It should come as no surprise to anyone that when George Bush finally responded to questions about criminal behavior taking place by high ranking officials in his administration, he responded by avoiding questions and saying it was time to move on.
On July 13 the Washington Post reported that Bush "acknowledged for the first time yesterday that "somebody" in his administration leaked the name of an undercover intelligence officer but declined to say whether he was disappointed in such an action and contended that it is time to move on."
For readers of this column, his response was expected as on July 3 we wrote "Bush has not responded to questions on the case before, saying that it was a pending matter. No doubt he will now say that it is time to put this incident behind us and not comment further, an attempt to eliminate any accountability of his administration."
So you out a covert operative working on weapons of mass destruction, at the same time you are planning a war against a country who supposedly has WMD and what happens, and when questioned you say either you can't talk or it's time to move on.
It must be great to be a Republican.
Rather than being held accountable to the voters you get your supporters to lie long enough to get past elections, and even if you can't hide all the evidence, you commute the felon's sentence, see that he gets a cushy job and probably when no one is looking, you pardon him. Then you require all your papers on the subject be out of the public view for years so you never, ever, have to face any consequences for your actions.
In the Clinton administration endless investigations were held on the circumstances on the all important matters of his private life and personnel at the White House Travel Office. Investigating firings of US Attorneys and outing covert operatives, apparently that's just no big deal.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Lie Like Libby
George Bush's decision to commute the sentence of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby for lying about his role in outing a covert CIA operative should come as no surprise to anyone who has watched this administration.
Considering the Bush got into power by manipulating the vote in Florida, his administration then manipulated the facts to get the country into deadly war that may harm us for generations, it is no surprise that Libby got a pardon, well a commutation today and probably a pardon in December 2008.
As the Washington Post pointed out, faced with a difficult ethical decision, Bush apparently didn't even bother checking the legal aspects, commuting the "sentence without running requests through lawyers at the Justice Department."
As the Vice President's Chief of Staff, Libby took part in the efforts to take down Joe Wilson, a critic of the administration, who had the audacity to point out that the administration was lying, which in the administration's mind was unacceptable.
For if the true intentions and true actions of the administration had been exposed in 2003 it is extremely doubtful Bush would have won the 2004 election. The administration's whole goal was to push the investigation and outcome past the 2004 election, allowing them four more years to wreck havoc on the country.
Wilson probably had the best observation of the administration, that they are "corrupt to the core."
Bush has not responded to questions on the case before, saying that it was a pending matter. No doubt he will now say that it is time to put this incident behind us and not comment further, an attempt to eliminate any accountability of his administration.
Despite the commutation and impending pardon, Bush said Libby's punishment remained "harsh," in part because his professional reputation "is forever damaged." However since Libby acted like a good soldier and didn't sing, therefore helping hide the adminstration's actions, it is doubtful that he will suffer much, if at all.
One can only hope that the public, the true victims in this case, will look at the joyous reaction on the right and Republican presidential candidates and offer their own form of justice.
Considering the Bush got into power by manipulating the vote in Florida, his administration then manipulated the facts to get the country into deadly war that may harm us for generations, it is no surprise that Libby got a pardon, well a commutation today and probably a pardon in December 2008.
As the Washington Post pointed out, faced with a difficult ethical decision, Bush apparently didn't even bother checking the legal aspects, commuting the "sentence without running requests through lawyers at the Justice Department."
As the Vice President's Chief of Staff, Libby took part in the efforts to take down Joe Wilson, a critic of the administration, who had the audacity to point out that the administration was lying, which in the administration's mind was unacceptable.
For if the true intentions and true actions of the administration had been exposed in 2003 it is extremely doubtful Bush would have won the 2004 election. The administration's whole goal was to push the investigation and outcome past the 2004 election, allowing them four more years to wreck havoc on the country.
Wilson probably had the best observation of the administration, that they are "corrupt to the core."
Bush has not responded to questions on the case before, saying that it was a pending matter. No doubt he will now say that it is time to put this incident behind us and not comment further, an attempt to eliminate any accountability of his administration.
Despite the commutation and impending pardon, Bush said Libby's punishment remained "harsh," in part because his professional reputation "is forever damaged." However since Libby acted like a good soldier and didn't sing, therefore helping hide the adminstration's actions, it is doubtful that he will suffer much, if at all.
One can only hope that the public, the true victims in this case, will look at the joyous reaction on the right and Republican presidential candidates and offer their own form of justice.
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