Bush Said It "He Rules"

As for a future Scooter Libby pardon on top of his wiped away 30 months in jail, President Bush said "As to the future, I rule nothing in and nothing out."

Apparently the President is aware that extrinisic motivators diminish over time. More and more needs to be offered to get the "desired behavior", which in this case could be silence. Will the remarkably tight lipped Scooter stay that way? With a plum private equity or Wall Street job, a full pardon, and a $250,000 rebate courtesy of Uncle Sam, the price could be right. Where's Bob Barker when you need him?

Bush's Grant of Executive Clemency Worth Reading

The White House website published President Bush's Grant of Executive Clemency for Lewis "Scooter" Libby. For those who want the real SOD skinny read below:

WHEREAS Lewis Libby was convicted in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in the case United States v. Libby, Crim. No. 05-394 (RBW), for which a sentence of 30 months' imprisonment, 2 years' supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and a special assessment of $400 was imposed on June 22, 2007;

WHERAS I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, don't give a hoot about the U.S. whether it be the District Court or the Independent Prosecutor, who I personally appointed, I do hereby grant Scooter Libby one of my Get Out of Jail Free Monopoly Cards pursuant to my powers under Article II, Section 2, of the Bush soiled Constitution. By commuting the prison terms imposed by the sentence upon the said Lewis Libby to expire immediately, I hereby crap on the U.S. legal system, but pretend I don't by leaving intact and in effect the two-year term of supervised release, with all its conditions, and all other components of the sentence. The parole is to be served alongside Paris Hilton via shared ankle bracelets. I hereby require Mr. Libby to personally send me any videos produced by said pair of parolees while showering.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my royal hand this second day of July, in the year of our Lord, damn that was a close lightning strike, two thousand and seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first, and the sixth year since our Constitution became optional.

KING GEORGE W. BUSH

Bush Commutes Scooter's Sentence

BBC's news ticker says "President Bush commutes jail sentence for ex-White House official Lewis Libby". The NY Times reported more details on Bush's effort to "free Scooter". Apparently crime does pay in America.

Now that he's a free man, which private equity firm will employ Scooter? One is badly in need of a White House insider to defend its wrongful death civil lawsuits post Hurricane Katrina. Could Scooter help the Carlyle Group's LifeCare Hospitals with the highest death toll post landfall? Might he help Carlyle's planned acquisition of Manor Care avoid legal levee failures?

Scooter's a hard worker. His only rap is you never know who he's really working for...

Timing of Indictments

The Vice President's office testified on Republican strategies to manage the news media during the Scooter Libby trial. A staffer said bad news would be released near or over a weekend giving it time to be buried. Would that mean derrogatory news about the competition should not be treated likewise?

Consider the headlines below:

Cheney's top aide indicted; CIA leak probe continues
Libby charged on 5 counts, confident he'll be 'totally exonerated'
Saturday, October 29, 2005; Posted: 6:50 a.m. EDT CNN

Ex-Congressman "Duke"Cunningham Gets 8-Year Term in Bribery Case
New York Times
Published: Saturday, March 4, 2006

Ney Pleads Guilty to Corruption Charges
Lawmaker's Conviction Is 8th in Abramoff Probe
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, October 14, 2006

Bob Ney Sentenced to 30 Months In Prison for Abramoff Deals
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, January 20, 2007

Note the timing of the Jefferson indictment on the same website:

Louisiana congressman indicted in bribery probe
Monday, June 4, 2007; Posted: 3:42 p.m. EDT CNN

Republicans got the early Saturday morning release while the Democrat received the Monday afternoon spotlight, just in time for splashing across the evening news!

Given this and the incredibly political nature of the Bush Justice Department, what can we expect in terms of timing for the trial? Will Rep. Jefferson face a jury next year in the heat of election season? Time will tell, just as timing tells...