"I can't imagine this case going to trial....You'll see a pardon first."

[DeepModem Mom]

LA Times: NEWS ANALYSIS
Controversy May Sap Bush's Credibility
His alleged role in the scandal might hurt his image and erode public support for the Iraq war.
By Doyle McManus, Times Staff Writer
April 9, 2006

WASHINGTON — Ever since he began running for president, George W. Bush has told Americans that he is a "plain-spoken man," a leader who would never play games with words. "Whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand," he said during his 2004 reelection campaign.

In a narrow sense, last week's disclosure of testimony that Bush authorized a leak of classified information to bolster his case for the war in Iraq poses a problem for the White House, because it appears to conflict with the president's promise to be a straight shooter...."For the first time, this issue has been taken right into … the Oval Office," said a senior GOP figure, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid harming his relationship with the White House. "That's not a small step. It's a huge step."...

***

The special prosecutor signaled in his court filing last week that he intended to call several former Bush aides as witnesses against Libby, including former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer — raising the specter of court proceedings that could lay bare the inner workings of the White House.

"I can't imagine this case going to trial," (Joseph E. diGenova, a federal prosecutor under President Reagan) said. "You'll see a pardon first."

The White House has refused to say whether Bush might pardon Libby, citing its policy of not commenting on the case.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-leakassess9apr09,0,3841741.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[acmavm]

1. That's funny. Might hurt his public image and erode support for the

war?

That's funny. Apparently this guy hasn't been paying attention. bush** has a public image of being a lying sack of shit and 70% of the American public are now saying the war wasn't worth it.

[peekaloo]

2. from straight shooter to straight shitter. That's My Bu$h!

'tis the season for treason.

[Zorra]

3. They already hung Libby out to dry. Libby should refuse pardon

and make a deal with Fitz to put everyone who sold him out in prison in exchange for a free skate.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Do you think they would pardon Libby?

When I asked DeepModem Dad, he said: "Considering everything else they've done? What do you think?"

[Zorra]

11. I believe that they would kill children if it served their purposes. n/t

[HysteryDiagnosis]

17. Check the photos from Iraq. n/t

[Zorra]

26. You got my point exactly. n/t

[MrPrax]

24. I think he will pardon Abramoff by day's end n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

29. Not today -- but maybe tomorrow! nt

[Danieljay]

6. If Libby has a shred of integrity left...thats EXACTLY what he should do.

n/t

[0007]

18. Libby has no probity of principles or practices. He is an intelligent

attorney that has been blinded by power and gold.

[Zorra]

20. Libby is a signatory of the PNAC Statement of Principles. That

strongly indicates that he knows that the PNAC cabal, which has many members or former members in high level positions in our government, had planned to invade Iraq long before they stole the 2000 election. It is therefore highly probable that he knows that Bu*h and his PNAC pals deliberately used false or contrived intelligence information to convince Congress to authorize Bu*h to invade Iraq.

That is an extremely serious criminal act, and it would follow that Libby has other very damning information about serious criminal acts committed by members of this administration that he has yet to reveal.

[DeepModem Mom]

28. Interesting point. nt

[niallmac]

5. Oh right. A pardon will certainly calm everyone down.

NOT!

[leftchick]

7. who believes anything that RW Freak diGenova says

he is one of the very worst of the bush apologists. Bush could be caught giving dick a blowjob in the oval office and Joe would defend him.

:puke:

[DeepModem Mom]

9. He's AWFUL -- but seems that saying they might pardon Libby...

to save their a**es doesn't put them in a particularly good light.

[leftchick]

14. I agree

but I need to here from another lawyer's voice on this. How can you parden someone before the fact?

[DeepModem Mom]

15. No lawyer here -- but post ten quotes Ford's pardon of Nixon.

Maybe an answer?

[Justice Is Comin]

22. I heard Judy Millers lawyer on Hardball

making another interesting point. Now that Bush is directly tied to the leak, it makes it almost next to impossible to pardon him because Bush could now be called as a witness.

A pardon would be a media massacre because it would be seen as Bush pardoning him because he didn't or wouldn't testify. Bush is right between the bull and the barb wire.

[DeepModem Mom]

27. I thought about Bob Bennett's comments when I saw this article.

It seems to me that this indicates that pardon is a possibility, is on the table. But at what political cost???

[Beausoir]

23. Purple Joe DiGenova is insane. Literally.

I wouldn't believe him if he told me the sky was blue.

[stillcool]

8. A pardon before conviction?

what's that...a blanket...you're forgiven... for everything you've ever done since the day you were born?

[DrDebug]

10. Just like Nixon and Oliver North

Now, therefore, I, Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, pursuant to the pardon power conferred upon me by Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, have granted and by these presents do grant a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from July (January) 20, 1969, through August 9, 1974.

http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/ford.htm

[stillcool]

19. that just seems so not right....

or just another nail for democracy's coffin. No wonder we are where we are.

[Gabi Hayes]

21. North wasn't pardoned...a crooked three man federal jury overturned

his conviction

Bush 41 DID pardon Weinberger in advance of his trial, along with five others, some of whom had already pled or been convicted

[bluestateguy]

12. Libby just has to stall it out until January 19, 2009

to get his midnight pardon. We'll have another Marc Rich pardon situation when Baby Bush leaves office. For the record, I think Clinton's pardon of Marc Rich was wrong.

[libertypirate]

13. You know could Bush pardon someone legally for something

he ordered that was illegal?

This would mean the president can craft illegal orders, destroy intelligence networks that could prove he is full of shit then throw another war party anytime he wants.


You know that sounds too much like we the people have the freedom to keep getting screwed!

[femmedem]

16. But who's gonna pardon *?

[Neil Lisst]

25. He's right. Bush will pardon Libby before letting it go to trial.

The only question is WHEN?

[APPLE314]

30. If he pardons him the Republicans lose everything

I think that they can go right back and Impeach Libbey and Bush can't pardon him from that.