LATEST SUBMISSIONS

Let freedom ring

Monday, July 9 at 12:01 AM

This Speakout has not been edited

By Brian Kurz, Denver

As we celebrate our independence this week it is important to remember how we have come to be free. For some of us our ancestors fought against oppression from a ruler an ocean away. For others, freedom was granted through an emancipation, a civil war and more than 100 years of pursuing equal rights. And there are those that are born into the freedom that this nation has fought to provide. While our experiences with freedom differ, almost all of us have gained this freedom through legitimate means. However, legitimate freedom does not apply to I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, a man who was granted freedom from prison before ever serving a day behind bars. Without the benefit of new evidence or legitimate cause for appeal, Libby’s sentence was commuted from 540 days in jail to 0.

While it is not completely shocking that Libby has gotten off the hook in terms of jail time, though he still has to survive two years of probation and pay a $250,000 fine. It is shocking that the reasons given for this commutation do not adhere to logical thought. The President “concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby was excessive” and decided to remove this punishment from the sentence.

While the President is entitled to commute anyone’s sentence for any reason, he should not do so without providing support for his claim.

Mr. Libby was facing up to 25 years in prison and up to a million dollar fine for the felony he committed. He was sentenced to 16% of the maximum jail sentence and asked to pay 25% of the maximum penalty.

Being sentenced to only a quarter of the allowable penalties is hardly excessive. The President did not argue the conviction or the actions of the court; instead he simply gave an incoherent explanation for his decision and proceeded.

More troubling than the commutation is the reason that the President was able to pursue this action. He has nothing to lose.

The President cannot run for re-election. His current approval rating of 26% (Newsweek) only demonstrates that a quarter of our nation has decided that the President can do no wrong.

The remaining three-fourths are left with a President who cannot go lower and has shown no interest in improving his approval rating. He is able to commute Libby’s sentence without doing further damage to his or his party’s reputation. Instead, he appeases his base and confirms what those who oppose him already think: he puts those loyal to him above the law.

This President has shown a strong unwillingness to compromise or consider outside opinions. Instead he will continue with failed policies, dispute scientific research with fallacious information and free felons who were convicted for lying.

The leadership of our country has been compromised not only by this commutation, but by the timing of the event. Mr. Libby was spared jail time at the cost of the American people’s voice. This is a hefty price for the President to pay for the loyalty of a felon. By silencing the courts, the President has dealt a blow to the constitution and to our freedom as a people. When the courts cannot be counted on as a fair judge of all people, then the entire system is thrown into a gray area of legitimacy. While other presidents have issued pardons, it has seldom been done immediately following a felony conviction and immediately prior to the beginning of jail time.

As in the case of the U.S. Attorney firings, the President has exercised his constitutional rights while not providing any substantive reasons for his actions. By only providing flawed reasons for his actions, the President has defiled his office and arrogantly offered the American people a hollow excuse for freeing a criminal.

Our first President, one of the men most responsible for the freedom that we enjoy today, is credited with saying “I cannot tell a lie.” This President, his namesake, has made it clear to ever citizen that lying is not a problem. It is a necessary evil. The President has yet to rule out a pardon of Libby. As his jail sentence was reduced to zero, Libby will begin serving parole soon. Assuming he does not get picked up for infractions he will still have about six months remaining by the time January 20th, 2008 rolls around. While others have taken different routs to freedom, Libby will likely gain his freedom by way of a pardon. And, of course, a $250,000 refund check.

READER COMMENTS

I did not vote for George Bush or Al Gore. I didn't like either one. Though I am a registered Republican. I vote or not vote for people I think who can help America.

As far as Clinton I think the defining moment in his presidency was, when he went on TV and looked straight into the camers,with his classic hand clenched and thumb sticking out and said to millions of people, " I did not have sex with that woman. "

I believe he also lied in congressional hearings and lied until he could lie no more.

Comparing Scooter Libby lies and Clinton's lies doesn't make any sense.

Libby took one for the team,just like Janet Reno did for Clinton.

Clinton was the team. He pardoned alot more people than Bush.Though Bush is a villian.Clinton fired most of the Attorney Generals,and got a pass. Bush fires 7 and he's a villian.

When are people going to stop making Bush out to be some kind of monster when he has done the same things as past presidents?

I will agree the war was mishandled from the start and we are in trouble over there.Who could have fortold the violence of the terrorists and insurgents as well as Iran,Syria, Hezbollah and Al Qeada bringing chaos to Iraq.

I don't think anyone could have forseen that.
I don't have an answer on how to get out of this mess,but am leaning toward withdrawl if the Iraqi people don't step up and stop expecting the Soldiers to do all the dirty work.

Clinton also handed out jobs to his cronies,all presidents do.
They also fire the ones that don't tow the line. Like when Clinton fired The Surgeon General because he didn't like her position on teaching sex education. Imagine that!

Let's face it neither party is good for this country. We need a third party to represent the people.Both parties only represent themselves and are responsible for the debt we are in.
One georgia Senator recieved 10 million dollars for a teapot museum.Yes a museum that is an hour and a half from the nearest transportation .10 million dollars.

That 10 million could have gone to law enforcement to enforce immigration laws in Georgia instead of teapots. This is the craziness going on by both parties.

The Democrats and Republicans have failed the American citizens and it's time for a third party.One is being started online. I can't remember the website name.It is going to allow millions of people to suggest a third party candidate online. No donations,no lobbying,no special interests. Just a candidate that people are fed up with the two parties we have now can go online and vote for the candidate the think would serve them not lobbyists or special interest group. No money would be needed to be raised and it will be a grass roots effort.

That is what this country needs.

Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on July 11, 2007 10:08 AM

Duke, While I respect your opinion I am wondering why you ask what is wrong with me? I must be wrong because I refuse to support anymore of the NeoCon view of the world. That America has ALWAYS been right? That what we do reflects the will of the American people? That not W, but you and I both bear the burden of the deciders opinion?

If one of us is wrong that would seem to be you. But far be it from me to tell you how to live. In Colorado we have the "Respect Life" car tags. I am sure you would support that thought. So let me fill you in on Native of Denver's opinion. "You FOLKS can respect my life by keeping your nose out of it." Not that you don't have a right to post your own opinion. In fact I would support your freedom of speech no matter how misguided you are. Everyone has the right to be an idiot!

So instead of you telling me how Clintion was worse, why don't you express an opinion as to what we need to do in Iraq next, considering that our puppets are about to fall really really hard?
That may have some real weight in a conversation. I'll start,
I think that W used an under manned and under supplied army to invade Iraq. That he never wanted to win the war outright. But wanted it to linger so he and Dicky had more money in the pool from which to steal!

What we need to do is one win the war using a larger well supplied force. Including taking care of our wounded troops. And not using excuses to allow mistreatment of POW's.
You remember: "the land of the free home of the brave." We are the GOOD GUYS!!

Or two using the power of Congress to stop anymore needless deaths in war we started in the first place. SIDEBAR: We had the world on our side after 9/11. W threw that away when he lied about why we needed to go into Iraq in the first place. We lost the war the day W decided that the Bill of Rights was open to his narrow meaning. That the right of someone to face those who would bring charges on them, means nothing if he decides it means nothing? Sir I mostly went to public schools and even I know better then that.

Third you can keep using the BUT THEY WERE WORSE all you wish? The degree of this is open to debate. And I must point out that THEY are not in charge now. So don't you think it would be better to work on the problem of today and not dwell (SEE SPILT MILK) of the past?

Or four you can continue to try and cloud the issue with HOT AIR!
I may be plain spoken but I can tell the difference between ideas and bushshit.

Posted by vincent Porch on July 9, 2007 08:09 PM

Or four you can continue to try and cloud the issue with HOT AIR!
I may be plain spoken but I can tell the difference between ideas and bushshit.

Posted by vincent Porch on July 9, 2007 08:09 PM

As President Bill Clinton used his power under the U.S. Constitution to granted pardons and clemency to 456 people, thus commuting the sentences of those already convicted of a crime, and obviating a trial for those not yet convicted. On January 20, 2001, he pardoned 140 people in the final hours of his presidency[2].

This list is a subset of the list of people pardoned by a United States president.

Note: he used his power under the U.S. Constitution. The same as President Bush has done. So what is the problem Brian Kurz and Vicent Porch??

465 people and we did not hear an outcry from the likes of your kind at all!

Posted by duke on July 9, 2007 04:27 PM

AMEN: It would be nice for once if any of Bush's supporters took a little credit for the votes they cast. Libby lied to Congress and the Grand Jury. He may not be the one that was the outed Valerie Plume but he covered for those that did. Now it really makes me laugh that the most you can say is the Clinton's are worse. During the whole Clinton administration all you could ever prove was that he had an affair with a young women not his wife and lied to cover it up.

I understand it's much harder to look at your own choices then then pass on the NeoCon lies. Bush jr. has lied to Congress about why we needed to be in IRAQ. Passed out jobs to his cronies, has tried to deny sections of the Bill of Rights, sent 9 Billion dollars in cash to IRAQ in 2003 and can not account for where it went. Cut the taxes on the rich during time of war. A war that I may add has lined the pockets of Bush and Dicky's pals. Created a huge debt for us and our children to pay. He did all of this with the blood of American troops on his hands. And we all know that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

To the Democrat's we put you guys back in charge to clean up W's mess. So get off the pot and IMPEACH both of these guys already. If not look for a tough time in 2008. Most Americans I know have had enough of both mainstream parties. And we will be looking to retake our Country from those who have sold her out. The time for talk is just about over. The time for strong action is way overdue. So speak up and get involved! They all work for us not the other way around.

Oh and AMEN You're right I guess the Clintons are a bigger threat. At least to those who dwell under the NeoCon rock.

Posted by Vincent Porch on July 9, 2007 11:35 AM

At least Bush didn't pardon him in exchange for a donation to a library in his name.

How come no one says anything about all the pardons Clinton made in his last days for donations to his library. All these people committed criminal acts alot worse than Libby did.

Libby was not the one that leaked the name of Valerie Plume.

Let's not make this into a mountain out of a molehill.

What Clinton did was much worse and again he got a pass.

Everytime Bush does anything their is a whole lot of people there to say he's wrong.
He is blamed for everything that happens in the world.
Yes, he has made many mistakes and the war is going horribly wrong,but he is not the worst President and most people have a very short memory when it comes to the Clinton's.

Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on July 9, 2007 10:37 AM