Free Scooter Libby

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Well, he was convicted of perjury, making false statements...and obstruction of justice. I find it hard to believe and very unlikely that a jury erred on all three counts after much deliberating and looking at all the evidence. Furthermore, the main players putting Libby on trial and handing down the sentencing were by and large Republicans. So one would, at least I would think, have to remove any political motivation for convicting him.

Additionally, Bush out of his own mouth said several months ago if anyone - anyone- is convicted in this case he would personally fire them. So what does he do, commute the dudes sentence instead.

For the record, it's the President's prerogative to excerise Executive Privilege, as far as I'm concerned. Every administration has had their share of questionable pardons or what have you. But the fact that this involved national security, there was evidence of White House involvement, and yet no one goes to jail, it just doesn't sit well with me.

Actually he was convicted on 4 counts, not 3. All stemming from one thing. His discussion with Russert.

The entire situation was simply bogus. To assert that politcs weren't the motivation here is absurd. Republicans didn't push this, Democrats did. If one looks at the case reasonably it really is very obvious that no one did anything illegal. Even Armitage didn't do anything illegal since Plame was not covered under the Shield laws. What sits badly with me is the millions of dollars spent persuing an investigation into a non-crime that by all appearances looks like a politcal hit job to catch someone in a "lie". Fitzgerald is a great prosecutor. It gives me shudders to think what he could pin on anyone when he can geta conviction on these types of counts when the only evidence is the testimony of one no less or more trustworthy source.

If he had really done something wrong then this conversation wouldn't even be going on. But it really seems very clear to me that he got screwed here. He took the fall for a non-crime that did not involve national security in any way. That is wrong.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Actually he was convicted on 4 counts, not 3. All stemming from one thing. His discussion with Russert.

The entire situation was simply bogus. To assert that politcs weren't the motivation here is absurd. Republicans didn't push this, Democrats did. If one looks at the case reasonably it really is very obvious that no one did anything illegal. Even Armitage didn't do anything illegal since Plame was not covered under the Shield laws. What sits badly with me is the millions of dollars spent persuing an investigation into a non-crime that by all appearances looks like a politcal hit job to catch someone in a "lie". Fitzgerald is a great prosecutor. It gives me shudders to think what he could pin on anyone when he can geta conviction on these types of counts when the only evidence is the testimony of one no less or more trustworthy source.

If he had really done something wrong then this conversation wouldn't even be going on. But it really seems very clear to me that he got screwed here. He took the fall for a non-crime that did not involve national security in any way. That is wrong.

His conversation with Russert was no doubt damning, but it wasn't the one and only thing that convicted him. There were numerous testimonies. He spoke to numerous people, some in the press and some not. (see Ari Fleischer)

But to your point, this is all political. And sure the Dems played a hand in some of this, but they didn't make Libby lie and they sure as hell didn't leak V. Plames' name to the press.

[dmek25]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

His conversation with Russert was no doubt damning, but it wasn't the one and only thing that convicted him. There were numerous testimonies. He spoke to numerous people, some in the press and some not. (see Ari Fleischer)

But to your point, this is all political. And sure the Dems played a hand in some of this, but they didn't make Libby lie and they sure as hell didn't leak V. Plames' name to the press.

excellent take, and i completely agree

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

His conversation with Russert was no doubt damning, but it wasn't the one and only thing that convicted him. There were numerous testimonies. He spoke to numerous people, some in the press and some not. (see Ari Fleischer)

But to your point, this is all political. And sure the Dems played a hand in some of this, but they didn't make Libby lie and they sure as hell didn't leak V. Plames' name to the press.

Libby didn't leak her name as well.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Libby didn't leak her name as well.

Well I know that, I was just saying.

Anyway, I'm done with talking about Scooter.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

His conversation with Russert was no doubt damning, but it wasn't the one and only thing that convicted him. There were numerous testimonies. He spoke to numerous people, some in the press and some not. (see Ari Fleischer)

But to your point, this is all political. And sure the Dems played a hand in some of this, but they didn't make Libby lie and they sure as hell didn't leak V. Plames' name to the press.

Umm yes that one conversation was the only thing he got convicted on. The rest of the testimony showed no discrepancies(sp?).

And
They sure as hell did. Armitage was is a card carrying member. He was the one who leaked the name. By the time Libby had conversations with anyone about Plame it was already in the wild.