Won't Bush just pardon Rove?

[eablair3]

Won't they just take steps to drag this whole investigation out, and then as Bush's time as Pres comes close to an end, he'll pardon Rove.

[bookman]

1. But they have a tough time...

..admitting they're wrong or have made mistakes. Quite a problem for monkey boy.

[eablair3]

3. yeah, they'll never admit they did anything wrong

in fact, I'd expect them to spin it (another way of lying) so that Rove is some kind of hero. Look what they've done to Oliver North.

But, you're right, they'll never admit they or Rove did anything wrong. "never admit you did anything wrong" "never admit you made a mistake" "never apologize" That's one of these fascist people's motto.

But, if they have no other choice, I'll bet Bush will pardon Rove. He'll never see a conviction or jail time.

[dissent1977]

2. Probably, but a pardon is still very damaging

It never looks good when Presidents pardon their friends for any criminal acts they commit. A pardon will reflect very badly on Bush.

[eablair3]

5. Clinton pardoned a bunch

and most don't even remember it, it seems.

[dissent1977]

7. Clinton did get some pretty negative press over those pardons

Clinton did pardon some who did not deserve to be pardoned no doubt about it. Rove makes them all look like angels though. His crime is treasonous, it effects National Security, and his name is much more well known than any of the ones Clinton pardoned.

[Maddy McCall]

9. Name some of the people that Clinton pardoned.

None of their offenses came close to Rove's alleged ones.

[Journeyman]

11. Clinton never had to pardon someone from within his Administration. . .

and that's a very big difference.

[Maddy McCall]

13. Yep.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Mark Rich

not a member of his adminstration, and not even as evil as Rove, but not a nice guy either.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,99302,00.html

[smartvoter]

21. If Clinton pardoned Carville, there would have been anarchy. nt

[evlbstrd]

4. If this leads to eventual impeachment,

as the effort to quash the truth in the run-up to the war underscores the DSM, he won't have the chance. They can be prison butt-buddies.
No offense to our GLBT friends!

[NAO]

6. Isn't HIGH TREASON an UNPARDONABLE CRIMINAL ACT?

[Emerson]

18. First of all

There is no crime in the US by the name of "high treason". There are no degrees there is only the crime of "treason".

Second anything other than *impeachment* can be pardoned as per the constitution.

[Maddy McCall]

8. If he does, his "legacy" will be shit.

And it will appear that he condoned the whole situation...which we know he did, but he certainly doesn't want to affirm that opinion.

But it IS Rove. Is Rove expendible? That's the question that must be answered.

[Emerson]

19. His legacy will already be shit

[DefenseLawyer]

10. Remember it is ultimately about Bush, not Rove

If Rove is to the point where a pardon is required he will already be out of the White House. If he is out of power, that to be is more important than whether he goes up of it or not (although justice should require that he does) Pardoning Rove wouldn't be good for anyone, except Rove. Certainly not good for the President or republicans in general. I don't think the Republicans who are running on '06, not to mention Jebbie thinking about running in '08, would all fall on their political swords to save the fat man from the joint. I think pardoning Rove for something like this would be the end of Bush, and if that be the case, then by all means pardon away.

[eablair3]

12. Bush will do it right before he leaves office and try to bury it...

... bury it in the midst of a bunch of other pardons, probably most likely to a bunch of his corporate buddies, like Ken Lay (or "Kenny Boy" as Bush calls him).

So, I don't think Bush will pardon Rove any time soon. But, I could see a scenario where the investigation is really dragged out (and perhaps Fitzgerald actually gets around to indicting or filing a criminal complaint many months from now.) That may force Rove to resign at some point in the future with some accolades from Bush for his great service. Then, if the criminal case doesn't go away by the time Bush is leaving office, he'll pardon Rove. The rest of the Repubs (Jeb included) will distance themselves from Rove from this point on. Everyone will just forget about the pardon for the most part after some initial outcry - just like Clinton's pardons.

Then, Rove will have his own TV show or be some highly paid "analyst" on FoxNews propagandizing the Repub line on politics and making millions.

It's a great country we live in, isn't it?

[McCamy Taylor]

14. Yep.

[lovuian]

15. A Pardon would be so damaging like Ford's pardon for Nixon

very bad indeed!!!

[McCamy Taylor]

17. Damaging in what way? * isnt running again and his polls are in the toilet

[lovuian]

20. Ford never recovered political after he did it!!! the rest of his

political life he was dead!!!

[Solly Mack]

22. Treason can be pardoned. Just an FYI.

Section. 2.
Clause 1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment. (says nothing about treason, nor has the intervening years changed that) -

http://www.house.gov/Constitution/Constitution.html
http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa030601b.htm

Bush can pardon Rove. Bush cares little what America thinks about him.
He doesn't care about his legacy since his writers will write his autobiography and right wingers will believe any lie he spouts. Bush won't care what kind of outrage a pardon will spark. For him to be concerned by that he would have to care what Americans think...and (I repeat) he doesn't. Once you accept, I mean really accept, that Bush doesn't care what you think...and that's the personal you for everyone...it's easier to understand that the man will do anything he wants to do...and he doesn't give a damn what anyone else thinks about it. If you can't touch Bush's purse, you can't touch Bush. Unless by some miracle of justice he's actually tried for war crimes.

My bets on Rove either not getting indicted...being found innocent if he is...or having a conviction overturned (probably the same way as the Iran Contra convictions were overturned)...If Congress ask Rove to testify and they offer him immunity-even limited immunity....said testimony can change a guilty verdict. That's how Poindexter got his convictions overturned on Iran Contra

But even if that's not the route they take...Bush can still pardon him.