How likely that Bush will pardon Scooter Libby before it gets worse?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

Cheney must be gnashing his nitro pills like potato chips.

With all the revelations, the contrary testimony (uniformly against Scooter and Cheney) the proofs and the documents pointing to a conspiracy in the ofice of the VICE president, even a thug like Cheney must be getting worried. The only possible ways to stop this fiasco from getting worse would involve a plea deal with Scooter, or a pardon by the president.

So, how likely is it that Bush will pardon Libby?

[Frustratedlady]

1. How can they pardon him if they haven't declared him guilty?

Am I missing something here? I sure hope they can't or there is no reason for going to trial.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. You can issue a pardon for anything

even crimes not yet tried.

Wanna bet the Cheney has one in his pocket?

[Frustratedlady]

3. Well, that's totally wrong. What kind of lesson is that to our children?

I think the people should be on the streets if that happens.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. ah, the error of applying ethics and morality to this administration.

Easy mistake to make, I know, but as the subpeonas dig out more wrong-doing, I suspect a very busy presidential pen.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. My Sentiments Exactly

While it may seem wrong, it's only par for this gang of thugs.
The Professor

[FreeStateDemocrat]

10. Wasn't Nixon's pardon for anything he may have done or would even be accused of having done?

I recall it was mentioned that if he had committed any murders he was as innocent as OJ.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. yup, and clinton pardoned that financier

when he had only been indicted of a couple of things.

[rosesaylavee]

5. That's why impeachment is the only

chance for justice to be served. Impeaching Cheney is not as remote a possibility as it was just a few months ago.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. indict Cheney, then start impeachment vs. Bush

that would make my day, as would President Pelosi.

[rosesaylavee]

7. Yuppers. Me too!

[originalpckelly]

9. This nation would raise holy hell if he did that...

but on the other hand most of them are too stupid to pay attention to the slow dripping of details from Libby's trial. No, Libby will not be pardoned.

[mtnester]

12. I think Scooter and Dick are at the TOP of his list

absolutely....

[radfringe]

13. if he was going to pardon Libby

it would have been done prior to the trial starting, most likely it would have been when the charges were first levied or just before when bush's approval numbers were better, the republic kool-aid drinkers were still in power and they had better control over the spin

but their hubris got the better of them, they thought after 11/7 that the republics would still be in charge and therefore still able to manipulate the message.

to pardon Libby now would most certainly spark even more hearings and investigations by congress.

interesting sidenote: Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT) is on the Thom Hartman show every friday - this past friday a caller asked Sanders about the Iraq Resolution and if bush pooh-pooh's it would the Congress then put impeachment back on the table.

Sanders said (paraphrased) "the Iraq Resolution was part of the process" - you can interpret this two ways

1. Sanders ignored the impeachment part of the question and just focused his answer on Iraq Resolution and why Congress is going through these gyrations

2. The Iraq Resolution is part of a LARGER PROCESS which could end up with impeachment

[NewJeffCT]

14. I think the timing would be really bad right now

They could have pardoned him in December during that week between Christmas & New Year's Day before the trial started... nobody would have paid attention.

Heck, after Libby got indicted, they could have done it claiming it was all political.

However, if Bush pardons Libby right now, it would really look bad - like the only reason is to cover his own ass, or Cheney's, or both of them.

While they may not care about the laws, I do think they care deeply about their image and the polls, and a pardon during the trial would cause them irreparable harm to what is left of their reputation.

[Nickster]

15. You give them a heck of a lot more credit than I do. Nothing they have done

so far has had any element of proper planning to it. The closest they get to proper planning and plan execution is when it comes to political campaigns.

I'm betting that they pardon him, and then claim it was all politics, as you suggested, but I don't see them caring about the timing of the announcement other than placing it on a Friday news dump or announce a "Major" policy talk to be given by Dubya on the evening of the pardon. I'm sure that they feel they have the upper hand with the RW noise machine and a Congress that still can't/won't touch him and will hide behind the blanket of the howling media. The compliant media will just claim that Libby being tried was all some terrible partisan smear and pointless to continue.

This isn't going to play out like the Saturday Night Massacre.

[rock]

16. If Libby is pardoned

He's free to testify. Probably not good for * and darth.