and it’s bad, and this is it’s worst: when they do it, it’s evil and must be punished. When we do it, it’s good, and in the defence of freedom, or at the very worst a mistake that can be remedied with a fine, a bit of shame, and some commuted jail time. For an act of treason.

Tags: news, politics